Acclaimed director Park Chan-wook's latest film "No Other Choice" has secured the number one position at the South Korean box office during its opening weekend, attracting more than 600,000 moviegoers according to official data released Monday. The black comedy thriller demonstrated strong audience appeal in its first few days of wide release.
The film, which hit theaters nationwide on Wednesday, drew an impressive 609,274 viewers from Friday through Sunday alone. This strong weekend performance brought the movie's total admissions to 1.73 million since its midweek debut, according to statistics from the Korean Film Council. The numbers indicate a successful launch for what many consider one of the most anticipated Korean films of the year.
"No Other Choice" is based on "The Ax," a 1997 satirical thriller novel by renowned American author Donald E. Westlake. The film adaptation follows the compelling story of Man-soo, portrayed by acclaimed actor Lee Byung-hun, who plays a desperate father of two children. After losing his long-held job, Man-soo finds himself waging a personal war for survival, exploring themes of economic desperation and social inequality that resonate with contemporary audiences.
The weekend box office competition featured strong international content, with two major Japanese animated films claiming the second and third positions respectively. "Chainsaw Man - The Movie: Reze Arc" attracted 311,706 moviegoers during the weekend period, while "Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba Infinity Castle Arc" drew 116,881 viewers. These anime releases demonstrated the continued popularity of Japanese animation in the Korean market.
Director Yeon Sang-ho's mystery drama "The Ugly" rounded out the top four with 90,000 weekend admissions. The film, which premiered on September 11, has steadily built its audience and accumulated a total of 907,387 viewers since its release. This performance shows the diverse range of content attracting Korean audiences, from international blockbusters to local independent productions.
