Yeon Sang-ho’s ‘Paradise Lost’ sells to 118 countries ahead of Hawai‘i festival premiere
CJ ENM says international sales of the ‘Train to Busan’ director’s new thriller have already exceeded its net production budget, with a U.S. festival debut set for November.
Yeon Sang-ho’s psychological thriller ‘Paradise Lost’ has been sold to 118 countries, according to distributor CJ ENM, ahead of its scheduled U.S. premiere at the Hawai‘i International Film Festival on November 1 and 4, 2026. The ‘Train to Busan’ director’s new film is also due in South Korean cinemas on October 21.
CJ ENM says revenue from international sales has already exceeded the film’s net production budget. That is a sales milestone before the film’s wider theatrical rollout, though the figure and budget comparison come from the company.
Where ‘Paradise Lost’ is headed
CJ ENM is handling international sales, with buyers including Twin in Japan, The Jokers Films in France and Well Go USA in North America, Deadline reported. The Hawai‘i screenings are part of the festival’s Spotlight on Korea programme; this year’s festival runs from October 21 through November 15 across the Hawaiian Islands.
After the planned South Korean opening, theatrical releases are scheduled for Taiwan on October 23, Singapore on November 5, North America and Vietnam on November 6, and Indonesia on November 13. Well Go USA is set to release the film in North America, according to Deadline.
What the film is about
Kim Hyun-joo plays Ryu So-young, whose son disappeared nine years earlier when a bus carrying children to camp vanished. Long presumed dead, he returns home. Bae Hyeon-seong plays the son, Ryu Sun-woo, in his first lead role in a feature film, Variety reported.
CJ ENM described the film as a story about family and motherhood. ‘These universal emotions are resonating across cultures and generating strong interest in international markets,’ the company said in a statement quoted by Deadline.
How it played at Toronto and Busan
The Hawai‘i dates follow screenings in the Special Presentations section at Toronto and a Gala Presentation at Busan. Variety reported that all four official Toronto screenings sold out, covering roughly 2,300 seats, and that all four Busan screenings sold out too. The U.S. festival premiere will give the film another showcase before its scheduled North American theatrical release.
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Sources and context
- ‘Train to Busan’ Director Yeon Sang-ho’s ‘Paradise Lost’ Clinches 118-Country Sales Ahead of Hawai‘i Festival U.S. BowVariety
- Yeon Sang-ho’s ‘Paradise Lost’ Sells To 118 Territories; Sets U.S. Premiere At Hawaii International Film FestivalDeadline
AI-assisted article checked against the listed sources. NewsJaws did not conduct interviews or attend the reported events.