Korean sci-fi thriller ‘HOPE’ set for Pakistan release on October 23

South Korean filmmaker Na Hong-jin’s much-anticipated science-fiction thriller HOPE is set to release in Pakistan on October 23, 2026, bringing Korean production to local cinema audiences as it continues its international theatrical rollout.

The film, which is being brought to Pakistan by HUM Films, blends science fiction, suspense and monster-horror elements, has attracted international attention following its world premiere at the 2026 Cannes Film Festival. It features an ensemble cast led by Hwang Jung-min, Zo In-sung and Jung Ho-yeon, widely recognised for her role in the global hit series Squid Game. The international cast also includes Alicia Vikander, Michael Fassbender, Taylor Russell and Cameron Britton.

Written and directed by Na Hong-jin, known for Korean thrillers including The Chaser and The Wailing, HOPE marks an ambitious expansion into large-scale science fiction. The film is set in the fictional port town of Hope Harbor, near the Korean Demilitarized Zone, where the arrival of a mysterious presence disrupts the lives of local residents and plunges the community into an extraordinary crisis.

The film has also been scheduled for theatrical releases in markets including the United Kingdom, Sweden, Denmark, Russia and India.

International release and audience expectations

HOPE premiered in the main competition at Cannes in May 2026 before opening theatrically in South Korea on July 15. The film subsequently began expanding into overseas markets, with its international release schedule extending through the autumn.

In the United States, the Korean-language film has reportedly generated more than USD7 million at the box office, making it the highest-grossing Korean film in the market this year, according to Variety India. The film’s reported commercial performance adds to expectations surrounding its overseas theatrical prospects.

For Pakistan, the October 23 release offers local audiences an opportunity to experience a major Korean production on the big screen. While a Pakistan-specific press release and further details about local screenings have yet to be provided, the confirmed release date places HOPE among the international titles arriving in cinemas this month.

With its combination of an established Korean filmmaker, an internationally recognised cast and a science-fiction premise centred on a mysterious threat, HOPE is preparing to bring its cinematic spectacle to Pakistani theatres later this month.