'C'est Si Bon' takes No. 1 spot at local box office

Nothing went against expectations this weekend at the local box office.

Musical drama"C'est Si Bon", which recorded the highest percentage of reservations before its opening day on Feb. 5, moved up to the top spot over the weekend with 534,685 tickets sold at 829 screens nationwide It posted earnings of 4.3 billion won ($3.9 million).

Capitalizing on recent nostalgia for everything retro,"C'est Si Bon", set in the 1960s, tells the story of the legendary music hall of the same name that was home to the much-loved folk duo of Twin Folio, made up of Yoon Hyung-joo and Song Chang-sik, who still make appearances in the music scene.

Kang Ha-neulplays Yoon andJo Bok-raeplays Song.

However, its relatively low turnout compared to the number of screens it is being featured on as well as its aggressive promotional events prior to its release likely indicate that the film's reign at the box office won't last long.

ActorJeong Wooof the cable channel drama "Answer Me 1994" stars in the film as Geun-tae, a fictional character who belatedly joins Twin Folio as its third member. ActressHan Hyo-jooplays Ja-young, an irresistible muse for the C'est Si Bon trio.

In second place was Disney and Marvel's "Big Hero 6", which added an additional 353,019 tickets to a three-week total of 2.2 million.

It has amassed 17 billion won from Korean theaters so far.

Yoon Je-kyoon's period film"Ode to My Father", which has proved immensely popular since it opened here on Dec. 17, gripped on to third place.

Lana and Andrew Wachowskis' much-anticipated sci-fi flick "Jupiter Ascending", starring some of Korea's favorite Hollywood actors - including Mila Kunis and Channing Tatum, as well as local actress Bae Doon-na - put off a disappointing rating, debuting in fourth place with 208,219 tickets sold.

The film, which centers on the premise that Earth is merely one of the colonies owned by much greater planets in outer space, should be a visual feast when seen on IMAX screens, but its illogical plot and tired theme of Earth being colonized by alien forces are enough to bore even the most ardent "Matrix" fans.

"Gangnam Blues", directed byYoo Ha, took fifth place with 146,736 tickets sold, stepping down two notches from last week.

The film has seen two million in ticket sales so far.

BY JIN EUN-SOO [jes@joongang.co.kr]