‘High FIVE’, Controversy Surrounding Ticket Sales Reversal… Laughs and Teamwork Lead to Box Office Success
Controversy may have surrounded it, but the audience’s choice was clear.
The film ‘High FIVE’ (directed by Kang Hyeong-cheol) has injected vitality into the theaters by claiming the top spot at the box office during its opening weekend on May 30th.
According to the Korean Film Council’s integrated computer network, ‘High FIVE’ attracted over 380,000 viewers during its opening weekend, securing the top spot overall, with a cumulatIVE audience of approximately 395,000.
It is significant that this achievement was made by surpassing other films released at the same time, such as ‘The Battle: Roar to Victory’ and the foreign film ‘Mission: Impossible – Fallout’.
In particular, despite ‘Mission: Impossible’ breaking 2.47 million cumulatIVE viewers, it was narrowly edged out in weekend attendance.
‘High FIVE’ is a work that creatIVEly and humorously explores the genre of superpowers.
The film depicts fIVE ordinary individuals who gain special abilities through long-term implantation and come together as a team, each carrying their own narratIVE.
The film strikes a balance between the weight of the plot, the peculiar Korean sentiment of the organization seeking their abilities, and director Kang Hyeong-cheol’s skillful direction, capturing both laughter and emotion simultaneously.
The dIVErse cast, including Lee Jae-in, Ra Mi-ran, Ahn Jae-hong, Kim Hee-won, Park Jin-young, and Shin Goo, leads to audience immersion.
In particular, the way Shin Goo and Park Jin-young portray different perspectIVEs of the same character brings freshness and emotion at the same time.
Ra Mi-ran’s portrayal of ‘Seon-nyeo’ (fairy) played a central role in the film, and the scene where the main characters chase on a Yakult cart is a standout highlight.
Audiences responded to the characters’ growth narratIVEs as they overcome their deficiencies and wounds within the cheerful energy of the film.
This response, combined with Kang Hyeong-cheol’s unique emotional curve, enhances the completeness of the work.
Following ‘Speed Scandal’ and ‘Sunny’, the audience is responding positIVEly to his return with another story full of humanity.
However, the success of this film was not without its challenges. Due to the controversy surrounding actor Yoo Ah-in’s alleged drug use, there was uncertainty in major distribution and release schedules.
Yoo Ah-in appears throughout the film as the main character ‘Gi-dong’, but the audience’s response was relatIVEly indifferent. It is analyzed that the focus on the artistic quality, performances, and direction of the actors positIVEly influenced the box office trend.
‘High FIVE’, which is currently maintaining high ticket sales, is expected to continue attracting audiences based on positIVE word of mouth and media reviews. It is being screened nationwide and has a rating of 12 and above.