‘Predator: Badlands’ Leads at Korea Box Office as ‘The First Ride’ and ‘Chainsaw Man’ Stay Strong

Hollywood franchise entry “Predator: Badlands” opened atop the Korean box office with $1.1 million from 160,000 admissions across 953 screens, capturing 25.4% of market share. The latest installment in the sci-fi action saga bowed strongly midweek, pushing its total to $1.5 million, according to KOBIS, the tracking service operated by the Korean Film Council.

South Korean road-trip comedy “The First Ride” slipped to second place with $800,000 for a $3.6 million cumulative. Directed by Nam Dae-joong (“The Great Battle”), the film follows a group of childhood friends whose long-awaited trip to Thailand quickly spirals into chaotic mishaps. The ensemble cast includes Kang Ha-neul, Cha Eun-woo, Kim Young-kwang, Kang Young-suk and Han Seon-hwa.

Japanese anime “Chainsaw Man The Movie: Reze Arc” ranked third with $825,000, bringing its total to $21.6 million. The film adapts the “Reze” arc of Tatsuki Fujimoto’s hit manga. Directed by Tatsuya Yoshihara with a screenplay by Hiroshi Seko, the movie follows Denji as his encounter with café worker Reze leads to a clash between intimate connection and bloody chaos. Voice cast includes Reina Ueda, Fairouz Ai, Tomori Kusunoki, and Maaya Uchida. Sony/Crunchyroll are handling distribution in the market.

Another Japanese import, “The Exit 8,” took $313,000 for a $2.6 million cume. Directed by Kawamura Genki, the film stars Ninomiya Kazunari as a man trapped in a seemingly endless subway corridor where he must detect minute anomalies to escape.

New entry “Bugonia” opened in fifth with $154,000 from 528 screens.

Tim Burton-produced stop-motion classic “Coraline” continued its reissue run in sixth with $129,000 (cume $2.1 million).

“Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Movie: Infinity Castle” took seventh with $125,000 (cume $41.5 million).

South Korean animated feature “Toritori and the Secret of the Baby Dino” opened in eighth with $116,000 from 240 screens. Universal’s “Wicked” ranked ninth with $83,000 (cume $15.3 million), and Pingyao winner “The World of Love” rounded out the top ten with $88,000 (cume $594,000).

The top 10 films collectively grossed $3.8 million for the weekend, down sharply from the previous frame’s $4.5 million, continuing South Korea’s box office doldrums.