Harbin Maintains Box Office Dominance for 23 Consecutive Days

The film '하얼빈' (Harbin) has impressively held the top spot at the box office for 23 consecutive days since its release on December 24, 2024. As of January 16, 2025, it has also been voted the 'Most Anticipated Movie' for three weeks in a row, according to data from the consulting firm PMI. In the third week of January, 'Harbin' secured 14.9% of the votes, nearing the milestone of 4.5 million viewers.

The movie centers around the historical figure An Jung-geun (played by Hyun Bin), who attempted to assassinate Japanese official Ito Hirobumi in 1909 while dreaming of independence for Korea. It portrays the intense struggles, internal conflicts, and sacrifices made by An and his fellow independence fighters in their quest for freedom. According to the Korean Film Council's integrated ticketing system, 'Harbin' ranks first in both box office and seat occupancy rates, and third in real-time ticket reservations, indicating sustained audience interest. The film's potential to surpass 5 million viewers is highly anticipated.

Following closely is the upcoming film '검은 수녀들' (The Black Nuns), which is set to release on January 24, 2025. It ranked second in the third week of January with 11.4% of the votes, despite not being released yet. The film features Song Hye-kyo as Sister Unia, who embarks on a forbidden exorcism to save a boy tormented by evil spirits, revealing dark past events and shocking truths along the way.

In third place is '소방관' (Firefighters), which garnered 8.0% of the votes. This film, based on the tragic 2001 Hongje-dong fire, realistically depicts the inner conflicts, dedication, and sacrifices of firefighters as they strive to save lives in dire conditions. Even after more than a month since its release, it continues to attract significant audience attention, ranking second in both box office and seat occupancy rates.

The film '보고타: 마지막 기회의 땅' (Bogotá: The Land of Last Chances) is also gaining traction, particularly among viewers in their 40s, ranking fourth with 6.6%. It tells the story of Guk-hee (played by Song Joong-ki), who, fleeing the 1997 IMF crisis, becomes embroiled in dangerous situations while smuggling clothes under the influence of a powerful Korean merchant.

Other notable films in the top rankings include '히트맨2' (Hitman 2) at 6.5%, '모아나2' (Moana 2) at 6.4%, '위키드' (Wicked) at 6.2%, '말할 수 없는 비밀' (The Secret That Cannot Be Told) at 5.7%, and '무파사: 라이온 킹' (Mufasa: The Lion King) at 5.5%.

This survey was conducted by PMI through HeyPoll, targeting 5,000 men and women aged 20 to 50, with a margin of error of ±1.39% at a 95% confidence level.