Na Hong-jin's 'HOPE' Debuts on 1,560 North American Screens, Enters Weekend Top 10

Release scale and opening-week revenue

Director Na Hong-jin's "HOPE" was released in North America on September 9 across 1,560 screens, the largest North American footprint for a Korean film since Bong Joon-ho's "Parasite" in 2019. According to the film's North American distributor, Plus M Entertainment, "HOPE" grossed about $5 million in its opening week, with $4.92 million (roughly 6.6 billion won) recorded through the following Sunday. The film placed second at the North American box office on its opening day with more than $1.1 million, trailing only Christopher Nolan's "Odyssey."

Top-10 finish for a non-English Asian live-action film

Industry coverage notes that breaking into the North American weekend top 10 is unprecedented for a non-English Asian live-action film, and the opening-week result is being framed as evidence of unusually broad local interest in "HOPE."

Promotional tour across major U.S. cities

Ahead of release, director Na Hong-jin, lead actor Zo In-sung, and Jung Hoyeon traveled through North America starting September 7 for a hands-on promotional tour. Stops included a New York red-carpet screening on September 8, followed by appearances in Los Angeles, Chicago, Austin, and San Francisco, featuring stage greetings, audience Q&A sessions, and local media engagements. At the New York event, Na Hong-jin said he "made this movie because I wanted to see it in the theater," while Zo In-sung said he "took on the role because I desperately wanted to work with Director Na Hong-jin," and Jung Hoyeon described the shoot as a chance to "try many things I hadn't done before and expand my imagination."

U.S. critical response

Several U.S. outlets ran favorable reviews alongside the release. The New York Times wrote that "Director Na Hong-jin transforms high-speed driving, racing, and even a horseback riding scene into something as elegant as ballet," and the San Francisco Chronicle cited "the master's touch evident in pacing, twists, and action." The Daily Beast highlighted "overwhelming imagination and artistry with an unstoppable drive," and the Chicago Reader said the film "effectively elevates the film's energy through continuous movement."

Reported momentum in Austin and San Francisco

Coverage cited surging local demand in Austin and San Francisco, including increased screening requests from exhibitors, as "HOPE" continued its run after the opening week.

Korean box-office baseline

"HOPE" had previously opened in South Korea in July, drawing more than 4.57 million viewers domestically. The film is described as an unpredictable mystery thriller set in the fictional harbor city Hopo Port near the Demilitarized Zone, where a mysterious entity appears.