#1 of 34 #1 Korean-language movie of 2012
2012 · Action, Crime
$87.1M worldwide · 21% of the chart's total
$685.8K US & Canada · <1% $86.4M elsewhere · 99%
Korean box office · 2012
Korean Box Office 2012: Highest-Grossing Korean Movies
The Thieves (2012) is the highest-grossing Korean-language movie released in 2012, with $87.1M worldwide, ahead of A Werewolf Boy (2012) at $46.3M and The Grand Heist (2012) at $30.2M. 34 Korean-language films released in 2012 report a worldwide gross, $423.6M in all, <1% of it from the US & Canada. That is up 23% on 2011, whose releases took $343.9M. By genre, Romance leads with $211.6M across 15 Korean releases.
- 2012 releases with a gross
- 34
- combined worldwide
- $423.6M
- The Thieves (2012), the #1
- $87.1M
- vs 2011
- +23%
#1 of 34 Top 5
What Were the Biggest Korean Hits of 2012?
The Thieves (2012) leads with $87.1M, 21% of the total. The top 5 together took $219.6M, 52% of what all 34 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 2012, 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 2012.
- 1 Oct 12, 2012 US and Canada: $685.8K Rest of the world: $86.4M Worldwide: $87.1M
- 2 Oct 31, 2012 US and Canada: $342.9K Rest of the world: $45.9M Worldwide: $46.3M
- 3 Aug 8, 2012 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $30.2M
- 4 May 17, 2012 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $29.4M
- 5 Mar 22, 2012 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $26.6M
- 6
Jan 18, 2012 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $26.4M - 7
Nov 8, 2012 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $21.7M - 8
Nov 30, 2012 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $17.4M - 9
Dec 19, 2012 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $16.8M - 10
Jun 6, 2012 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $16.5M - 11
Dec 6, 2012 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $12.5M - 12
Feb 29, 2012 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $11.4M - 13
Feb 16, 2012 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $10.4M - 14
Oct 18, 2012 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $10.2M - 15
Apr 25, 2012 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $8.7M - 16
May 30, 2012 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $8.2M - 17
Aug 14, 2012 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $7.8M - 18
Dec 19, 2012 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $7.6M - 19
Oct 11, 2012 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $7.3M - 20
Oct 3, 2012 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $5.9M - 21
Jun 20, 2012 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $3.4M - 22
Jul 25, 2012 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $2.9M - 23
Jan 18, 2012 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $2.7M - 24
Nov 22, 2012 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $2M - 25
Oct 25, 2012 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $1.4M - 26
Nov 15, 2012 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $1.3M - 27
Nov 9, 2012 US and Canada: $25.1K Rest of the world: $586.3K Worldwide: $611.4K - 28
Aug 30, 2012 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $407.7K - 29
Apr 20, 2012 US and Canada: $13.7K Rest of the world: $309.3K Worldwide: $323.1K - 30
Oct 31, 2012 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $158.2K - 31
Jul 25, 2012 US and Canada: $14K Rest of the world: $2K Worldwide: $16K - 32
Nov 15, 2012 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $13.6K - 33
Dec 5, 2012 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $5.1K - 34
Jun 21, 2012 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $2.9K
Gross bands
How Many 2012 Releases Crossed $100 Million?
None of the 34 films reached $100M. 20 films, 59% of the list, earned under $10M. Each band shows its films and its share of the $423.6M total.
86% 14%
- $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 14 films, 41% of the list $362.8M · 86% of the gross
- Under $10M 20 films, 59% of the list $60.8M · 14% of the gross
By release month
Which Month of 2012 Earned the Most?
October releases took the most, $158.4M from 7 films, led by The Thieves (2012). July was the quietest month ($2.9M). Each column is a release month and links to that month's chart.
- January Jan Dancing Queen (2012) $29.2M Dancing Queen (2012)
- February Feb Love Fiction (2012) $21.7M Love Fiction (2012)
- March Mar Architecture 101 (2012) $26.6M Architecture 101 (2012)
- April Apr Eungyo (2012) $9M Eungyo (2012)
- May May All About My Wife (2012) $37.6M All About My Wife (2012)
- June Jun The Concubine (2012) $19.9M The Concubine (2012)
- July Jul Horror Stories (2012) $2.9M Horror Stories (2012)
- August Aug The Grand Heist (2012) $38.3M The Grand Heist (2012)
- September Sep No reported grosses – No reported grosses
- October Oct The Thieves (2012) $158.4M The Thieves (2012)
- November Nov Confession of Murder (2012) $42.9M Confession of Murder (2012)
- December Dec Love 911 (2012) $37M Love 911 (2012)
Last 10 years
How Does 2012 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). 2012 took $423.6M.
| Year | Films | Worldwide | Change | Biggest film |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 16 films | 16 | $35.3M | – | 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 |
| 2010 45 films · +24% | 45 | $385.6M | +24% | Blades of Blood (2010) $82.2M |
| 2011 38 films · −11% | 38 | $343.9M | −11% | Sunny (2011) $51.1M |
| 2012 34 films · +23% | 34 | $423.6M | +23% | The Thieves (2012) $87.1M |
By genre
Which Korean Genres Earned the Most in 2012?
Romance took $211.6M across 15 films, 50% of the total, ahead of Comedy ($198.9M) and Action ($158.8M). A film counts once for each of its genres.
2012 Korean Box Office by Genre
-
Romance $211.6M15 films · #1 A Werewolf Boy (2012) -
Comedy $198.9M16 films · #1 The Grand Heist (2012) -
Action $158.8M7 films · #1 The Thieves (2012) -
Drama $101.9M15 films · #1 Dancing Queen (2012) -
Crime $94.5M2 films · #1 The Thieves (2012) -
Thriller $52.5M6 films · #1 Confession of Murder (2012) -
Fantasy $52.2M2 films · #1 A Werewolf Boy (2012) -
Mystery $26.5M3 films · #1 Howling (2012) -
Adventure $6.3M2 films · #1 Ghost Sweepers (2012) -
Horror $2.9M1 film · #1 Horror Stories (2012)
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 $423.6M #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 2012: 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 34 films as the chart.
What is the highest-grossing Korean-language movie in 2012?
The Thieves (2012) leads with $87.1M worldwide, $685.8K of it in the US & Canada. Next come A Werewolf Boy (2012) at $46.3M and The Grand Heist (2012) at $30.2M.
How much did Korean-language movies released in 2012 earn?
34 Korean-language films released in 2012 report a worldwide gross, $423.6M in all, or $12.5M per film on average. 2011 releases took $343.9M.
How many Korean-language movies released in 2012 made $1 billion?
None. The biggest, The Thieves (2012), earned $87.1M.
How is the 2012 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 2012. 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 2012 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.