Chuseok is always one of the biggest weekends of the year for box offices in Korea, and this year’s lineup of new films offers movies that can be enjoyed by anyone -- whether you’re heading to the theaters with family or friends.

With family

Korean movies playing this weekend feature stories of families that will be easy to empathize with as you spend the long holiday with your own relatives: Historical drama “The Throne” depicts the difficulties of paternal strife, while “The Accidental Detective” shows two men trying to juggle their passions and family lives and “The Long Way Home” centers on two soldiers who just want to return home to their loved ones after the Korean War.


The Throne (Korea)
Opened Sept. 16

Historical drama. Directed by Lee Joon-ik

The tragic story of a father-son conflict in the royal Joseon court of King Yeongjo comes to life in “The Throne.” The film follows the troubled relationship between the king (Song Kang-ho) and Crown Prince Sado (Yoo Ah-in) that eventually drove the young prince mad, and then to his death following eight days locked in a rice chest.


The Accidental Detective (Korea)
Opened Sept. 24

Comedy. Directed by Kim Jung-hoon

New father Dae-man (Kwon Sang-woo) is the owner of a comic book store whose real passion is in solving crimes. He shows off his investigative prowess on his blog, but he longs for a chance to get his hands dirty with an actual crime. One day, his friend is wrongfully accused of a crime, leading Dae-man to offer to provide assistance to detective Noh Tae-su (Sung Dong-il) -- creating an unlikely duo.


The Long Way Home (Korea)
Opened Sept. 24

Comedy, war drama. Directed by Chun Sung-il

Set during the Korean War, South Korean farmer Nam-bok (Sul Kyung-gu) is recruited to the army and entrusted with the delivery of a document containing top-secret battle strategies to ally forces. On his way, he encounters young North Korean soldier Young-kwang (Yeo Jin-gu) in the plains near the western front. The two develop an unlikely friendship, realizing that they are both victims of war in their own ways.


With friends

If you’re hitting the theaters with some friends, American films on the screen have comedy, adventure and action to choose from. For some light-hearted fun, check out “The Intern,” featuring Robert De Niro as a 70-year-old starting out in a new line of work. If you want a more absorbing experience, head to 3-D screens for “Everest” or the second installment of “Maze Runner,” filled with storms, explosions, and dizzying heights.



The Intern (U.S.)
Opened Sept. 24

Comedy. Directed by Nancy Meyers

When the boredom of retired life starts to drive 70-year-old Ben (Robert De Niro) to the brink, he takes matters into his own hands and lands an internship at an online fashion company created and headed up by the young Jules (Anne Hathaway). Hilarity ensues as Ben adjusts to office life among the new generation, and his colleagues discover there’s more to Ben than meets the eye.


Everest (U.S.)
Opened Sept. 24

Adventure. Directed by Baltasar Kormakur

Two teams of mountain climbers take off on an expedition to Mount Everest -- one of the most dangerous places in the world. Things look as if they’re going smoothly until a huge snowstorm hits, putting everyone in peril. The climbers must fight against blistering winds, freezing temperatures and cruel terrain to return home safe and sound.


Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials (U.S.)
Opened Sept. 16

Action. Directed by Wes Ball

The Maze was just the beginning. Thomas (Dylan O’Brien) and his team of Gladers must survive the obstacles in the desolate landscape of the Scorch as they try to hide from the powerful organization WCKD. As they weave through new faces, some friendly and some deceptive, the Gladers are pushed to their limit.

By Won Ho-jung and Rumy Doo (hjwon@heraldcorp.com)
(bigbird@heraldcorp.com)