Without major new releases to drive in business, attendance slid over the past weekend (1.77 million admissions) as holdovers largely retained control of the charts, while a smattering of new titles placing in the top ten. Though less dominant than last week, local films retained a significant edge, capturing 68% of the marketplace.

 

Confidently staying up top for its third weekend win was WOO Min-ho’s political thriller Inside Men. Confirming superstar LEE Byung-hun’s return to form, the film slid just 30% for 799,890 admissions weekend (USD 5.74 million) and has now banked 4.95 million viewers (USD 34.04 million). Feeding off of the public’s discontent with corporate and political corruption, Inside Men is days away from entering the yearly top ten.

 

Opening in second place was Ron Howard’s seafaring adventure film In the Heart of the Sea. Ahead of its US opening, the picture brought in 292,584 viewers (USD 2.22 million) during the weekend and 338,960 (USD 2.56 million) since its Thursday bow.

 

Meanwhile, The Priests dipped 34% for 156,725 spectators (USD 1.07 million) in its fifth weekend. With 5.17 million viewers (USD 34.61 million) to date, the exorcism thriller is now the tenth most highly attended film of the year.

 

Opening in fourth place was the local romantic comedy LOVE GUIDE FOR DUMPEES with HAN Ye-ri and YOON Kye-sang. The film sold 143,630 tickets (USD 1.04 million) over the frame and 180,133 (USD 1.28 million) in four days. Korean workplace comedy YOU CALL IT PASSION dropped 63% and two places for 83,754 viewers (USD 551,683) in its second weekend for an underwhelming total of 547,502 (USD 3.44 million).

 

Meanwhile, Oscar contenders Sicario and Southpaw opened in sixth and seventh, with 41,536 (USD 294,144) and 40,342 (USD 270,106), respectively.

 

Due to a lack of highly anticipated releases, Inside Men seems likely to win its fourth consecutive weekend this week.