Choi Dong-hoon’s heist movie The Thieves has become the sixth Korean film to clock up over 10 million admissions at the local box office.

According to the Korean Film Council’s box office database The Thieves went over the 10 million mark on the public holiday of Aug 15, National Liberation Day in Korea. Tsunami action movie Haeundae was the last local film to go over 10 million, three years ago.

Released the week after The Dark Knight Rises in Korea, The Thieves hit 10.09 million admissions on its 22nd day in cinemas. Bong Joon-ho’s mutant thriller The Host previously hit the 10 million mark on its 21st day on release and currently holds the top local film spot for most admissions with 13.01 million.

The plot of The Thieves brings together professionals from Hong Kong and Korea to steal a multi-million dollar diamond from a casino in Macau. The film created buzz with its innovative action, thrills and punchy dialogue with an international ensemble cast including Kim Yun-seok, Kim Hye-soo, Gianna Jun, Simon Yam, Lee Jung-jae and Kim Su-hyun.

The Thieveswill be screening in the upcoming Toronto International Film Festival’s Contemporary World Cinema section.

The current list of box office record holders in Korea runs thus: Hollywood blockbuster Avatar (2009) with 13.35 million admissions, followed by local films The Host (2006) with 13.01 million, King And The Clown (2005) with 12.30 million, Taegukgi (2004) with 11.74 million, Haeundae (2009) 11.45 million and Silmido (2003) 11.08 million. Currently, The Thieves comes in at number seven.

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