Hope drops to 3rd in ticket reservations amid Hwang Jung-min controversy and Spider-Man craze

Director Na Hong-jin's new film 'Hope' has encountered unexpected obstacles just as it nears the 4 million viewer milestone. Following a powerful offensive from competing films and a personal controversy surrounding lead actor Hwang Jung-min, the momentum in theaters is shifting rapidly.

According to the Korean Film Council's integrated ticket sales network on the 31st, 'Hope' ranked 2nd at the box office on the 30th, drawing 67,626 viewers in a single day. The cumulative number of viewers stands at 3,774,776, continuing its steady run after surpassing the break-even point.

However, the upward trend has been halted. The decline in audience numbers has become distinct with the emergence of the powerful competitor 'Spider-Man: Brand New Day.'

'Spider-Man: Brand New Day' took an overwhelming 1st place at the box office on the same day, attracting 441,554 viewers. In just two days since its release, it recorded a cumulative audience of 1,131,222, emerging as a new powerhouse of the summer season.

'Hope' had shown a stable box office flow until the release of its competitor. While the daily audience was 100,147 on the 28th, it dropped to 87,927 on the 29th when 'Spider-Man: Brand New Day' was released, and further fell to 67,626 on the following day, the 30th. This represents a significant decrease in drawing power in just two days.

The atmosphere is no different in reservation rates. As of this morning, 'Spider-Man: Brand New Day' is leading overwhelmingly with a 66.8% reservation rate, with reserved viewers exceeding 810,000. Following this, director Christopher Nolan's new film 'The Odyssey' sits at 16.6%, while 'Hope' has been pushed down to 3rd place with 6.4%.

Additionally, the controversy regarding Hwang's personal life is acting as a variable in the film's performance.

On the 29th, an individual referred to as 'A' raised allegations regarding Hwang's personal life via SNS, releasing call recordings and messenger conversations. Subsequently, Hwang's agency, Sam Company, claimed the individual is a "stalking crime suspect who has continuously harassed Hwang" and announced they are taking legal action.

The agency explained that the court decided on provisional measures, such as a restraining order, three times, and a summary order of a 3 million won fine was issued after stalking charges were recognized. However, as 'A' continues to make additional claims, the positions of both sides remain in a tense standoff.

'Hope' had garnered significant interest even before its release as Na's first new work in seven years and for its star-studded cast including Hwang Jung-min, Zo In Sung, and Jung Ho-yeon. With Na's characteristic dense directing, genre tension, and the intense performances of the cast, long-term success was widely predicted.

However, the summer season is more competitive than ever. Following the global franchise power of 'Spider-Man: Brand New Day' and with 'The Odyssey' also preparing for launch, audience options are expected to widen further.

Whether 'Hope,' which is on the verge of surpassing 4 million viewers, can overcome the pressure from competitors and external setbacks to regain its momentum is becoming a major point of interest in the industry this summer.