The film First Ride (directed by Nam Dae-jung) has secured theatrical releases across major Asian countries.
According to distributor Showbox on the 10th, First Ride will open on November 7 in Mongolia and Indonesia, followed by releases on November 13 in Macau, Singapore, and Hong Kong, November 14 in Taiwan, November 20 in Thailand, and November 21 in Vietnam. Additional screenings are planned in Japan, New Zealand, and Australia.
Director Nam Dae-jung holds a strong connection to the Vietnamese film market. His previous work The Great Wish was remade in Vietnam, and 30 Days became the highest-grossing Korean romantic comedy in the country. First Ride has already received positive feedback from Vietnamese distributor Mockingbird Pictures, who described it as “a film capturing a fun and quirky journey with friends, impressively portraying relatable laughter and friendship,” anticipating another K-comedy wave.
Japanese distributor The Klockworx called it “the vitamin-like comedy film we’ve been waiting for,” while Hong Kong’s Megaton Entertainment praised its casting and relatability: “Everyone has gone through bold experiences in their twenties, sometimes regretfully. We hope to experience a fresh chemistry never seen before with this refreshing casting.”
First Ride follows five friends — Taek-jung (Kang Ha-neul), the determined one; Do-jin (Kim Young-kwang), the bright one; Yeon-min (Cha Eun-woo), the handsome one; Geum-bok (Kang Young-seok), the one who sleeps with his eyes open; and Ok-sim (Han Sun-hwa), the lovable one — as they embark on their first overseas trip together. The film was released in Korea last month and has drawn 590,000 viewers to date.