Korean Box Office: Wide Release ‘Minari’ Defeats ‘Raya and the Last Dragon’

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau ChiefLeading South Korean TV production studio Monster Union has commissioned a local adaptation of British comedy series “Uncle.” The Korean series will be the first localization of the scripted format, which is represented by BBC Studios.The darkly comic series follows the misadventures of a dissolute, out-of-work musician who forges an unlikely alliance with his 12-year-old nephew after being morally blackmailed into looking after him by his chaotic sister, on the

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau ChiefKorean American drama film “Minari” can’t stop winning awards. Similarly, it continues to reign on top of the Korean box office.The Lee Isaac Chung-directed film earned $1.09 million between Friday and Monday to top the box office in South Korea, according to data from Kobis, the tracking service of the Korean Film Council (KOFIC).The figure is little changed from the previous weekend.

Los Angeles-based Library Pictures International has inked a deal to co-finance a slate of Korean-language films with South Korean studio Next Entertainment World, also known as NEW. Financial terms weren't disclosed.

Korean media group Next Entertainment World has partnered with L.A.’s Library Pictures International, signing a three-year co-financing slate for the production of Korean-language films.

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau ChiefKorean Oscar-winner “Parasite” gleefully poked fun at South Korea’s bourgeoisie. Hur Jin-ho’s “The Dinner” is set to give the middle classes another skewering.The project is an adaptation of Dutch novel ‘Het Diner’ (“The Dinner”) written by Herman Koch.

On Feb. 22, Korean cafe Spoon by H on Beverly Boulevard announced via Instagram that it would close the next weekend.

Gallery: The career of Betty White in pictures (Espresso)Youn shared the historic first with "Minari" co-star Steven Yeun, the first Asian-American to be nominated for a best actor Oscar. Born in Seoul, Yuen and his family moved to Canada and then the United States when he was a child.

Rebecca Davis editorZhang Yimou has been hard at work alongside his daughter Zhang Mo shooting his upcoming blockbuster “Sniper,” which is now set for an October release, its production firm said.The project was explicitly conceived as a nationalistic commemoration of the 70th anniversary of the Korean War, known in China as the “War to Resist U.S.

After winning a Golden Globe, numerous critics circle accolades as well as SAG Award, Independent Spirit Award and Critics Choice nominations, Minari has taken its success overseas as the A24 American family drama has opened at number one in South Korea.

Saban Films has picked up the horror-thriller Hide and Seek forNorth America, the U.K. and Ireland.

Apple TV+ is moving into Korean-language originals with a series based on a popular webtoon Dr. Brain that will star Parasite’s Lee Sun-Kyun.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterApple has ordered a live-action series adaptation of the Korean webtoon “Dr. Brain.” The series will be the first completely Korean-language project at the streamer.Kim Jee-Woon will write and direct, with “Parasite” star Lee Sun-Kyun set to star.

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau ChiefTriumph and pain were bedfellows last year for the Korean film industry. But Berlin’s European Film Market and the imminent Hong Kong FilMart see Korean companies putting on a brave face.Korean cinemas were in defensive mode early on in the coronavirus pandemic, as a population familiar with epidemics chose to stay away from crowded places.

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau ChiefThe end came quietly with the humdrum announcement of a deal between two state-owned TV groups, China Central Television (CCTV) and South Korean public broadcaster KBS.

Carole Horst Triumph and pain were bedfellows last year for the Korean film industry. But Berlin’s European Film Market and the imminent Hong Kong FilMart see Korean companies putting on a brave face.Korean cinemas were in a defensive mode early on in the coronavirus pandemic, as a population familiar with epidemics chose to stay away from crowded places.

EXCLUSIVE: The Remake Co, FilmSharks’ specialty label handling remake rights, has closed a deal with Korea’s Covenant Pictures for rights to the Argentinian feature Crazy Heart.

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau ChiefConsumption of South Korean content now outstrips time watching U.S.-made content on streaming platforms in three key market in South East Asia.

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau ChiefJapanese hit animation “Demon Slayer The Movie: Mugen Train” enjoyed a 32% surge to move to the top of the Korean box office. It grossed $745,000 over the weekend to expand its cumulative total to $7.74 million in just over four weeks of release.“Demon Slayer” had not previously topped the Korean chart.

Netflix reaffirmed its commitment to South Korea's globally appealing entertainment industry Thursday, unveiling plans to spend nearly $500 million in 2021 on films and television series produced in the country. The plans were unveiled during Netflix's splashy "See What's Next Korea" event held in Seoul, where Korean directors and stars gathered with Netflix creative executives to promote the company's current and upcoming local-language originals.