#1 of 45 #1 Korean-language movie of 2020
2020 · Horror, Thriller
$42.7M worldwide · 21% of the chart's total
$1.2M US & Canada · 3% $41.5M elsewhere · 97%
Korean box office · 2020
Korean Box Office 2020: Highest-Grossing Korean Movies
Peninsula (2020) is the highest-grossing Korean-language movie released in 2020, with $42.7M worldwide, ahead of Hitman: Agent Jun (2020) at $17.6M and Pawn (2020) at $14.2M. 45 Korean-language films released in 2020 report a worldwide gross, $199.4M in all, <1% of it from the US & Canada. That is down 76% on 2019, whose releases took $835.7M. By genre, Action leads with $100.2M across 9 Korean releases.
- 2020 releases with a gross
- 45
- combined worldwide
- $199.4M
- Peninsula (2020), the #1
- $42.7M
- vs 2019
- −76%
#1 of 45 Top 5
What Were the Biggest Korean Hits of 2020?
Peninsula (2020) leads with $42.7M, 21% of the total. The top 5 together took $100.7M, 51% of what all 45 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 2020, 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 2020.
- 1 Jul 15, 2020 US and Canada: $1.2M Rest of the world: $41.5M Worldwide: $42.7M
- 2 Jan 22, 2020 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $17.6M
- 3 Sep 29, 2020 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $14.2M
- 4 Jun 24, 2020 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $13.4M
- 5 Oct 21, 2020 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $12.8M
- 6
Nov 4, 2020 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $12.6M - 7
Feb 12, 2020 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $10.6M - 8
Jan 15, 2020 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $9.5M - 9
Aug 12, 2020 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $9.4M - 10
Sep 10, 2020 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $9M - 11
Jun 10, 2020 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $6.7M - 12
Oct 17, 2020 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $6.6M - 13
Jan 26, 2020 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $5.8M - 14
Jun 4, 2020 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $4.8M - 15
Jan 22, 2020 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $4.4M - 16
Sep 29, 2020 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $4.4M - 17
Oct 15, 2020 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $3.3M - 18
Sep 2, 2020 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $2.2M - 19
Nov 12, 2020 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $2M - 20
Nov 27, 2020 US and Canada: $516.5K Rest of the world: $1.1M Worldwide: $1.6M - 21
Sep 23, 2020 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $1.5M - 22
Jul 12, 2020 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $1.3M - 23
Jul 9, 2020 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $866.5K - 24
Jun 12, 2020 US and Canada: $72.5K Rest of the world: $228.4K Worldwide: $300.8K - 25
Oct 24, 2020 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $279.6K - 26
Jun 10, 2020 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $275.8K - 27
Apr 29, 2020 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $265.3K - 28
Jul 11, 2020 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $190K - 29
Feb 25, 2020 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $189.9K - 30
Nov 18, 2020 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $136.3K - 31
Jul 29, 2020 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $110.9K - 32
May 28, 2020 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $82.9K - 33
Oct 23, 2020 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $77.4K - 34
Oct 29, 2020 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $65.4K - 35
Oct 27, 2020 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $61.1K - 36
Oct 30, 2020 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $50.2K - 37
Nov 11, 2020 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $28.2K - 38
Apr 15, 2020 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $26.1K - 39
Oct 28, 2020 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $25.6K - 40
Oct 25, 2020 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $23.8K - 41
Oct 24, 2020 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $23.2K - 42
Oct 27, 2020 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $18.4K - 43
Oct 26, 2020 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $14.8K - 44
May 28, 2020 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $7K - 45
Sep 18, 2020 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $5.7K
Gross bands
How Many 2020 Releases Crossed $100 Million?
None of the 45 films reached $100M. 38 films, 84% of the list, earned under $10M. Each band shows its films and its share of the $199.4M total.
62% 38%
- $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 7 films, 16% of the list $123.9M · 62% of the gross
- Under $10M 38 films, 84% of the list $75.5M · 38% of the gross
By release month
Which Month of 2020 Earned the Most?
July releases took the most, $45.1M from 5 films, led by Peninsula (2020). May was the quietest month ($89.9K). Each column is a release month and links to that month's chart.
- January Jan Hitman: Agent Jun (2020) $37.3M Hitman: Agent Jun (2020)
- February Feb Honest Candidate (2020) $10.8M Honest Candidate (2020)
- March Mar No reported grosses – No reported grosses
- April Apr Lingering (2020) $291.4K Lingering (2020)
- May May Ten Months (2020) $89.9K Ten Months (2020)
- June Jun #Alive (2020) $25.4M #Alive (2020)
- July Jul Peninsula (2020) $45.1M Peninsula (2020)
- August Aug Okay! Madam (2020) $9.4M Okay! Madam (2020)
- September Sep Pawn (2020) $31.2M Pawn (2020)
- October Oct Samjin Company English Class (2020) $23.3M Samjin Company English Class (2020)
- November Nov Collectors (2020) $16.4M Collectors (2020)
- December Dec No reported grosses – No reported grosses
Last 10 years
How Does 2020 Compare With Previous Years?
Of these 10 years, 2019 earned the most: $835.7M from 74 films, led by Parasite (2019). 2020 took $199.4M.
| Year | Films | Worldwide | Change | Biggest film |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 38 films | 38 | $343.9M | – | 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 75 films · +4% | 75 | $691.3M | +4% | Train to Busan (2016) $92.8M |
| 2017 59 films · ±0% | 59 | $688.3M | ±0% | Along With the Gods: The Two Worlds (2017) $109.4M |
| 2018 67 films · −13% | 67 | $601.6M | −13% | Along with the Gods: The Last 49 Days (2018) $99.1M |
| 2019 74 films · +39% | 74 | $835.7M | +39% | Parasite (2019) $262.6M |
| 2020 45 films · −76% | 45 | $199.4M | −76% | Peninsula (2020) $42.7M |
By genre
Which Korean Genres Earned the Most in 2020?
Action took $100.2M across 9 films, 50% of the total, ahead of Comedy ($97.8M) and Thriller ($68.5M). A film counts once for each of its genres.
2020 Korean Box Office by Genre
-
Action $100.2M9 films · #1 Peninsula (2020) -
Comedy $97.8M14 films · #1 Hitman: Agent Jun (2020) -
Thriller $68.5M10 films · #1 Peninsula (2020) -
Horror $60.3M8 films · #1 Peninsula (2020) -
Adventure $55.3M2 films · #1 Peninsula (2020) -
Drama $53.7M22 films · #1 Pawn (2020) -
Crime $35M8 films · #1 Collectors (2020) -
Mystery $22M8 films · #1 Spiritwalker (2020) -
Family $14.2M1 film · #1 Pawn (2020) -
Sci-Fi $13.4M1 film · #1 #Alive (2020)
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 2020: 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 45 films as the chart.
What is the highest-grossing Korean-language movie in 2020?
Peninsula (2020) leads with $42.7M worldwide, $1.2M of it in the US & Canada. Next come Hitman: Agent Jun (2020) at $17.6M and Pawn (2020) at $14.2M.
How much did Korean-language movies released in 2020 earn?
45 Korean-language films released in 2020 report a worldwide gross, $199.4M in all, or $4.4M per film on average. 2019 releases took $835.7M.
How many Korean-language movies released in 2020 made $1 billion?
None. The biggest, Peninsula (2020), earned $42.7M.
How is the 2020 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 2020. 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 2020 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.