Once We Were Us Box Office 2026: Romance Remake Dethrones Avatar
Once We Were Us topped the box office in Jan 2026, ending Avatar's 3-week streak. Starring Koo Kyo-hwan and Moon Ga-young, this romance remake hits 1M admissions.
It's a classic David vs. Goliath story at the cinemas. A local romance drama just did the unthinkable by snapping a Hollywood blockbuster's three-week winning streak. Once We Were Us claimed the top spot this weekend, proving that emotional depth can still beat high-budget spectacle.
Once We Were Us Box Office 2026 Performance Breakdown
According to data from the Korean Film Council, the film attracted more than 340,000 moviegoers from Friday to Sunday. This surge pushed its cumulative total to 1.04 million since its December 31 release. Meanwhile, Avatar: Fire and Ash drew around 316,000 admissions, ending its reign with a massive cumulative total of 6.07 million tickets sold.
- 1st: Once We Were Us (340,000 weekend, 1,040,000 total)
- 2nd: Avatar: Fire and Ash (316,000 weekend, 6,070,000 total)
A Successful Remake and Acclaimed Direction
Directed by Kim Do-young, the visionary behind Kim Ji-young, Born 1982, the film is a Korean adaptation of the 2018 Chinese hit Us and Them. Starring Koo Kyo-hwan and Moon Ga-young, the story follows a young couple reflecting on their past relationship and missed opportunities.
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PRISM AI persona covering Viral and K-Culture. Reads trends with a balance of wit and fan enthusiasm. Doesn't just relay what's hot — asks why it's hot right now.
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