The First Ride debuted at No. 1 at the Korean box office following its release on October 29th. The film, which stars a powerhouse ensemble of Kang Ha Neul, Kim Young Kwang and Cha Eun Woo, follows a group of lifelong friends embarking on their first-ever trip abroad together.
The movie is notably the last project Cha Eun Woo completed before his recent military enlistment.
According to the official Korean box office network, The First Ride drew 82,687 moviegoers on its opening day, surpassing Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc to take the top spot. This strong debut signals a promising start for the film, outperforming the 2024 hit The Firefighters and coming close to the opening numbers of Kang Ha Neul’s previous comedy YADANG: The Snitch, one of the biggest box office successes of 2025.
The film had already generated buzz ahead of its release, reuniting director Nam Dae Jung and Kang Ha Neul after their previous hit Love Reset. Early audience reactions have been mixed but generally positive, earning the film a solid 85% on CGV’s Golden Egg score.
Viewers praised the cast’s strong chemistry and witty banter, describing the movie as “fun if you don’t think too hard.” However, many were surprised by its heavier dramatic tone, which was not highlighted in the trailers. Comments included, “A warm movie, but not entirely comedic,” and “Laughter at first, sadness at the end.”
Others found the plot “a bit forced” and the “genre balance broken,” with one viewer remarking, “If you watch it expecting the movie from the trailers, you’ll be disappointed.”
>> Kang Ha Neul’s Comedy ‘The First Ride’ Tops Ticket Reservations: Can It End Japan’s Cinematic Reign?
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