Na Hong-jin’s ‘Hope’ sweeps North American theaters, grosses up to $5 million — biggest Korean film hit since ‘Parasite’

Film grosses more than $5 million in opening week, heads to Austin and San Francisco after New York

‘Hope’, the latest film from director Na Hong-jin, is sweeping North American theaters and setting the biggest box-office record for a Korean film since ‘Parasite.’ Released on 1,560 screens across North America on the 9th local time, ‘Hope’ grossed about $5 million (about 6.6 billion won) over its opening weekend alone, setting a new milestone for K-movies.

The film’s strong performance was evident from opening day. ‘Hope’ earned more than $1.1 million (about 1.5 billion won) on its first day, making a strong debut at No. 2 at the box office behind director Christopher Nolan’s latest film, ‘The Odyssey.’ Its cumulative gross of more than $4.92 million through the 13th demonstrates the strong ticket-drawing power of Korean films in the North American market.

The enthusiastic local response has also extended to in-person events. Director Na Hong-jin and lead actors Jo In-sung and Jung Ho-yeon attended a New York screening and red-carpet event on the 8th, where they engaged with global media and audiences. North American viewers have praised the film’s original vision: “An unknown entity appears in the isolated setting of Hopo Port near the demilitarized zone, and the humans surrounding it struggle for survival.”

After drawing more than 4.57 million moviegoers in South Korean theaters last July and proving its commercial appeal, ‘Hope’ is now spreading its momentum across the United States. Following New York, director Na Hong-jin plans to visit Austin and San Francisco in succession, continuing to meet local audiences and reinforcing the film’s prospects for a sustained North American run.