Director Na Hong Jin’s new film “Hope” has made a powerful start at the Korean box office, setting the highest opening day record of 2026.
According to the Korean Film Council, “Hope” attracted 333,899 moviegoers on July 15, its first day in theaters. The film immediately entered the box office chart at No. 1.
The result surpassed “The Colony,” which previously held this year’s biggest opening record with 199,762 viewers. It also narrowly beat “Exhuma,” which drew 330,118 viewers on its opening day before going on to attract more than 10 million moviegoers.
“Hope” also recorded the strongest opening of Na Hong Jin’s career. It exceeded the first day totals of “The Chaser” with 113,673 viewers, “The Yellow Sea” with 120,482, and “The Wailing” with 310,042.
The impressive result comes as viewers continue to share very different opinions about the movie. Some have praised its bold direction, strong visuals, and unusual story, while others have said that it may be difficult or less accessible to general audiences.
However, the divided reactions appear to be creating more public interest and encouraging moviegoers to see the film for themselves.
Without revealing major details, “Hope” follows a village near the Demilitarized Zone after reports of a tiger cause an emergency. The movie combines suspense, surreal events, and striking visuals in a limited setting.
The film had already shown strong interest before its release by quickly reaching No. 1 in advance ticket sales and recording a high number of reservations.
Attention is now focused on whether “Hope” can maintain its momentum and become one of the biggest Korean box office hits of the summer.
