Korean Remake of ‘The Intern’ Opens at No. 1 at Weekend Box Office
The Korean adaptation starring Choi Min-sik and Han So-hee drew 275,186 weekend admissions, ending the chart-topping run of Christopher Nolan’s ‘The Odyssey.’
A Korean remake of the 2015 Hollywood film “The Intern” debuted at the top of South Korea’s weekend box office, displacing Christopher Nolan’s “The Odyssey” after its extended run at No. 1.
The remake attracted 275,186 moviegoers from Friday through Sunday, according to nationwide admissions data compiled by the Korean Film Council. The film opened Wednesday and had accumulated 403,906 admissions by the end of Sunday.
Choi Min-sik stars as Ki-ho, an older intern who joins a fashion startup, while Han So-hee plays Sun-woo, the company’s young entrepreneur. Their characters correspond to the roles played by Robert De Niro and Anne Hathaway in the original American film. The story centers on the unexpected relationship that develops between the veteran newcomer and the executive leading the business.
The opening gave a Korean production the weekend lead in a market where major Hollywood releases continued to draw substantial audiences. “The Odyssey” ranked behind the remake with 256,793 admissions over the weekend. Its cumulative audience reached 11.2 million, underscoring the scale of its performance even after losing first place.
Several other imported films remained in the chart. The horror title “Obsession” added 131,467 admissions, bringing its cumulative total to 701,713. “Resident Evil: Night Zero,” released Thursday, drew 80,779 moviegoers, while “Spider-Man: Brand New Day” recorded 33,636 admissions during the weekend period.
Advance reservations indicated that the ranking could shift again as new Korean titles arrive. As of 8:10 a.m. Monday, the forthcoming historical thriller “The Assassin(s)” held 29 percent of advance ticket sales. “The Odyssey” followed with 22.2 percent, showing continued demand despite moving down the weekend chart.
“Tazza: Song of Beelzebub,” billed as the final installment in the long-running Korean crime-film franchise, accounted for 13.9 percent of advance sales ahead of its Wednesday release. The reservation figures point to a competitive week involving an established global hit and two anticipated Korean films.
For “The Intern,” the No. 1 debut gives the locally adapted story an early commercial foothold. Its ability to sustain that momentum will be tested quickly as the next wave of domestic releases enters cinemas and advance ticket holders turn into opening-week admissions.