Hope Extended Chart-Topping Run in South Korea
The sci-fi epic "Hope," directed by Na Hong-jin, has extended its chart-topping run on the weekend box-office chart in South Korea, drawing more than 3 million admissions since its release earlier this month. The Korean film added 767,365 admissions over the weekend, bringing its total to 3,415,709 as of Sunday, according to data from the Korean Film Council.
Two other Korean films also reached the top 10 on the weekend chart, with the mystery thriller "The Eyes" starring Shin Min-a ranking sixth and the zombie blockbuster "Colony" coming in at No. 9. Hollywood animated films performed strongly, with "Minions & Monsters" and "Toy Story 5" placing No. 2 and No. 4, respectively, while the Hollywood live-action "Moana," a remake of the 2016 Disney animation, ranked third.
Coverage Comparison
While one report focuses on the box-office numbers, another details the film's international festival trajectory. "Hope" has been invited to screen at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), according to its distributor Plus M Entertainment. The film will be shown in the Midnight Madness section of the 51st TIFF, a segment dedicated to creative genre films with intense concepts and sensational visuals. The film premiered at the Cannes Film Festival this year, with its North American opening set for Sept. 9.
The film's box-office performance is also tied to the broader context of the Korean film industry's struggles. A report from earlier in the month noted that the industry has been hit by dwindling moviegoers since the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as rising production costs, weakening investment, and the growing dominance of streaming platforms. Annual theater admissions easily topped 200 million before the pandemic, peaking at a record 227 million in 2019, but plunged to 60 million in 2020. Though admissions have recovered to over 100 million annually since 2022, only a handful of Korean films have exceeded the 10-million admission mark in recent years.
Key Claims
- "Hope" has drawn more than 3 million admissions since its release earlier this month, adding 767,365 admissions over the weekend.
- The film competed at the Cannes Film Festival and has been invited to the Toronto International Film Festival's Midnight Madness section.
- The film's North American opening is set for Sept. 9.
- "Hope" 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.
- The film is known to be one of the most expensive films to be produced in Korean cinema.
- The Korean film industry has been struggling due to dwindling moviegoers and rising production costs.
- Strong pre-sales were noted, with 476,129 tickets already sold.