‘Bangkok Breaking: Heaven And Hell’ Netflix Review: Thai Action Film Simply Doesn’t Know When To End
There have been quite a few action movies this year where the cityscape, or at least a part of a city, was turned into a battlefield to comment on classism, corruption, and how justice has become a distant reality. For starters, there was City Hunter, which used vigilante justice to wage war against the seedy connections between the police, the beauty industry, and the defense forces. With Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F and Bad Boys: Ride or Die, the cities featured in the films show how anti-immigration sentiments are used to mask criminal misconduct. The Roundup: Punishment, Monkey Man, and Rebel Ridge, to a certain extent, used its surroundings to give us an education on righteous violence. Twilight of Warriors served as an homage to Hong Kong action films while talking about the violent gentrification of slums. Bangkok Breaking: Heaven and Hell falls squarely in this category. Is it any good though?...
- 9/26/2024
- by Pramit Chatterjee
- DMT
Korean crime comedy action film “I The Executioner” has amassed more than $30 million of gross revenues on its sixth day of release, making it one of the fastest movies in local history to reach that mark.
Kobis, the cinema data service operated by the Korean Film Council, reported that the film had reached 3.71 million admissions and a gross haul of $27.2 million by the evening of Tuesday, its fifth full day in cinemas.
On Wednesday morning, the film’s distributor Cj Enm said that the film’s ticket sales total had surpassed 4 million by 9am local time. That would give an estimated box office total of $30 million, that will be confirmed by independent data later in the day.
Cj Enm has not disclosed a production budget for the title, but it said that with this level of business the film has now broken even. It is not clear whether that calculation...
Kobis, the cinema data service operated by the Korean Film Council, reported that the film had reached 3.71 million admissions and a gross haul of $27.2 million by the evening of Tuesday, its fifth full day in cinemas.
On Wednesday morning, the film’s distributor Cj Enm said that the film’s ticket sales total had surpassed 4 million by 9am local time. That would give an estimated box office total of $30 million, that will be confirmed by independent data later in the day.
Cj Enm has not disclosed a production budget for the title, but it said that with this level of business the film has now broken even. It is not clear whether that calculation...
- 9/18/2024
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
Actor Ma Dong-seok has amassed quite a cult following as an action movie star, and The Roundup, the crime-action movie series, is one of the reasons for that. The series follows the veteran actor playing the role of Ma Seok-do, a rugged cop who gets entangled in some of the most notorious cases and almost always punches his way out of his problems. So far, the series has maintained a tradition of no-nonsense, simplistic storytelling, a mildly humorous tone, and massy action sequences that suit Ma Dong-seok’s style perfectly, and the fourth installment of the franchise, The Roundup: Punishment, is no exception. There is a pattern to the narrative style of the movie series, as Ma Dong-seok has tackled adversaries from different Asian countries with each entry so far, be it the crime boss from China, the serial killer from Vietnam, or the Japanese Yakuza. The fourth movie presents...
- 7/4/2024
- by Siddhartha Das
- Film Fugitives
Adapted from a Korean webcomic, “Yongamhan Shimin” created by Kim Jung-hyun, serialized first on Comico platform and later published on Naver Webtoon platform from 2014 to 2016. The story focuses on a female former boxing champion who starts her new career as a substitute teacher in a high school. In order to achieve her definite goal of becoming a full time teacher, she tries her best to avoid and ignore troubling situations. But she eventually has to confront the school's most feared and cruel bully after seeing too much intolerable violence and becoming a victim herself.
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“Too Young to Die” (2002), a film about an elderly couple rediscovering sex was Park's feature film debut. With his highly acclaimed “You Are My Sunshine” (2005), a tearjerker about the love between a farmer and a sex worker, he received the Best Director at the 26th Blue Dragon Film Awards.
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“Too Young to Die” (2002), a film about an elderly couple rediscovering sex was Park's feature film debut. With his highly acclaimed “You Are My Sunshine” (2005), a tearjerker about the love between a farmer and a sex worker, he received the Best Director at the 26th Blue Dragon Film Awards.
- 6/7/2024
- by David Chew
- AsianMoviePulse
“Hong Kong in the Lens by Asian Directors” is a program supported by the Hong Kong Tourism Board, which includes a series of microfilms directed by renowned directors from Asia. “Hong Kong, Within Me” is one of those titles, directed by Kang Yoon-sung, whose credits include the four entries in “The Roundup” series.
Hong Kong, Within Me is screening at Short Shorts Film Festival and Asia
The movie begins with a Korean woman in her pajamas descending the stairs in her house while counting backwards. When she reaches one, however, she wakes up and she seems to be in a place she does not recognize, which soon is revealed to be Hong Kong. Still in her pajamas and barefooted, she goes outside first asking two young women to loan her their phone, and then taking up a cab, of an expectedly suspicious driver. She eventually reaches her destination, where a...
Hong Kong, Within Me is screening at Short Shorts Film Festival and Asia
The movie begins with a Korean woman in her pajamas descending the stairs in her house while counting backwards. When she reaches one, however, she wakes up and she seems to be in a place she does not recognize, which soon is revealed to be Hong Kong. Still in her pajamas and barefooted, she goes outside first asking two young women to loan her their phone, and then taking up a cab, of an expectedly suspicious driver. She eventually reaches her destination, where a...
- 6/1/2024
- by Panos Kotzathanasis
- AsianMoviePulse
A Korean adaptation of Taiwanese hit You Are The Apple Of My Eye is in the works and is being introduced to buyers at the Cannes market by K-Movie Entertainment.
The remake will mark the feature directorial debut of Cho Young-myoung, with a cast led by Jung Jin-young and Dahyun. Jung is known as a singer and former leader of boy group B1A4 but has also gained recognition for acting in TV series Love In The Moonlight and Police University. Dahyun is a member of girl group Twice and is set to make her acting debut in sports drama Sprint.
The remake will mark the feature directorial debut of Cho Young-myoung, with a cast led by Jung Jin-young and Dahyun. Jung is known as a singer and former leader of boy group B1A4 but has also gained recognition for acting in TV series Love In The Moonlight and Police University. Dahyun is a member of girl group Twice and is set to make her acting debut in sports drama Sprint.
- 5/15/2024
- ScreenDaily
“Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes” opened in second place at the South Korean weekend box office, a distance behind local holdover title “The Roundup: Punishment.”
“Punishment,” the fourth part of Don Lee’s “Roundup” action franchise, dominated proceedings for the third weekend in succession. It earned $5.53 million and advanced its cumulative total to $67.7 million, according to Kobis, the tracking service operated by the Korean Film Council (Kofic). Its earnings represented a still strong 58% share of the weekend theatrical market, but they were also down by 60% week-on-week, suggesting that “Punishment” may not reach the heights of the previous franchise elements.
In 2022, “The Roundup” earned $95.7 million (using current rates of currency exchange), while last year “The Roundup: No Way Out” earned $76.3 million.
“Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes” recorded $2.45 million between Friday and Sunday with a 26% market share. Over its full five-day opening in Korea, the film earned $3.10 million from 415,000 ticket sales.
“Punishment,” the fourth part of Don Lee’s “Roundup” action franchise, dominated proceedings for the third weekend in succession. It earned $5.53 million and advanced its cumulative total to $67.7 million, according to Kobis, the tracking service operated by the Korean Film Council (Kofic). Its earnings represented a still strong 58% share of the weekend theatrical market, but they were also down by 60% week-on-week, suggesting that “Punishment” may not reach the heights of the previous franchise elements.
In 2022, “The Roundup” earned $95.7 million (using current rates of currency exchange), while last year “The Roundup: No Way Out” earned $76.3 million.
“Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes” recorded $2.45 million between Friday and Sunday with a 26% market share. Over its full five-day opening in Korea, the film earned $3.10 million from 415,000 ticket sales.
- 5/13/2024
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
Locally-produced crime action thriller “The Roundup: Punishment” dominated the South Korea box office for a second weekend. In contrast, Hollywood’s “The Fall Guy” opened softly in third place.
Data from Kobis, the tracking service operated by the Korean Film Council (Kofic), showed “The Roundup: Punishment” grossed $13.8 million between Friday and Sunday, earned from 1.92 million ticket sales.
That represented a huge 83% market share over the weekend, albeit down from 92% a week earlier. The second weekend score also represented a 33% week-on-week decline. The film has earned $55.8 million, including earnings from a smattering of previews a weekend earlier. The running total came from an aggregate 7.96 million spectators.
That makes “The Roundup Punishment” the second highest-scoring film this year and, after just 12 days play, it is already the seventh best performing film in Korea since the beginning for the pandemic era. Two of the titles currently ahead of “Punishment” are its franchise predecessors...
Data from Kobis, the tracking service operated by the Korean Film Council (Kofic), showed “The Roundup: Punishment” grossed $13.8 million between Friday and Sunday, earned from 1.92 million ticket sales.
That represented a huge 83% market share over the weekend, albeit down from 92% a week earlier. The second weekend score also represented a 33% week-on-week decline. The film has earned $55.8 million, including earnings from a smattering of previews a weekend earlier. The running total came from an aggregate 7.96 million spectators.
That makes “The Roundup Punishment” the second highest-scoring film this year and, after just 12 days play, it is already the seventh best performing film in Korea since the beginning for the pandemic era. Two of the titles currently ahead of “Punishment” are its franchise predecessors...
- 5/5/2024
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
The Beast Cop, Ma Seok-do, punched his way onto the screen and into our hearts with 2017's “The Outlaws”. Since then, as the feature's popularity and the star of its leading man Man Dong-seok raised, the singular production became a franchise and Ma Seok-do has ended up becoming an iconic character for the actor, who now returns to our screens for his fourth case in “The Roundup: Punishment”.
“The Roundup: Punishment” is released by Capelight Pictures
It's 2018 and while investigating the death of an app developer in Philippines in connection to a drugs case, detective Ma Seok-do's and his team uncover a huge illegal online gambling organisation. The man behind the organisation is closer to home, the rich genius It CEO Chang Dong-chul, who plans on becoming even richer with the introduction of his new cryptocurrency. He needs, though, his partner, the ruthless knife-wielding killer Baek Chang-gi to keep a...
“The Roundup: Punishment” is released by Capelight Pictures
It's 2018 and while investigating the death of an app developer in Philippines in connection to a drugs case, detective Ma Seok-do's and his team uncover a huge illegal online gambling organisation. The man behind the organisation is closer to home, the rich genius It CEO Chang Dong-chul, who plans on becoming even richer with the introduction of his new cryptocurrency. He needs, though, his partner, the ruthless knife-wielding killer Baek Chang-gi to keep a...
- 5/5/2024
- by Rhythm Zaveri
- AsianMoviePulse
“The Roundup: Punishment,” the fourth film in the Don Lee-starring crime action franchise, earned $20.9 million between Friday and Sunday and punched out all competition at the South Korean box office.
“Challengers,” which headed the box office this weekend in North America, with $15 million, opened fourth in Korea a 0.5% market share.
Global cinema data service, Comscore reported that “Punishment” was the top-scoring film worldwide with $24.4 million earned from collections in six territories. It was narrowly ahead of “Challengers” which earned $24.0 million from 53 markets.
“Punishment” accounted for a crushing 94% market share in Korea and collected its weekend haul from 2.92 million ticket sales, according to data from Kobis, the tracking service operated by the Korean Film Council (Kofic).
The film opened officially on Wednesday, when it scored $4.92 million, and followed that with a $3.25 million Thursday. Including the weekday takings and a smattering of previews from the previous weekend, the film finished Sunday with a cumulative of $29.3 million,...
“Challengers,” which headed the box office this weekend in North America, with $15 million, opened fourth in Korea a 0.5% market share.
Global cinema data service, Comscore reported that “Punishment” was the top-scoring film worldwide with $24.4 million earned from collections in six territories. It was narrowly ahead of “Challengers” which earned $24.0 million from 53 markets.
“Punishment” accounted for a crushing 94% market share in Korea and collected its weekend haul from 2.92 million ticket sales, according to data from Kobis, the tracking service operated by the Korean Film Council (Kofic).
The film opened officially on Wednesday, when it scored $4.92 million, and followed that with a $3.25 million Thursday. Including the weekday takings and a smattering of previews from the previous weekend, the film finished Sunday with a cumulative of $29.3 million,...
- 4/28/2024
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
Korean comedy action film “The Roundup: Punishment” destroyed all competition in local theaters on its Wednesday opening day.
The film earned $4.92 million from 821,000 ticket sales, according to data from Kobis, the tracking service operated by the Korean Film Council (Kofic). That represented a crushing 97% share of the day’s theatrical market.
Including a smattering of previews over the latest weekend, the film finished Wednesday with a cumulative of $5.26 million earned from 862,000 spectators.
Earlier, it was reported that the film had broken the Korean record for advanced ticket sales. On the eve of its arrival in cinemas, the film had notched up 830,000 pre-sales for Wednesday and other subsequent days. That comfortably exceeded previous record-holder “Along With the Gods: The Last 49 Days,” which pre-sold 646,000 tickets in 2018, and last year’s “The Roundup: No Way Out,” which pre-sold 640,000 before arriving in cinemas.
The film, which sees a tough-guy cop go after gangsters involved in drugs,...
The film earned $4.92 million from 821,000 ticket sales, according to data from Kobis, the tracking service operated by the Korean Film Council (Kofic). That represented a crushing 97% share of the day’s theatrical market.
Including a smattering of previews over the latest weekend, the film finished Wednesday with a cumulative of $5.26 million earned from 862,000 spectators.
Earlier, it was reported that the film had broken the Korean record for advanced ticket sales. On the eve of its arrival in cinemas, the film had notched up 830,000 pre-sales for Wednesday and other subsequent days. That comfortably exceeded previous record-holder “Along With the Gods: The Last 49 Days,” which pre-sold 646,000 tickets in 2018, and last year’s “The Roundup: No Way Out,” which pre-sold 640,000 before arriving in cinemas.
The film, which sees a tough-guy cop go after gangsters involved in drugs,...
- 4/25/2024
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
Ma Dong-seok is a South Korean-born actor, who came into prominence with his role in the acclaimed movie Train to Busan (2016). Born as Lee Dong-seok, the actor who is known for his action films, made his Hollywood debut with Eternals (2021). His latest movie is The Roundup: Punishment, the fourth movie in the series, which was recently released in South Korea, and will be in theaters in the USA from May 3.
2021’s Eternals | Marvel Studios
Being a part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, he played one of the Eternals, Gilgamesh, in the 2021 feature. Don Lee, as he is known in the American industry, also got to work with some of the most prolific actors in the industry in the MCU movie. But there was one actor he was absolutely elated to work with.
The Bond Between Gilgamesh and Thena Translated Beyond The Screen
Don Lee played the strongest Eternal, Gilgamesh opposite Angelina Jolie‘s Thena.
2021’s Eternals | Marvel Studios
Being a part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, he played one of the Eternals, Gilgamesh, in the 2021 feature. Don Lee, as he is known in the American industry, also got to work with some of the most prolific actors in the industry in the MCU movie. But there was one actor he was absolutely elated to work with.
The Bond Between Gilgamesh and Thena Translated Beyond The Screen
Don Lee played the strongest Eternal, Gilgamesh opposite Angelina Jolie‘s Thena.
- 4/24/2024
- by Swagata Das
- FandomWire
Ma Dong-seok has been getting a lot of attention from the media in the last few years. While his work in the Marvel Cinematic Universe has certainly helped get his name out there, it was his iconic series, The Roundup, that helped his face get recognized. While this was the case in Western cultures, he has been a respected member of the South Korean film industry for decades.
Ma Dong-seok in Champion
Being one of the most talented and respected actors from there, it is not surprising that he is strong-willed and lives up to his title of the ‘Korean Superman’. It would seem that these traits were truly tested when he had to survive a true natural catastrophe.
Ma Dong-seok Was a Part of Something Horrific
Ma Dong-seok has become the talk of the town with the upcoming release of the third part in The Roundup series, The Roundup: Punishment.
Ma Dong-seok in Champion
Being one of the most talented and respected actors from there, it is not surprising that he is strong-willed and lives up to his title of the ‘Korean Superman’. It would seem that these traits were truly tested when he had to survive a true natural catastrophe.
Ma Dong-seok Was a Part of Something Horrific
Ma Dong-seok has become the talk of the town with the upcoming release of the third part in The Roundup series, The Roundup: Punishment.
- 4/18/2024
- by Ananya Godboley
- FandomWire
Two months after revealing its Korean slate for 2024, Disney+ has unveiled another series from the country. Titled Low Life, the show will premiere on the platform next year and Hulu in the U.S.
The series will star veteran actor Ryu Seungryong (Moving) and Yang Sejong (Doona!). Set in 1970s Korea, the story follows a fisherman as he discovers a treasure lost for generations at the bottom of the ocean. Taking a small part of it home for himself, word soon begins to spread about the vast fortune waiting to be claimed by those brave enough to risk the depths. Desperate to escape his depressing life, Oh Heedong (Yang) partners with his uncle Oh Gwanseok (Ryu) in an attempt to reach the treasure before the rest of the world.
This title is part of Disney+ strategic push in Asia Pacific to develop original content in Korea. The streamer has been...
The series will star veteran actor Ryu Seungryong (Moving) and Yang Sejong (Doona!). Set in 1970s Korea, the story follows a fisherman as he discovers a treasure lost for generations at the bottom of the ocean. Taking a small part of it home for himself, word soon begins to spread about the vast fortune waiting to be claimed by those brave enough to risk the depths. Desperate to escape his depressing life, Oh Heedong (Yang) partners with his uncle Oh Gwanseok (Ryu) in an attempt to reach the treasure before the rest of the world.
This title is part of Disney+ strategic push in Asia Pacific to develop original content in Korea. The streamer has been...
- 4/15/2024
- by Sara Merican
- Deadline Film + TV
"I promise I'll catch them all." Blue Fox Ent. & Capelight Pictures have revealed the official US trailer for an action movie from Korea titled The Roundup: Punishment, which is the fourth movie in The Roundup series. It first launched with The Outlaws in 2017, continuing with The Roundup (2022) and The Roundup: No Way Out (2023) and now this one is ready to rock. As Detective Ma Seok-do pursues a drug trafficking app's elusive developer, he uncovers a deadly link to a vast online gambling syndicate (in the world of cyber crime), triggering an unprecedented alliance to take down the masterminds. The Roundup: Punishment was directed by Heo Myeong-haeng, a stunt choreographer who also worked on Don Lee's breakout hit Train to Busan. The Roundup 4 stars Korea's favorite Don Lee returning as Ma Seok-do, plus Kim Moo-yul, Park Ji-hwan, and Lee Dong-hwi. This has also received some positive reviews like the other three,...
- 4/10/2024
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
Locally-produced horror-drama “Exhuma” held on to top spot at the South Korea cinema box office for a fifth consecutive weekend.
Its complete dominance of the market kept “Exhuma” comfortably ahead of the holdover “Dune 2” and a couple of lower-powered new releases and allowed its running total to surpass 10 million ticket sales. That is the conventional measure of a blockbuster in Korea, a country with a population of roughly 50 million.
Over the latest weekend “Exhuma” sold 618,000 tickets for a gross revenue of $4.56 million and a market share of 56%, according to data from Kobis, the database operated by the Korean Film Council (Kofic).
The latest increment gives the film a total of $73.4 million earned from 10.2 million admissions. While that landmark was achieved by five films in 2019, it has only been passed four times since the beginning of the Covid pandemic. And while “Exhuma” still has a long way to catch “12.12: The Day...
Its complete dominance of the market kept “Exhuma” comfortably ahead of the holdover “Dune 2” and a couple of lower-powered new releases and allowed its running total to surpass 10 million ticket sales. That is the conventional measure of a blockbuster in Korea, a country with a population of roughly 50 million.
Over the latest weekend “Exhuma” sold 618,000 tickets for a gross revenue of $4.56 million and a market share of 56%, according to data from Kobis, the database operated by the Korean Film Council (Kofic).
The latest increment gives the film a total of $73.4 million earned from 10.2 million admissions. While that landmark was achieved by five films in 2019, it has only been passed four times since the beginning of the Covid pandemic. And while “Exhuma” still has a long way to catch “12.12: The Day...
- 3/25/2024
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
“Pleasant Outcast,” a 10-part Korean series that is set to appear at Canneseries next month, is a companion piece to “Concrete Utopia,” the hit film from last year that was selected as South Korea’s Oscar contender.
Both the Lotte Cultureworks series and “Concrete Utopia,” a dystopian drama-thriller set in a post-apocalyptic Seoul, are adapted from best-selling webtoon “Cheerful Outcast,” by Kim Soong Nyung. The film was frequently compared to William Golding’s seminal novel from the 1954 “Lord of the Flies” and its 1964 film adaptation.
Using the first part of the webtoon, the series follows Dong-hyun, a high school junior, who barely survives his day-to-day bullying at school. “When he wishes all were dead, an unexplained powerful earthquake destroys his school. Trapped in isolated circumstances, the hierarchy and power reshuffle as students struggle to survive, while continuous collapses and accidents kill more students. In this collapsed and extreme world, the...
Both the Lotte Cultureworks series and “Concrete Utopia,” a dystopian drama-thriller set in a post-apocalyptic Seoul, are adapted from best-selling webtoon “Cheerful Outcast,” by Kim Soong Nyung. The film was frequently compared to William Golding’s seminal novel from the 1954 “Lord of the Flies” and its 1964 film adaptation.
Using the first part of the webtoon, the series follows Dong-hyun, a high school junior, who barely survives his day-to-day bullying at school. “When he wishes all were dead, an unexplained powerful earthquake destroys his school. Trapped in isolated circumstances, the hierarchy and power reshuffle as students struggle to survive, while continuous collapses and accidents kill more students. In this collapsed and extreme world, the...
- 3/13/2024
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
Leading South Korean sales company Finecut has picked up international sales rights to action comedy film “Boss.” It will launch the title at next week’s FilMart in Hong Kong.
Directed by Ra Hee-chan, the film follows gang members embroiled in fierce competition. They struggle not just for supremacy within their clan, but also to achieve their own dreams in everyday life.
“Boss” stars Jo Woo-jin as a man who wants to run his family’s Chinese restaurant; Jung Kyung-ho (“Men of Plastic”), who believes it is his destiny to be a Tango dancer; and Park Ji-hwan (“The Roundup” film series), who is the most eager member to be the boss, but nobody wants him.
Production is by Hive Media Corp., the company behind the late 2023 box office hit “12.12: The Day,” which garnered over 13 million admissions.
Finecut will be screening the first footage from the new title at its booth in FilMart.
Directed by Ra Hee-chan, the film follows gang members embroiled in fierce competition. They struggle not just for supremacy within their clan, but also to achieve their own dreams in everyday life.
“Boss” stars Jo Woo-jin as a man who wants to run his family’s Chinese restaurant; Jung Kyung-ho (“Men of Plastic”), who believes it is his destiny to be a Tango dancer; and Park Ji-hwan (“The Roundup” film series), who is the most eager member to be the boss, but nobody wants him.
Production is by Hive Media Corp., the company behind the late 2023 box office hit “12.12: The Day,” which garnered over 13 million admissions.
Finecut will be screening the first footage from the new title at its booth in FilMart.
- 3/11/2024
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
South Korean sales company Finecut has picked up international sales rights to upcoming action-comedy Boss and will introduce the film to buyers at Hong Kong Filmart this week.
The feature is produced by Hive Media Corp, the company behind South Korea’s biggest box office hit of 2023, 12.12: The Day.
The story follows members of a gang amid the search to appoint a new boss. But rather than fight for the title, the gangsters dream of escaping to a normal life.
The cast is led by Jo Woo-jin of Netflix series Narco-Saints, whose character wants to run his family’s...
The feature is produced by Hive Media Corp, the company behind South Korea’s biggest box office hit of 2023, 12.12: The Day.
The story follows members of a gang amid the search to appoint a new boss. But rather than fight for the title, the gangsters dream of escaping to a normal life.
The cast is led by Jo Woo-jin of Netflix series Narco-Saints, whose character wants to run his family’s...
- 3/11/2024
- ScreenDaily
The shortest distance between two points is popularly believed to be a straight line. But if one of those points is the chin, cheekbone or torso of some sneering and/or psychotic Korean gangster, the shortest route is actually the arc described by either one of Korean megastar Don Lee’s fists, here playing the fists of Detective Ma, protagonist of the ludicrously watchable “Roundup” series.
“The Roundup” and “The Roundup: No Way Out” the first two sequels to 2017’s “The Outlaws,” seemed to inch a little closer each time to the platonic ideal of star-driven action-franchise purity. Now, with Lee (aka Ma Dong-seok) and his fists directed by Heo Myeong-haeng, a stunt choreographer who worked on Lee’s breakout “Train to Busan,” the fourth episode gets closer still. “The Roundup: Punishment” minimizes unnecessary originality, while gloriously maximizing the opportunities for Lee to crack wise, or look aggrieved and a little bored,...
“The Roundup” and “The Roundup: No Way Out” the first two sequels to 2017’s “The Outlaws,” seemed to inch a little closer each time to the platonic ideal of star-driven action-franchise purity. Now, with Lee (aka Ma Dong-seok) and his fists directed by Heo Myeong-haeng, a stunt choreographer who worked on Lee’s breakout “Train to Busan,” the fourth episode gets closer still. “The Roundup: Punishment” minimizes unnecessary originality, while gloriously maximizing the opportunities for Lee to crack wise, or look aggrieved and a little bored,...
- 2/25/2024
- by Jessica Kiang
- Variety Film + TV
South Korean star Don Lee has revealed that four more films are being planned for the hit Roundup franchise and confirmed he is lined up to return to the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
The action star is in Berlin with The Roundup: Punishment, which will receive its world premiere tonight (February 23) as a Berlinale Special Gala.
It is the fourth instalment in a series that began with The Outlaws in 2017 before sequel The Roundup became the top grossing film at the Korean box office in 2022 with takings of nearly $100m (KRW131.3bn) – bringing audiences back to cinemas post-pandemic – and The Roundup: No Way Out...
The action star is in Berlin with The Roundup: Punishment, which will receive its world premiere tonight (February 23) as a Berlinale Special Gala.
It is the fourth instalment in a series that began with The Outlaws in 2017 before sequel The Roundup became the top grossing film at the Korean box office in 2022 with takings of nearly $100m (KRW131.3bn) – bringing audiences back to cinemas post-pandemic – and The Roundup: No Way Out...
- 2/23/2024
- ScreenDaily
In Berlin with “The Roundup: Punishment,” part four of the action movie series that he created and stars in, the larger-than-life Korean American Don Lee finds himself simultaneously in multiple timely and lucrative businesses.
These include the Marvel superhero business, the Korea-to-Hollywood remake business, “The Roundup” franchise and its multiple spinoff possibilities. Lee may even be in the business of saving Korean cinema, which is currently having one of its periodic wobbles.
“What we have to do is make really, really fun entertaining movies. Put them in cinemas, so that everyone will come back to the theaters. One of my goals is to entertain more people,” Lee told Variety on the fringes of the Berlin Film Festival, where “Punishment” has its world premiere as an out-of-competition gala screening.
The second element of the franchise, “The Roundup,” earned $99 million in 2022, making it Korea’s highest grossing movie that year, while last...
These include the Marvel superhero business, the Korea-to-Hollywood remake business, “The Roundup” franchise and its multiple spinoff possibilities. Lee may even be in the business of saving Korean cinema, which is currently having one of its periodic wobbles.
“What we have to do is make really, really fun entertaining movies. Put them in cinemas, so that everyone will come back to the theaters. One of my goals is to entertain more people,” Lee told Variety on the fringes of the Berlin Film Festival, where “Punishment” has its world premiere as an out-of-competition gala screening.
The second element of the franchise, “The Roundup,” earned $99 million in 2022, making it Korea’s highest grossing movie that year, while last...
- 2/22/2024
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
South Korea’s Acemaker movieworks has closed a string of deals on upcoming crime drama Troll Factory with distributors throughout Asia.
The film has been acquired for Japan (Klockworx), Hong Kong (Edko), Taiwan and Southeast Asia (RelayMotion), India (Premiere9), Mongolia (Filmbridge), Cis (Paradise Group) and inflight (Vitality).
Directed by Ahn Gooc-jin (Alice In Earnestland), the film stars Son Sukku from Disney+ series Big Bet, box office action hit The Roundup and recent Netflix series A Killer Paradox. The cast also includes Kim Sung-Cheol, who will next be seen in Netflix series Hellbound, Kim Dong-Hwi and Hong Kyung.
Son plays a reporter who,...
The film has been acquired for Japan (Klockworx), Hong Kong (Edko), Taiwan and Southeast Asia (RelayMotion), India (Premiere9), Mongolia (Filmbridge), Cis (Paradise Group) and inflight (Vitality).
Directed by Ahn Gooc-jin (Alice In Earnestland), the film stars Son Sukku from Disney+ series Big Bet, box office action hit The Roundup and recent Netflix series A Killer Paradox. The cast also includes Kim Sung-Cheol, who will next be seen in Netflix series Hellbound, Kim Dong-Hwi and Hong Kyung.
Son plays a reporter who,...
- 2/17/2024
- ScreenDaily
Acemaker Movieworks, the young Korean studio behind 2023 hit “Noryang: Deadly Sea” and “A Man of Reason,” is using the Berlin Film Festival’s European Film Market to launch crime drama “Troll Factory,” its next big budget movie.
Film’s plot revolves around an investigative journalist who, while probing a story about the manipulation of public sentiment, uncovers the existence of a so-called “troll factory” and is confronted with an unbelievable truth.
The movie is in post-production and recently set March 27 for its theatrical release in Korea. Acemaker is unveiling first images now.
The movie is directed by Ahn Gooc-jin, whose debut feature, 2015 crime film “Alice in Earnestland,” won the Grand Prize at the leading Korean film festival in Jeonju, the best new talent award at the Hong Kong Asian Film Festival and the Directors’ Cut award at the Director’s Cut Film Festival. It was also invited to the Stockholm film festival.
Film’s plot revolves around an investigative journalist who, while probing a story about the manipulation of public sentiment, uncovers the existence of a so-called “troll factory” and is confronted with an unbelievable truth.
The movie is in post-production and recently set March 27 for its theatrical release in Korea. Acemaker is unveiling first images now.
The movie is directed by Ahn Gooc-jin, whose debut feature, 2015 crime film “Alice in Earnestland,” won the Grand Prize at the leading Korean film festival in Jeonju, the best new talent award at the Hong Kong Asian Film Festival and the Directors’ Cut award at the Director’s Cut Film Festival. It was also invited to the Stockholm film festival.
- 2/15/2024
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
South Korean action film The Roundup: Punishment has been sold to a string of key territories including the US by sales agent K-Movie Entertainment, ahead of its world premiere at the Berlinale.
Deals have been closed for North America and Germany (Capelight Pictures), the UK, Australia and New Zealand (Signal Pictures), Italy (Tucker Film), Japan (Happinet Phantom Studios), Hong Kong and Macau (Edko Films), Southeast Asia (Clover Films), Taiwan (Moviecloud), Vietnam (Lotte Vietnam), India (Indo Overseas Films), Mongolia (Filmbridge), Cis and Baltics (Mauris Film) and inflight (Kairos Distribution).
It marks the fourth in the blockbuster franchise starring Don Lee (aka...
Deals have been closed for North America and Germany (Capelight Pictures), the UK, Australia and New Zealand (Signal Pictures), Italy (Tucker Film), Japan (Happinet Phantom Studios), Hong Kong and Macau (Edko Films), Southeast Asia (Clover Films), Taiwan (Moviecloud), Vietnam (Lotte Vietnam), India (Indo Overseas Films), Mongolia (Filmbridge), Cis and Baltics (Mauris Film) and inflight (Kairos Distribution).
It marks the fourth in the blockbuster franchise starring Don Lee (aka...
- 2/15/2024
- ScreenDaily
Usher Raymond IV simply known as Usher is one of the biggest names in the music industry today. He released his first album three decades ago and has been turning out hits ever since.
In 2023, it was announced that the artist was headlining the Apple Music Super Bowl Lviii Halftime Show in Las Vegas. And now people have tons of questions as the superstar takes the big stage. Here are a few facts about the “My Boo” artist including his age, his height, and how many times he’s been married.
Usher’s age and how he was discovered Usher performs onstage at the MTV Video Music Awards | Kevin Winter/Getty Images
Usher was born on Oct. 14, 1978, to parents Jonnetta Patton and Usher Raymond III in Dallas, Texas but he grew up in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
He began singing in a local church choir. Realizing his talent, Usher’s mother encouraged...
In 2023, it was announced that the artist was headlining the Apple Music Super Bowl Lviii Halftime Show in Las Vegas. And now people have tons of questions as the superstar takes the big stage. Here are a few facts about the “My Boo” artist including his age, his height, and how many times he’s been married.
Usher’s age and how he was discovered Usher performs onstage at the MTV Video Music Awards | Kevin Winter/Getty Images
Usher was born on Oct. 14, 1978, to parents Jonnetta Patton and Usher Raymond III in Dallas, Texas but he grew up in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
He began singing in a local church choir. Realizing his talent, Usher’s mother encouraged...
- 2/12/2024
- by Michelle Kapusta
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Netflix has unveiled a bumper slate of Korean films and series for the year ahead including a historical feature from Park Chan-wook and the return of the streamer’s biggest ever series, Squid Game.
Fresh details on more than 30 titles were revealed as part of Netflix’s ongoing showcase of what is to come in 2024, which has included upcoming slates from the US and Southeast Asia among others over the past week.
Leading the shows from South Korea is season two of Squid Game, the highly-anticipated follow up to the 2021 series that remains the platform’s most popular series of...
Fresh details on more than 30 titles were revealed as part of Netflix’s ongoing showcase of what is to come in 2024, which has included upcoming slates from the US and Southeast Asia among others over the past week.
Leading the shows from South Korea is season two of Squid Game, the highly-anticipated follow up to the 2021 series that remains the platform’s most popular series of...
- 2/6/2024
- ScreenDaily
Stars: Ma Dong-seok, Lee Hee-joon, Lee Joon-young, No Jeong-ee, Ahn Ji-hye | Written by Kim Bo-Tong, Kwak Jae-Min | Directed by Heo Myeong Haeng
Badland Hunters is the latest film starring action hero Ma Dong-seok, and that is bad news for Korea. He was in Train to Busan in which the country was overrun with zombies, and in Ashfall where a massive volcanic eruption laid waste to the entire Korean Peninsula. And the amount of property damage he wracked up in The Outlaws and its sequels The Roundup and The Roundup: No Way Out would bankrupt most insurance companies.
In the opening scenes, Seoul is levelled by a catastrophic earthquake as the military are about to arrest Yang Gi-su for the murders and human experiments he’s committed trying to bring his daughter back from the dead. The building collapses on him, but you know he’ll be back later in the film.
Badland Hunters is the latest film starring action hero Ma Dong-seok, and that is bad news for Korea. He was in Train to Busan in which the country was overrun with zombies, and in Ashfall where a massive volcanic eruption laid waste to the entire Korean Peninsula. And the amount of property damage he wracked up in The Outlaws and its sequels The Roundup and The Roundup: No Way Out would bankrupt most insurance companies.
In the opening scenes, Seoul is levelled by a catastrophic earthquake as the military are about to arrest Yang Gi-su for the murders and human experiments he’s committed trying to bring his daughter back from the dead. The building collapses on him, but you know he’ll be back later in the film.
- 1/31/2024
- by Jim Morazzini
- Nerdly
Lotte Cultureworks will launch “Holy Night: Demon Hunters,” likely to be one of the biggest Korean movies of the year, at next month’s European Film Market in Berlin.
The occult-themed action movie stars Don Lee, the Korean-American superstar who also fronts “The Roundup” comedy-action franchise. The fourth instalment in that series “The Roundup: Punishment” will have its world premiere in the Berlin festival’s Berlinale Special section, with Lee expected to be in attendance, giving Lotte some additional momentum with the new title launch.
“Holy Night: Demon Hunters” sees Seoul descend into chaos as a devil-worshipping criminal network takes control. In a desperate plea for salvation, the police are forced to enlist Holy Night, a trio of demon hunters armed with supernatural powers.
The cast also includes Seohyun (real name Seo Ju-hyun) of K-pop sensation Girls Generation, who has acting credits in Netflix film “Love and Leashes” and TV series “Private Lives,...
The occult-themed action movie stars Don Lee, the Korean-American superstar who also fronts “The Roundup” comedy-action franchise. The fourth instalment in that series “The Roundup: Punishment” will have its world premiere in the Berlin festival’s Berlinale Special section, with Lee expected to be in attendance, giving Lotte some additional momentum with the new title launch.
“Holy Night: Demon Hunters” sees Seoul descend into chaos as a devil-worshipping criminal network takes control. In a desperate plea for salvation, the police are forced to enlist Holy Night, a trio of demon hunters armed with supernatural powers.
The cast also includes Seohyun (real name Seo Ju-hyun) of K-pop sensation Girls Generation, who has acting credits in Netflix film “Love and Leashes” and TV series “Private Lives,...
- 1/26/2024
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
Badland Hunters is Netflix’s latest entry into the world of Korean cinema, and it makes for a gritty post-apocalyptic actioner featuring one of Korea’s biggest stars, Don Lee. However, there’s some confusion about whether it’s a sequel or not. Last year, one of Korea’s biggest blockbusters was Concrete Utopia. Critically acclaimed for its dystopian vision, that film was a tour de force for veteran lead actor Lee Byung-hun. It also won numerous Korean film awards and was South Korea’s entry for the Best International Feature Film category for this year’s Academy Awards. However, it did not make the shortlist.
Concrete Utopia is about a devastating earthquake that reduces Seoul to rubble. Everything is in ruins except the Imperial Palace Apartments. The apartment dwellers covet their resources and keep outsiders out, building a utopia lead by Yeong-tak (Lee). The film was lauded for its keen observations on power,...
Concrete Utopia is about a devastating earthquake that reduces Seoul to rubble. Everything is in ruins except the Imperial Palace Apartments. The apartment dwellers covet their resources and keep outsiders out, building a utopia lead by Yeong-tak (Lee). The film was lauded for its keen observations on power,...
- 1/26/2024
- by David Crow
- Den of Geek
Festival will play upcoming Netflix series Supersex about pornstar Rocco Siffredi.
South Korean action title The Roundup: Punishment and Rose Glass’ Love Lies Bleeding starring Kristen Stewart are among 12 additions to the Berlinale Special line-up, ahead of next month’s Berlin Film Festival (February 15-25).
Directed by Heo Myeong-haeng, Punishment will have its world premiere in Berlin. It is the fourth instalment in The Roundup action franchise, in which Don Lee plays detective Ma Seok-do.
Scroll down for the full list of new Special titles
Third title The Roundup: No Way Out took $69m in just three weeks at the...
South Korean action title The Roundup: Punishment and Rose Glass’ Love Lies Bleeding starring Kristen Stewart are among 12 additions to the Berlinale Special line-up, ahead of next month’s Berlin Film Festival (February 15-25).
Directed by Heo Myeong-haeng, Punishment will have its world premiere in Berlin. It is the fourth instalment in The Roundup action franchise, in which Don Lee plays detective Ma Seok-do.
Scroll down for the full list of new Special titles
Third title The Roundup: No Way Out took $69m in just three weeks at the...
- 1/15/2024
- by Ben Dalton
- ScreenDaily
Festival will play upcoming Netflix series Supersex about pornstar Rocco Siffredi.
South Korean action title The Roundup: Punishment and Rose Glass’ Love Lies Bleeding starring Kristen Stewart are among 12 additions to the Berlinale Special line-up, ahead of next month’s Berlin Film Festival (February 15-25).
Directed by Heo Myeong-haeng, Punishment will have its world premiere in Berlin. It is the fourth instalment in The Roundup action franchise, in which Don Lee plays detective Ma Seok-do.
Scroll down for the full list of new Special titles
Third title The Roundup: No Way Out took $69m in just three weeks at the...
South Korean action title The Roundup: Punishment and Rose Glass’ Love Lies Bleeding starring Kristen Stewart are among 12 additions to the Berlinale Special line-up, ahead of next month’s Berlin Film Festival (February 15-25).
Directed by Heo Myeong-haeng, Punishment will have its world premiere in Berlin. It is the fourth instalment in The Roundup action franchise, in which Don Lee plays detective Ma Seok-do.
Scroll down for the full list of new Special titles
Third title The Roundup: No Way Out took $69m in just three weeks at the...
- 1/15/2024
- by Ben Dalton
- ScreenDaily
Korean Action Drama ‘12.12: The Day’ Grosses $90M At Local Box Office To Become Biggest Film Of 2023
Korean historical action drama 12.12: The Day has grossed $90.5M and sailed past the 12 million admissions mark at the Korean box office over the Christmas holiday period to become the highest grossing film of 2023.
Released on November 22, the film overtook The Roundup: No Way Out in both admissions and revenue terms on Christmas Day. It marks the first time in four years since the release of Oscar-winning drama Parasite that a non franchise local title has crossed 12 million admissions.
Disney’s Elemental is the third highest grossing film of 2023 in Korea, grossing $54M from 7.2 million admissions following its June 2023 release.
Directed by Kim Sung-soo, whose credits include Asura: The City Of Madness and The Flu, 12.12: The Day is set against the backdrop of the real-life military coup of 1979, which resulted in an eight-year military junta in South Korea. The cast includes Hwang Jung-min (The Wailing), Jung Woo-sung (Asura: The City Of Madness...
Released on November 22, the film overtook The Roundup: No Way Out in both admissions and revenue terms on Christmas Day. It marks the first time in four years since the release of Oscar-winning drama Parasite that a non franchise local title has crossed 12 million admissions.
Disney’s Elemental is the third highest grossing film of 2023 in Korea, grossing $54M from 7.2 million admissions following its June 2023 release.
Directed by Kim Sung-soo, whose credits include Asura: The City Of Madness and The Flu, 12.12: The Day is set against the backdrop of the real-life military coup of 1979, which resulted in an eight-year military junta in South Korea. The cast includes Hwang Jung-min (The Wailing), Jung Woo-sung (Asura: The City Of Madness...
- 1/3/2024
- by Liz Shackleton
- Deadline Film + TV
No Maori Allowed, directed by Corinna Hunziger was named the winner of the Pasifika Award and recipient of a $5,000 cash prize at the Hawaii International Film Festival.
It recounts the story of a teacher who unearths a secret past in the town of Pukekohe. That causes Maori community figures to come forward to share personal stories that shaped their lives.
The festival’s Kau Ka Hōkū or shooting star award for an international emerging filmmaker making their first or second feature film, was awarded to “Asog,” by Sean Devlin. It is a tragicomic road film that follows a non-binary Filipino comedian pursuing their dream of becoming a pageant queen.
The jury also provided honorable mentions for performance to “Mustache,” directed by Imran Khan and to “Tiger Stripes,” directed by Amanda Nell Eu.
This year’s Best Made In Hawai‘i Feature winner was Hōkūle‘a: Finding The Language of the Navigator,...
It recounts the story of a teacher who unearths a secret past in the town of Pukekohe. That causes Maori community figures to come forward to share personal stories that shaped their lives.
The festival’s Kau Ka Hōkū or shooting star award for an international emerging filmmaker making their first or second feature film, was awarded to “Asog,” by Sean Devlin. It is a tragicomic road film that follows a non-binary Filipino comedian pursuing their dream of becoming a pageant queen.
The jury also provided honorable mentions for performance to “Mustache,” directed by Imran Khan and to “Tiger Stripes,” directed by Amanda Nell Eu.
This year’s Best Made In Hawai‘i Feature winner was Hōkūle‘a: Finding The Language of the Navigator,...
- 10/26/2023
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
A couple weeks ago, the Fantasia International Film Festival announced the films that won jury prizes at the 27th edition of the show, which recently came to a close. Yesterday, our own Tyler Nichols shared his list of favorite films from this year’s Fantasia festival. Now Fantasia has unveiled the list of audience award winners, with wins going to films like Talk to Me, The Roundup: No Way Out, Kurayukaba, and Satan Wants You, among others. The full list can be seen below:
Best International Feature
Gold: Talk To Me
Silver: Late Night With The Devil
Bronze: Hundreds Of Beavers
Best Asian Feature
Gold: The Roundup: No Way Out
Silver: River
Bronze: Phantom (South Korea d. Lee Hae-young)
Best Animated Feature
Gold: Kurayukaba
Silver: The Concierge
Bronze: The First Slam Dunk
The Dgc Audience Award for Best Canadian Film (Narrative or Documentary)
Satan Wants You – This year’s...
Best International Feature
Gold: Talk To Me
Silver: Late Night With The Devil
Bronze: Hundreds Of Beavers
Best Asian Feature
Gold: The Roundup: No Way Out
Silver: River
Bronze: Phantom (South Korea d. Lee Hae-young)
Best Animated Feature
Gold: Kurayukaba
Silver: The Concierge
Bronze: The First Slam Dunk
The Dgc Audience Award for Best Canadian Film (Narrative or Documentary)
Satan Wants You – This year’s...
- 8/14/2023
- by Cody Hamman
- JoBlo.com
Stars: Ma Dong-seok aka Don Lee, Lee Jun-hyuk, Munetaka Aoki, Se-ho Ahn, Noo-Ri Bae, Kim Do-Geon, Ko Gun-Han, Go Gyu-pil, Shin Hyeon-Yong | Written by Kim Min-sung | Directed by Sang-yong Lee
The third film in the Crime City franchise, The Roundup: No Way Out certainly has its work cut out for it following 2017’s The Outlaws and last year’s The Roundup. Of course Ma Dong-seok or Don Lee, depending on where you’re watching, is back as “Beast Cop” Detective Ma Seok-do. Also returning is Sang-yong Lee who directed both of the previous films, with Kim Min-sung making his debut as a screenwriter.
Seven years after the events of the previous film our hero is working with a new unit and they have a problem on their hands. A drug called Hyper has hit the streets of Seoul, it’s described as more potent than cocaine or amphetamines and more toxic than heroin.
The third film in the Crime City franchise, The Roundup: No Way Out certainly has its work cut out for it following 2017’s The Outlaws and last year’s The Roundup. Of course Ma Dong-seok or Don Lee, depending on where you’re watching, is back as “Beast Cop” Detective Ma Seok-do. Also returning is Sang-yong Lee who directed both of the previous films, with Kim Min-sung making his debut as a screenwriter.
Seven years after the events of the previous film our hero is working with a new unit and they have a problem on their hands. A drug called Hyper has hit the streets of Seoul, it’s described as more potent than cocaine or amphetamines and more toxic than heroin.
- 7/17/2023
- by Jim Morazzini
- Nerdly
It all started back in 2017 with “The Outlaws” (known as “Crime City” locally), the South Korean crime film starring Ma Dong-seok (Don Lee) as detective Ma Seok-do. It took five years before its sequel, “The Roundup” (“Crime City 2”) came out and it went on to become the highest grossing film of 2022 in South Korea, taking in over US$101million. A third installment, another smash hit, “The Roundup: No Way Out” (“Crime City 3”) quickly followed a year later with Ma returning as the beast detective leading a new team fighting more crime again.
It has been seven years since the events of the previous film, and detective Ma, after his promotion, now works for the Metropolitan Investigation Unit. While investigating the death of a woman believed to be a suicide case, he learns from her autopsy that she has in fact died from an overdose and a new drug known as Hiper is the cause.
It has been seven years since the events of the previous film, and detective Ma, after his promotion, now works for the Metropolitan Investigation Unit. While investigating the death of a woman believed to be a suicide case, he learns from her autopsy that she has in fact died from an overdose and a new drug known as Hiper is the cause.
- 7/9/2023
- by David Chew
- AsianMoviePulse
Don Lee stars in the third instalment of the hit action franchise.
Don Lee-starring action film The Roundup: No Way Out has topped the 10 million admissions mark in South Korea, confirming its local blockbuster status.
The third instalment in “the beast cop” action franchise has taken $77m from 10.2 million admissions since its release on May 31, according to Kobis, the Korean Film Council’s box office tracking system.
The film has followed the successful path of predecessor The Roundup, which led the box office in 2022 with 12.6 million admissions and topped the $100m mark, making it the 13th most successful title of...
Don Lee-starring action film The Roundup: No Way Out has topped the 10 million admissions mark in South Korea, confirming its local blockbuster status.
The third instalment in “the beast cop” action franchise has taken $77m from 10.2 million admissions since its release on May 31, according to Kobis, the Korean Film Council’s box office tracking system.
The film has followed the successful path of predecessor The Roundup, which led the box office in 2022 with 12.6 million admissions and topped the $100m mark, making it the 13th most successful title of...
- 7/3/2023
- by Jean Noh
- ScreenDaily
The top movie at the global box office last weekend was not “The Flash” or “Transformers: Rise of the Beasts.” It was China’s latest homegrown blockbuster, “Lost in the Stars,” which earned $70 million from Friday to Sunday, or $98 million over the four-day Dragon Boat Festival holiday weekend in the country. Counting Monday’s $23.3 million gross and $26 million on Tuesday, the mystery romance has $146.5 million thus far. That already puts it above every summer release in China including Hollywood’s “Fast X,” which has earned $138 million in China since its mid-May premiere.
It’s one more example of how Chinese audiences are showing a strong preference for homegrown movies over Hollywood fare, a conundrum for studios that once counted on China as a growth market. With theaters closed for the pandemic and Western streaming services mostly unwelcome in China’s tightly controlled internet market, there’s been little occasion to connect moviegoers with popular franchises,...
It’s one more example of how Chinese audiences are showing a strong preference for homegrown movies over Hollywood fare, a conundrum for studios that once counted on China as a growth market. With theaters closed for the pandemic and Western streaming services mostly unwelcome in China’s tightly controlled internet market, there’s been little occasion to connect moviegoers with popular franchises,...
- 6/27/2023
- by Scott Mendelson
- The Wrap
Exclusive: Korean multi-hyphenate powerhouse Don Lee (aka Ma Dong-seok) is set to star in and produce an English-language feature adaptation of New York Times bestselling author Nicholas Sansbury Smith’s dystopian sci-fi novel series Hell Divers. The film will draw from the first three books in the series whose first installment was published by Blackstone in 2016; there are 10 books in total.
Avi Arad, Ari Arad and Emmy Yu of Arad Productions are producing alongside Oscar nominated VFX supervisor and animation director Jerome Chen. Lee and Chris S Lee of B&c Content are producing under their U.S. banner, Gorilla 8 Productions. The adaptation will be penned by J.P. Davis. There is currently no director attached.
Lee, who is known for his performances in such Korean hits as Train to Busan; The Gangster, The Cop, The Devil; and The Roundup movies, including recent smash The Roundup: No Way Out,...
Avi Arad, Ari Arad and Emmy Yu of Arad Productions are producing alongside Oscar nominated VFX supervisor and animation director Jerome Chen. Lee and Chris S Lee of B&c Content are producing under their U.S. banner, Gorilla 8 Productions. The adaptation will be penned by J.P. Davis. There is currently no director attached.
Lee, who is known for his performances in such Korean hits as Train to Busan; The Gangster, The Cop, The Devil; and The Roundup movies, including recent smash The Roundup: No Way Out,...
- 6/22/2023
- by Nancy Tartaglione
- Deadline Film + TV
Action sequel starring Don Lee has taken $69m in three weeks.
Korean action sequel The Roundup: No Way Out has topped 9 million admissions after three weeks on release, taking $69m at the local box office.
The third instalment of the blockbuster franchise starring Don Lee hit 9.07 million tickets today (June 21), according to the Korea Box-office Information System (Kobis).
The film has led South Korea’s box office since its release on May 31 and is next eyeing the 10 million mark, following in the footsteps of its predecessor The Roundup, which was the country’s number one title last year with more than 12.6 million admissions.
Korean action sequel The Roundup: No Way Out has topped 9 million admissions after three weeks on release, taking $69m at the local box office.
The third instalment of the blockbuster franchise starring Don Lee hit 9.07 million tickets today (June 21), according to the Korea Box-office Information System (Kobis).
The film has led South Korea’s box office since its release on May 31 and is next eyeing the 10 million mark, following in the footsteps of its predecessor The Roundup, which was the country’s number one title last year with more than 12.6 million admissions.
- 6/21/2023
- by Jean Noh
- ScreenDaily
Opening in theaters and on VOD July 14, Vertical’s “The Modelizer” offers a trailer that sells a romantic comedy that’s part of a new wave of “Hong Kong Films,” which are original features where the subject matter is distinctly Hong Kong but is in English.
Directed by Keoni Waxman and produced, written by and starring Byron Mann (who has seemingly aged about ten minutes since playing Ryu in the 1994 “Street Fighter” movie), the picture is a conventional mix of rom-com tropes (a well-off womanizer must change his ways once he finds someone – played by Rayssa Bratillieri — worth settling down for) and wealth porn, with the obvious hook being that it’s from a locale that isn’t often presented in such a fashion in mainstream Hollywood flicks.
The locale is usually for stranger-in-a-strange-land actioners like Dwayne Johnson’s “Skyscraper” (who co-starred Mann) and Rowann Atkinson’s “Johnny English Reborn...
Directed by Keoni Waxman and produced, written by and starring Byron Mann (who has seemingly aged about ten minutes since playing Ryu in the 1994 “Street Fighter” movie), the picture is a conventional mix of rom-com tropes (a well-off womanizer must change his ways once he finds someone – played by Rayssa Bratillieri — worth settling down for) and wealth porn, with the obvious hook being that it’s from a locale that isn’t often presented in such a fashion in mainstream Hollywood flicks.
The locale is usually for stranger-in-a-strange-land actioners like Dwayne Johnson’s “Skyscraper” (who co-starred Mann) and Rowann Atkinson’s “Johnny English Reborn...
- 6/16/2023
- by Scott Mendelson
- The Wrap
Welcome to Global Breakouts, Deadline’s fortnightly strand in which we shine a spotlight on the TV shows and films killing it in their local territories. The industry is as globalized as it’s ever been, but breakout hits are appearing in pockets of the world all the time and it can be hard to keep track… So, we’re going to do the hard work for you.
This week we’re featuring South Korean smash The Roundup: No Way Out, the third installment of crime action franchise The Outlaws which was originated by and stars Don Lee (aka Ma Dong-seok) who also produces. A runaway hit in its home market, it has provided a major shot in the arm to the local box office which has been stuck in the doldrums so far this year; and there is much more to come for what Lee likens to a sort...
This week we’re featuring South Korean smash The Roundup: No Way Out, the third installment of crime action franchise The Outlaws which was originated by and stars Don Lee (aka Ma Dong-seok) who also produces. A runaway hit in its home market, it has provided a major shot in the arm to the local box office which has been stuck in the doldrums so far this year; and there is much more to come for what Lee likens to a sort...
- 6/14/2023
- by Nancy Tartaglione
- Deadline Film + TV
So far this summer, the box office hasn’t seen an opening weekend on the level of 2022 hits like “Top Gun: Maverick,” “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness” or “Jurassic World: Dominion.” But it’s still keeping pace with last summer’s grosses thanks to a larger number of films providing more consistent numbers.
That could be seen this weekend when Paramount’s “Transformers: Rise of the Beasts” opened to $60.5 million, closely followed on the charts by “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse,” which earned a $55.4 million second weekend.
Combined, the two films pushed overall totals for the weekend to an estimated $163.5 million, just 21% down from last weekend when the $120 million opening of “Spider-Verse” and the $41.3 million second weekend of “The Little Mermaid” pushed the overall count to $208 million.
Also Read:
‘Transformers: Rise of the Beasts’ Edges ‘Spider-Verse’ at Box Office With $60.5 Million Opening
With the opening of Warner Bros.’ “The Flash...
That could be seen this weekend when Paramount’s “Transformers: Rise of the Beasts” opened to $60.5 million, closely followed on the charts by “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse,” which earned a $55.4 million second weekend.
Combined, the two films pushed overall totals for the weekend to an estimated $163.5 million, just 21% down from last weekend when the $120 million opening of “Spider-Verse” and the $41.3 million second weekend of “The Little Mermaid” pushed the overall count to $208 million.
Also Read:
‘Transformers: Rise of the Beasts’ Edges ‘Spider-Verse’ at Box Office With $60.5 Million Opening
With the opening of Warner Bros.’ “The Flash...
- 6/12/2023
- by Jeremy Fuster
- The Wrap
South Korea’s box office proved remarkably resilient during the pandemic. Theaters never really closed. But the market has needed a big local blockbuster, and “Train to Busan” star Don Lee provided it with his return as a cranky detective kicking righteous ass in the critically acclaimed “The Roundup: No Way Out.”
With a massive $60.35 million in just over two weeks, the action sequel was what South Korean theaters needed after a slow start to 2023 mostly dominated by Hollywood films like “Avatar: The Way of Water” and Japanese releases like “The First Slam Dunk.”
With a population of 51.7 million, under a sixth the size of the U.S., South Korea punches above its weight cinematically: It’s the sixth-largest theatrical market, just behind France, according to Gower Street Analytics, and movie-crazy enough that it outperforms larger countries with well-developed economies like Germany.
A pandemic stalwart looking for hits
South Korea...
With a massive $60.35 million in just over two weeks, the action sequel was what South Korean theaters needed after a slow start to 2023 mostly dominated by Hollywood films like “Avatar: The Way of Water” and Japanese releases like “The First Slam Dunk.”
With a population of 51.7 million, under a sixth the size of the U.S., South Korea punches above its weight cinematically: It’s the sixth-largest theatrical market, just behind France, according to Gower Street Analytics, and movie-crazy enough that it outperforms larger countries with well-developed economies like Germany.
A pandemic stalwart looking for hits
South Korea...
- 6/12/2023
- by Scott Mendelson
- The Wrap
Korean-produced crime action film “The Roundup: No Way Out” dominated proceedings at the South Korean cinema box office for the second successive weekend. Its massive haul now totals $60 million. “Transformers: Rise of the Beasts” opened with a puny second place.
The Friday to Sunday period saw the film bring in $10.4 million from 1.32 million ticket sales and account for a 72% market share, according to data from Kobis, the data tracking service operated by the Korean Film Council (Kofic). Including pre-release previews and strong midweek sales, the film has now rushed on to an aggregate of $59.6 million that has been earned from 7.78 million spectators.
The film is the third in a local franchise starring Ma Dong-seok (aka Don Lee) in the lead role as a violent and crudely effective policeman, dubbed as a ‘beast cop’. In this episode, he is on the trail of two bad guys and a new drug,
It...
The Friday to Sunday period saw the film bring in $10.4 million from 1.32 million ticket sales and account for a 72% market share, according to data from Kobis, the data tracking service operated by the Korean Film Council (Kofic). Including pre-release previews and strong midweek sales, the film has now rushed on to an aggregate of $59.6 million that has been earned from 7.78 million spectators.
The film is the third in a local franchise starring Ma Dong-seok (aka Don Lee) in the lead role as a violent and crudely effective policeman, dubbed as a ‘beast cop’. In this episode, he is on the trail of two bad guys and a new drug,
It...
- 6/11/2023
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
Crime action film “The Roundup: No Way Out” dominated the South Korean box office on its official opening weekend with a thumping $21.9 million performance.
The film, the third in a franchise that pits a heavy-fisted cop, portrayed by Ma Dong-seok (aka Don Lee), against colorfully devious rogues, crushed all competing titles by taking an 88% market share. In terms of admissions, it attracted 2.82 million into cinemas between Friday and Sunday.
The film’s official opening was on Wednesday (May 31). But it also enjoyed wide previews through much of the preceding week. Adding in the weekday takings and the preview activity, “The Roundup: No Way Out” has a current aggregate of $34.1 million and has sold a total of 4.51 million tickets, according to data from Kobis, the tracking service operated by the Korean Film Council.
On both counts – gross revenue and spectator numbers – the film is already the second ranked film of the year in Korea,...
The film, the third in a franchise that pits a heavy-fisted cop, portrayed by Ma Dong-seok (aka Don Lee), against colorfully devious rogues, crushed all competing titles by taking an 88% market share. In terms of admissions, it attracted 2.82 million into cinemas between Friday and Sunday.
The film’s official opening was on Wednesday (May 31). But it also enjoyed wide previews through much of the preceding week. Adding in the weekday takings and the preview activity, “The Roundup: No Way Out” has a current aggregate of $34.1 million and has sold a total of 4.51 million tickets, according to data from Kobis, the tracking service operated by the Korean Film Council.
On both counts – gross revenue and spectator numbers – the film is already the second ranked film of the year in Korea,...
- 6/5/2023
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
Celine Song’s Past Lives from A24 is very much here and now, grossing $232k on four screens for over $58k per location, a nice number for Song’s debut film as the second-biggest limited opening of the year so far. A24 also had the highest in April with Beau Is Afraid at $80k per theater at four locations, testament to helmer Ari Aster’s devoted fan base.
Song’s love story was a Sundance favorite and is high scoring (96% Rotten Tomatoes Certified Fresh with critics; 92 Metacritic Must-See). The distributor says 18 shows were sold out among the four opening theaters through Saturday amid strong exit polls. The film starring Greta Lee and Teo Yoo as childhood friends who reuinte will roll out into top markets over the next few weeks ahead of a nationwide expansion on June 3.
Event cinema: Fathom Events’ Suga / Agust D Tour ‘D-day’ in Japan: Live...
Song’s love story was a Sundance favorite and is high scoring (96% Rotten Tomatoes Certified Fresh with critics; 92 Metacritic Must-See). The distributor says 18 shows were sold out among the four opening theaters through Saturday amid strong exit polls. The film starring Greta Lee and Teo Yoo as childhood friends who reuinte will roll out into top markets over the next few weeks ahead of a nationwide expansion on June 3.
Event cinema: Fathom Events’ Suga / Agust D Tour ‘D-day’ in Japan: Live...
- 6/4/2023
- by Jill Goldsmith
- Deadline Film + TV
South Korean box office held strong over the weekend, with “Fast X” enjoying a second lap at the head of the field, followed by a growing chasing pack.
“Fast X” earned $3.12 million between Friday and Sunday in Korea, according to data from Kobis, the tracking service operated by the Korean Film Council (Kofic). That was a 38% decline compared with its opening weekend, but pumped the film’s total to a speedy $11.4 million after 12 days.
Three other titles jostled for position ahead of Monday’s Buddha’s Birthday public holiday and delivered multi-million-dollar performances.
“The Roundup: No Way Out” took second place with $2.44 million from previews ahead of its official release on May 31. The film is the third part of the Ma Dong-seok-led comedy-crime-action action franchise that first launched in 2017 with “The Outlaws” and then revived the summer box office last year with a blockbuster second instalment “The Roundup.
“Fast X” earned $3.12 million between Friday and Sunday in Korea, according to data from Kobis, the tracking service operated by the Korean Film Council (Kofic). That was a 38% decline compared with its opening weekend, but pumped the film’s total to a speedy $11.4 million after 12 days.
Three other titles jostled for position ahead of Monday’s Buddha’s Birthday public holiday and delivered multi-million-dollar performances.
“The Roundup: No Way Out” took second place with $2.44 million from previews ahead of its official release on May 31. The film is the third part of the Ma Dong-seok-led comedy-crime-action action franchise that first launched in 2017 with “The Outlaws” and then revived the summer box office last year with a blockbuster second instalment “The Roundup.
- 5/29/2023
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
Marks the fourth instalment in the box office hit series starring Don Lee.
South Korea’s K-Movie Entertainment is launching pre-sales at the Cannes market on The Roundup: Punishment, the fourth in the hit action crime series starring Don Lee (aka Ma Dong-seok) as “the Beast Cop”.
This time, he is pitted against a villain played by Kim Moo-yul. The actors are reversing their roles as detective and bad guy as seen in The Gangster, The Cop, The Devil, which played in Midnight Screenings at Cannes in 2019.
The second instalment in the series, The Roundup, which followed The Outlaws, was...
South Korea’s K-Movie Entertainment is launching pre-sales at the Cannes market on The Roundup: Punishment, the fourth in the hit action crime series starring Don Lee (aka Ma Dong-seok) as “the Beast Cop”.
This time, he is pitted against a villain played by Kim Moo-yul. The actors are reversing their roles as detective and bad guy as seen in The Gangster, The Cop, The Devil, which played in Midnight Screenings at Cannes in 2019.
The second instalment in the series, The Roundup, which followed The Outlaws, was...
- 5/16/2023
- by Jean Noh
- ScreenDaily
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