'Avatar' sequel sells over 5 million tickets in 12 days

The Korea Times

The Korea Times

Entertainment & Arts

Tue, September 26, 2023 | 08:35

Films

'Avatar' sequel sells over 5 million tickets in 12 days

Posted : 2022-12-25 14:48

Updated : 2022-12-26 10:33

Posters for "Avatar: The Way of Water" hang in a movie theater in Seoul, Dec. 20. The film has sold over 5 million tickets here as of Sunday, 12 days after its release. Yonhap

By Kim Rahn

"Avatar: The Way of Water" has sold over 5 million tickets in Korea as of Sunday, at a faster pace than the 2009 original.

The sequel to the sci-fi blockbuster, "Avatar," had amassed some 5.37 million filmgoers as of 7 a.m. on Christmas Day, the 12th day since its release on Dec. 14, according to the Korea Film Council.

The film reached the 5-million mark in ticket sales only a day after it reached the 4-million mark on Saturday, and the theater industry expects the film to reach the 6-million mark easily in one or two days, because 830,000 people have already made reservations for the movie in the coming days.

The original "Avatar," screened 13 years ago, reached 5 million in ticket sales here 15 days after its release. It set a box office record at the time with 13.3 million in ticket sales.

Directed by James Cameron, the same director of the original film, "Avatar: The Way of Water" revolves around Jake Sully (Sam Worthington) and Neytiri (Zoe Saldana), who are now parents of five children, trying to protect their family from a new threat to Pandora.

Upon the achievement of 5 million tickets sold here, the cast and crew members uploaded messages of gratitude on the YouTube channel of 20th Century Studios Korea.

"We are really touched by the incredible support of the Korean fans," Saldana said, while Sigourney Weaver expressed her gratitude and love. "It's amazing to see so much love for our film from a country on the other side of the world," producer Jon Landau said, and Cameron said, "Please continue to show your support."

A scene from "Avatar: The Way of Water," released by 20th Century Studios / AP-Yonhap

Film and theater industries predict that the box office success of "Avatar: The Way of Water," which has a strong family-friendly message, is likely to continue for weeks, because December and January, the winter vacation season, traditionally attract family moviegoers.

The speedy achievement of 5 million ticket sales has come despite the extremely long running time of 192 minutes, and the fact that many avid fans of the 2009 original film haven't seen it and are seeking to make reservations for some premium theaters, like 3-D IMAX and 4-D theaters, to maximize the cinematic experience. The competition for the premium theaters is fierce and tickets for them are sold out more easily than the ordinary theaters.

In 2022, after most of the COVID-19 social distancing measures were lifted, five films other than "Avatar: The Way of Water" have seen more than 5 million in ticket sales: "The Roundup" (12.69 million), "Top Gun: Maverick" (8.17 million), "Hansan: Rising Dragon" (7.26 million), "Confidential Assignment 2: International" (6.98 million), and "Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness" (5.88 million). "The Roundup," the sequel to the 2017 hit, "The Outlaws," reached the 5-million mark 10 days after its release.

rahnita@koreatimes.co.kr