Acclaimed South Korean filmmaker Na Hong-jin has made a successful return to the director’s chair after nearly a decade, with his sci-fi survival thriller Hope emerging as the country’s biggest box-office hit.
According to the Korean Box Office Information System (KOBIS), Hope dominated South Korea’s box office during the July 17–19 weekend, accounting for 66.62% of total ticket sales.
The film earned $11.3 million over the three-day period, selling 1,504,019 tickets.
Since its release, Hope has grossed $16 million domestically and attracted 2,129,723 admissions, making it one of South Korea’s strongest-performing films of the year.
The film marks Na Hong-jin’s first feature since the critically acclaimed horror-thriller The Wailing, released in 2016.
Na is widely regarded as one of South Korea’s leading filmmakers, having earned international recognition with acclaimed films including The Chaser, The Yellow Sea and The Wailing.
His works are known for blending psychological suspense, mystery and intense action.
One of Hope’s biggest attractions is its international ensemble cast.
The film stars Korean actors Hwang Jung-min, Zo In-sung and Jung Ho-yeon, alongside Hollywood stars Michael Fassbender, Alicia Vikander, Taylor Russell and Cameron Britton.
Ahead of its theatrical release, Hope premiered in the Competition section of the Cannes Film Festival in May before being selected as the Centerpiece Film at the New York Asian Film Festival, generating strong anticipation among international audiences.
The film is scheduled for a North American release through independent distributor Neon, the studio behind internationally acclaimed titles such as Parasite, Anatomy of a Fall and Anora.
