'Hope' goes viral after Jungkook says, "I watched it in 4DX, and it was insane"

BTS's Jungkook has sent ripples through the film industry with a brief review of the movie 'Hope'. Jungkook recently shared his thoughts on his social media story, stating, "Hope is fun." During a subsequent live broadcast, he revealed that he visited the theater alone late at night to watch the film, specifically choosing a 4DX screening to fully immerse himself in the movie's sense of speed.

During the live broadcast, Jungkook vividly described the film's tension. "It's chaotic, and there are so many fun parts," he said, adding that he found himself clenching his fists during the chase scenes. He further highlighted the film's characteristics, noting, "The sense of realism and speed is insane." Director Na Hong-jin responded to the post by regramming it on his own social media. This has sparked a movement within the fandom, with fans following Jungkook's lead, further fueling the excitement at the box office.

Na Hong-jin's Return: Holding the Top Spot for 14 Consecutive Days with 3.61 Million Viewers

Jungkook's mention has provided additional momentum to the already successful 'Hope'. On the 28th, 'Hope' claimed the number one spot at the box office, drawing in 100,148 viewers in a single day. This marks its 14th consecutive day at the top since its release. The cumulative audience has reached 3,619,234. Since its release on July 15, the film surpassed 3 million viewers in just 11 days, making it the fastest-attracting Korean film released this year.

This new work from director Na Hong-jin, his first in 10 years since 'The Wailing', features a star-studded cast including Hwang Jung-min, Zo In-sung, Jung Ho-yeon, and Eum Moon-suk. The film follows the chaos that ensues when Beom-seok, the head of the Hopo Port branch in the DMZ, receives news of a tiger appearing in the village. The film continues to generate buzz online through various interpretations, Meme, and AI-generated prequel videos. The AI-produced 'Hope' prequel and the interview video with the alien Bamigir have garnered attention for their high quality. Renowned figures including directors Bong Joon-ho, Lee Chang-dong, and Jang Jae-hyun, as well as webtoon artist Kang Full and Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Choi Hwi-young, have also left reviews after watching.

Third Week Facing Spider-Man: The Crucial Battle for the 5 Million Mark

As 'Hope' enters its third week of release, it faces a new competitor: 'Spider-Man: Brand New Day', which premiered on the 29th. While the new release is showing strong momentum in current reservation rates and volumes, 'Hope' aims to surpass the 5 million viewer break-even point through long-term screenings. The film must maintain its first-place position to secure a gap from 'Spider-Man', pass the 4 million mark, and establish a foothold toward the 5 million milestone.

The release of 'The Odyssey' is also scheduled for next week. The performance over the next two weeks will be the watershed moment that determines the scale of its success. Currently, 'MINIONS & MONSTERS' holds second place with a cumulative 606,430 viewers, followed by Disney's 'Moana' in third with 939,876 viewers. Disney/Pixar's 'Toy Story 5' and 'The Eyes' starring Shin Min-a follow in fourth and fifth place, respectively. Director Na Hong-jin and lead actors Hwang Jung-min, Zo In-sung, Jung Ho-yeon, and Eum Moon-suk will meet audiences again this weekend through stage greetings.

The 'Jungkook Pick' Effect: Fandom Movement and Expanding Interpretations

Jungkook's personal taste, often referred to as the 'Jungkook Pick', has recently expanded its influence to the movie theaters. Online, posts such as "I was debating whether to watch it, but since Jungkook said it's fun, I definitely have to see it" have been appearing. Viewers who have seen the film are offering diverse interpretations, searching for hidden meanings planted by the director or focusing on contexts not explicitly shown in the movie. Memes and parodies depicting specific scenes are spreading rapidly across online communities.