'The Assassin(s)' and 'Chiikawa' Split Weekend Lead at Korean Box Office

Hur Jin-ho's political crime thriller "The Assassin(s)" maintained its hold on the South Korean box office by total admissions over the Oct. 2-4 weekend, according to tracking data from KOBIS reported by Variety.

While the live-action drama drew the largest crowd in terms of raw ticket sales, Japanese animated feature "Chiikawa the Movie: The Secret of the Mermaid Island" captured the weekend's highest overall box office revenue.

## Admissions Versus Revenue

The split between foot traffic and gross earnings reflects differential pricing across cinema formats and target demographics in the South Korean market. Family and anime titles often benefit from higher weekend matinee pricing and premium screen allocations compared to traditional adult dramas.

As Hollywood Tomorrow has observed across international theatrical circuits, imported Japanese animation IP continues to exert outsized commercial leverage in East Asia, frequently punching above its weight against major domestic live-action releases.

"The Assassin(s)" nevertheless proved resilient during the frame, demonstrating sustained audience demand for Hur's prestige direction and star-driven local storytelling as the autumn theatrical season unfolds.