Seoul, Korea – CJ Entertainment, the signature film division of major media and content company CJ E&M, announced that two of its recent mega hits were included among last year’s top 10 highest-grossing foreign language films in the United States. The Admiral: Roaring Currents and Ode to My Father respectively ranked 6th and 9th highest.
It is the first time that more than one Korean language film has been ranked among the top 10 list. In 2007, only one Korean film, titled The Host, took 7th place.
“The Admiral: Roaring Currents was released in the U.S. two weeks after its opening in Korea, while Ode to My Father made its U.S. premiere only seven days after. Besides their wonderful story lines, we’d like to attribute the two movies’ success overseas to our efforts to shorten the release interval,” said Richard Lee, Senior VP of U.S. Film Production and Distribution at CJ E&M.
CJ Entertainment is the only Korean company that operates direct distribution business in the U.S. Its 5-year experience in distributing Korean films throughout North America has contributed to enhancing awareness of Korean films in the region. Since 2010, CJ Entertainment has distributed a total of 77 Korean films in the U.S., averaging 15 films a year.
According to Rentrak, the number of distributed Korean films in the U.S. surged into double digits starting from 2010 when CJ Entertainment launched its film distribution business in the country.
“Korean films have been increasing their global presence, especially in the U.S., due to their cinematic quality and more active distribution effort. We are expanding our direct distribution networks in North America, so that Americans have better access to watch Korean films. We will continue to seek various business opportunities, such as teaming up with local productions,” added Lee.
Meanwhile, CJ Entertainment is scheduled to put Veteran and The Himalayas on the US silver screen this year.
In addition to North America, CJ Entertainment also runs direct distribution business of Korean films in China, Japan, Vietnam and Indonesia.
APPENDIX 1
THE ADMIRAL: ROARING CURRENTS
1. Director − Kim Han-Min (War of the Arrows, Paradise Murdered)
2. Cast − Choi Min-Sik (Old Boy, Lucy, New World), Ryu Seung-Ryong(Masquerade, War of the Arrows)
3. Release date − 30 July 2014
4. Running time − 109 min
5. Genre − Action, Epic, War
6. Festivals & Awards − 2014 NY Korean Film Festival, 2014 Fancine Malaga
ODE TO MY FATHER
1. Director − JK Youn (Haeundae)
2. Cast − Hwang Jung-Min (The Unjust, New World), Yunjin Kim (Mistresses(TV), Lost(TV), Seven Days), Oh Dal-Soo (The Attorney, The Thieves)
3. Release date – 17 December 2014
4. Running time − 126 min
5. Genre − Drama
6. Festivals & Awards − 2015 Berlin International Film Festival
APPENDIX 2
Top 10 highest grossing non-English films in the U.S. in 2014
1. P.K (India) − $10,615,501 USD (released on 19 December)
2. Cantinflas (Mexico) − $6,382,924 USD (29 August)
3. Wind Rises (Japan) − $5,209,580 USD (21 February)
4. Ida (France) − $3,801,126 USD (2 May)
5. The Raid 2 (Indonesia) − $2,627,209 USD (28 March)
6. The Admiral: Roaring Currents (Korea) − $2,589,808 USD (8 August)
7. Bang Bang (India) − $2,581,138 USD (2 October)
8. Kick (India) − $2,472,695 USD (25 July)
9. Ode To My Father (Korea) − $2,283,919 USD (25 December, currently playing in 2 theaters in LA)
10. 2 States (India): − $2,238,175 USD (18 April)
APPENDIX 3
The number of distributed Korean films in the U.S. for each year from 2005 to 2014 (RENTRAK)
|
Year |
Total No. of distributed Korean films in the U.S. |
No. of Korean films distributed by CJ Entertainment |
|
2005 |
7 |
|
|
2006 |
4 |
|
|
2007 |
8 |
|
|
2008 |
10 |
|
|
2009 |
8 |
|
|
2010 |
18 |
9(50%) |
|
2011 |
27 |
23(85%) |
|
2012 |
23 |
18(78%) |
|
2013 |
19 |
11(58%) |
|
2014 |
19 |
12(63%) |
|
Total sum (2010~2014) |
106 |
73(69%) |
