The movie 'The All-Rounder Reader' (directed by Kim Byeong-woo, hereafter 'AR') has taken the lead at the box office in its opening weekend.
According to the Korea Film Council's integrated computer network for movie ticket sales, 'AR' attracted 427,362 viewers from the 25th to the 27th. It maintained the top spot for five consecutive days since its release on the 23rd. The total number of viewers so far is 627,890.
'AR' is a fantasy action film that transforms the dungeon world of a novel into reality, telling the story of the only reader, Kim Reader (played by Ahn Hyo-seop), who fights for survival. It stars Ahn Hyo-seop, Lee Min-ho, Chae Soo-bin, Shin Seung-ho, Nana, and Jisoo.
The film is based on the popular web novel of the same name by author Sing Shong, which has accumulated over 200 million views globally. As such, there was high interest from original fans even before the release.
However, opinions have been mixed. The grand scale of the VFX has been praised, particularly the creature battle scenes set against the backdrop of a devastated Seoul that kept viewers on the edge of their seats. The action and emotional performances by Ahn Hyo-seop and Lee Min-ho were also well received.
On the other hand, some critics pointed out that the narrative details were somewhat lacking. The heavy emphasis on spectacle made it difficult to engage with the characters’ emotional transformations. It is also unfortunate that it did not meet the expectations of original fans.
Meanwhile, 'F1: The Movie' (directed by Joseph Kosinski) took second place at the weekend box office from the 25th to the 27th with 340,240 admissions. The cumulative audience number stands at 2,393,856.
'Fantastic Four: The New Beginning' (directed by Matt Shakman) ranked third during the same period, with 269,097 viewers. The cumulative audience number is 342,418.
<Photo provided by Lotte Entertainment>
