The Korean period blockbuster, "Assassination," continues to draw attention as the domestic market begins to calculate early sales for the weekend box office. An article published by Star News analyzed the ticket pre-sales recorded as of 8 a.m. on August 20 for "Assassination," "Veteran" and the avant-garde art flick, "The Beauty Inside."
According to the report, early trends show strong ticket sales of 34 percent by the Yoo Ah In led film, "Veteran." "The Beauty Inside" accounted for 19.1 percent of sales, followed by "Assassination" with 12.9.
On August 18, "Assassination" became the highest-grossing Korean film of 2015, when its box office tally of 10.79 million viewers exceeded the attendance of the prior record holder, "Avengers: Age of Ultron." Industry insiders attributed the high number of domestic admissions to strong sentiments surrounding the recent celebration of the 70th anniversary of Korean Independence.
Set within the period of Japanese occupation, "Assassination" focuses on a liberation plot crafted by Korean freedom fighters based in China. The film benefits from the star power of "My Love from the Star" actress Jun Ji Hyun and top film actor, Lee Jung Jae.
Bolstered by a high-profile cast which includes more than 20 actors and actresses who portray a single role, "The Beauty Inside" is a strong contender to upset ticket sales of "Assassination" and"Veteran."
Adapted from a 2012 American film, "The Beauty Inside" stars Han Hyo Joo alongside an ensemble cast including Lee Dong Wook, Park Shin Hye, Lee Hyun Woo, and Yoo Yeon Sook.
"The Beauty Inside" premieres to Korean audiences on August 20 and is scheduled to open in U.S. theaters on September 11. "Assassination" and "Veteran" are currently screening throughout North America.
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About the writer: Adrienne Stanley is a contributing editor for KDramaStars. She is also a contributing writer for KpopStarz, MTV Iggy, Viki and CJ Entertainment's KCON blog. Her passions include a love of K-pop and Asian drama. When she is not writing, she is hanging out on Twitter (@retrogirladdy).
