Hollywood blockbusters loom, squeezing Korean releases; next year’s slate expected to be slimmer

Hollywood’s December lineup is tightening the year-end outlook for Korea’s film market, as Avatar 3 is poised to arrive next month and major Hollywood franchises begin rolling out. With several top Korean titles already curtailed, distributors are adjusting schedules to accommodate the anticipated overflow of foreign releases.

In Korea, December releases are thinning, with only The Neighbours (directed and starring Ha Jung-woo) and The Informant (starring Heo Seong-tae) slated for opening next month, according to industry insiders. The trade expects a muted year-end as distributors hold back more Korean titles amid the crowded Hollywood calendar.

Avatar 3 is set to headline the year-end box office, following a lineup that includes the anticipated return of the hit franchises and a strong push for international releases. The film’s December 17 release is expected to dominate the festival season, while domestic productions face a compressed slate.

Industry observers note that CJ ENM and Lotte Entertainment, once the pillars of Korean film distribution, currently have few titles scheduled for release. Showbox plans to release The Man Who Lives with the King next year, and Humint, from NEW, is eyed for a possible holiday release. These shifts reflect a broader trend of reduced Korean film output and a smaller overall box office footprint in the coming year.

Box office data shows a decline from the pandemic-era highs: in 2022 Korea’s attendance was approximately 62.79 million, 60.75 million in 2023, and 71.47 million in 2024, while this year’s numbers as of early September stood at about 41.31 million. As productions slow, the pipeline of Korean releases for next year is expected to be smaller than this year’s. CJ CGV’s Hwang Jae-hyun notes that mid-sized Korean films have been hit harder than foreign films, signaling a likely smaller Korean slate in the year ahead.

DetectedType: KPOP
Reason: The article centers on Korean entertainment/cinema, including Korean films and the year-end box office, which fits Korea’s entertainment industry coverage.