Na Hong-jin's 'Hope' Sells 600,000 Pre-Sale Tickets, Mixed Reviews Cloud Box Office Prospects

Director Na Hong-jin's highly anticipated science fiction action thriller 'Hope' has launched with a bang, selling over 600,000 pre-sale tickets as of Friday morning. This impressive figure marks the highest pre-sale record for a Korean film this year, surpassing sequels like 'The Roundup' series and standing as the top original film debut since 'Along With the Gods: The Last 49 Days' in 2018. The film's strong opening suggests a promising start for what is reportedly Korea's most expensive film production.

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As of 7 AM today, 'Hope' had a pre-sale rate of 68% and surpassed 600,000 pre-sale tickets.

'Hope,' Na's first directorial effort in 10 years since 'The Wailing' (2016), is set in a fictional demilitarized zone called Hopohang and delves into surreal events. While it retains elements of suspense, the film leans more heavily into action compared to its predecessor. Early reviews from pre-release screenings are divided. Critics laud the cinematography by Hong Kyung-pyo for its fluid visuals and the film's pacing, as well as the cast's performances. However, some viewers who appreciated the ambiguous and symbolic nature of 'The Wailing' expressed disappointment with 'Hope's' departure from that style. Criticisms also target perceived awkward computer graphics and a repetitive action sequence in the latter half, along with an ending that deviates from conventional storytelling with the full appearance of aliens.

The divided reception raises questions about 'Hope's' box office trajectory. The article draws parallels to '12.12: The Day,' which also faced mixed reviews initially but ultimately succeeded by drawing in diverse age groups with its compelling narrative. Similarly, 'Exhuma,' another 2024 hit, benefited from polarized opinions on its latter half, which fueled public interest. 'The Wailing' itself garnered significant discussion due to its ambiguous plot, ultimately achieving 6.88 million admissions.

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Compared to 'The Wailing,' the color of the action genre has become much stronger.

The financial performance of 'Hope' is particularly critical for its distributor, Plus M Entertainment, a subsidiary of Megabox JoongAng. The company is currently undergoing corporate rehabilitation proceedings. A successful run for 'Hope,' estimated to need around 7 million viewers to break even, could significantly aid the rehabilitation process. Conversely, a failure could have wider repercussions for associated businesses, including theaters operating under consignment agreements.

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The evaluation is mixed among audiences who saw the film before its release in a pre-screening format.