#1 of 48 #1 Korean-language movie of 2021
2021 · Action, Thriller
$34.2M worldwide · 25% of the chart's total
No US & Canada figure reported
Korean box office · 2021
Korean Box Office 2021: Highest-Grossing Korean Movies
Deliver Us from Evil (2021) is the highest-grossing Korean-language movie released in 2021, with $34.2M worldwide, ahead of Escape from Mogadishu (2021) at $29.9M and Sinkhole (2021) at $18.8M. 48 Korean-language films released in 2021 report a worldwide gross, $134.9M in all, <1% of it from the US & Canada. That is down 32% on 2020, whose releases took $199.4M. By genre, Action leads with $91.5M across 9 Korean releases.
- 2021 releases with a gross
- 48
- combined worldwide
- $134.9M
- Deliver Us from Evil (2021), the #1
- $34.2M
- vs 2020
- −32%
#1 of 48 Top 5
What Were the Biggest Korean Hits of 2021?
Deliver Us from Evil (2021) leads with $34.2M, 25% of the total. The top 5 together took $102.9M, 76% of what all 48 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 2021, 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 2021.
- 1 May 25, 2021 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $34.2M
- 2 Aug 6, 2021 US and Canada: $346.3K Rest of the world: $29.6M Worldwide: $29.9M
- 3 Aug 6, 2021 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $18.8M
- 4 Aug 18, 2021 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $13.2M
- 5 Apr 12, 2021 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $6.8M
- 6
Nov 24, 2021 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $5.2M - 7
Nov 17, 2021 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $4.3M - 8
Feb 17, 2021 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $3.6M - 9
Apr 28, 2021 US and Canada: $7.3K Rest of the world: $3.2M Worldwide: $3.2M - 10
Apr 21, 2021 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $2.7M - 11
Nov 10, 2021 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $2.7M - 12
Mar 31, 2021 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $2.6M - 13
Dec 29, 2021 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $1.9M - 14
Feb 10, 2021 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $1.3M - 15
May 26, 2021 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $1M - 16
Aug 25, 2021 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $825.8K - 17
Jun 30, 2021 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $654.1K - 18
Nov 9, 2021 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $493.8K - 19
May 12, 2021 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $183.9K - 20
May 12, 2021 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $177.5K - 21
Jun 23, 2021 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $116.2K - 22
Apr 30, 2021 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $81.3K - 23
Apr 30, 2021 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $81.3K - 24
Oct 31, 2021 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $76.2K - 25
Oct 8, 2021 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $75.2K - 26
Oct 9, 2021 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $66.8K - 27
Jul 15, 2021 US and Canada: $9.2K Rest of the world: $54.6K Worldwide: $63.7K - 28
Apr 29, 2021 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $50.1K - 29
Sep 9, 2021 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $48.3K - 30
Jun 30, 2021 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $47K - 31
Oct 10, 2021 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $41.1K - 32
Oct 10, 2021 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $39.3K - 33
May 2, 2021 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $36.6K - 34
Oct 10, 2021 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $36.2K - 35
Oct 10, 2021 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $32.5K - 36
Jul 9, 2021 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $25.1K - 37
Sep 11, 2021 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $25.1K - 38
Feb 5, 2021 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $24.6K - 39
Jan 21, 2021 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $22K - 40
May 1, 2021 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $19.6K - 41
Jun 3, 2021 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $15.8K - 42
Feb 17, 2021 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $15K - 43
Oct 10, 2021 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $14.3K - 44
Jul 10, 2021 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $14.3K - 45
Oct 8, 2021 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $14.3K - 46
Oct 8, 2021 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $13.1K - 47
Oct 9, 2021 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $10K - 48
Oct 6, 2021 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $7.3K
Gross bands
How Many 2021 Releases Crossed $100 Million?
None of the 48 films reached $100M. 44 films, 92% of the list, earned under $10M. Each band shows its films and its share of the $134.9M total.
71% 29%
- $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 4 films, 8% of the list $96.1M · 71% of the gross
- Under $10M 44 films, 92% of the list $38.8M · 29% of the gross
By release month
Which Month of 2021 Earned the Most?
August releases took the most, $62.7M from 4 films, led by Escape from Mogadishu (2021). January was the quietest month ($22K). Each column is a release month and links to that month's chart.
- January Jan My Big Mama’s Crazy Ride (2021) $22K My Big Mama’s Crazy Ride (2021)
- February Feb Mission: Possible (2021) $5M Mission: Possible (2021)
- March Mar The Book of Fish (2021) $2.6M The Book of Fish (2021)
- April Apr Seobok (2021) $12.9M Seobok (2021)
- May May Deliver Us from Evil (2021) $35.7M Deliver Us from Evil (2021)
- June Jun Ghost Mansion (2021) $833.1K Ghost Mansion (2021)
- July Jul In Front of Your Face (2021) $103.1K In Front of Your Face (2021)
- August Aug Escape from Mogadishu (2021) $62.7M Escape from Mogadishu (2021)
- September Sep Soup and Ideology (2021) $73.3K Soup and Ideology (2021)
- October Oct Hommage (2021) $426.3K Hommage (2021)
- November Nov Nothing Serious (2021) $12.7M Nothing Serious (2021)
- December Dec A Year-End Medley (2021) $1.9M A Year-End Medley (2021)
Last 10 years
How Does 2021 Compare With Previous Years?
Of these 10 years, 2019 earned the most: $835.7M from 74 films, led by Parasite (2019). 2021 took $134.9M.
| Year | Films | Worldwide | Change | Biggest film |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 40 films | 40 | $456.2M | – | 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 46 films · −76% | 46 | $199.4M | −76% | Peninsula (2020) $42.7M |
| 2021 48 films · −32% | 48 | $134.9M | −32% | Deliver Us from Evil (2021) $34.2M |
By genre
Which Korean Genres Earned the Most in 2021?
Action took $91.5M across 9 films, 68% of the total, ahead of Thriller ($79M) and Drama ($64.1M). A film counts once for each of its genres.
2021 Korean Box Office by Genre
-
Action $91.5M9 films · #1 Deliver Us from Evil (2021) -
Thriller $79M12 films · #1 Deliver Us from Evil (2021) -
Drama $64.1M28 films · #1 Escape from Mogadishu (2021) -
Crime $38.1M5 films · #1 Deliver Us from Evil (2021) -
Comedy $33.8M7 films · #1 Sinkhole (2021) -
Romance $11.7M6 films · #1 Nothing Serious (2021) -
Mystery $9.6M4 films · #1 Seobok (2021) -
Sci-Fi $6.8M2 films · #1 Seobok (2021) -
History $2.6M1 film · #1 The Book of Fish (2021) -
Horror $1.5M5 films · #1 Guimoon: The Lightless Door (2021)
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 2021: 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 48 films as the chart.
What is the highest-grossing Korean-language movie in 2021?
Deliver Us from Evil (2021) leads with $34.2M worldwide. Next come Escape from Mogadishu (2021) at $29.9M and Sinkhole (2021) at $18.8M.
How much did Korean-language movies released in 2021 earn?
48 Korean-language films released in 2021 report a worldwide gross, $134.9M in all, or $2.8M per film on average. 2020 releases took $199.4M.
How many Korean-language movies released in 2021 made $1 billion?
None. The biggest, Deliver Us from Evil (2021), earned $34.2M.
How is the 2021 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 2021. 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 2021 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.