Hope (2026 film)
A village police chief faces a mysterious creature after wildfires cut communications.
Na Hong-jin wrote and directed the 2026 South Korean epic science fiction action thriller Hope. It debuted in the main competition at the Cannes Film Festival, vying for the Palme d'Or. Critics praised Na's action direction but criticized the visual effects.
Quick Facts
- Director
- Na Hong-jin
- Producer
- Na Hong-jin
- Kim Sae-mi
- Kim Sae-rom
- Starring
- Hwang Jung-min
- Zo In-sung
- Hoyeon
- Taylor Russell
- Cameron Britton
- Alicia Vikander
- Michael Fassbender
- Music
- Michael Abels
- Cinematography
- Hong Kyung-pyo
- Editing
- Kim Sun-min
- Studio
- Forged Films; Plus M Entertainment
- Distributor
- Plus M Entertainment
Facts from the source article.
Plot
Bum-seok, police chief of Hope Harbor near the Korea Demilitarized Zone, investigates a dead cow with gaping wounds at the request of his second cousin Sung-ki. Sung-ki and his fellow hunters lie about a tiger, then follow carnage to a farm where more bulls and the owner are dead. Bum-seok returns to find a large monster has attacked the town and killed several people; he cannot call reinforcements because wildfires have diverted them. He meets retired colonel Ahn Nak-yeon, and they pursue the monster but accidentally shoot a local chef. Bum-seok continues alone, teams with an amateur militia, and discovers the monster is a large, intelligent humanoid. The monster kills the militia and chases Bum-seok, who is rescued by rookie officer Sung-ae after she ransacked the artillery. Sung-ae dismembers one of the monster's legs, and they chase it in her police car. Bum-seok hesitates to fire when he sees the monster crying. The monster is accidentally run over and killed by a tanker. Afterward, Bum-seok joins a surgeon analyzing the body, finding similarities to humans. He reunites with Nak-yeon at headquarters, where hunter Yang-bae claims to have killed a monster days earlier, but Bum-seok is skeptical because the description differs. Yang-bae says the body is in his freezer. Meanwhile, Sung-ae interviews Mr. Hae-sul, who says he saw several monsters while hunting. Alarmed, she leaves to warn Bum-seok.
Production
Na Hong-jin was originally collaborating on the project with Alfonso Cuarón. It is Na's first film since The Wailing (2016), developed from an image he had in 2017 or 2018 while eating in a restaurant. Forged Films produced the film, with Plus M Entertainment handling international distribution and UTA Independent Film Group and Plus M distributing in North America. Hong Kyung-pyo, who worked on The Wailing, served as cinematographer. The budget was reportedly higher than any previous Korean film. The main cast includes Hwang Jung-min, Zo In-sung, Hoyeon, Alicia Vikander, and Michael Fassbender, with Vikander and Fassbender not speaking Korean. It marks the first on-screen collaboration for the married couple since The Light Between Oceans (2016). Taylor Russell and Cameron Britton joined in April 2023. Supporting roles include Eum Moon-suk, Lee Sang-hee, and Im Hyun-sik. Um Tae-goo and Lee Kyu-hyung were reported cast in May 2023 but do not appear in the final production. Principal photography took place in 2023 in Bukpyeong-myeon, Namchang in Haenam County, and in Romania around the Retezat Mountains. A sequence with a horse riding through a forest was filmed in Retezat National Park. Vikander and Russell completed their filming by July 2024.
Release
Hope premiered in the main competition of the 79th Cannes Film Festival on May 17, 2026, the first South Korean film to compete for the Palme d'Or since Decision to Leave (2022). It is Na Hong-jin's fourth film at the festival, following The Chaser (2008), The Yellow Sea (2011), and The Wailing (2016). The film was released in South Korea on July 15, 2026, by Plus M Entertainment. Neon scheduled a US theatrical release for September 9, 2026, and acquired rights for other English-speaking territories. In May 2026, Mubi acquired distribution rights for Latin America, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Italy, Spain, and Turkey. Hope pre-sold to 200 territories worldwide, with buyers including Focus Features (France, Benelux, South Africa) and Sony Pictures Worldwide Acquisitions (Portugal, Scandinavia, Iceland, Middle East, Israel).
Reception
Hope stormed into South Korean theaters with 1.5 million ticket sales and $11.3 million in its debut weekend, easily beating Minions & Monsters ($2.1 million) and Moana ($1.2 million). By August 2, 2026, the film had earned $31.1 million locally. Critics gave it a 77% positive rating on Rotten Tomatoes from 44 reviews, averaging 6.4/10, with the site calling it a wild sci-fi ride with stunning production design and charmingly old-school effects. On Metacritic, it scored 68 out of 100 from 19 critics, signaling generally favorable reviews. BBC’s Nicholas Barber awarded it four stars out of five.
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