Na Hong Jin's 'HOPE' holds No. 1 for second week as it nears 3.5 million admissions
by TelloWoo · allkpopNa Hong Jin's film 'HOPE' is keeping its box office heat alive in its second week, holding the No. 1 spot for two straight weeks while moving toward the 3.5 million admissions mark.
According to the Korean Film Council's integrated ticketing system on July 27, 2026, 'HOPE' stayed on top of the box office for a second consecutive week. The film passed 3 million cumulative admissions over the previous weekend, and the report said its current pace points to a likely push past 3.5 million admissions soon.
The strong run has also brought new attention to investor Episode Company. The report said overseas pre-sales before release lowered the film's domestic break-even point, which could help speed up investment recovery and profitability if the current box office flow continues.
The film also gained a timely boost from the festival circuit. Na Hong Jin recently received the Daniel A. Craft Award for Excellence in Action Cinema at the 25th New York Asian Film Festival, where the festival also prepared a special retrospective spotlighting his previous works.
In Korea, audience response has begun to warm up after the movie sparked varied interpretations early in its release. The report noted that the CGV Egg Index and ratings from actual moviegoers have been rising, giving 'HOPE' stronger word-of-mouth support beyond its opening stretch.
Episode Company has also been expanding its content business beyond investment. The company is participating in the joint production of the drama 'Promoter', pursuing global commerce through subsidiary Studio Episode, and recently signed a business agreement with Artist Studio and Chai Communication to connect one IP across broadcasting, digital content, brands, and commerce through an OSMU cooperation system.
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