South Korea and China witnessed two interesting developments at the box office during the November 6–8 weekend, with established titles continuing to attract audiences well beyond their opening weeks. While Chiikawa the Movie: The Secret of the Mermaid Island extended its remarkable run in South Korea with a fifth consecutive weekend at No. 1, Chen Sicheng’s Traces of Justice made a comeback in mainland China, reclaiming the top position from Resident Evil after the Hollywood horror reboot had dominated the chart for four straight weeks. The contrasting performances highlighted the continued theatrical appeal of both films, even as newer releases entered the charts in the two markets.
The most striking aspect of Chiikawa the Movie: The Secret of the Mermaid Island‘s performance is the consistency with which it has maintained its position. The Japanese animated feature attracted 149,050 moviegoers between November 6 and 8, taking its cumulative admissions to 2.788 million, according to the Korean Film Council’s KOBIS network. Its total box-office earnings have reached approximately 28.68 billion won, equivalent to more than $21 million. Securing a fifth consecutive weekend at the top of the chart is a notable achievement, particularly as the film continues to draw audiences several weeks after its release.
The next major milestone is already within reach. Disney and Pixar’s Toy Story 5 has recorded approximately 2.95 million admissions in South Korea, leaving Chiikawa with a relatively narrow gap to close if it is to claim the year’s highest-attended animated release title. With its cumulative admissions now approaching that benchmark, the film’s performance over the coming weeks will determine whether it can move ahead of the established Pixar franchise. Its continued presence at the top of the weekend chart has kept that possibility firmly in view.
The film’s appeal also extends beyond its younger audience. Beneath the adorable appearance of its hamster-like characters, the story explores everyday struggles involving work, financial worries and the pressure of getting through difficult days. These themes have helped Chiikawa connect with young adult viewers, particularly those who recognise aspects of their own lives in the characters’ experiences. Its theatrical performance reflects how an animated property can attract a broader audience when its themes resonate beyond its primary fanbase.
The film’s success is also part of a wider animation trend in South Korea. Japanese anime titles continue to attract considerable theatrical attention, with Detective Conan: The Counterfeit Case of Ultra 30, Puella Magi Madoka Magica the Movie -Walpurgisnacht: Rising- and Attack on Titan: Crimson Arrows also appearing among the weekend’s top performers. Their presence alongside Chiikawa indicates that animation is competing for more than just the traditional family audience in the South Korean theatrical market.
Meanwhile, mainland China’s box office witnessed a change at the top, although the film reclaiming the position was hardly a newcomer. Traces of Justice, which opened in October, returned to No. 1 during its sixth week in theatres, ending the four-week winning streak of Resident Evil. The film’s return to the top position came despite having already spent several weeks in cinemas, demonstrating its ability to retain audience interest during an extended theatrical run.
The crime procedural collected RMB 21.5 million, approximately $3.2 million, over the November 6–8 weekend, taking its cumulative earnings to an impressive $103.7 million since its October 1 release. Directed and co-written by Chen Sicheng, the film follows an investigation spanning several decades, with a narrative built around complex historical cases inspired by real events. Its latest weekend performance has brought it back ahead of the Hollywood competition and reinforced its position as one of the significant local releases in the market.
Resident Evil slipped to second place with $3 million during its fifth weekend, bringing its cumulative collection to $76 million. The horror reboot had enjoyed a strong run following its arrival during China’s Golden Week holiday period, holding the top position for four consecutive weeks. However, Traces of Justice has now managed to reclaim the attention of moviegoers and move ahead of the Hollywood release. The difference between the two films over the latest weekend was approximately $200,000.
The weekend also introduced two local releases to the upper half of China’s box-office chart. Embers debuted in third place with $2.1 million, while The Coffin Swap opened in fourth place with $1.7 million. Mr. & Mrs. Pardon completed the top five, adding another $1.4 million in its sixth weekend. Although the two new releases entered the chart below the leading titles, their openings contributed to the weekend’s overall theatrical business.
China’s total box-office collection stood at approximately $16.4 million during the November 6–8 period, reflecting a quieter theatrical weekend. Against that backdrop, Traces of Justice returning to the summit was a notable result. Its latest performance demonstrates that an established theatrical release can regain momentum even after surrendering its position to a major Hollywood title. The film’s cumulative collection has also crossed the $100 million mark, adding to the significance of its ongoing theatrical run.
For South Korea, the next milestone for Chiikawa the Movie: The Secret of the Mermaid Island is now the biggest talking point, with its admissions total moving closer to that of Toy Story 5. In China, attention will turn to whether Traces of Justice can hold on to the position it has just recovered. Both films have already established strong theatrical runs in their respective markets, but their latest box-office performances suggest that neither story is quite finished.
South Korea Box Office: November 6–8, 2026
- Chiikawa the Movie: The Secret of the Mermaid Island — 149,050 admissions | 2.788 million cumulative admissions
- Final Interview — 104,483 admissions | 166,802 cumulative admissions
- Heart of the Beast — 90,677 admissions | 379,761 cumulative admissions
- Detective Conan: The Counterfeit Case of Ultra 30 — 79,999 admissions | 108,164 cumulative admissions
- The Cat in the Hat — 29,257 admissions | 31,447 cumulative admissions
China Box Office: November 6–8, 2026
- Traces of Justice — $3.2 million
- Resident Evil — $3 million
- Embers — $2.1 million
- The Coffin Swap — $1.7 million
- Mr. & Mrs. Pardon — $1.4 million