The sci-fi thriller 'Hope' from South Korean director Na Hong-jin received a lengthy standing ovation at its premiere in the Cannes Film Festival competition on Sunday evening.
The two-hour-and-forty-minute film, which features an alien invasion in a remote South Korean village, drew enthusiastic applause during multiple action sequences. Audience members remained on their feet for approximately seven minutes after the screening concluded at the Grand Palais.
Initial reactions on X highlight a seven-minute standing ovation for Na Hong-jin's 'Hope' at its Cannes premiere, with praise for its fun, adventurous genre elements and strong performances; some users noted mixed or skeptical views on its storytelling and world-building, describing it as their least favorite film at the festival so far.
Michael Fassbender and Alicia Vikander take in the ovation for Na Hong-jin’s audacious alien monster movie Hope. Film also stars Hwang Jung-min, Zo In-sung and Hoeyon #Cannes pic.twitter.com/MYO39Znwz1
— Deadline (@DEADLINE) 17 Mei 2026
According to @DEADLINE, Na Hong-jin’s HOPE received a seven-minute standing ovation at Cannes, becoming one of this year’s most applauded premieres at the festival. pic.twitter.com/NkD4afU5Qb
— Taylor Russell Details (@TayRussDetails) 17 Mei 2026
#Hope: LOCUROTE. Si li compres l’absurditat que planteja Na Hong-Jin, espectacle disfrutoníssim. La primera hora és història del cine. Fassbender i Vikander antològics. Sí a tot. #Cannes2026 pic.twitter.com/p0nxt0GswW
— Marta Ferrer (@marta_ferrerg) 17 Mei 2026
Despite its impressive production values, Na Hong-jin’s almost-3-hours-long monster slasher HOPE is lazy in story-telling and weak in world-making and not even funny. Still, clearly so many people here at Cannes got a kick out of it.
— Arash Azizi آرش عزیزی (@arash_tehran) 17 Mei 2026
My worst film at Cannes so far. pic.twitter.com/EigAZ3S6TM
HOPE [Na Hong-jin, 2026] Cannes rarely puts genre movies in Competition but this is a lot of genre. Taut slapstick alien-invasion chase thriller, doofily allegorical mo-cap epic. Everyone in this movie is indestructible and the ending raises many, many questions. Not boring!
— Mark Asch (@MarkAschParody) 17 Mei 2026
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