Hope has stormed to the top of the Korean box office with the biggest opening day of the year.
The film drew 333,899 moviegoers on its first day in theaters, debuting at No. 1 and setting a new 2026 opening-day record.
It also marks the biggest opening of director Na Hong Jin’s career, surpassing The Chaser with 113,673 admissions, The Yellow Sea with 120,482 and The Wailing with 310,042.
Hope easily topped the previous 2026 record held by Colony, which opened with 199,762 admissions. It also edged past the 330,118 opening-day audience of Exhuma, which went on to draw more than 10 million moviegoers.
The film had already become the fastest release of the year to reach No. 1 in advance ticket sales and set a new 2026 presale record.
Audiences have since praised its unpredictable pacing, large-scale action and the cast’s intense performances. “I never knew so many different genres could exist within a Na Hong Jin film,” one viewer wrote.
Another called it “a premium Korean roller coaster,” while others praised its “incredible cinematic momentum,” “156 minutes of nonstop intensity,” and “insane chase action.”
Viewers also highlighted the film’s suspense, fast-paced action and Na’s tightly controlled direction.
Naver currently shows a verified audience rating of 7.11, while CGV’s Golden Egg Index stands at 81%. Below are verified audience reviews from each platform.
Hope follows Beom Seok, the head of a substation at Hopo Port near the Demilitarized Zone, after local young men report seeing a tiger. As the village goes on high alert, its residents are confronted with an unbelievable reality. It’s now playing in theaters nationwide.
In the meantime, watch trending K-dramas for free on Amasian TV.
Source: Plus M Entertainment
