The Korea Times close
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
Business
  • Tech
  • Bio
  • Companies
Finance
  • Companies
  • Economy
  • Markets
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to President
  • Letter to the Editor
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
Entertainment
& Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
Sports
World
  • SCMP
  • Asia
Video
  • Culture
  • People
  • News
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • Site Map
  • E-paper
  • Subscribe
  • Register
  • LogIn
search close
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • Site Map
  • E-paper
  • Subscribe
  • Register
  • LogIn
search close
Entertainment & Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
Sat, May 21, 2022 | 12:12
Films
What to expect in 2020 box office: upcoming films from comedy to sci-fi
Posted : 2020-01-01 16:43
Updated : 2020-01-01 20:43
Print Preview
Font Size Up
Font Size Down
A scene from the upcoming comedy fantasy film 'Dolittle' which will premiere on Jan. 8. Courtesy of Universal Pictures
A scene from the upcoming comedy fantasy film "Dolittle" which will premiere on Jan. 8. Courtesy of Universal Pictures

By Lee Gyu-lee

The 100th year of Korean cinema in 2019 wrapped up successfully with record-breaking annual ticket sales at over 226.6 million, grossing 19 billion won ($16.6 million). As moviegoers bid farewell to 2019, streams of new films are expected to bring in further abundance to the cinema this year.

From comedy to science fiction and action blockbusters, diverse genres of films are anticipated to compete in the local box office throughout the year.

A scene from the upcoming comedy fantasy film 'Dolittle' which will premiere on Jan. 8. Courtesy of Universal Pictures
A poster for the new comedy film "Hitman," starring actor Kwon Sang-woo, which is premiering on Jan. 22. Courtesy of Lotte Entertainment
Comedy films to start the year

The beginning of 2020 will get the ball rolling for comedy films. Three animal-themed comedy films "Dolittle," "Secret Zoo," and "Mr. Zoo," will be released starting on Jan. 8, a week apart from each other.

Universal's comedy-fantasy "Dolittle" is about Dr. John Dolittle (Robert Downey Jr.), who has an ability to communicate with animals as he goes on a journey to find a cure for the queen on a mysterious island. The film is making the world premiere in Korea on Jan. 8.

"Secret Zoo" revolves around a bankrupted zoo where its animals were sold off to pay debts. To save the place from closing, the zoo's temporary owner Tae-soo (Ahn Jae-hong) and employees decide to dress up in animal suits.

Another comedy film "Mr. Zoo" is about a top national security agent, Tae-ju (Lee Sung-min) using his ability to read animals' minds to carry out a rescue mission against a terrorist organization.

Actor Kwon Sang-woo's new comedy "Hitman" is also premiering on Jan. 22. He plays a former secret service agent who left the job to become a webcomic creator. As his webcomic series becomes popular, he becomes a double target of the service and terrorists.

Hollywood blockbuster series to arrive

A scene from the upcoming comedy fantasy film 'Dolittle' which will premiere on Jan. 8. Courtesy of Universal Pictures
A poster for the latest 007 film "No Time to Die," which is set to hit local theaters on April 9. Courtesy of Universal Pictures
A number of Hollywood series will land in theaters throughout the year as well.

Actor Daniel Craig's fifth film in the 007 series "No Time to Die" is set to hit local theaters April 9. Directed by Cary Joji Fukunaga, the film follows playboy spy James Bond (Daniel Craig) as he goes on a mission to fight a mysterious villain armed with dangerous new technology.

DC Comics' superhero film "Wonder Woman" (2017) is releasing its sequel "Wonder Woman 1984." Led by the series' director Patty Jenkins, the action film will follow Princess Diana (Gal Gadot) in 1984. The film will be released this June.

A prequel to the "Kingsman" series, "The King's Man" will unfold the Kingsman's battle against a group of tyrants and criminal masterminds during World War I to tell the origin of the Kingsman secret agency. The spy action film will have the series' filmmaker Matthew Vaughn as director, and actors Taron Egerton and Colin Firth as the lead characters. The U.S and U.K premiere is scheduled in September.

Korean sci-fi, fantasy genre films await

Two Korean sci-fi films with working titles "Victory" and "Seo Bok" are scheduled to be released in the later half of this year. Directed by Jo Sung-hee ― who made "A Werewolf Boy" in 2012 ― the space movie "Victory" is an over-24 billion won ($20.8 million) budget project. The film is about a space crew ― actors Song Joon-ki, Kim Tae-ri, and Yu Hae-jin ― traveling in a spacecraft of the same name. VFX pioneering company Dexter Studio, which produced the "Along with the Gods" series and "Ashfall," took charge of the film's visual effects production.

"Seo Bok" revolves around the world's first human clone (Park Bo-gum) who holds the secret to eternal life. Directed by Lee Yong-ju ― the director of 2012 melodrama "Architecture 101" ― the film also stars Gong Yoo as a former intelligence agent.

Korean zombie flick "Train to Busan" (2016) will release its sequel this year, telling the story of survivors fighting to leave the abandoned city. Actors Gang Dong-won and Lee Jung-hyun take the lead roles, and the director of the first series, Yeon Sang-ho, will lead the production once again.

The release dates for these three films are yet to be determined.


Emailgyulee@koreatimes.co.kr Article ListMore articles by this reporter
 
  • Pro-, anti-Biden demonstrations to be held in front of Hyatt hotel
  • S-Oil CEO apologizes for deadly refinery explosion in Ulsan
  • Biden arrives in South Korea for first summit with Yoon
  • South Korea-Japan relations in the shadow of Ukraine
  • Yoon, Biden vow to strengthen Korea-US tech alliance
  • Samsung, LG expand into appliances with pet care features
  • Gov't extends mandatory quarantine for COVID-19 patients for 4 more weeks
  • Baseball, dogs: What Yoon, Biden have in common
  • Yoon, Biden to discuss Korea-US tech alliance in nuclear energy
  • South Korea's new COVID-19 cases drop for 3rd day
  • Kim Sae-ron apologizes for her alleged DUI incident Kim Sae-ron apologizes for her alleged DUI incident
  • Reality shows raise concerns by zooming in on private lives of people Reality shows raise concerns by zooming in on private lives of people
  • TvN drama 'Rose Mansion' criticized for animal abuse scene TvN drama 'Rose Mansion' criticized for animal abuse scene
  • Former GFriend member Yerin makes solo debut with 'Aria' Former GFriend member Yerin makes solo debut with 'Aria'
  • 'The Roundup' off to record-setting start at box office 'The Roundup' off to record-setting start at box office
DARKROOM
  • People in North Korea trapped in famine and pandemic

    People in North Korea trapped in famine and pandemic

  • 2022 Pulitzer Prize: Bearing witness to history

    2022 Pulitzer Prize: Bearing witness to history

  • Worsening drought puts millions at risk

    Worsening drought puts millions at risk

  • Our children deserve the best

    Our children deserve the best

  • End of mask mandates

    End of mask mandates

The Korea Times
CEO & Publisher : Oh Young-jin
Digital News Email : webmaster@koreatimes.co.kr
Tel : 02-724-2114
Online newspaper registration No : 서울,아52844
Date of registration : 2020.02.05
Masthead : The Korea Times
Copyright © koreatimes.co.kr. All rights reserved.
  • About Us
  • Introduction
  • History
  • Location
  • Media Kit
  • Contact Us
  • Products & Service
  • Subscribe
  • E-paper
  • Mobile Service
  • RSS Service
  • Content Sales
  • Policy
  • Privacy Statement
  • Terms of Service
  • 고충처리인
  • Youth Protection Policy
  • Code of Ethics
  • Copyright Policy
  • Family Site
  • Hankook Ilbo
  • Dongwha Group