Classic melodrama prevails: 'Once We Were Us' set to top box office for 3rd straight weekend

▲ This poster of South Korean melodrama film “Once We Were Us”, starring Koo Kyo-hwan and Moon Ga-young, is provided by Showbox. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

SEOUL, Jan. 23 (Yonhap) -- The romance film “Once We Were Us,” starring Koo Kyo-hwan and Moon Ga-young, is expected to remain atop the weekend box office for a third consecutive week.

According to the Korean Film Council’s integrated box office data system on Friday, “Once We Were Us” drew about 39,000 viewers the previous day, accounting for 26.4 percent of total ticket sales and ranking first. Its cumulative audience stands at approximately 1.746 million.

A Korean reinterpretation of the Chinese film “Us and Them,” the movie alters some of the original’s settings to tell the story of former lovers who reunite and reflect on their past choices.

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Ranking second was another Korean film, “Band of the Gods,” starring Park Si-hoo and Jung Jin-woon, which attracted about 25,000 viewers (16.3 percent share) the previous day, bringing its cumulative total to around 528,000.

James Cameron’s “Avatar: Fire and Ash” placed third with about 15,000 viewers (13.6 percent share), followed by the noir film “Project Y,” starring Jeon Jong-seo and Han So-hee, which ranked fourth with about 14,000 viewers (9.4 percent share).

Disney’s animated feature “Zootopia 2” came in fifth with about 6,000 viewers, bringing its cumulative audience to approximately 8.47 million.

As of 9 a.m. Thursday, the top two spots in advance ticket sales were both occupied by upcoming Korean films set for release next month.

Director Ryoo Seung-wan’s “Humint,” slated to open Feb. 11, topped the reservation chart with about 59,700 advance tickets sold, accounting for a 14.6 percent reservation rate.

“The Man Who Lives with the King,” starring Yoo Hae-jin and Park Ji-hoon and opening Feb. 4, followed closely in second place with a 14.5 percent reservation rate, or about 59,300 tickets.

Among films currently in theaters, “Once We Were Us” ranked highest in reservations at 12.2 percent, placing third overall, followed by “Avatar: Fire and Ash” at 10.0 percent.

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