Director's first film in a decade tops Korean box office with the year's strongest debut, backed by acclaim from two of the industry's most respected filmmakers

'HOPE' (provided by Plus M Entertainment, Forged Films)

Director Na Hong-jin's long-awaited new film "HOPE," his first feature in roughly a decade since 2016's "The Wailing," drew approximately 330,000 admissions on its opening day to take the top spot at the Korean box office. It marks the highest single-day opening of any film released in Korea this year, and the strongest opening-day performance of Na's own filmography to date. Alongside the box office milestone, praise from Korean cinema heavyweights Bong Joon-ho and Lee Chang-dong has further fueled attention around the film.

According to the Korean Film Council's integrated box office network, "HOPE" opened on July 15 with roughly 330,000 admissions, debuting at No. 1, with cumulative admissions reaching approximately 350,000. The figure far surpasses the previous best opening of the year set by Yeon Sang-ho's "Ghost Troop" (roughly 200,000 admissions), and also exceeds the opening-day numbers of Na's earlier films "The Chaser," "The Yellow Sea," and "The Wailing." "HOPE" opened with a wide margin over same-day releases "Minions & Monsters" (roughly 30,000) and "Moana" (roughly 13,000).

Set in the fictional port village of Hopo, near the Demilitarized Zone, "HOPE" follows the chaos that unfolds after a mysterious incident strikes the community. The film stars Hwang Jung-min, Zo In-sung, and Hoyeon, alongside international performers Michael Fassbender, Alicia Vikander, and Taylor Russell, who took part through motion- and facial-capture performance — a production approach that drew attention for bringing together Korean and international talent.

Industry figures who screened the film early responded enthusiastically. At a post-screening conversation with audiences, Bong Joon-ho described it as "a film bursting with audacity and madness — a rare cinematic spectacle," singling out cinematographer Hong Kyung-pyo's camera work and the cast's performances for praise. Lee Chang-dong was similarly effusive, calling it "the outer limit of what entertainment cinema can reach" and praising the film for "following genre conventions while remaining thoroughly rooted in Korean space and character."

Cannes Recognition and Global Outlook

"HOPE" had already built anticipation well before release, having been invited to the main competition of the 79th Cannes Film Festival — the first Korean film to compete there in four years. The film has also completed pre-sales to more than 200 territories worldwide and stands as the only Korean tentpole release of the summer season.

Taken together, the film's international cast collaboration, its Cannes competition berth, and its extensive pre-sales underscore the continued competitiveness of Korean genre filmmaking in the global market. With a record-breaking opening day and continued praise from major filmmakers, attention now turns to whether "HOPE" can extend its momentum beyond the summer box office and inject new energy into the Korean film market as a whole.

Sources

• Gyeongbuk Domin Ilbo, "'HOPE' Draws 330,000 on Opening Day, Bong Joon-ho and Lee Chang-dong Offer High Praise", 2026.07.16

• Hankook Ilbo, "'HOPE' Sets 2026 Opening-Day Record from Day One", 2026.07.16

• SisaWeek, "'HOPE' Draws 330,000 on Opening Day, the Year's Best Debut", 2026.07.16