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Comedy

Break Out (2002): Cast, Box Office & Plot

Break Out (2002) movie poster

Break Out is a 2002 comedy directed by Jang Hang-jun, starring Kim Seung-woo as Heo Bok-gu, Kang Seong-jin and Cha Seung-won. It runs 1 hour 45 minutes and earned $7.7 million worldwide.

Break Out (2002) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 45m (105 min)
Director
Jang Hang-jun
Genre
Comedy
Original language
Korean
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is Break Out About?

The premise of Break Out without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.

Determined to regain his pride, penniless Bong Gu (Kim Seung‑Woo) chases a cheap cigarette lighter that fell into gangster Chul Gon’s (Cha Seung‑Won) hands after being lost in a Seoul train‑station restroom. His pursuit drives him from Seoul to Busan, turning a trivial theft into a clash filled with action, dark humor and social commentary.

Cast & crew

Break Out Cast & Characters

Kim Seung-woo leads the cast as Heo Bok-gu, with Kang Seong-jin and Cha Seung-won as Yang Cheol-gon. Directed by Jang Hang-jun; 21 actors are credited in all.

Plot

Break Out Plot Summary

What happens in Break Out from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 12 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 2-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

Bong-gu, Kim Seung-woo, is a perennial underachiever who becomes the target of snickers at a high school reunion, a moment that sets the tone for a day stacked with embarrassment. The very next morning, he heads to army reserve training, where the humiliation continues to pile on, leaving him with a sense that nothing in his life is going his way. With only a handful of won left, he buys a cheap cigarette lighter, a small, stubborn symbol of his dwindling luck. With no clear way home, he ends up sharing a taxi to the Seoul train station with Bum-soo, a fellow reservist and malcontent, Kang Seong-jin.

Full summary

The whole story of Break Out, scene by scene

Read the full summary
Box office

Break Out Box Office

Break Out grossed $7.7 million worldwide.

2002 box office

Worldwide gross

$7.7M

International
$7.7M
Videos

Break Out Trailers & Videos

The trailer of Break Out.

Break Out (2002) - 라이터를 켜라 - Trailer
Details

Break Out Also Known As

7 alternative titles, including “Spark the Lighter” and “Lightereul kyeora”.

Also known as
  • Spark the Lighter
  • Lightereul kyeora
  • 浪子发迹
  • 挞着火机
  • 点燃打火机
  • 还我打火机
  • 라이터를 켜라

Seen Break Out?

FAQ

Break Out FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Runtime

Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, post-credit scenes and language of Break Out, each answered in a sentence.

How long is Break Out?

Break Out runs 1 hour 45 minutes (105 minutes).

When was Break Out released?

Break Out was released on July 17, 2002.

Who directed Break Out?

Break Out was directed by Jang Hang-jun.

More films by Jang Hang-jun

Who is in the cast of Break Out?

Break Out stars Kim Seung-woo as Heo Bok-gu, Kang Seong-jin and Cha Seung-won as Yang Cheol-gon, among 21 credited actors.

How much did Break Out make at the box office?

Break Out grossed $7.7 million worldwide.

Does Break Out have a post-credit scene?

No. Break Out has no extra scene during or after the credits.

What language is Break Out in?

The original language of Break Out is Korean.

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