The K-Pop band's new movie, 'Burn the Stage: The Movie', debuted with $3.5 million ticket sales, making it the highest grossing event cinema musical production of all time.
- November 20, 2018
AceShowbiz - K-pop superstars BTS (Bangtan Boys) have broken One Direction's U.S. box office record for the highest grossing musical event film.
According to America's Forbes magazine, their new concert film, "Burn the Stage: The Movie", debuted with North American ticket sales of $3.5 million (£2.73 million) last weekend (November 16-18) - surpassing the $3.4 million (£2.65 million) the British boyband's concert flick "One Direction: Where We Are" earned in 2014. The impressive opening means Burn the Stage is the highest grossing event cinema musical production of all time.
The movie, which took fans behind the scenes on BTS' 2017 "Live Trilogy Episode III: The Wings Tour", also made $7.6 million (£6.93 million) outside the U.S.
Although "Burn the Stage: The Movie" only made it to number ten in the U.S. box office charts, it made more money per cinema than any other film - as it was only screened in 620 locations compared to the more than 2,000 places Hollywood releases usually open in.
Musical event cinema has increased in popularity in recent years - with acts including Take That and Kasabian screening concert documentaries for fans.
Breaking One Direction's record is just the latest milestone the South Korean seven-piece have achieved, as the group has grown in popularity outside their homeland. Their dedicated fans, who call themselves the BTS Army, have won them a host of social media accolades, including an American Music Award and two Billboard Music prizes.
The band have also addressed the United Nations in New York when they spoke about their "Love Myself" anti-violence campaign aiming to encourage child victims of violence and bullying to speak out. They have also played sold-out shows across North America, Europe, and Asia this year.
