South Korea’s epic film The Admiral: Roaring Currents had an strong opening this past weekend in the U.S., while back in Korea it became the most-watched film in the country’s cinematic history, tallying more than 14 million admissions.
Since opening this weekend on 30 screens, after a one-week preview at the CGV Cinema in Los Angeles, The Admiral has earned $687,000 pushing the film in top 20 at the box office. The per screen average for was $18,744 placing it in second place, ahead of Guardians of the Galaxy and Teen Age Mutant Ninja Turtles. The South Korean film is number four among top engagements in the U.S. and Canada thanks in part to a slew of sold-out showings at the CGV Cinema.
The stateside success of The Admiral follows dominance in its home country. This past weekend in South Korea, it became the most watched film of all time, sailing to 14.22 million in admissions and taking the crown from James Cameron’s Avatar, which held the record at 13.62 million. In South Korea, The Admiral: Roaring Currents opened July 30.
Prior to the debut of The Admiral, the last time the U.S. saw such success from a Korean movie was Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter... and Spring (2004), from director KIM Ki-duk, which was shown in over 160 theaters with an opening weekend box office earning of $357,495. The Admiral is only playing in 30 theaters and has surpassed that record.
The Admiral: Roaring Currents is currently playing at 32 theaters including Fullerton, San Francisco, New York, New Jersey, Boston, Virginia, Baltimore, Chicago, Atlanta, Hawaii, Seattle, Dallas, Houston, Denver, Tempe, and more. The film will open in additional theaters on August 22nd at New York (College Point) and Anchorage.