Occult thriller 'Dark Nuns' tops local box office on debut

SEOUL, January 25 (AJP) - "Dark Nuns," a Korean occult movie, took the top spot at the box office on its opening day, Friday, attracting over 163,000 viewers and accounting for 51.3 percent of daily ticket sales, according to the Korean Film Council. As of Saturday morning, the film had a reservation rate of 37.3 percent, with over 201,000 advance tickets sold, signaling its potential to dominate weekend box office rankings. The movie depicts nuns performing a f

January 25, 2025

Hong Sang-soo's latest film invited to Berlinale

SEOUL, January 24 (AJP) - Director Hong Sang-soo's latest film has been invited to compete at this year's Berlin International Film Festival, which opens next month. It marks the sixth consecutive year Hong has been invited to the festival since 2020, having taken home awards five times for his films including "A Traveler's Needs" (2024) and "The Woman Who Ran" (2020). Hong's 33th feature, "What Does That Nature Say to You," which wil

January 24, 2025

Song Hye-kyo ready to impress viewers with unconventional role in horror film

SEOUL, January 22 (AJP) - Actress Song Hye-kyo is expected to show a new side of herself in her upcoming film "The Dark Nuns" slated for release this week. Directed by Kwon Hyeok-jae, the exorcism-themed film marks Song's return to the silver screen about a decade after her appearance in "The Crossing," the 2014 Chinese epic drama directed by acclaimed Hong Kong filmmaker John Woo. It is also her first venture into the horror genre in her acting career spanni

January 22, 2025

Bong Joon-ho's sci-fi blockbuster set for world premiere at Berlinale

SEOUL, January 13 (AJP) - Oscar-winning director Bong Joon-ho's new Hollywood film will have its world premiere at this year's Berlin International Film Festival. Slated for release here on Feb. 28, "Mickey 17" has been invited for screening at the festival, which kicks off its 10-day run on Feb. 13. This marks Bong's return to the festival after more than a decade, since his previous post-apocalyptic thriller "Snowpiercer," starring Hollywood star

January 13, 2025

Historical spectacle 'Harbin' dominates Christmas box office

SEOUL, December 26 (AJP) - "Harbin" has attracted over 1 million moviegoers, just two days after its release on Christmas Eve. According to the Korean Film Council on Thursday, the historical espionage film drew about 847,819 viewers on Wednesday alone to reach the milestone, after attracting around 381,000 on the first day of its release. Set in Harbin, China, the film portrays the patriotic journey of independence fighter Ahn Jung-geun, who assassinated Hirobumi Ito,

December 26, 2024

Historical espionage film 'Harbin' set for release in North America

SEOUL, December 24 (AJP) - "Harbin," starring South Korean heartthrob Hyun Bin, is set to hit theaters across North America early next month, film distributor Well Go USA Entertainment said. Slated for release in various cities including Atlanta, Los Angeles, Seattle and Toronto on Jan. 3, the historical espionage film, revolves around the sacrifices and struggles of Korean independence fighters including Ahn Jung-geun, who fought for his country during Japan's imperial expa

December 24, 2024

Filmmaker behind hit coup flick speaks out over martial law attempt

SEOUL, December 18 (AJP) - Filmmaker Kim Sung-su, who directed last year's critically acclaimed film "12.12: The Day," has openly criticized President Yoon Suk Yeol over his abrupt declaration of martial law earlier this month, calling him "deranged." The historical film, set against the backdrop of a military coup in South Korea in the late 1970s, depicts disgraced former president Chun Doo-hwan, who seized power in December 1979 following the assassination

December 18, 2024

Gang Dong-won embraces maturity after action-packed Netflix film

SEOUL, November 1 (AJP) - Actor Gang Dong-won's first Netflix film, "Uprising," has captured global attention since its release on Netflix early last month. Available on the U.S. streaming platform starting from Oct. 11, the film ranked among the top 10 in over 70 countries, amassing an impressive 17.6 million viewing hours in its first three weeks. Expressing his excitement over the film's simultaneous reach to viewers across the world, Gang said in a recent in

November 1, 2024

Old movies make comeback to theaters with nostalgic appeal

SEOUL, October 25 (AJP) - Classic movies are making a comeback in theaters at a time when nearly every film is readily available at home through streaming services. Possibly drawn by the immersive allure of big screens along with the sheer magic of shared cinematic experiences, an increasing number of moviegoers are returning to theaters to rediscover classic films. Ha Min-ji, 24, recently watched the 2004 American romantic drama "The Notebook." She was among around 66,000

October 25, 2024

Intriguing drama to lure moviegoers with complex moral themes this fall

SEOUL, October 16 (AJP) - Filmmaker Heo Jin-ho's latest film "A Normal Family" is set to attract many moviegoers this fall with its enthralling story about ethical quandaries. The family-centric drama, released on Wednesday, revolves around two wealthy parents struggling to cope with a crime committed by their teenage kids. Based on the Dutch novel "The Dinner" by Herman Koch, the Korean adaption was first unveiled at the Toronto International Film Festiva

October 16, 2024