#1 of 73 #1 Korean-language movie of 2016
2016 · Action, Thriller
$92.8M worldwide · 13% of the chart's total
$2.1M US & Canada · 2% $90.6M elsewhere · 98%
Korean box office · 2016
Korean Box Office 2016: Highest-Grossing Korean Movies
Train to Busan (2016) is the highest-grossing Korean-language movie released in 2016, with $92.8M worldwide, ahead of A Violent Prosecutor (2016) at $66.7M and The Age of Shadows (2016) at $54.5M. 73 Korean-language films released in 2016 report a worldwide gross, $691.2M in all, 1% of it from the US & Canada. That is up 4% on 2015, whose releases took $665.7M. By genre, Action leads with $395.4M across 15 Korean releases.
- 2016 releases with a gross
- 73
- combined worldwide
- $691.2M
- Train to Busan (2016), the #1
- $92.8M
- vs 2015
- +4%
#1 of 73 Top 5
What Were the Biggest Korean Hits of 2016?
Train to Busan (2016) leads with $92.8M, 13% of the total. The top 5 together took $318.1M, 46% of what all 73 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 2016, Ranked by Worldwide Gross
Ranks 1 to 50 of 73. Lifetime worldwide grosses in US dollars, not adjusted for inflation; domestic means the US & Canada. Films are grouped by their release date in 2016.
- 1 Jul 22, 2016 US and Canada: $2.1M Rest of the world: $90.6M Worldwide: $92.8M
- 2 Feb 3, 2016 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $66.7M
- 3 Sep 23, 2016 US and Canada: $541.7K Rest of the world: $53.9M Worldwide: $54.5M
- 4 Aug 26, 2016 US and Canada: $568.9K Rest of the world: $51.9M Worldwide: $52.4M
- 5 Dec 21, 2016 US and Canada: $597.3K Rest of the world: $51M Worldwide: $51.6M
- 6
Jun 3, 2016 US and Canada: $786.6K Rest of the world: $49.1M Worldwide: $49.9M - 7
Oct 13, 2016 US and Canada: $466.5K Rest of the world: $48.4M Worldwide: $48.9M - 8
Oct 21, 2016 US and Canada: $2M Rest of the world: $35.9M Worldwide: $37.9M - 9
Dec 7, 2016 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $30.9M - 10
Feb 24, 2016 US and Canada: $125.6K Rest of the world: $23.7M Worldwide: $23.9M - 11
Nov 24, 2016 US and Canada: $52K Rest of the world: $19.1M Worldwide: $19.2M - 12
Oct 7, 2016 US and Canada: $175.7K Rest of the world: $18.1M Worldwide: $18.3M - 13
Jun 29, 2016 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $14.8M - 14
Jul 6, 2016 US and Canada: $97.5K Rest of the world: $14.7M Worldwide: $14.8M - 15
May 20, 2016 US and Canada: $67.1K Rest of the world: $9.7M Worldwide: $9.8M - 16
May 19, 2016 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $8.6M - 17
Apr 13, 2016 US and Canada: $59.4K Rest of the world: $8.3M Worldwide: $8.3M - 18
Feb 17, 2016 US and Canada: $56.6K Rest of the world: $7.8M Worldwide: $7.8M - 19
Dec 14, 2016 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $7.8M - 20
Sep 9, 2016 US and Canada: $34K Rest of the world: $7M Worldwide: $7M - 21
Jan 21, 2016 US and Canada: $44.3K Rest of the world: $6.5M Worldwide: $6.6M - 22
Feb 26, 2016 US and Canada: $50.8K Rest of the world: $5.7M Worldwide: $5.7M - 23
Apr 22, 2016 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $5.7M - 24
Oct 26, 2016 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $5.2M - 25
Jan 14, 2016 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $4.3M - 26
Aug 3, 2016 US and Canada: $29.3K Rest of the world: $4.1M Worldwide: $4.1M - 27
Nov 10, 2016 US and Canada: $57.8K Rest of the world: $3.3M Worldwide: $3.3M - 28
Apr 13, 2016 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $3.2M - 29
May 19, 2016 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $3.1M - 30
Apr 30, 2016 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $2.7M - 31
Apr 5, 2016 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $2M - 32
Oct 27, 2016 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $1.9M - 33
May 4, 2016 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $1.8M - 34
Jun 23, 2016 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $1.8M - 35
Sep 7, 2016 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $1.5M - 36
Jun 30, 2016 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $1.5M - 37
Feb 25, 2016 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $1.4M - 38
Nov 4, 2016 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $977.3K - 39
Nov 16, 2016 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $842.6K - 40
Feb 12, 2016 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $744.5K - 41
Jun 24, 2016 US and Canada: $24.5K Rest of the world: $656.3K Worldwide: $680.7K - 42
Jun 2, 2016 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $654.5K - 43
Oct 20, 2016 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $603.7K - 44
Aug 31, 2016 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $599.9K - 45
Apr 30, 2016 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $540.9K - 46
Nov 30, 2016 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $390.8K - 47
Jul 6, 2016 US and Canada: $105K Rest of the world: $201K Worldwide: $306K - 48
Dec 14, 2016 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $298.9K - 49
Aug 25, 2016 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $297.2K - 50
Jan 7, 2016 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $254.4K
US & Canada vs the world
Where Did the Money Come From in 2016?
Of the top 10, The Handmaiden (2016) earned the biggest share at home (5% in the US & Canada), while Spirits’ Homecoming (2016) made 99% of its gross abroad. Across all 73 films, $8.3M (1%) came from the US & Canada. 2 films of the top 10 report no US & Canada figure.
- 1 Train to Busan (2016) $92.8M $2.1M US & Canada · 2% $90.6M elsewhere · 98%
- 2 A Violent Prosecutor (2016) $66.7M No US & Canada figure reported
- 3 The Age of Shadows (2016) $54.5M $541.7K US & Canada · <1% $53.9M elsewhere · 99%
- 4 Tunnel (2016) $52.4M $568.9K US & Canada · 1% $51.9M elsewhere · 99%
- 5 Master (2016) $51.6M $597.3K US & Canada · 1% $51M elsewhere · 99%
- 6 The Wailing (2016) $49.9M $786.6K US & Canada · 2% $49.1M elsewhere · 98%
- 7 Luck-Key (2016) $48.9M $466.5K US & Canada · <1% $48.4M elsewhere · 99%
- 8 The Handmaiden (2016) $37.9M $2M US & Canada · 5% $35.9M elsewhere · 95%
- 9 Pandora (2016) $30.9M No US & Canada figure reported
- 10 Spirits’ Homecoming (2016) $23.9M $125.6K US & Canada · <1% $23.7M elsewhere · 99%
Gross bands
How Many 2016 Releases Crossed $100 Million?
None of the 73 films reached $100M. 59 films, 81% of the list, earned under $10M. Each band shows its films and its share of the $691.2M total.
83% 17%
- $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, 19% of the list $576.5M · 83% of the gross
- Under $10M 59 films, 81% of the list $114.6M · 17% of the gross
By release month
Which Month of 2016 Earned the Most?
October releases took the most, $113.1M from 10 films, led by Luck-Key (2016). March was the quietest month ($493.1K). Each column is a release month and links to that month's chart.
- January Jan A Melody to Remember (2016) $11.5M A Melody to Remember (2016)
- February Feb A Violent Prosecutor (2016) $106.3M A Violent Prosecutor (2016)
- March Mar Hiya (2016) $493.1K Hiya (2016)
- April Apr Time Renegades (2016) $22.6M Time Renegades (2016)
- May May Phantom Detective (2016) $23.7M Phantom Detective (2016)
- June Jun The Wailing (2016) $69.4M The Wailing (2016)
- July Jul Train to Busan (2016) $107.9M Train to Busan (2016)
- August Aug Tunnel (2016) $57.5M Tunnel (2016)
- September Sep The Age of Shadows (2016) $63.2M The Age of Shadows (2016)
- October Oct Luck-Key (2016) $113.1M Luck-Key (2016)
- November Nov My Annoying Brother (2016) $24.9M My Annoying Brother (2016)
- December Dec Master (2016) $90.6M Master (2016)
Last 10 years
How Does 2016 Compare With Previous Years?
Of these 10 years, 2016 earned the most: $691.2M from 73 films, led by Train to Busan (2016).
| Year | Films | Worldwide | Change | Biggest film |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 53 films | 53 | $334.2M | – | 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 40 films · +33% | 40 | $456.2M | +33% | The Thieves (2012) $87.1M |
| 2013 36 films · +21% | 36 | $553.9M | +21% | Miracle in Cell No. 7 (2013) $82.1M |
| 2014 40 films · −5% | 40 | $526.4M | −5% | The Admiral: Roaring Currents (2014) $138.3M |
| 2015 47 films · +26% | 47 | $665.7M | +26% | Ode to My Father (2015) $184.8M |
| 2016 73 films · +4% | 73 | $691.2M | +4% | Train to Busan (2016) $92.8M |
By genre
Which Korean Genres Earned the Most in 2016?
Action took $395.4M across 15 films, 57% of the total, ahead of Thriller ($350.5M) and Drama ($320.7M). A film counts once for each of its genres.
2016 Korean Box Office by Genre
-
Action $395.4M15 films · #1 Train to Busan (2016) -
Thriller $350.5M17 films · #1 Train to Busan (2016) -
Drama $320.7M39 films · #1 The Age of Shadows (2016) -
Crime $195.3M11 films · #1 A Violent Prosecutor (2016) -
Comedy $190.5M17 films · #1 A Violent Prosecutor (2016) -
Horror $147.5M6 films · #1 Train to Busan (2016) -
Romance $72.7M12 films · #1 The Handmaiden (2016) -
Fantasy $70.8M6 films · #1 The Wailing (2016) -
History $60.8M6 films · #1 Spirits’ Homecoming (2016) -
Mystery $50.2M5 films · #1 The Wailing (2016)
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 $691.2M #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 2016: 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 73 films as the chart.
What is the highest-grossing Korean-language movie in 2016?
Train to Busan (2016) leads with $92.8M worldwide, $2.1M of it in the US & Canada. Next come A Violent Prosecutor (2016) at $66.7M and The Age of Shadows (2016) at $54.5M.
How much did Korean-language movies released in 2016 earn?
73 Korean-language films released in 2016 report a worldwide gross, $691.2M in all, or $9.5M per film on average. 2015 releases took $665.7M.
How many Korean-language movies released in 2016 made $1 billion?
None. The biggest, Train to Busan (2016), earned $92.8M.
How is the 2016 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 2016. 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 2016 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.