[Edaily Reporter YUN GI BACK ] The movie industry fell into a deep slump in November. The average daily number of moviegoers dropped to the 130,000 range, marking the lowest level this year. With even the top-grossing film failing to attract 20,000 viewers a day, live-performance films and re-releases are filling the void.

According to the Korean Film Council’s Integrated Computerized Ticket System on the 14th, the average daily number of moviegoers from the 1st to the 13th of this month was approximately 132,000. This represents a 47.2% decrease from last month’s average of about 250,000. Even compared to last November’s average of approximately 246,000, the current figure is only about half that level. If this trend continues through the end of the month, it will mark the lowest monthly average attendance since social distancing measures were lifted in April 2022. At that time, the daily average attendance was approximately 104,000.
The slump in the theater industry is also evident in the daily box office figures. As of the 13th, the film “Paul 2: Deadpoint” topped the charts with 19,162 viewers. The second-place film, “The Final Interview,” drew only 13,761 viewers. Following that, “Chiikawa: The Secret of the Mermaid Island (Theatrical Version),” the re-release of “La La Land,” and “Heart of the Beast” ranked 3rd through 5th. Even the films in the top ranks of the box office are failing to draw large crowds.
In the advance ticket sales rankings, singer Lim Young-woong’s fanbase made its presence felt. As of 8 a.m. on the 14th, the concert film “Lim Young-woong | I’m Hero: The Stadium 2” took first place with a 14.8% advance ticket sales rate and approximately 46,000 advance ticket buyers. Rather than new commercial films, audience demand is being sustained by titles that have secured a specific fan base and past box office hits.
November is traditionally the off-season for the box office, but this year’s slump is particularly severe. With no major blockbusters on the horizon for the time being, the industry is pinning its hopes on a rebound from Marvel’s “Avengers: Doomsday” and “Dune: Part 3,” both set to open on the 16th of next month. A film industry insider noted, “Since the Chuseok holiday fell in September and the box office performance of films released during the holiday fell short of expectations, the boost in audience turnout faded early,” adding, “The lack of new releases capable of attracting a broad age range also played a role.”