You don't need any supernatural powers to guess Kim Ji-Woon and company might actually feel a sense of relief now, more than anything else. It was a crazy shoot in the kind of conditions most directors wouldn't even touch with a ten foot pole; and, despite the huge release, 좋은 놈, 나쁜 놈, 이상한 놈 (The Good, The Bad, and The Weird) wasn't exactly running alone, what with the onslaught of Hollywood blockbusters like The Dark Knight or The Mummy - Tomb of the Dragon Emperor, along with the surprise hit 고死 (Gosa: Bloody Midterms) - which got past the 1 million mark despite the critics' trashing. But, now, everything those Manchurian cowboys end up writing will be in the black, as the film reached its break even point (take off the theater's cut of the pie and the marketing fee, and all you get from 6.6 million tickets is enough to cover the budget). And, perhaps more pleasing to the ears, the film entered the all time Top 10 list, knocking 미녀는 괴로워 (200 Pounds Beauty) off the 10th spot.
Distributors CJ Entertainment just announced the Kimchi western starring Song Kang-Ho, Jung Woo-Sung and Lee Byung-Heon sold 6.62 million tickets up to August 21, making the top 10 in only 36 days (since its July 17 release). The film is still screening at over 200 screens, and bringing in an additional 20,000 tickets a day, which should soon allow it to reach even 타짜 (Tazza: The High Rollers)'s 9th place. Director Kim Ji-Woon, Jung Woo-Sung and Lee Byung-Heon will be present at the upcoming TIFF screening of the film, which is set to be an upgraded version of the Cannes cut.
Korean Box Office All Time Top 10
01. 13.20 Mil -2006 괴물 (The Host)
02. 12.47 Mil -2005 왕의 남자 (The King and the Clown)
03. 11.74 Mil -2004 태극기 휘날리며 (Taegukgi)
04. 11.43 Mil -2003 실미도 (Silmido)
05. 08.42 Mil -2007 디워 (D-War)
06. 08.20 Mil -2001 친구 (Friend)
07. 08.00 Mil -2005 웰컴 투 동막골 (Welcome to Dongmakgol)
08. 07.30 Mil -2007 화려한 휴가 (May 18)
09. 06.84 Mil -2006 타짜 (Tazza: The High Rollers)
10. 06.62 Mil -2008 좋은 놈, 나쁜 놈, 이상한 놈 (The Good, The Bad, and The Weird)
Isn't that still a little disappointing considering its star-studded cast and hype surrounding the movie?
Did "The Devil's Game" break even? It sold over a million tickets but I have no clue if that is enough in Korea.
Sold 1.5 million, so probably a little under the break even point, but not too bad.
Of the films released this year, those in the black are just this one, The Chaser, Public Enemy Returns, and Forever the Moment. Eye for an Eye more or less reached break even, and there's another half dozen in similar conditions, but that's about it.
God help us that it is better than TAZZA. Not a fan of that flick, but I do have faith with all involved, and am eagerly awaiting seeing this in Toronto next month.
p.s. and media literacy is also a problem (e.g. american TV/film genres going back the last 3-5 years seen as originators & local stuff are thusly "rip-offs" - even tho it's ALL recycled during 100+ years of film), but that's another can of worms.
[quote]Director Kim Ji-Woon, Jung Woo-Sung and Lee Byung-Heon will be present at the upcoming TIFF screening of the film, which is set to be an upgraded version of the Cannes cut.[/quote]
Good luck getting tickets for that at TIFF. The Korean community here is going to go nuts over this news! Great movie though. Love it!
You'll be seeing a full review shortly ... it's written but I'm embargoed until TIFF gets here ...