'The Odyssey' draws over 290,000 moviegoers on opening day, tops box officeChristopher Nolan's new film "The Odyssey" attracted more than 290,000 moviegoers in Korea on its opening day to reign atop the local box office, data showed Thursday. The action-packed epic drew 291,359 viewers Wednesday, accounting for 44.8 percent of all ticket sales, according to the data from the Korean Film Council. The opening day figure is the third highest among films released this year, following the latest Spider-man installment "Spider-Man: Brand New Day" at around 688,000 and the Korean sci-fi blockbuster "Hope" at around 333,000. It is also the third highest among Nolan's previous films released in the country, following "Oppenheimer" (2023) at around 552,000 and "The Dark Knight Rises" (2012) at about 441,000. As of 10:03 a.m., "The Odyssey" accounted for 47.6 percent of ticket presales, followed by "Spider-Man: Brand New Day" at 34.2 percent. Earlier this week, Nolan made an official visit to Korea for the first time to promote the action-packed film, which follows the perilous homecoming journey of Odysseus (Matt Damon), the Greek king of Ithaca, after winning the TrojanAug 6, 2026By Yonhap
'Portrait of a Family' tests family bonds in desperate timesDirector Lee Ji-won said her upcoming film "Portrait of a Family" reflects the same vision of personal bonds and salvation she explored in her 2018 acclaimed debut feature “Miss Baek.” "If my previous work focused on the bond between a woman and a child, I wanted to expand that scope into a story about a family struggling together to overcome hardship," the director said during a press conference in Seoul, Wednesday. "Portrait of a Family" follows former star baseball player Joong-goo (Ryu Seung-ryong) and his wife Nam-mi (Ha Ji-won), who used to be a celebrity. Their marriage ends when Joong-goo’s secret daughter, Dong-joo (Kim Si-a), suddenly appears. This shocking truth breaks the couple apart. Eight years after their breakup, however, the family reunites to uncover the truth and protect Dong-joo after she becomes embroiled in a shocking incident. The movie's Korean title, "Bigwang" references a traditional "hwatu" card from the "December" suite depicting a man with an umbrella. While players usually see this card as unlucky or unwanted in games like go-stop, it can help win theAug 5, 2026By Baek Byung-yeul
After record global presales, Na Hong-jin's 'Hope' prepares for world rolloutWhen director Na Hong-jin releases a movie, the international cinematic world tends to hold its breath. Celebrated for his relentlessly tense, atmospheric thrillers like "The Chaser" and "The Wailing," the visionary filmmaker is preparing to unleash his latest cinematic spectacle, "Hope," upon global audiences this fall following a record-breaking presales run spanning more than 200 countries and territories worldwide. Distributor Plus M Entertainment said Wednesday that the film will kick off its international theatrical rollout in Taiwan on Sept. 4, followed by a wide North American debut on Sept. 9. A formidable roster of major global distributors has rallied behind the title. Indie powerhouse NEON is handling the English-speaking markets, while prestigious partners such as MUBI, Focus Features/UPI France and Sony Pictures Worldwide Acquisitions will bring the feature to screens across Europe, Latin America, Australia and Asia. Set in a secluded port town near the heavily fortified Demilitarized Zone, "Hope" follows Beom-seok, a local police outpost chief, who receives a startling repAug 5, 2026By Jhoo Dong-chan
InterviewUhm Jung-hwa brings confidence to ocean action in 'Okay! Madam' sequelFor Uhm Jung-hwa, returning as the brave former secret agent Mi-young in “Okay! Madam: Bon Voyage” is far more than just reprising a role. It is a challenge to her enduring power as a veteran actor and a rare milestone for a female-led action franchise in Korean cinema. The 56-year-old has long established herself as a top multi-entertainer. While dominating the music scene with groundbreaking hit songs, she has expanded her footprint on screens with defining roles in “Marriage Is a Crazy Thing” (2002) and “Singles” (2003). She also proved her ticket power with the 2009 disaster blockbuster “Haeundae,” which garnered over 11 million viewers. Speaking about her new movie “Okay! Madam: Bon Voyage,” Uhm expressed both nervousness and joy about bringing the sequel to theaters. “I am both worried and excited,” Uhm told The Korea Times at a cafe in Seoul, Tuesday. "Summer is a great time when many viewers visit theaters, so I have high expectations." The original 2020 action comedy hit "Okay! Madam" saw its theatrical run cut short due to the sudden onset of the COVID-19Aug 4, 2026By Baek Byung-yeul
Choi Min-sik, Han So-hee to headline Korean remake of 'The Intern,' out Sept. 16A Korean-language remake of the hit 2015 Hollywood comedy, "The Intern," will arrive in theaters on Sept. 16, Warner Bros. Korea announced Tuesday alongside the release of the film's first poster and trailer. The film pairs veteran actor Choi Min-sik with rising star Han So-hee in a story about a fashion startup CEO who takes on a much older intern. Han plays Seon-woo, who built her company into what the film describes as a dark horse of the fashion industry within three years of its launch. Choi plays Gi-ho, a 37-year veteran of the workforce who joins her company as an intern late in his career. The project reimagines "The Intern," the 2015 film directed by Nancy Meyers that starred Robert De Niro as a 70-year-old retiree who takes a "senior intern" position at a fast-growing startup run by Anne Hathaway's character. The U.S. film grossed more than $194 million worldwide against a $35 million budget — more than five times its production cost — and also drew a strong following among Korean audiences. Choi, one of Korea's most decorated actors and known internationally for films suchAug 4, 2026By Jhoo Dong-chan
Korean film academy launches largest overseas showcase in BrazilThe Korean Academy of Film Arts (KAFA) has launched its largest overseas retrospective to date in Brazil, celebrating the 20th anniversary of its feature film program with screenings, filmmaker talks and new partnerships aimed at expanding film industry cooperation between the two countries. The retrospective is being held as part of the 15th Korean Film Festival in Brazil, organized by the Korean Cultural Center in Brazil. The program opened on Thursday at the Cultural Center Sao Paulo and will run there through Aug. 14 before traveling to other Brazilian cities and continuing online through October. The showcase features 45 films, including 20 feature-length works — among them animated titles — and 25 short films produced through KAFA, Korea's leading state-run film training institution. The feature lineup includes acclaimed films such as "Bleak Night," "Alice in Earnestland," "After My Death," "Aloners" and "Square." About 200 guests, including members of Brazil's film industry and local audiences, attended the opening ceremony, which featured a Korean food reception followed byAug 3, 2026By Jhoo Dong-chan
Christopher Nolan brings 'The Odyssey' to Korea, champions big screen experience for fansFilmmaker Christopher Nolan said his long-awaited first visit to Korea with his new film "The Odyssey" is an opportunity to reaffirm why movie theaters still matter and continue to offer a collective experience and universal human themes that streaming platforms and small screens can never replace. At a press conference held in Seoul, Monday, ahead of the film’s Wednesday release here, Nolan, who said he has “wanted to come to Korea for a very long time,” described cinema as a uniquely shared yet intimate art form. “When you read the original book, it’s experiential. But going to the theater and sharing it with other people is both a personal and a collective experience,” he said. “The way the camera tells you the story is something other mediums can’t provide. I think it’s an experience only theaters, only films, can offer." The film follows the 10-year voyage of the Trojan War hero Odysseus (Matt Damon) as he struggles to return home to Ithaca, confronting inner conflict and moral dilemmas that Nolan believes still resonate today. Asked what message he hopes audiencesAug 3, 2026By Lee Hae-rin
'Spider-Man: Brand New Day' debuts atop weekend box officeThe latest Spider-Man film, "Spider-Man: Brand New Day," claimed the top spot on the weekend box-office chart in Korea, drawing more than 3 million moviegoers in just four days upon its release, data showed Monday. The Hollywood blockbuster added 2,252,935 admissions over the weekend, bringing its total admissions to 3,384,152 as of Sunday, according to the data released by the Korean Film Council, which compiles admissions from Friday through Sunday for its weekend chart. The latest installment of the series starring Tom Holland, it was the fastest film released this year to attract 1 million moviegoers in Korea, reaching the milestone on just the second day of its release. It also became the fastest to pass the 2 million and 3 million marks. As of 8:03 a.m. Monday, "Spider-Man: Brand New Day" accounted for 43.7 percent of ticket presales, followed by the action-packed Hollywood epic "The Odyssey," set for release Wednesday, at 38.7 percent. Na Hong-jin's sci-fi action thriller "Hope" continued to perform strongly, ranking No. 2. The Korean film added 335,808 admissions over the weekendAug 3, 2026By Yonhap
'Spider-Man 4' becomes fastest 2026 film to top 2 mil. admissions in KoreaThe latest Spider-Man film has become the fastest film of 2026 to attract 2 million moviegoers in Korea, reaching the milestone just three days after its release, the film's local distributor said Saturday. "Spider-Man: Brand New Day," the fourth installment starring Tom Holland, hit the 2 million mark Saturday morning, its local distributor, Sony Pictures, said. The achievement beat the previous record for the year set by Na Hong-jin's sci-fi thriller "Hope," which took four days to reach the same threshold after its release on July 15. According to the distributor, "Spider-Man: Brand New Day" also became the fastest foreign film released in Korea since 2023 to reach 2 million admissions. The movie follows an adult Peter Parker (Tom Holland) as he confronts new threats while grappling with having been forgotten by everyone who knows him, including his girlfriend MJ (Zendaya), and best friend Ned (Jacob Batalon).Aug 1, 2026By Yonhap
Film follows Korean high school seniors who chose the mountains over collegeBeing a high school senior and not knowing what to do with your life is considered a major problem in Korea. When four students submit blank career-planning forms ahead of their counseling sessions, they immediately find themselves under special supervision. Their teacher, determined to rehabilitate these wandering souls and send them to universities in Seoul, begins preparing them for admissions interviews. The students are forced to give all the right answers, down to what they like and what they want to do with their lives. The exercise does little to lift their spirits. They already spend most of the school day sleeping and see their school as a lifeless place. But when the school farm where they used to raise rabbits, chickens and ducks is slated to close, the students begin to realize what they want. Unveiled at a press screening last Wednesday, "The Mountain Goats," the tentative title of the independent film, follows four students who begin building a life in the mountains with their college entrance exams looming. Each student has a different reason for moving to the mountains.Jul 30, 2026By Hankookilbo
