'Hope' draws 330,000 on opening day, tops box office

Director Na Hong-jin's new film "Hope" drew 330,000 viewers on its opening day, immediately claiming the top spot at the box office.

According to the Korean Film Council's integrated computer network, "Hope" attracted 333,899 viewers on Wednesday, its opening day. The figure far surpasses the previous best opening score of the year — 199,762 admissions set by director Yeon Sang-ho's "Colony."

"Hope" now holds the highest opening-day figure of any film in Na's career. His earlier works drew considerably smaller crowds: "The Chaser" (2008) opened to 113,673 viewers, "The Yellow Sea" (2010) to 120,482, and "The Wailing" (2016) to 310,042.

The film had already signaled a record-breaking run before it opened, with advance ticket sales surpassing 600,000.

Audiences who saw "Hope" have been effusive in their praise, with reactions including "A ferocious 156-minute sprint you can't take your eyes off!" and "A wildly entertaining genre film packed with energy and pure cinematic pleasure," as well as "the film's power to sweep the audience along is extraordinary." Viewers have singled out its rhythmic pacing, sweeping scale, the cast's committed performances and tightly crafted direction.

"Hope" is a sci-fi action thriller starring Hwang Jung-min, Jo In-sung and Jung Ho-yeon alongside Hollywood actors Michael Fassbender, Alicia Vikander and Taylor Russell. The story unfolds when news of a tiger sighting in the demilitarized zone throws an entire village into chaos, setting off a chain of events that defies belief.

The film marks Na's first feature in 10 years since "The Wailing" and had its world premiere in the main competition section of the 79th Cannes International Film Festival in May.