[Movie 2015] Assassination 암살

[demarchelier]

ASSASSINATION BREAKS 6 MILLION VIEWERS MARK - DAY 11, AUGUST 1

585,341 VIEWERS (6,005,277 CUMULATIVE)!!

cr: Korean Film Council

[rubie]

August 2, 2015

Korean film 'Assassination' tops 6 million viewer mark

SEOUL, Aug. 2 (Yonhap) -- The Korean action film "Assassination", which features colonial-era assassination attempts by Korean independence fighters, drew more than 6 million viewers in 11 days since its opening, box-office data showed Sunday.

Since its release on July 22, the film was watched by 6,005,639 viewers as of Saturday, including a daily viewer count of 585,705 registered on that day, according to the data by the Korea Film Council.

The feat makes "Assassination" the first South Korean film this year to surpass the 6 million viewer mark in the shortest time since its release.

It's about the same speed as director Choi Dong-hoon's previous movie, "The Thieves," in 2012.

The favorable outcome is also likely to help cement Choi's position as the second-ever film director who has achieved the feat of drawing more than 10 million viewers for two successive movies in South Korea.

Previously, director Yoon Je-kyoon achieved the title with his movies, "Tidal Wave" and "Ode to My Father."

   Set in Shanghai and Seoul in the 1930s when Korea was a colony of Japan, the star-studded film by Choi depicts three Korean independence fighters teaming up to assassinate the commander of the Japanese troops in Korea and a Korean business tycoon with ties to Japan.

Among the actors in the leading roles are Jun Ji-hyun, Lee Jung-jae and Ha Jung-woo.

Cast members of the film 'Assassination' (file photo) Cast members of the film 'Assassination' (file photo)

pbr@yna.co.kr

[rubie]

August 2, 2015

'Assassination' 2015's top Korean movie

Source: The Korea Times

"Assassination" has topped ticket sales for Korean movies released this year.

The action movie has drawn almost 6.19 million people, beating "Northern Limit Line"s 6 million, according to the Korean Film Council on Sunday.

More than 6 million tickets had been sold in the 11 days after the film opened on July 22, the shortest time a Korean movie has taken to reach the mark this year. Average ticket sales were more than 580,000 a day.

Set in the 1930s during Japanese colonial rule of Korea (1910-1945), the movie spotlights the heroic attempts of Korean independence fighters who battled fearlessly for freedom and justice in defiance of their colonial rulers.

aoshima11@ktimes.com,

[rubie]

August 3, 2015

'Mission: Impossible,' 'Assassination' sweep weekend box office

SEOUL, Aug. 3 (Yonhap) -- "Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation" topped the local box office last weekend, pushing the star-studded Korean action film "Assassination" down to second place, data showed Monday.

The fifth installment in the nearly 20-year-old film series earned 16 billion won (US$13.76 million) over the July 31-Aug. 2 weekend, according to the computerized box office data from the Korean Film Council.

The Tom Cruise movie has been sitting at No. 1 for the fourth straight day since it opened on Thursday in local theaters, attracting 2.46 million viewers.

In the film, Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise), super-agent for the Impossible Missions Force (IMF), and his team take on their most impossible mission yet, eradicating the Syndicate - an international rogue organization as highly skilled as they are.

"Assassination" dropped down a place to second over the weekend due to the strength of the Hollywood blockbuster, but remains a box office sensation with an accumulted audience of more than 6 million.

It raked in 12.4 billion won from 1.54 million viewers, representing 33.6 percent of ticket sales, over the weekend.

Set in Shanghai and Seoul in the 1930s when Korea was a colony of Japan, the film by Choi Dong-hoon depicts three Korean independence fighters teaming up to assassinate the commander of the Japanese troops in Korea and a Korean business tycoon with ties to Japan.

Among the actors in leading roles are Jun Ji-hyun, Lee Jung-jae and Ha Jung-woo.

Animated films -- "Minions," "Inside Out," "Yokai Watch" and "You Are So Yummy - Happy to Be With You" -- took the next four positions in the box office as it is a popular genre among school children who are on summer vacation.

sshim@yna.co.kr

[rubie]

August 4, 2015

Korean film 'Assassination' tops 7 million viewer mark

SEOUL, Aug. 4 (Yonhap) -- A domestic action film featuring colonial-era assassination attempts by Korean independence fighters topped 7 million in attendance, according to an early box-office report by its distributor on Tuesday.

Since its release on July 22, "Assassination" had been watched by 7,064,429 viewers as of 7:30 a.m., Showbox said.

Set in Shanghai and Seoul in the 1930s, when Korea was a colony of Japan, the star-studded film by Choi Dong-hoon tells the story of three Korean independence fighters teaming up to assassinate the commander of the Japanese troops in Korea and a Korean business tycoon with ties to Japan.

Among the actors in the leading roles are Jun Ji-hyun, Lee Jung-jae and Ha Jung-woo.

Moviegoers wait in lines to buy tickets for "Assassination," a Korean action film about three anti-Japanese Korean independence fighters teaming up to assassinate the commander of the Japanese troops in Korea, at a cinema in southern Seoul on Aug. 2, 2015. The movie surpassed 7 million in attendance on Aug. 4. (Yonhap) Moviegoers wait in lines to buy tickets for "Assassination," a Korean action film about three anti-Japanese Korean independence fighters teaming up to assassinate the commander of the Japanese troops in Korea, at a cinema in southern Seoul on Aug. 2, 2015. The movie surpassed 7 million in attendance on Aug. 4. (Yonhap)

sshim@yna.co.kr

[rubie]

August 5, 2015

'Assassination' Proves Unstoppable at Box Office

Source: The Chosun Ilbo

The period espionage film "Assassination" surpassed the 7 million mark in cinema attendance on Tuesday, only 14 days after its release. 

The flick had drawn a total of 7.06 million viewers as of Tuesday morning, according to the Korea Film Council, and the momentum is expected to continue. 

Some expect "Assassination" to be the first film that attracts more than 10 million viewers this year. 

Set in Shanghai and Seoul in the 1930s during the occupation by imperial Japan, the movie depicts three Korean independence fighters joining hands to assassinate the commander of Japanese troops.

[rubie]

August 7, 2015

'Assassination' wins at box office in July

SEOUL, Aug. 7 (Yonhap) -- The star-studded South Korean action film "Assassination" dominated the local box office in July after being out for just 10 days, data showed Friday.

The movie, starring Jun Ji-hyun, Lee Jung-jae and Ha Jung-woo, opened July 22 and drew 5.42 million people to claim the top spot, the data by the Korean Film Council showed.

Set in Shanghai and Seoul in the 1930s, when Korea was a colony of Japan, "Assassination" tells the story of three Korean independence fighters who conspire to assassinate the commander of the Japanese troops in Korea and a Korean business tycoon with ties to Japan.

"Northern Limit Line," a domestic film that revisits a bloody inter-Korean naval clash in 2002, followed with 4.14 million moviegoers and Pixar's 3-D animated film "Inside Out" came in third with 3.83 million viewers.

In total, 23.43 million people spent a combined 181.1 billion won (US$155.3 million) last month, up 17.8 percent and 16.3 percent, respectively, compared with July 2014.

Domestic and foreign films were neck and neck in their share of audience, with the ratio coming down to about 48:52.

By distributor, Showbox took about a quarter of the audience, or 5.95 million people, to finish first. Lotte Entertainment and Next Entertainment World were second and third with 18 percent and 17.8 percent of the audience, respectively.

Among art and indie films, the American musical "Rudderless" was No. 1 with 65,000 people. "Midnight Diner," a Japanese comedy starring Joe Odagiri, came in second with 41,000, and "Coconut The Little Dragon" was third with 33,000.

sojungpark@yna.co.kr

[rubie]

August 7, 2015

'Assassination' Star Lee Jung-Jae to Deliver Hugs to Fans

Source: The Chosun Ilbo

Lee Jung-jae, star of the period espionage film "Assassination," will be "giving away" hugs at a cinema in the Lotte World Tower in Seoul at 8 p.m. on Friday. 

The stunt makes good on his promise to hug the first 100 people to show up if the film sold more than 8.15 million tickets. 

The film, which is on track to become one of the biggest box-office hits of the year, had drawn some 7.65 million viewers as of Wednesday and is expected to easily surpass Lee's required number on Friday.

[irilight]

‘Assassination’ draws 8m viewers

 

The Korean action film “Assassination,” which features assassination attempts by Korea’s independence army under Japanese colonial rule, drew over 800 million viewers as of Friday, according to the movie’s distributor Showbox Mediaplex.

Amid intensified competition with formidable “Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation” and “Veteran,” the star-studded movie has made a remarkable achievement, even three weeks after its release.

Set in 1933 in Shanghai and Seoul, the film unfolds a story of Korean independence soldiers with a mission to kill a Japanese official, while being chased themselves.

 

source

 

[demarchelier]

cr: GETIT K

[demarchelier]

cr: Sports Chosun

[demarchelier]

'Assassination' expected to attract 10 million in Korea

Set during Japan's colonial rule of Korea, "Assassination," is about a group of Korean independence fighters who plot against two key figures in the ruling class, a Japanese governor and a Korean collaborator.
More than 9-million local viewers have seen the film since it opened late last month, and the timing of its release in the run-up to the 70th anniversary of Korea's liberation from Japan's colonial rule on Saturday may have helped generate some extra buzz.
But for some, the director is also a draw.
The film is the latest by Choi Dong-hoon, who last dominated box offices with his mega hit "Thieves."
Choi says he was determined to make this film, even though people advised him against it.


"But I really wanted to make this movie so that viewers could understand the reality of what people during that period were confronting."

The story, set in the 1930s, shows the harsh reality of life in Korea under Japanese colonial rule.
To be fair, critics say it's difficult for period films set during the colonial era to garner mass appeal.

(Korean: )
"When there's too much focus on historical events, the plot can be difficult to follow. If the events aren't portrayed correctly, the film may be seen as nothing more than shallow entertainment. So for producers, movies about Japanese colonization aren't easy."

Another challenge for Choi was the cost.
Despite the box office numbers, the movie isn't expected to generate a huge profit.
With a production budget of nearly 16-million U.S. dollars, it needed 7-million viewers to just break even.


"I enjoyed the movie. I laughed at some parts and was moved by others."

If it does reach the 10-million mark, "Assassination" will become the 12th Korean movie to do so along with "Thieves."
 

Kim Ji-yeon, Arirang News.

Reporter : jiyeonkim@arirang.co.kr

Source: Arirang News

[demarchelier]

THANKING THE AUDIENCE FOR BREAKING THE 10 MILLION VIEWERS MARK!

cr: Pop Herald

[demarchelier]

"Assassination" Draws Over 10 Million Moviegoers

South Korean movie-"Assassination" has drawn over 10 million domestic viewers as of this morning, becoming the first movie to pass the ten million admission mark in the country this year.

This comes 25 days after it hit domestic screens on July 22.

Set in the 1930s' Shanghai and Seoul, "Assassination" revolves around a Korean squad team. The team was on a mission to assassinate the governor of the Japanese garrison in Korea, which was then under Japan's colonial rule.

The espionage action film has an all-star ensemble cast, including actress Jun Ji-hyun, actor Lee Jung-jae and Ha Jung-woo.

It is co-written and directed by Choi Dong-hoon.

Choi Dong-hoon's 2012 film "The Thieves" has also passed the 10 million domestic admission mark.

Source: CRIENGLISH

CONGRATULATIONS ASSASSINATION ON BREAKING 10 MILLION MARK ON INDEPENDENCE DAY (GWANGBOKJEOL)- AUGUST 15! WILL ASSASSINATION SURPASS THIEVES' RECORD OF 12,983,341 VIEWERS??

cr: Korean Film Council

[demarchelier]

‘Assassination’ crosses 10m viewers

Colonial-era action flick “Assassination” crossed the 10 million-viewer mark at the box office on Saturday, the National Liberation Day of Korea, becoming the first local film to pass the milestone this year. 

Director Choi Dong-hoon’s flick, which was released on July 22, garnered 10,336,691 viewers as of Sunday according to the official box-office tracker Korean Film Council. 

“Assassination” is the 16th film to join the 10 million-viewership club here, and the 12th among domestic films. For Choi, it is his second time to reach the feat since his 2012 caper film “The Thieves,” which drew 12.9 million viewers. 

Previously, director Yoon Je-kyoon achieved the 10 million title with two of his movies, “Tidal Wave” and “Ode to My Father.” 

Set in the 1930s when Korea was a colony of Japan, the flick revolves around three Korean independence fighters with a mission to assassinate the commander of the Japanese troop in Korea and a pro-Japanese Korean businessman. 

Actress Jun Ji-hyun, actor Lee Jung-jae and Ha Jung-woo play the lead roles in the star-studded flick. 

By Ahn Sung-mi (sahn@heraldcorp.com) 

Source: KPOP HERALD

[irilight]

@czakhareina, thank you for starting this thread. It is already current film, not upcoming.

It opened in North America last week, and I went to see it.

It is absolutely awesome film

I cannot recommend it enough. I love the cast esp. the lead 3 Ha Jung Woo, Lee Jung Jae and Gianna Jun. I liked the plot twists and the surprise ending. Really not to be missed.

Film auteur Choi sets milestones with well-crafted plots, dialogues

Box-office hit ‘Assassination’ further establishes the director as influential filmmaker

Choi Dong-hoon, the director of “Assassination,” is no stranger to big box-office success.

The 44-year-old film auteur, who has become this year’s first Korean director to attract over 10 million viewers with the historical action flick, already topped the 10 million mark once before in 2012 with the caper film “The Thieves.”

Crimes and schemes have been Choi’s trademark and forte since his 2004 directorial debut with “The Big Swindle,” which brought him almost every major award for director and screenplay at the end of that year.

With an airtight plot about a group of grifters and hustlers who steal from the Bank of Korea with realistic and savvy dialogues, the heist film was not only critically acclaimed but also was a commercial hit, bringing in over 2 million moviegoers according to KOBIS, the Korean Film Council’s box office tracking service.

As it turns out, that was just the warm-up. Choi’s sophomore film “Tazza: The High Rollers” in 2006 made him a household name with its colorful and dynamic portrayal of Korea’s card gambling underworld. With nearly 6 million seats filled, it was an unequivocal hit. The movie won him top honors at the prestigious Baeksang Arts Awards that year.

The 2010 fantasy action movie “Woochi” took Choi’s filmography to a new direction. Starring the wide-eyed Kang Dong-won as a mythical hero chasing down goblins, the film was lauded as Korea’s answers to superhero blockbusters. “Woochi” brought in over 6 million viewers, marking another milestone for Choi.

In 2012 came “Thieves,” the star-studded caper film that left Choi’s mark on the Korean cinema history.

With its cast including Jun Ji-hyun, Kim Hye-soo, Kim Yun-seok, Lee Jung-jae and Kim Soo-hyun, Choi spun a tale of the masters of the underworld teaming up to steal a precious diamond in Macau. Choi’s strong characters, crisp dialogues and well-planned action sequences made the film the must-see of the year, eventually attracting nearly 13 million people to theaters.

Although many people compare “Assassination” to “The Thieves” because of its strong ensemble (including Jun Ji-hyun and Lee Jung-jae from “The Thieves”) and grand-scheme storyline, Choi told the press ahead of the film’s release that “Assassination” was a new stylistic attempt.

“I wanted it to be different from ‘The Thieves,’” he said.

“I wanted to take out the cheerful, lively and skill-focused aspects and make it more classic.”

Although “Assassination” has strong dialogues, he said the characters were designed to be more reserved.

“While the personality of each character was revealed quickly in ‘The Thieves,’ in (“Assassination”) I wanted it to be slower, to make the audience understand the characters bit by bit.”

“Assassination” -- about a group of freedom fighters targeting Japanese and pro-Japanese officials in the 1930s during Japan’s imperial rule of the Korean peninsula -- hit the 10 million mark in ticket sales on the 70th anniversary of Liberation Day on Aug. 15.
It became the 12th Korean movie to hit the milestone, according to KOBIS.

 

Source

 

[demarchelier]

ASSASSINATION BEATS AVENGERS:AGE OF ULTRON RECORD (10.49 MILLION) - AUGUST 16

313,534 VIEWERS (10,650,212 CUMULATIVE)!!

cr: Korean Film Council

It's amazing that Assassination is doing so well at the box office considering it deals with a subject matter that usually doesn't attract Korean audiences. Assassination, Fighting!!

Sensitive era scares off audiences and filmmakers

A Peculiar exists in Korea's Curse Movie Industry:. Films SET in the Japanese colonial ERA (from 1910 to 45) Never make it Notably, there was Field-kyu Kang's Ambitious Korean-Chinese war drama "My Way" (2011), SET in 1938 , starring Jang Dong-gun, Joe Odagiri and Fan Bing Bing, which attracted a disappointing 2.1 million moviegoers. Considering ITS International Stellar CAST and jaw-dropping 2.8 billion won ($ 2.4 million) Production Cost, the outcome was FAR below Expectations. Comedy Flick "Radio Days" (2008) and romance film "Modern Boy" (2008), both of which were set in the 1930s, also took in a dreadful 214,946 and 758,473 admissions, respectively.

Critics say the depressing mood and Sense of Defeat pervasive in the ERA Scare Away cinemagoers, who are looking for Entertainment at the Theaters. Of Course, there are always exceptions. In Theaters Now is Choi Dong-Hoon's latest Historical action Flick, "Assassination, "SET in 1933, which has been seen by more than Nine million moviegoers as of Wednesday. Generating Buzz for ITS Nice portrayal of major Historical Facts and Choi's Signature FAST-paced Editing, the highly entertaining "Assassination" is on the verge of hitting the Monumental 10 million Mark, Easily surpassing ITS break-even Point of Seven million admissions. By depicting a stumbling Glorious yet Assassination scheme carried out by Korean Independence Fighters, the film is said to be resonating Also in the current Atmosphere in Korea where a sour sentiment Toward ITS Still Remains neighbor to the East. But in Most Cases Other past, the Jinx holds true. "People do not Want to Remember the ERA where Korea was under Japanese Control," Ha Jae-keun Critic Explains culture."Go to Theaters to Find Those who are not interest in something entertaining in this Gloomy ERA Films SET." This Also Explains why Films SET in the final years of the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910) Also have failed to win the hearts of the Public. Representatively, "Gabi" (2012) and "The Sword With No Name" (2009) flopped, grow at high rate depicting the lives of well-known dynamic Historical Figures King Gojong (1,852 to 1919) and HIS first wife, Empress Myeongseong ( 1,851-1,895), who was PUT to Death by the Japanese.Meanwhile, Kim Jee-Woon's "The Good, The Bad, The Weird" Achieved an Unusual level success. Because this is likely the film was Made in an entertaining way, and there was No Mention of Japanese colonization. "Events happening in that film could be Placed INTO Cut out and any time of History and the Still it would work," said film Critic Hwang Young-mee.Sometimes, the sullen sentiment towards the Japanese Government Films Surfaces in the Public's reaction to SET in the ERA. In "Shallow Blue" (2005), the Late Actress Jang Jin-Young Park Played Kyung-won, the first Korean Female Pilot, who had a Japanese Flying School Attended. However, once the film began to be perceived as Pro-Japanese, it led to the launch of an online petition against seeing movie. The film's Office box sales topped out at five hundred and forty-three thousand five hundred ninety-seven admissions. "The film was Pretty well-Made Itself, but the social sentiment Support it did not," said Hwang.However, Hwang believes the ERA should Continue to be "excavated." " the Japanese colonial ERA contains an indefinite source of stories, Because Korea was going through uneven Development, having Both Sophisticated culture brought in by intellectuals who studied abroad while having an underdeveloped Also side with many people suffering from exploitation Still, "she said. "Just Keep making as the Chinese Films about the frustration and they Felt Sense of Loss when they the Second Sino-Japanese War Lost, we should think about to revive past events How to Find Valuable Meaning and Relevance to Present-Day Audiences. " BY EUN JIN -SOO [jin.eunsoo@joongang.co.kr]

Source: Korea JoongAng Daily

 

[demarchelier]

Court rejects injunction against S. Korean movie 'Assassination'

A Seoul court Tuesday rejected a request by a local novelist to keep a domestic action film, featuring colonial-era assassination attempts by Korean independence fighters, from screening.

Choi Jong-rim sought an injunction to halt the screening of "Assassination," claiming the film plagiarized his book "Corean Memories."

The plaintiff said the film's plot is similar to his novel in that a female sniper is the leading character and Kim Koo, one of the most revered Korean patriots, organizes and leads a group to kill the key Japanese figures and Japanese collaborators.

The book was first published in 2003 and published again in April 2015.

The Seoul Central District Court ruled that many of the parts Choi claimed as plagiarism, including female sniper and assassination schemes, are abstract plots that cannot be protected by the copyright law.

In the film, assassination is at the heart of the story while it plays only small part in the novel, the court added.

The 64-year-old novelist is also seeking 10 billion won (US$8 million) in damages against director Choi Dong-hoon, production company Caper Film Co. and the film's local distributor, Showbox, in a suit lodged with the Seoul Central District Court on Aug. 12.

Set in Shanghai and Seoul in the 1930s, when Korea was a colony of Japan, the star-studded film tells the story of three Korean independence fighters teaming up to assassinate the commander of the Japanese troops in Korea and a Korean business tycoon with ties to Japan.

Starring Jun Ji-hyun, Lee Jung-jae and Ha Jung-woo, the action flick surpassed 10 million in attendance on Aug. 15, when the country marked the 70th anniversary of Korean liberation from the 1910-45 Japanese colonial rule. It currently is the most-viewed Korean film year-to-date. (Yonhap)

source: Korea Times

[demarchelier]

ASSASSINATION GETTING CLOSER TO 11 MILLION MARK - AUGUST 18

122,765 VIEWERS (10,915,070 CUMULATIVE)!!

cr: Korean Film Council

Korea’s ‘Assassination’ Tops 2015 As Summer Box Office Springs Into Action 

The Korean box office has gotten a jolt in the past several weeks, with local films opening through the roof and hanging on in this fast-burn market. Assassination, which bowed on July 22 and was the No. 7 movie at the international box office that weekend, has just become Korea’s No. 1 movie of the year. The colonial-era espionage tale stepped over Avengers: Age Of Ultron to reach the top spot, selling 10.82M tickets versus Ultron‘s 10.5M. Assassination still trails Ultron in dollar terms ($71.1M v $74.9M), but should pass it this week. It has already entered the Top 10 movies of all time which are measured by admissions. There is only one Hollywood title in the Top 10: Avatar at No. 3.

Directed by Choi Dong-hoon, Assassination follows a group of exiled rebels planning a hit on an army commander in Japanese-occupied Korea. But, the only killer for the job is in prison. The resistance must devise a jailbreak, escape a hitman and discover which of them is a traitor. Well Go USA released Stateside on August 7 and has taken about $820K so far.

Also zooming up the charts this summer is Veteran, the No. 3 movie at the international box office this past weekend, it is No. 4 for the year in Korea with $46.48M in box office and 7M tickets sold, according to industry body Kobiz. From The Berlin File director Ryoo Seung-wan, Veteran stars Hwang Jung-min as a detective who pursues an elusive young millionaire involved in one of his high-profile cases. That releases in the U.S. on August 21. 

source: Deadline Hollywood

 

[demarchelier]

South Korea Box Office: Local Action Movie 'Assassination' On Top, Becomes Biggest Film of 2015

The period film crossed the 10 million admissions milestone on 70th anniversary of South Korean independence.

Assassination finished second after another homespun actioner, Veteran, in the South Korean box office over the weekend of Aug. 14-16, but has beat the score of Avengers: Age of Ultron to become the top film of 2015 as well as one of the highest grossing titles in Korean cinema history. Mission: Impossible—Rogue Nation maintained third place.

Seen by 10.79 million viewers as of Tuesday, Assassination tops Avengers: Age of Ultron, which had been this year's most-watched film with 10.49 million admissions. According to the Korean Film Council's KOBIS database, Assassination film took 20.6 percent of the market share over the weekend for a cumulative gross total of 82 billion won ($71 million). In financial terms, however,the Avengers sequel, which had been offered in various formats including the more expensive 3D, 4D and IMAX versions, remains the top grossing film with a cumulative estimate of $75 million.

Local industry observers nevertheless measure a film's box-office performance by admissions, and the Showbox/Mediaplex title became the 12th Korean film to attract about a fifth of Korea's population of 50 million. About independence fighters in action during Japan's occupation of Korea (1910-1945), the film coincidentally crossed 10 million admissions on Korea's 70th Independence Day that fell on Saturday. Hurtful memories of the colonial era remain ingrained among Koreans. Few non-Korean titles such as Avatar have managed to reach the milestone in a market generally dominated by local fare. Assassination has now become the 13th best film of all time in the Korean box office.

The crime actioner is the second film by Choi Dong-hoon to reach 10 million admissions after 2012's The Thieves. Choi is the second Korean director after J.K. Youn (Haeundae, Ode to My Father) to have more than one 10-million admissions film under his belt. "This film has been a great challenge, and is a project that I've wanted to do for a long time," said Choi about the box-office breakthrough. "I am truly happy that I was able to have this meaningful connection with the audience."

Both of Choi's record-breaking films star an Ocean's 11-style cast of A-listers including Gianna Jun, Lee Jung-jae and Oh Dal-soo. Assassination is currently showing across select U.S. theaters via Well Go USA, and has been sold to 14 other territories around the world. Onlookers are especially looking forward to the film's opening in Chinese theaters in September, in time for the local commemoration of imperial Japan's surrender.

Meanwhile, Veteran continues to attracting big audiences and accounted for 47.5 percent of the share during this time frame. The actioner distributed by CJ Entertainment topped the box office for the second consecutive week to amount to total earnings of about $46.1 million. Directed by star director Ryu Seung-wan, the cat-and-mouse detective film has garnered close to 7 million admissions as of Tuesday.

The blockbuster success of Assassination and Veteran, meanwhile, has pushed down Mission: Impossible—Rogue Nation down to third place for the second straight week. The marked share of the Tom Cruise film, however, has almost halved from the week before down to 9.8 percent. But with a total gross of roughly $38 million, the Lotte Entertainment title has nevertheless proven to be the most successful among the five films in the franchise.

Minions, distributed by Universal Pictures International Korea, ranked fourth for the second consecutive week as it garnered 5.2 percent of viewers for a cumu $14 million. Megabox Plus M's local rom-com Wonderful Nightmare trailed close behind in fifth place, debuting with a market share of 5.1 percent. The gross total for the film starring Asian superstar Song Seung-hun comes down to $2.1 million as of Tuesday.

source: The Hollywood Reporter