Another quiet week in Korean cinema, with everyone claiming victory this week. Well, not everyone, but things were quiet enough that three different titles were boasting they were No. 1.

Tops on my chart was the Drew Barrymore romantic comedy MUSIC AND LYRICS BY, which pulled in 89,100 admissions in Seoul. Nationally, however, MIRACLE ON 1ST STREET was by far the most popular film (according to our friends at KOBIS). KOBIS gave MIRACLE 19.3% of the weekend’s audience share, versus 15% for MUSIC.

And another film claimed the top spot — the No. 2 film on my chart, PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS. HAPPINESS claimed to be the top film, based on … uh, I do not know. They just seem to be claiming the top spot (by audience share).

Jeong Yun-cheol’s second film, SHIM’S FAMILY, looks like it will not begin to approach the success of his debut, MARATHON. Okay, so maybe he was not trying to top MARATHON… but still, that was a pretty weak response to a movie in 170+ theaters.

Very strange to see the top two films this week appearing on so few screens, just 143 and 141. I cannot remember the last time something like that happened. Korea is usually pretty quiet in March and April. But with Warner Bros really pushing 300 at the moment, it will be interesting to see how that film does when it makes its debut on March 15.

This Week Title…………………………………. Release Date Screens Nationwide Weekend Attendance (Seoul only) Total Attendance
1. Music and Lyrics By 2.28 143 89,100 315,400
2. Pursuit of Happiness 2.28 141 69,800 283,900
3. Miracle on 1st Street 2.14 290 62,000 2,273,000
4. Dreamgirls 2.22 110 54,000 519,000
5. Shim’s Family 3.01 171 31,500 176,200
6. Highway Star 2.14 252 28,600 1,447,000
7. Hannibal Rising 2.28 185 26,000 157,500
8. Babel 2.22 107 14,900 199,100
9. A Day for an Affair 2.08 195 11,600 1,798,600
10. Hoola Girls 3.01 69 10,300 28,500

(Source: Film2.0)