#1 of 16 #1 Korean-language movie of 2003
2003 · Romance, Comedy
$17.9M worldwide · 51% of the chart's total
No US & Canada figure reported
Korean box office · 2003
Korean Box Office 2003: Highest-Grossing Korean Movies
My Tutor Friend (2003) is the highest-grossing Korean-language movie released in 2003, with $17.9M worldwide, ahead of Untold Scandal (2003) at $5.8M and Silmido (2003) at $4.9M. 16 Korean-language films released in 2003 report a worldwide gross, $35.3M in all, 1% of it from the US & Canada. That is down 80% on 2002, whose releases took $172.3M. By genre, Romance leads with $25.8M across 5 Korean releases.
- 2003 releases with a gross
- 16
- combined worldwide
- $35.3M
- My Tutor Friend (2003), the #1
- $17.9M
- vs 2002
- −80%
#1 of 16 Top 5
What Were the Biggest Korean Hits of 2003?
My Tutor Friend (2003) leads with $17.9M, 51% of the total. The top 5 together took $33.2M, 94% of what all 16 films earned. Each bar splits a film's gross into the US & Canada and the rest of the world.
- Number 1
-
Number 2 -
Number 3 -
Number 4 -
Number 5
US & Canada (domestic) Rest of the world
The chart
Every Korean Release of 2003, Ranked by Worldwide Gross
Lifetime worldwide grosses in US dollars, not adjusted for inflation; domestic means the US & Canada. Films are grouped by their release date in 2003.
- 1 Jan 30, 2003 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $17.9M
- 2 Oct 2, 2003 US and Canada: $63.3K Rest of the world: $5.7M Worldwide: $5.8M
- 3 Dec 24, 2003 US and Canada: $298.3K Rest of the world: $4.6M Worldwide: $4.9M
- 4 Jan 24, 2003 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $2.6M
- 5 Jan 10, 2003 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $2.1M
- 6
Feb 7, 2003 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $997.7K - 7
Jun 27, 2003 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $362K - 8
Apr 26, 2003 US and Canada: $74.7K Rest of the world: $122.6K Worldwide: $197.2K - 9
Jul 15, 2003 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $189.6K - 10
Sep 5, 2003 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $124.7K - 11
Aug 14, 2003 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $80.9K - 12
Aug 14, 2003 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $70.3K - 13
Mar 28, 2003 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $17.8K - 14
May 1, 2003 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $6.7K - 15
Aug 29, 2003 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $6.3K - 16
May 16, 2003 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $959
US & Canada vs the world
Where Did the Money Come From in 2003?
Of the top 10, Wonderful Days (2003) earned the biggest share at home (38% in the US & Canada), while Untold Scandal (2003) made 99% of its gross abroad. Across all 16 films, $436.3K (1%) came from the US & Canada. 7 films of the top 10 report no US & Canada figure.
- 1 My Tutor Friend (2003) $17.9M No US & Canada figure reported
- 2 Untold Scandal (2003) $5.8M $63.3K US & Canada · 1% $5.7M elsewhere · 99%
- 3 Silmido (2003) $4.9M $298.3K US & Canada · 6% $4.6M elsewhere · 94%
- 4 Double Agent (2003) $2.6M No US & Canada figure reported
- 5 Madeleine (2003) $2.1M No US & Canada figure reported
- 6 Blue (2003) $997.7K No US & Canada figure reported
- 7 Crazy First Love (2003) $362K No US & Canada figure reported
- 8 Wonderful Days (2003) $197.2K $74.7K US & Canada · 38% $122.6K elsewhere · 62%
- 9 Sword In The Moon (2003) $189.6K No US & Canada figure reported
- 10 Natural City (2003) $124.7K No US & Canada figure reported
Gross bands
How Many 2003 Releases Crossed $100 Million?
None of the 16 films reached $100M. 15 films, 94% of the list, earned under $10M. Each band shows its films and its share of the $35.3M total.
51% 49%
- $1B or more 0 films, 0% of the list No films
- $500M to $1B 0 films, 0% of the list No films
- $100M to $500M 0 films, 0% of the list No films
- $10M to $100M 1 film, 6% of the list $17.9M · 51% of the gross
- Under $10M 15 films, 94% of the list $17.4M · 49% of the gross
By release month
Which Month of 2003 Earned the Most?
January releases took the most, $22.6M from 3 films, led by My Tutor Friend (2003). May was the quietest month ($7.6K). Each column is a release month and links to that month's chart.
- January Jan My Tutor Friend (2003) $22.6M My Tutor Friend (2003)
- February Feb Blue (2003) $997.7K Blue (2003)
- March Mar My Teacher, Mr. Kim (2003) $17.8K My Teacher, Mr. Kim (2003)
- April Apr Wonderful Days (2003) $197.2K Wonderful Days (2003)
- May May Oseam (2003) $7.6K Oseam (2003)
- June Jun Crazy First Love (2003) $362K Crazy First Love (2003)
- July Jul Sword In The Moon (2003) $189.6K Sword In The Moon (2003)
- August Aug A Good Lawyer’s Wife (2003) $157.5K A Good Lawyer’s Wife (2003)
- September Sep Natural City (2003) $124.7K Natural City (2003)
- October Oct Untold Scandal (2003) $5.8M Untold Scandal (2003)
- November Nov No reported grosses – No reported grosses
- December Dec Silmido (2003) $4.9M Silmido (2003)
Last 10 years
How Does 2003 Compare With Previous Years?
Of these 10 years, 2002 earned the most: $172.3M from 35 films, led by Sex Is Zero (2002). 2003 took $35.3M.
| Year | Films | Worldwide | Change | Biggest film |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 No films | 0 | – | – | – |
| 1995 1 film | 1 | $10M | – | A Little Princess (1995) $10M |
| 1996 2 films · −97% | 2 | $303.8K | −97% | Freeway (1996) $295.5K |
| 1997 No films | 0 | – | – | – |
| 1998 1 film | 1 | $7.9K | – | The Power of Kangwon Province (1998) $7.9K |
| 1999 4 films · +4653% | 4 | $375.1K | +4653% | Shiri (1999) $164.8K |
| 2000 7 films · +152% | 7 | $943.7K | +152% | Grass (2000) $313K |
| 2001 12 films · +88% | 12 | $1.8M | +88% | Friend (2001) $550K |
| 2002 35 films · +9592% | 35 | $172.3M | +9592% | Sex Is Zero (2002) $23.9M |
| 2003 16 films · −80% | 16 | $35.3M | −80% | My Tutor Friend (2003) $17.9M |
By genre
Which Korean Genres Earned the Most in 2003?
Romance took $25.8M across 5 films, 73% of the total, ahead of Comedy ($18.3M) and Drama ($14.5M). A film counts once for each of its genres.
2003 Korean Box Office by Genre
-
Romance $25.8M5 films · #1 My Tutor Friend (2003) -
Comedy $18.3M3 films · #1 My Tutor Friend (2003) -
Drama $14.5M12 films · #1 Untold Scandal (2003) -
Action $8.8M5 films · #1 Silmido (2003) -
Thriller $2.8M3 films · #1 Double Agent (2003) -
War $997.7K1 film · #1 Blue (2003) -
Sci-Fi $321.9K2 films · #1 Wonderful Days (2003) -
Animation $203.9K2 films · #1 Wonderful Days (2003) -
Adventure $189.6K1 film · #1 Sword In The Moon (2003) -
Crime $80.9K1 film · #1 A Good Lawyer’s Wife (2003)
Archive
Korean Box Office Year by Year
Every year from 1958 to 2026 with its total and its biggest film. 2019 leads with $835.7M, led by Parasite (2019).
2020s 7 years · $1.7B
2010s 10 years · $5.7B
- 2019 $835.7M #1 Parasite (2019)
- 2018 $601.6M #1 Along with the Gods: The Last 49 Days (2018)
- 2017 $688.3M #1 Along With the Gods: The Two Worlds (2017)
- 2016 $691.3M #1 Train to Busan (2016)
- 2015 $665.7M #1 Ode to My Father (2015)
- 2014 $526.4M #1 The Admiral: Roaring Currents (2014)
- 2013 $553.9M #1 Miracle in Cell No. 7 (2013)
- 2012 $456.2M #1 The Thieves (2012)
- 2011 $343.9M #1 Sunny (2011)
- 2010 $385.6M #1 Blades of Blood (2010)
2000s 10 years · $2.1B
- 2009 $310M #1 Tidal Wave (2009)
- 2008 $305.4M #1 The Good, the Bad, the Weird (2008)
- 2007 $334.2M #1 May 18 (2007)
- 2006 $363.5M #1 200 Pounds Beauty (2006)
- 2005 $451.5M #1 The King and the Clown (2005)
- 2004 $160.1M #1 Tae Guk Gi: The Brotherhood of War (2004)
- 2003 $35.3M #1 My Tutor Friend (2003)
- 2002 $172.3M #1 Sex Is Zero (2002)
- 2001 $1.8M #1 Friend (2001)
- 2000 $943.7K #1 Grass (2000)
1990s 5 years · $16.3M
1980s 3 years · $12.4M
1970s 2 years · $3.9M
1960s 3 years · $4.5M
1950s 1 year · $8M
FAQ
Korean Box Office 2003: Questions & Answers
The chart's numbers in short: the #1 film, the total, the billion-dollar hits and the US & Canada share, answered from the same 16 films as the chart.
What is the highest-grossing Korean-language movie in 2003?
My Tutor Friend (2003) leads with $17.9M worldwide. Next come Untold Scandal (2003) at $5.8M and Silmido (2003) at $4.9M.
How much did Korean-language movies released in 2003 earn?
16 Korean-language films released in 2003 report a worldwide gross, $35.3M in all, or $2.2M per film on average. 2002 releases took $172.3M.
How many Korean-language movies released in 2003 made $1 billion?
None. The biggest, My Tutor Friend (2003), earned $17.9M.
How is the 2003 Korean box office chart ranked and where do the numbers come from?
Films are ranked by lifetime worldwide gross in US dollars, not adjusted for inflation, and grouped by their release date in 2003. The figures are the reported box office grosses in our database. A gross that looks misattributed, such as one figure shared by two unrelated films or a blockbuster total on an obscure title, is left out rather than shown as a fact, and so are films whose stored language is most likely wrong.
How often is the 2003 Korean box office chart updated?
Grosses change while films are in theaters and whenever a new figure is reported; this chart reads the latest numbers in our database, so an older film can still move after a re-release.