#1 of 42 #1 Korean-language movie of 2009
2009 · Thriller, Action
$71.3M worldwide · 23% of the chart's total
No US & Canada figure reported
Korean box office · 2009
Korean Box Office 2009: Highest-Grossing Korean Movies
Tidal Wave (2009) is the highest-grossing Korean-language movie released in 2009, with $71.3M worldwide, ahead of Take Off (2009) at $52.2M and The Chaser (2009) at $36.5M. 42 Korean-language films released in 2009 report a worldwide gross, $310M in all, <1% of it from the US & Canada. That is up 2% on 2008, whose releases took $305.4M. By genre, Drama leads with $190.5M across 21 Korean releases.
- 2009 releases with a gross
- 42
- combined worldwide
- $310M
- Tidal Wave (2009), the #1
- $71.3M
- vs 2008
- +2%
#1 of 42 Top 5
What Were the Biggest Korean Hits of 2009?
Tidal Wave (2009) leads with $71.3M, 23% of the total. The top 5 together took $197.9M, 64% of what all 42 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 2009, 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 2009.
- 1 Jul 22, 2009 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $71.3M
- 2 Jul 29, 2009 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $52.2M
- 3 Dec 30, 2009 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $36.5M
- 4 Apr 4, 2009 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $21.1M
- 5 Jun 11, 2009 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $16.9M
- 6
Oct 22, 2009 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $16.1M - 7
Sep 24, 2009 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $13.3M - 8
Jul 15, 2009 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $10.7M - 9
Feb 16, 2009 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $10.1M - 10
Nov 11, 2009 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $8.4M - 11
Jan 22, 2009 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $7.5M - 12
Feb 12, 2009 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $7.5M - 13
Apr 29, 2009 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $6.2M - 14
Feb 5, 2009 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $3.9M - 15
May 14, 2009 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $3.7M - 16
Mar 11, 2009 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $3.7M - 17
Nov 26, 2009 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $3.6M - 18
Feb 19, 2009 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $3.1M - 19
Nov 5, 2009 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $2.5M - 20
Aug 6, 2009 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $2.5M - 21
Sep 1, 2009 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $2M - 22
Oct 8, 2009 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $1.8M - 23
Apr 9, 2009 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $1.1M - 24
Nov 5, 2009 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $915.9K - 25
Oct 28, 2009 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $827.5K - 26
Feb 5, 2009 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $638.2K - 27
Aug 12, 2009 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $360.9K - 28
Nov 4, 2009 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $336.9K - 29
Nov 5, 2009 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $325.2K - 30
Oct 12, 2009 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $263.5K - 31
May 14, 2009 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $211K - 32
May 20, 2009 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $169.3K - 33
Apr 22, 2009 US and Canada: $60.3K Rest of the world: $63.7K Worldwide: $124K - 34
Oct 8, 2009 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $61.2K - 35
Oct 10, 2009 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $51.1K - 36
Oct 9, 2009 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $47.1K - 37
Oct 15, 2009 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $44.5K - 38
Aug 20, 2009 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $42.5K - 39
Jun 25, 2009 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $39.3K - 40
Oct 10, 2009 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $17.2K - 41
Aug 20, 2009 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $1.2K - 42
Apr 30, 2009 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $880
Gross bands
How Many 2009 Releases Crossed $100 Million?
None of the 42 films reached $100M. 33 films, 79% of the list, earned under $10M. Each band shows its films and its share of the $310M total.
80% 20%
- $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 9 films, 21% of the list $248M · 80% of the gross
- Under $10M 33 films, 79% of the list $62.1M · 20% of the gross
By release month
Which Month of 2009 Earned the Most?
July releases took the most, $134.1M from 3 films, led by Tidal Wave (2009). August was the quietest month ($2.9M). Each column is a release month and links to that month's chart.
- January Jan City of Damnation (2009) $7.5M City of Damnation (2009)
- February Feb Private Eye (2009) $25.3M Private Eye (2009)
- March Mar More Than Blue (2009) $3.7M More Than Blue (2009)
- April Apr My Girlfriend Is an Agent (2009) $28.5M My Girlfriend Is an Agent (2009)
- May May Castaway on the Moon (2009) $4.1M Castaway on the Moon (2009)
- June Jun Running Turtle (2009) $16.9M Running Turtle (2009)
- July Jul Tidal Wave (2009) $134.1M Tidal Wave (2009)
- August Aug A Million (2009) $2.9M A Million (2009)
- September Sep Closer to Heaven (2009) $15.3M Closer to Heaven (2009)
- October Oct Good Morning President (2009) $19.2M Good Morning President (2009)
- November Nov Fortune Salon (2009) $16.1M Fortune Salon (2009)
- December Dec The Chaser (2009) $36.5M The Chaser (2009)
Last 10 years
How Does 2009 Compare With Previous Years?
Of these 10 years, 2005 earned the most: $451.5M from 49 films, led by The King and the Clown (2005). 2009 took $310M.
| Year | Films | Worldwide | Change | Biggest film |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 7 films | 7 | $943.7K | – | 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 |
| 2004 21 films · +354% | 21 | $160.1M | +354% | Tae Guk Gi: The Brotherhood of War (2004) $81.4M |
| 2005 49 films · +182% | 49 | $451.5M | +182% | The King and the Clown (2005) $74.5M |
| 2006 65 films · −19% | 65 | $363.5M | −19% | 200 Pounds Beauty (2006) $42M |
| 2007 53 films · −8% | 53 | $334.2M | −8% | May 18 (2007) $49.3M |
| 2008 50 films · −9% | 50 | $305.4M | −9% | The Good, the Bad, the Weird (2008) $44.3M |
| 2009 42 films · +2% | 42 | $310M | +2% | Tidal Wave (2009) $71.3M |
By genre
Which Korean Genres Earned the Most in 2009?
Drama took $190.5M across 21 films, 61% of the total, ahead of Thriller ($169.2M) and Comedy ($140.1M). A film counts once for each of its genres.
2009 Korean Box Office by Genre
-
Drama $190.5M21 films · #1 Tidal Wave (2009) -
Thriller $169.2M12 films · #1 Tidal Wave (2009) -
Comedy $140.1M13 films · #1 Take Off (2009) -
Action $119M9 films · #1 Tidal Wave (2009) -
Romance $47.9M13 films · #1 My Girlfriend Is an Agent (2009) -
Crime $44.6M6 films · #1 Running Turtle (2009) -
Adventure $21.8M3 films · #1 Chaw (2009) -
Horror $10.8M4 films · #1 Chaw (2009) -
Mystery $10.5M2 films · #1 Private Eye (2009) -
War $263.5K1 film · #1 A Little Pond (2009)
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 2009: 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 42 films as the chart.
What is the highest-grossing Korean-language movie in 2009?
Tidal Wave (2009) leads with $71.3M worldwide. Next come Take Off (2009) at $52.2M and The Chaser (2009) at $36.5M.
How much did Korean-language movies released in 2009 earn?
42 Korean-language films released in 2009 report a worldwide gross, $310M in all, or $7.4M per film on average. 2008 releases took $305.4M.
How many Korean-language movies released in 2009 made $1 billion?
None. The biggest, Tidal Wave (2009), earned $71.3M.
How is the 2009 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 2009. 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 2009 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.