The Korean film "The Battleship Island" dominated the weekend box office in South Korea and has earned $27.85 million in five days.
Data from the Korean Film Council (KOFIC) showed that for the weekend covering July 28 to 30, "The Battleship Island" attracted 2.5 million moviegoers and earned $18.57 million from 2,093 screen. Its revenue share for the three days was 62.83 percent.
The movie opened in first place on July 26 and has been the No. 1 movie in the last five days. It has sold 4 million tickets and with its five-day haul of $27.85 million, it has already recouped its production budget of 25 billion ($22.42 million).
Starring Song Joong-ki, So Ji-sub and Hwang Jung-min, "The Battleship Island" tells the story of about 400 Koreans who were forced to work in Japan's Hashima Island during World War II to mine coal and their bid to escape.
The movie has courted controversy after it was accused of monopolizing movie theaters as it is the first film to be shown in at least 2,000 cinemas in South Korea. Critics said the movie is earning not because natural effect but because of monopoly. Other Koreans have criticized the movie for distorting history.
One CJ Entertainment official was quoted as denying the monopoly issue, saying that the allocation of movie theaters is based on advance booking, interest of moviegoers and seat occupancy.
At the Korean weekend box office, "Despicable Me 3" placed second with $5.9 million in revenue and 852,851 in total admission followed by "Dunkirk" with $3 million and 366,354; "Spider-Man: Homecoming," $732,061 and 100,213; and "Invasion: Alien Shiriri," $316,488 and 48,090.
"The Battleship Island" was sold to 155 countries and will be shown in the August in North America, Thailand, Hong Kong and the Philippines.
