[Korean Film News] "The Host” Tops Chinese Box-office

Bong Joon-ho's "The Host" dominated the Chinese box-office last week, grossing some 5.2 million yuan (US $671,574) to become the first Korean film to top the Chinese box-office in the first week since its opening. "The Han River Ghost," as it is misleadingly called there, beat out other high-profile films, including "The Devil Wears Prada." Opening on a record 250 screens, the film has received rave reviews by Chinese media, with one daily writing that "The Host" is a Korean-type masterpiece that stands apart from Hollywood movies and exquisitely blends elements of black comedy and satire. Box-office results were considerably less spectacular in Japan, the United Kingdom and in France. Here's the latest rundown of earnings for the monster film (courtesy Darcy Paquet for Variety):

Total theatrical revenues: $97 million
Theatrical revenues, minus exhibitors' share and 10% tax: $38.5 million
International sales: $5.9 million
TV rights: $3.3 million (pending)
Video/DVD: $650,000
Product tie-ins/VOD: $540,000
Total revenues: $48.9 million
Total budget, including P&A costs: $15.4 million
Profit: $33.5 million, for a rate of return of 218%

"The Host" is currently making the rounds in the United States and will open in Germany, India, Denmark and Argentina in the first half of the year.

[Source: KBS Global, Variety]