‘Hope’ Posts the Best Opening Score of the Year as Its First Day Tops 330,000

With the movie 〈Hope〉 proving an unmistakable presence at this summer’s theaters, it drew 333,899 viewers on its first day of release to take the No. 1 spot at the box office. That makes it the highest opening score among Na Hong-jin’s works to date, surpassing 〈The Chaser〉(113,673 viewers), 〈Hwanghae〉(120,482 viewers), and 〈The Wailing〉​(310,042 viewers). The film also set a new record by overtaking the audience count of 〈The Gangje〉(199,762 viewers), which previously held the top opening score for the year. It even posted a higher figure than the opening-day total for 〈The Exhuma〉(330,118 viewers), which surpassed 10 million admissions, underscoring the intense interest in the movie. After claiming No. 1 in advance ticket sales at the fastest pace this year, followed by recording the highest level of preorders, 〈Hope〉 has now also reached No. 1 for the 2026 opening score, demonstrating explosive box-office staying power. With the momentum fueled by word of mouth, the film is set to carry its overwhelming run at the theaters.

〈Hope〉​ begins with a story set in motion when “Bum-seok,” a branch-office manager at Hopo Port located in the Demilitarized Zone, hears from local young people that a tiger has appeared. As an entire village falls into crisis, the film follows their encounter with an unbelievable reality. Gathering hot praise from domestic and international media, critics, and audiences, 〈Hope〉 is currently screening widely across theaters nationwide.