Brief
Christopher Nolan’s ‘The Odyssey’ tops Korean box office, eclipsing ‘Avatar: The Way of Water’
The film has earned KRW139.2 bn ($101.5 m) and 12 million tickets, the biggest haul for any foreign release in South Korea.
By Felo News Desk · Published
According to Variety, Christopher Nolan’s "The Odyssey" has overtaken "Avatar: The Way of Water" in local‑currency terms to become the highest‑grossing international release in South Korea, reaching KRW139.2 billion ($101.5 million) as of Oct. 11.
What happened
The Universal‑distributed epic logged 12 million admissions, roughly 24 % of the nation’s population, and held the No. 1 spot for seven straight weekends – the longest run for any foreign title. It crossed the 10‑million‑admission mark in 33 days, faster than any non‑franchise international film, and became the first 15+‑rated international release to do so.
What the report adds
Variety notes that only two Korean films have earned more: Jang Hang‑jun’s "The King’s Warden" (KRW153.2 bn) and Lee Byeong‑heon's 2019 comedy "Extreme Job" (KRW139.6 bn). "The Odyssey" also set records on IMAX and Dolby Cinema screens, with continuous sell‑outs through its fifth week and a ten‑week run in the format. It posted the year’s highest advance ticket sales and led Korean presales for 43 consecutive days through Sept. 14.
What was said
The article does not quote individuals directly, but reports that a Seoul press conference for the film attracted 209 media representatives, the largest post‑pandemic turnout.
How it came about
Earlier Felo coverage highlighted the film’s awards push, including a campaign for Anne Hathaway’s supporting‑actress Oscar nomination (see article). The box‑office surge underscores the broader commercial success that the studio is leveraging for awards season.
Key facts
- The Odyssey earned KRW139.2 billion ($101.5 million) in South Korea. (variety.com)
- The film logged 12 million admissions, about 24 % of the population. (variety.com)
- It held the No. 1 spot for seven consecutive weekends, a record for an international title. (variety.com)
- Only two Korean films have earned more in local currency: The King’s Warden and Extreme Job. (variety.com)
- The Odyssey set IMAX and Dolby Cinema sell‑out records, with continuous sell‑outs through week five. (variety.com)
Sources
- [1] variety.com — originally reported as “Christopher Nolan’s ‘The Odyssey’ Overtakes ‘Avatar: The Way of Water’ as Korea’s Biggest International Film of All Time (EXCLUSIVE)”
