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‘How to Train Your Dragon' Soars to Korea Box Office Crown

‘How to Train Your Dragon' Soars to Korea Box Office Crown

Yahoo3 hours ago

DreamWorks' 'How to Train Your Dragon' topped the South Korean box office over the June 6–8 weekend, overtaking local hit 'Hi-Five' in admissions and revenue.
The live action remake of the 2010 blockbuster opened to $4 million from 540,059 admissions across 1,645 screens, accounting for 35.6% of the market, according to Kobis, the tracking service operated by the Korean Film Council. That put it ahead of 'Hi-Five,' which drew 400,746 viewers and grossed $2.7 million in its second frame. The Korean film has now reached a cumulative total of $7.8 million with 1.15 million admissions.
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'Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning' slipped to third place with $1.8 million from 256,857 viewers. The Tom Cruise-led action sequel has now amassed $21.7 million with more than 3 million admissions since its release on May 17.
South Korean occult political thriller 'The Pact' placed fourth with $1.3 million and 183,425 admissions, bringing its cumulative total to $2.7 million.
'Lilo & Stitch' ranked fifth with $331,683 and 47,712 viewers for a total of $3 million, while Korean drama 'Big Deal' fell to sixth place, earning $255,883 for a total of $1.7 million.
In seventh, Australian supernatural horror 'Bring Her Back' debuted with $195,358 from 33,225 viewers. Meanwhile, Japanese animated title 'Magic Candies' earned $74,448 for a running total of $247,004.
Two more Japanese films rounded out the top ten: 'Colorful Stage! The Movie: A Miku Who Can't Sing' added $62,545 for a total of $361,064, and the re-release of 'Crayon Shin-chan: Crash! Scribble Kingdom and Almost Four Heroes' earned $40,737 to bring its lifetime Korean gross to $1.4 million.
The top 10 films collectively grossed $10.8 million over the weekend, up from the previous frame's $7.6 million.
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Live action 'How to Train Your Dragon' lives up to the original movie
Live action 'How to Train Your Dragon' lives up to the original movie

USA Today

time2 hours ago

  • USA Today

Live action 'How to Train Your Dragon' lives up to the original movie

Live action 'How to Train Your Dragon' lives up to the original movie Show Caption Hide Caption 'How to Train Your Dragon' takes flight in live action: Watch Mason Thames stars as the Viking boy Hiccup, who instead of slaying dragons befriends one in the live-action remake of "How to Train Your Dragon." The making of a live-action redo of a classic animated movie should embrace the same sort of good sense as being a doctor: Do no harm. And while you're at it, don't ruin anyone's childhood. On all counts, the new 'How to Train Your Dragon' (★★★½ out of four; rated PG; in theaters June 13) manages to be a rousing success. For the past 15 years, the first spectacular adaptation of the Cressida Cowell book has thrilled audiences as the most emotionally stirring cartoon not made by Pixar. Original writer/director Dean DeBlois returns for a revamped 'Dragon' that feels like a different experience but is just as good as the original, with moments of wonder and awe featuring characters fleshed out in new ways – literally and figuratively. Join our Watch Party! Sign up to receive USA TODAY's movie and TV recommendations right in your inbox If it ain't broke, don't fix it, and smartly, the new take sticks mostly to the first film's script. On the island of Berk, Hiccup (Mason Thames) is an awkward but likable kid who's not the most rough-and-tough Viking of all time, much to the chagrin of his gruff dad Chief Stoick the Vast (Gerard Butler, reprising his voice role). Stoick and the adults fight and slay dragons, and pass on this generational aggression to their youngsters. During a dragon raid, Hiccup winds up wounding a Night Fury, an ultra-rare and little-known species, and tracks him down. But instead of killing the creature, who's got big eyes and is adorable even when somewhat dangerous, the inventive Hiccup befriends and names him Toothless, fixes his injured tail so he can fly, and they bond airborne-style as ride-or-die besties. The animated Hiccup and Toothless were cool enough swooping through the air. But now, watching Thames soar atop a computer-generated dragon is like the exhilaration of a theme-park flight simulator matched with the adrenaline rush of 'Top Gun,' all while landing squarely in the feels. The various dragons really pop as digital creations given new dimension, including the ginormous monster that acts as a final boss requiring an epic human/beast team-up to defeat. The live-action interactions between characters also hit differently, especially for teens and tweens, though 'Dragon' is still very much an all-ages family movie. With human actors, there's more of a high-school movie vibe as Hiccup becomes more accepted among the young Vikings, and the relationship between Thames' Hiccup and his frenemy/crush Astrid (Nico Parker) is built out a little more here. The two actors have a natural chemistry that animated characters just can't replicate. Astrid doesn't think much of Hiccup in the beginning, yet he grows on her – and the audience – the more he gains needed confidence and even a smidge of swagger. (Or as much as one can boast wearing their mom's breastplate as a helmet.) Rather than repeat Jay Baruchel's enjoyably nerdy Hiccup from the 2010 'Dragon,' Thames plays our hero as a teen still figuring a lot of things out but inherently knowing he needs to be true to himself. It leads to some enjoyable and a few really heated exchanges between empathetic Hiccup and his stubborn dad. Butler has done a lot of action movies since his early 'Dragon' days, but he brings the needed gravitas to make this not just a boy-and-his-dragon tale but a strong father-and-son journey as well. 'How to Train Your Dragon' is a lesson for anybody tackling a remake. It doesn't try to half do something old and something new, like 'Snow White,' and makes the case for being actually necessary, unlike 'Lilo & Stitch.' As it was back in the day, Toothless is a joy to watch and the movie's best special effect but he's also a symbol of growth: as watchable and lovable as ever, yet with a slightly more mature sheen. Fortunately, the new 'How to Train Your Dragon' does no harm. Instead, it lets loose a heartwarming, meaty adventure perfect for a new generation of young film fan but doesn't forget to entertain the older movie kids, either. How to watch 'How to Train Your Dragon' "How to Train Your Dragon," the live-action remake of the 2010 animated adventure, is directed by Dean DeBlois and stars Mason Thames and Gerard Butler. The movie is rated PG by the Motion Picture Association "for sequences of intense action, and peril."

Game on: ‘Squid Game' wraps with killer challenges and major reveals about its future
Game on: ‘Squid Game' wraps with killer challenges and major reveals about its future

Yahoo

time3 hours ago

  • Yahoo

Game on: ‘Squid Game' wraps with killer challenges and major reveals about its future

KUALA LUMPUR, June 9 — Anticipation for the final season of the popular South Korean series Squid Game continues to build, as audiences worldwide eagerly await the conclusion of this global phenomenon that began in 2021. Ahead of its worldwide release, a press conference was held where the cast talked about how their characters evolve this season. Lee Jung-jae, who plays the lead character Seong Gi-hun, also known as Player 456, spoke about how the character is deeply affected by guilt and despair after witnessing the death of his friend and failing to save many players in Season 2. 'At first, Gi-hun wants to return to the game to punish those behind it and save the players. 'But now, the question is, what is left for Gi-hun? What is he capable of, and what should he do next? He will have to make a decision that defines what he truly needs to do. 'Viewers will get to see Gi-hun's character progress from that point forward,' added Jung-jae. Lee Byung-hun, who portrays the infamous Frontman, said the showdown between his character and Gi-hun will be a major turning point. 'Gi-hun, driven by his beliefs and values, is determined to dismantle the system. 'Meanwhile, the Frontman will act according to his own plans.' Byung-hun explained that if Seasons 2 and 3 are seen as one continuous narrative, the true climax happens in Season 3. He added that it will be extremely dramatic and intense, marking the real conflict and showdown between Gi-hun and the Frontman. Wi Ha-joon, who plays Hwang Jun-ho, shared that his character will continue his search for the island where the games take place. Reflecting on the events at the end of Season 2, he hopes his character will finally be able to reunite with his older brother, the Frontman. Part of the 'Squid Game' cast at the TUDUM Netflix event (L-R: Lee Jung-jae, Lee Byung-hun, Park Sung-hoon, Kang Ae-Sim and Choi Seung-hyun). — Picture courtesy of Netflix A glimpse of this season's games As audiences have seen in previous seasons of Squid Game with iconic challenges like Red Light, Green Light, and Dalgona, director Hwang Dong-hyuk confirmed that the upcoming season will introduce several new games, and offered a glimpse of what's to come. 'In the trailer, you probably noticed the jump rope rotating high above a bridge, where some participants fall as the rope reaches them — that's one of the new games you'll see in Season 3,' he said. He also mentioned a maze-like setting where participants wear blue and red vests. 'It's similar to hide-and-seek, but with a twist. 'It combines different elements, making it an exciting and unpredictable game.' According to the director himself, the new games are inspired by childhood games many people grew up playing, but with added twists to raise the stakes. He also teased that there are more games not shown in the trailer, which will be revealed in the final season. The fate of the Squid Game franchise Hwang stated that there are currently no plans for Season 4, explaining that this was a mutual decision made with Netflix during the development of Season 3. 'I think when you watch Season 3, you might feel that we don't need another season,' he said. When asked whether he would ever return to the world of Squid Game, Hwang replied, 'I'm not saying no to that.' He revealed that if the opportunity arises, he is open to the idea of a spin-off or prequel set in the Squid Game universe. 'As the creator and writer, I get curious myself, wondering what these characters were doing over the years. 'I want to explore that,' he shared. 'Whether it's a spin-off or a prequel, I can't wait until we get to see it.' Final thoughts It took about six years to make Squid Game, and the series is finally coming to an end. 'Everyone wants a successful career and to achieve their dreams, but nobody expected this level of success from one project. 'This is truly a miracle unfolding before me,' said Hwang. 'I hope all the audience will see that the untied knots from Season 2 are tied up in Season 3.' As this is the finale, he hopes people will feel it is a fitting conclusion that does Squid Game justice. Only less than three weeks away, you can catch the final season of Squid Game on June 27 for one last game.

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