Lee Gyu-lee is a business writer at The Korea Times, focusing primarily on IT & telecommunications, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy and KOTRA. Prior to this, she has covered a wide range of cultural news, from film, television and K-pop to lifestyle and fashion.
'Wonder Woman 1984' continues to top box office amid record low ticket sales
“Wonder Woman 1984” has topped the local box office for 12 consecutive days since its release. Courtesy of Warner Bros. Korea
By Lee Gyu-lee
By Lee Gyu-lee
Superhero blockbuster “Wonder Woman 1984” has continued to top the Korean box office since its Dec. 23 premiere, despite ticket sales plunging to a record low as the country grapples with the COVID-19 pandemic.
The sequel to the 2017 hit film “Wonder Woman” sold about 51,000 ticket sales on its opening day, grossing 447.6 million won ($411,430). It has accumulated more than 467,000 ticket sales, garnering 4.2 billion won ($3.85 million).
The film, which opened with $16.7 million in the United States alone, has so far collected more than $118.5 million globally. It also debuted on HBO Max in North America simultaneously.
Directed by Patty Jenkins, the latest of the DC Comics' franchise revolves around Diana Prince (Gal Gadot) who breaks her low-profile superhero life when archeologist Barbara Minerva (Kristen Wiig) gains superhuman strength and turns into a villainess, The Cheetah.
Despite “Wonder Woman 1984” soaring in the box office, overall ticket sales Monday hit their lowest since 2004 ― at 14,519 ― according to Korean Film Council data.
The previous record was the sales on April 7 last year with 15,429 when the mass infection outbreak linked to the Shincheonji Church in Daegu occurred.
As COVID-19 cases resurge in the country, the government has kept its social distancing level in the Seoul metropolitan area at 2.5 since imposing it Dec. 8. Under the rule, movie theaters must close at 9 p.m. and have a vacant seat between each group of customers.