South Korean romance-fantasy A Werewolf Boy has become a sleeper hit in Taiwan, crossing NT$4 million (US$138,000) at the Taipei box office this weekend after 17 days on release.

The film opened on five screens in the capital on 28 Dec 2012. It was eight-placed on opening weekend with NT$0.99 million (US$34,200) despite having only a full-day of screenings at a single cinema on opening day. It is now on seven screens.

Jeffrey Chen, managing director of distributor ifilm Co Ltd, first saw the film at the Busan International Film Festival, ahead of its South Korean release.

Chen told Film Business Asia that the sight of Korean audience members rushing to the toilet to wash teary faces after the festival premiere convinced him that it would also work with female audiences in Taiwan and in the rest of Asia.

Chen said that his company specifically targeted their advertising campaign at teenage high school girls. He believes the film's strong word of mouth will lead it to a final box office of NT$5-6 million with schools' winter vacations now starting.

Werewolf Boy is financed, sold and distributed by CJ Entertainment Inc in South Korea. Since opening on 31 October, it has taken ￦46.6 billion (US$44.1 million) at its domestic box office.

Life of Pi returned to the top of the Taipei box office this weekend, taking NT$5.18 million (US$179,000) over three days. It has secured NT$199.97 million (US$6.91 million) in the capital and will likely cross NT$200 million today. Gross to date in the whole of Taiwan is US$16.09 million, according to data from Fox International.

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