The Hidden Gem That Shot to No. 1 Right After Landing on Netflix

A Korean movie has skyrocketed to the top of Netflix Korea’s “Today’s Top 10 Movies” list almost immediately after its release, finally gaining the recognition it missed during its theatrical run.

The film is Hopeless (Hwaran), a gripping story about a young boy, Kim Yeon-gyu (Hong Xa-bin), who seeks to escape his grim reality but ends up entangled in a dangerous world alongside Chi-geon (Song Joong-ki), a mid-level gang boss.

As of 11 AM on the 6th, Hopeless ranked first in Netflix Korea’s “Today’s Top 10 Movies” chart, surpassing notable titles like Love’s Heart Chu Ping and Carry On. Here’s the full list of the day’s top movies:

1. Hopeless

2. Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit

3. Mercy

4. Love’s Heart Chu Ping

5. Carry On

6. Pilot

7. Escape

8. She Died (Gone Girl)

9. Uprising

10. The Killer

Despite receiving little attention during its initial theatrical release, Hopeless has found new life on the global platform Netflix, reaching a much wider audience.

The film follows 18-year-old Yeon-gyu (Hong Xa-bin), who dreams of escaping his abusive stepfather and starting anew in the idyllic Netherlands (referred to as Hwaran in Korean). However, his harsh reality pulls him into a perilous relationship with Chi-geon (Song Joong-ki), who views the world as hell and survives by his own rules. As Yeon-gyu begins a new life in Chi-geon’s gang, he descends deeper into danger, grappling with the cost of survival.

The title Hopeless carries dual meaning, symbolizing both Yeon-gyu’s dream of a better life and the chaos and misfortune that define his world.

Directed and written by Kim Chang-hoon, the film features a stellar cast, including Song Joong-ki, Hong Xa-bin, Kim Hyeong-seo (BIBI), Jung Jae-kwang, Jung Man-sik, and Kim Jong-soo. Song Joong-ki’s decision to appear in the film without a fee, reportedly to prevent budget constraints from affecting its direction, has garnered significant attention.

Newcomer Hong Xa-bin impressed audiences with his strong acting as Yeon-gyu, while singer-turned-actress BIBI portrayed Yeon-gyu’s sister, Ha-yan, a performance that earned her the Best New Actress award in the film category at the 60th Baeksang Arts Awards.

Here is the character commentary video featuring the leads of Hopeless (Hwaran).

Hopeless struggled to gain traction during its theatrical release in 2023. According to the Korean Film Council's integrated ticketing system, the movie drew only 264,050 viewers, falling far short of its break-even point of 1 million. Considering its production cost of ₩4 billion, the box office result was a painful blow.

However, Hopeless received international acclaim when it was invited to the "Un Certain Regard" section at the 76th Cannes Film Festival, where it was introduced to global audiences. Praised for its artistry and direction, the film gained renewed attention after being added to Netflix.

The late success of Hopeless on Netflix highlights the power of diverse distribution channels in extending a film’s lifespan. While it failed to perform at the box office, its OTT success serves as a testament to the enduring value of quality storytelling, underscoring how platforms like Netflix can breathe new life into underappreciated works.