Hope review roundup: Na Hong-jin's monster epic is thrilling, bonkers and uneven
Hope, the first film in a decade from The Wailing director Na Hong-jin, sends a small Korean town's police chief up against a rampaging creature. Critics call its daylight action scenes some of the best in years, though many feel the second half loses its way.
The story (no spoilers)
In a small, ageing village near the Korean Demilitarised Zone, livestock start turning up dead, and the overstretched police chief, Ko Bum-seok (Hwang Jung-min), assumes he is looking for a bear or a tiger.
Then something enormous tears through the town in broad daylight. As the village becomes a war zone, Bum-seok and Ko Sung-ki (Zo In-sung), who leads a group of local hunters, try to track the creature down, and discover that the threat is far stranger than they imagined. Jung Ho-yeon, Michael Fassbender, Alicia Vikander, Taylor Russell and Cameron Britton co-star.
Where to watch or download
Links go to official services only. Streaming services let subscribers download titles in their app to watch offline, on supported plans; stores let you buy a copy to download and keep. Availability differs by country and changes over time (checked 18 October 2026). ElysiumHub does not host files or link to unofficial downloads.
The verdict
A must for fans of big, wild genre cinema like The Host or Train to Busan, and worth renting now that it is on digital. At over two and a half hours, it asks for patience in its messier second half, so watch it on the biggest screen you have.
- 79%Rotten TomatoesTomatometer, Certified Fresh, 177 reviews, 18 Oct 2026
- 67MetacriticMetascore, 37 critic reviews, 18 Oct 2026
- 77%RT audiencePopcornmeter, 500+ verified ratings, 18 Oct 2026
What critics say
“A wildly entertaining assault of turbo-charged thrills.”
“The CGI may be third-rate, but Hope has some of the most exhilaratingly sustained action scenes I've seen in years.”
“In the first act, Na goes absolutely wild with some of the best displays of frenetic monster movie-making since Steven Spielberg's Jaws and Bong Joon Ho's The Host.”
“Na struggles to stitch the two threads together, cross-cutting too rarely to maintain momentum and cohesion”
What works
- Spectacular, sustained action and chase scenes shot in broad daylight.
- Virtuoso camerawork, a pounding score and breakneck pacing in the first half.
- Hwang Jung-min leads a lively, colourful ensemble.
What doesn't
- Critics felt it loses its way once the story splits into two threads.
- The creature effects disappointed several reviewers.
- Its long running time and late world-building test patience.
Hope premiered in competition at the Cannes Film Festival in May 2026, opened in South Korea on 15 July and reached US cinemas through Neon on 9 September. It arrived to rent or buy online on 13 October. It is the first film in a decade from Na Hong-jin, the director of The Chaser, The Yellow Sea and The Wailing.
What critics liked
The action earns rapturous notices. The Hollywood Reporter's David Rooney called it a wildly entertaining assault of turbo-charged thrills, noting that it is a rare action thriller set almost entirely in daylight. NPR's Justin Chang found its action scenes among the most exhilarating he had seen in years, comparing a chase to Bullitt, Mad Max and a Looney Tunes cartoon rolled into one, and Gizmodo's Isaiah Colbert compared its opening to Jaws and The Host.
Where it falls short
The second half divides critics. Time Out's Phil de Semlyen, who gave it 3 out of 5, felt it loses its way when part of the story moves into the forest and Na struggles to keep the two threads together. Several reviewers were also disappointed by the look of the creatures, and The Film Verdict found the late world-building poorly explained.
The performances
Hwang Jung-min anchors the film as the harried police chief, with Zo In-sung and Jung Ho-yeon in strong support. The casting of Michael Fassbender and Alicia Vikander in a Korean genre epic is one of its most talked-about surprises.
Should you watch?
With a Certified Fresh 79% Tomatometer, Hope is a bold, divisive ride. If you love monster movies, critics say the first half alone is worth the rental.
Quick answers
- Is Hope worth watching?
- A must for fans of big, wild genre cinema like The Host or Train to Busan, and worth renting now that it is on digital. At over two and a half hours, it asks for patience in its messier second half, so watch it on the biggest screen you have.
- What are the review scores for Hope?
- Rotten Tomatoes: 79% (Tomatometer, Certified Fresh, 177 reviews, 18 Oct 2026). Metacritic: 67 (Metascore, 37 critic reviews, 18 Oct 2026). RT audience: 77% (Popcornmeter, 500+ verified ratings, 18 Oct 2026).
- Where can I watch Hope?
- Official options: Fandango at Home (rent and buy to keep; US). Availability varies by country and changes over time.
- How long is Hope?
- Hope runs 156 minutes (2 hr 36 min).
- When was Hope released?
- Hope was released on 9 September 2026 by Neon.
- Who is in Hope?
- It is directed by Na Hong-jin and stars Hwang Jung-min, Zo In-sung, Jung Ho-yeon, Michael Fassbender, Alicia Vikander, Taylor Russell and Cameron Britton.
Sources
This roundup summarises the reviews and reporting below. Follow the links for the full pieces.
- 'Hope' Review: Na Hong-jin's Wildly Entertaining Korean Monster Epic · The Hollywood Reporter
- 'Hope' review: Na Hong-jin's alien invasion film mixes art and schlock · NPR
- 'Hope' Is a Confoundingly Off-the-Rails Sci-Fi Spectacle Destined for Cult Classic Status · Gizmodo
- Hope review · Time Out
- Hope (2026) · Rotten Tomatoes
- Hope · Metacritic
- Hope (2026 film) · Wikipedia
ElysiumHub Screen Desk roundups summarise published reviews and reporting, and are written with AI assistance. Scores belong to the sites that publish them. Read our editorial standards. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.