The Devil Wears Prada 2 claimed the No. 1 spot at the South Korean weekend box office from May 8-10 [2].
The film's performance demonstrates the enduring global appeal of the franchise and its ability to compete against high-action genre films in the Asian market.
According to Variety, the movie earned $1.3 million [1] from 195,513 admissions [1]. This total allowed the sequel to narrowly surpass Mortal Kombat II in the rankings [1]. The Toronto Star said the film had a slight edge over the fighting game adaptation in both North America and South Korea [3].
There are conflicting reports regarding the timing of this peak. Yonhap News Agency said the film topped the South Korean weekend box office for the first time since its release [4]. However, Variety said the film ascended to the top spot during a competitive second weekend [1].
This success comes amid a crowded theatrical landscape. While the fashion drama led the charts, other titles continued to show strength in the region. For example, the film Salmokji surpassed three million admissions during the same period [4].
The narrow margin of victory over Mortal Kombat II suggests a highly divided audience between high-fashion drama and action-oriented sequels. Despite the competition, the film managed to secure the top position through strong audience interest in the returning characters and world [1, 3].
“The film earned $1.3 million from 195,513 admissions, narrowly surpassing Mortal Kombat II.”
The victory of a fashion-centric sequel over a combat-focused franchise in South Korea indicates a diverse appetite for Western cinema in the region. By securing the top spot in a competitive second weekend, the film shows strong 'legs,' suggesting that word-of-mouth is sustaining its momentum against new releases.
