Na Hong-jin‘s Hope to Hit Theatres in September After a Buzzing Cannes Premiere

South Korean film director Na Hong-jin’s Hope premiered in May at the 79th Cannes Film Festival 2026. The action-sci-fi secured one of the highest volumes of overseas pre-sales for a Korean film, with more than 200 territory sales worldwide. Since then, the audience has been anticipating its release date. On June 2, Neon announced the North American release date for Na Hong-Jin’s Cannes sci-fi hit Hope as Wednesday, September 9, 2026. After sparking discussions at the Cannes festival, the film is all set to make waves once again. 

Hope stars Hwang Jung-min, Zo In-sung, Hoyeon, Taylor Russell, Cameron Britton, with Alicia Vikander, and Michael Fassbender. For the unversed, the film received a six-minute standing ovation and a wave of sharply divided critical reaction. Here’s what you need to know!

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Hope Release Date: Na Hong-jin’s Record-Selling Cannes Sci-Fi Drama to Hit Cinemas on Sept 9

HOPE is coming. Opens only in theaters September 9. pic.twitter.com/mlne5gnzyU — NEON (@neonrated) June 1, 2026

Hope emerged as one of Cannes’ biggest conversation starters. Set near the Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), the narrative unfolds in the fictional town of Hope Harbor. The narrative tells the story of police chief Bum-seok, played by Hwang Jung-min, and officer Sung-ae, portrayed by Hoyeon. As they investigate a mysterious creature wreaking havoc in the area, a group of hunters led by Sung-ki, played by Zo In-sung, enters the surrounding forest to track the beast, only to find themselves facing unexpected danger.

According to the film’s synopsis, what begins as a misunderstanding gradually spirals into a much larger tragedy involving both human conflict and cosmic consequences. Moreover, Hope is Na Hong-jin’s first feature film in nearly a decade. The director is renowned for acclaimed genre titles such as The Chaser, The Yellow Sea, and the 2016 horror hit The Wailing. Hence, fans and movie enthusiasts are eagerly waiting for the film to hit the silver screens in September.