Movie 'HOPE', Sold to 200 Countries, Sets Global Release Dates for Taiwan and North America

The film "HOPE" is set to hit theaters around the world following pre-sales to over 200 countries and regions globally.

According to its investment and distribution company, Plus M Entertainment, "HOPE" has confirmed its worldwide theatrical releases, starting with Taiwan on Friday, September 4, and North America on Wednesday, September 9, followed by Canada, Australia, the United Kingdom, Latin America, France, Italy, Germany, Spain, Hong Kong, Japan, Vietnam, and Singapore.

From its planning stages, "HOPE" was envisioned as a global project targeting international markets beyond South Korea. The film was first unveiled internationally when it entered the competition section at the Cannes Film Festival last May, where it received an explosive response. This overseas interest naturally led to pre-sales.

Generating buzz by breaking the record for the highest overseas pre-sale amount for a Korean film, "HOPE" has partnered with major global distributors and leading film companies worldwide, including NEON, which is handling distribution in North America and other English-speaking regions, as well as MUBI, Focus Features/UPI France, and Sony Pictures Global Worldwide Acquisitions.

Meanwhile, ahead of its September release in North America, "HOPE" has been continuously praised following its premieres in Los Angeles and New York, emerging as a hot topic in local theaters and further raising expectations for its global rollout.

In particular, overseas critics have continued to praise the re-edited version, which finely polished certain creature scenes, sound, and editing following its premiere screening at the Cannes Film Festival. Film review outlet IndieWire lauded the craftsmanship of "HOPE," which enhanced its artistic value through meticulous post-production, stating, "The final cut is only about 4 to 5 minutes shorter than the Cannes screening version, but through the deletion, addition, and rearrangement of scenes, each narrative thread connects much more smoothly and the story's flow becomes significantly more natural," and adding, "The re-edited 'HOPE' is, from start to finish, one of the best action films seen in recent years."

"HOPE" begins when Beom-seok, the head of a branch office in Hopohang located in the Demilitarized Zone, hears from local young people that a tiger has appeared, plunging the entire village into a state of emergency as they face an unbelievable reality. It was released domestically on July 15 and has drawn 4.23 million moviegoers to date.

(Photo: Yonhap News / Reported by Kim Ji-hye, SBS Entertainment News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.