The Box (2021 South Korean film)

The Box (Korean: 더 박스; RR: Deo Bakseu) is a 2021 South Korean musical road film directed by Yang Jung-woong for Yeonghwasa Take Co., Ltd. The film starring Park Chanyeol and Jo Dal-hwan, is about an aspiring singer and a washed-up music producer and their musical journey.[2] The film was theatrically released on March 24, 2021, by Cine Pilwoon Co., Ltd.[3]

For the Venezuelan film released the same year, see The Box (2021 Venezuelan film).

The Box
Theatrical release poster
Hangul
더 박스
Revised RomanizationDeo Bakseu
Directed byYang Jung-woong
Screenplay byYang Jung-woong
StarringPark Chanyeol
Jo Dal-hwan
Music byScore:
Ecobridge
Production
company
Studio Take
Distributed byCine Pilwoon Co., Ltd.
Release date
  • 24 March 2021 (2021-03-24)
Running time
94 minutes
CountrySouth Korea
LanguageKorean
Box officeest. US$0.84 million[1]

Cast

Production

Theme

The film is a road film in which two people an aspiring singer and a washed out music producer embark on a musical journey across the country. It is a jukebox musical containing familiar popular songs from world music as; Coldplay, Billie Eilish, Chet Baker, Mariah Carey, Pharrell Williams and famous Korean songs in the backdrop of South Korean locales.[3][6]

Casting

On 30 July 2020, the SM Entertainment agency announced that Park Chanyeol was confirmed to appear in musical film.[7]

Filming

Principal photography of the film began in the end of August 2020.

Release

It was announced on March 27, that the film will be released in thirty two International markets.[8]

The Box is scheduled to be released in 11 countries including USA, Singapore, Indonesia, Vietnam, Japan and Australia. It will be released in Singapore on April 1, 2021, in Indonesia on April 7, 2021, and Malaysia on April 8, 2021.[9]

Original soundtrack
The Box
Soundtrack album by
Various
ReleasedMarch 25, 2021 (2021-03-25)[10]
Recorded2020–21
GenreSoundtrack
Length58:35
Language
Label
  • Dreamus
  • Studio Take
ProducerEcho Bridge
External audio
audio icon Full album The Box OST on YouTube
audio icon Full album The Box OST on Spotify

60,000 albums of original soundtrack of the film were pre-sold before its release on March 31. The box album debuted at number 4 iTunes global albums, with all songs charting in more than 6 countries.[11]

There are 18 tracks in the album:
No.TitleLyricsMusicArtistLength
1."Break Your Box"ChanyeolChanyeolCHANYEOL3:15
2."Cowboys & Aliens"ChimmiPeter of CHIMMIPeter of CHIMMI4:00
3."Bad Guy"Billie Eilish, Finneas O'ConnellCHANYEOLCHANYEOL2:57
4."Without You"Pete Ham, Tom EvansCHANYEOLCHANYEOL2:55
5."Heaven"AancodAancodAancod2:00
6."Happy"Pharrell WilliamsAancod, CHANYEOLCHANYEOL, Aancod2:32
7."Break Your Box" (Lite Version)EcobridgeEcobridgeEcobridge2:42
8."Summertime"Dorothy Heyward, George Gershwin, DuBose Heyward, Ira GershwinKim Ji-HyunKim Ji-Hyun3:14
9."My Funny Valentine"Lorenz Hart, Richard RodgersCHANYEOLCHANYEOL2:42
10."What a Wonderful World"George David Weiss, Bob ThieleCHANYEOL & Kim Ji-HyunCHANYEOL & Kim Ji-Hyun3:26
11."Raining"EcobridgeCHANYEOLCHANYEOL4:06
12."One Day" (어느 날 문득)EcobridgeEcobridgeEcobridge4:30
13."Everyday With You" (매일 그대와)Choi Sung-wonCHANYEOLCHANYEOL2:05
14."Captain No.7" (캡틴)Park Ju-wonPark Juwon & Danny KooPark Juwon, Danny Koo2:23
15."When I am in Busan" (부산에 가면)EcobridgeCHO DAL-HWANCHO DAL-HWAN3:11
16."A Sky Full of Stars"Guy Berryman, Jonny Buckland, Will Champion, Chris Martin, Tim BerglingCHANYEOLCHANYEOL4:13
17."Break Your Box" (Acoustic Version)Chanyeol, EcobridgeChanyeolCHANYEOL3:44
18."Break Your Box" (Hidden Track)Chanyeol, EcobridgeChanyeolCHANYEOL4:40

Reception

Box office

The film was released on March 24, 2021, on 372 screens. It opened at first place on the box office getting more than thirty thousand admissions on its first day.[12]

According to Korean Film Council data†, it is at 20th place among all the Korean films released in the year 2021, with gross of US$0.85 million and 122,469 admissions, as of December 12, 2021.[13]

  • †The system of KOBIS (Korean Box Office Information System) is managed by KOFIC.

Critical response

Going by Korean review aggregator Naver Movie Database, the film holds an approval rating of 8.63 from the audience.[14]

Brian Tan from Yahoo Style rating the film with 3.5 out of 5 stars, praised Chanyeol for his “beautifully rendered vocals and acoustics throughout the movie” in his review. He praised Chanyeol for his ability to convey the cuteness, introversion, and most vulnerable moments of the main character. Several reviewers have cited the lack of a consistent plot and dialogue as some of the sites of improvement.[15]

Fred Hawson reviewing for ABS-CBN News wrote that the main attraction of the film is the lead performance of EXO member Chanyeol and his song recordings. He opined that making the film a road trip added to the appeal of the director Jung-woong's concept. Explaining the premise behind the story of the film, Hawson wrote, "... simple premise -- a talented musical artist who could not bring himself to perform his music in front of people, and the producer who trusted that talent enough to spend time and money hopefully to bring him out of his shell (or box)."[16]

Korean entertainment news site The Seoul Story praised Chanyeol's baritone singing, stating that it will "trap viewer's hearts". It was pointed out that the storyline was too predictable, but the overall viewing experience was still quite enjoyable and "light hearted."[17]

References
  1. "KOFIC, KOBIS (Korean Box Office Information System) The Box (2021)". KOFIC. Archived from the original on January 21, 2022. Retrieved April 19, 2021.
  2. "The Box - 2021". HanCinema. Archived from the original on March 28, 2021. Retrieved April 4, 2021.
  3. Choi Ji-eun (March 18, 2021). "[톱포토] '더 박스' 조달환, 부드러운 미소" [[Top Photo]'The Box' Cho Joo-hwan, a soft smile]. Top Daily (in Korean). Archived from the original on January 21, 2022. Retrieved April 4, 2021.
  4. Kim Na-young (July 30, 2020). "SM 측 "엑소 찬열, 영화 '더 박스' 출연 확정"" [SM's “EXO Chanyeol confirmed to appear in the movie'The Box'” (official position)]. MK Sports (in Korean). Naver. Archived from the original on April 19, 2022. Retrieved April 4, 2021.
  5. Han Hyun-jung (April 1, 2021). "영화 '더 박스' 조달환…이병헌·송강호가 롤모델 프로의 섹시함 보여주고파" [The movie'The Box' Cho Joo-hwan... Lee Byung-hun and Song Kang-ho want to show the sexy role model pro]. MK Sports (in Korean). Archived from the original on January 21, 2022. Retrieved April 4, 2021.
  6. Lee Seung-mi (March 25, 2021). "[공식]엑소 찬열 주연 '더 박스' 3월 24일 개봉…입대前 마지막 활동" [[Official] EXO's Chanyeol starring'The Box' will be released on March 24th... Last activity before enlistment]. Sports Chosun (in Korean). Naver. Archived from the original on April 25, 2022. Retrieved March 5, 2021.
  7. Choi Ji-eun (July 30, 2021). "[톱포토] '더 박스' 조달환, 부드러운 미소" [EXO's Chanyeol, starring in'The Box'... August crank-in]. Top Daily (in Korean). Archived from the original on January 21, 2022. Retrieved April 5, 2021.
  8. William Schwartz (March 27, 2021). "[HanCinema's News] "The Box" to Be Released in Thirty-two International Markets". HanCinema. Archived from the original on March 17, 2022. Retrieved April 4, 2021.
  9. "Spackman Entertainment Group's Upcoming Musical Film THE BOX, Starring EXO'S Chanyeol, Set To Release On 24 March In Korea And Debut In 11 Countries Including USA, Singapore, Indonesia, Vietnam, Japan And Australia". Media Outreach. March 22, 2021. Archived from the original on March 22, 2021. Retrieved April 5, 2021.
  10. "더 박스 THE BOX OST" [THE BOX OST]. Melon. Archived from the original on January 21, 2022. Retrieved April 5, 2021.
  11. Han Hyun-jung (March 30, 2021). "엑소 팬덤 무섭다…찬열의 '더 박스' OST 음반, 예약판매 6만 돌파[공식]" [EXO's fandom is scary... Chanyeol's'The Box' OST album exceeds 60,000 pre-orders [Official]]. The Daily Economy Star Today. Archived from the original on January 21, 2022. Retrieved April 5, 2021.
  12. William Schwartz (March 25, 2021). "[HanCinema's News] "The Box" Opens in First Place at the South Korean Box Office". HanCinema. Archived from the original on April 25, 2022. Retrieved April 4, 2021.
  13. "KOBIS (Korean Box Office Information System) Year 2021". KOFIC. Archived from the original on March 24, 2021. Retrieved December 12, 2021.
  14. "더 박스 The Box, (2021)". Naver 영화. Archived from the original on March 20, 2021. Retrieved April 15, 2021.
  15. "The Box review: A heartwarming movie that shows off Chanyeol's musical and acting charms". sg.style.yahoo.com. Archived from the original on April 7, 2022. Retrieved June 7, 2021.
  16. Hawson, Fred (June 4, 2021). "Movie review: EXO's Chanyeol and his music are the main draws of 'The Box'". ABS-CBN News. Archived from the original on June 5, 2021. Retrieved June 5, 2021.
  17. "[FILM REVIEW] THE BOX (2021)". The Seoul Story. April 21, 2021. Archived from the original on June 7, 2021. Retrieved June 7, 2021.
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