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Na Hong-jin's sci-fi epic "Hope" has opened strongly in South Korea, attracting more than 330,000 audience members on its first day of release and debuting at No. 1 at the box office, according to data from the Korean Film Council (KOFIC) reported by Yonhap News.

The film, which competed at this year's Cannes Film Festival, drew 333,918 moviegoers on its opening Wednesday and accounted for 81.3 percent of total box-office sales, Yonhap reported.

Coverage Comparison

Two separate Yonhap News reports track the film's performance. The first, published July 16, focused on the opening day's box-office figures, while a second report covered the film's full first-weekend performance.

By Sunday, its fifth day of release, the film had broken the 2-million admissions mark, reaching that milestone at the fastest pace of any film released in South Korea this year, according to Yonhap. The film added 1,504,013 admissions over the weekend, bringing its cumulative total to 2,129,720 as of Sunday, per the wire service's data.

Key Claims

  • First-day performance: "Hope" drew 333,918 moviegoers on its opening day in South Korea, accounting for 81.3 percent of total box-office sales, as reported by Yonhap, citing KOFIC data.
  • Opening weekend: The film topped the weekend box-office chart, adding 1,504,013 admissions and reaching a cumulative total of 2,129,720 by Sunday, Yonhap reported.
  • Box-office milestone: "Hope" surpassed the 2-million admissions mark on Sunday, its fifth day of release, marking the fastest climb to that milestone among films released in South Korea this year, according to Yonhap.
  • International pre-sales: The film was pre-sold to around 200 territories worldwide, a record for a Korean film, as reported by Yonhap.
  • Cast: The film features a star-studded cast including Hwang Jung-min, Zo In-sung and Jung Ho-yeon, as well as Hollywood actors Michael Fassbender and Alicia Vikander, according to Yonhap. The film marks Na's return a decade after his 2016 film "The Wailing."
  • Competition: Hollywood animation "Minions & Monsters" ranked No. 2 at the weekend box office, drawing 308,576 admissions over the weekend, as reported by Yonhap.
  • Plot: The film follows police officers and villagers in a coastal town who encounter mysterious extraterrestrial beings.

Additional Context

According to Yonhap, "Hope" was pre-sold to around 200 territories worldwide, setting a record for a Korean film. The film features a cast that includes Hwang Jung-min, Zo In-sung, Jung Ho-yeon, as well as Hollywood actors Michael Fassbender and Alicia Vikander. The film is directed by Na Hong-jin, marking his return following "The Wailing" (2016).