The First Ride (Korean:퍼스트 라이드) is a 2025 South Korean adventure drama film written and directed by Nam Dae-joong. The film, starring Kang Ha-neul, Kim Young-kwang, Cha Eun-woo, Kang Young-seok, and Han Sun-hwa, depicts the unpredictable events that unfold as a group of childhood friends goes on its first dream trip abroad. It was released theatrically on October 29, 2025 in South Korea.
Plot
Tae-jung, Do-jin, Yeon-min, and Geum-bok have been close friends since early childhood. While in high school, Tae-jung achieves a perfect score on the national college entrance examination, and the four friends obtain their parents' permission to take a graduation trip to Thailand, which is also meant to be their last chance to travel together before Yeon-min emigrates abroad. However, after missing the airport bus, they fail to catch their flight and the trip is canceled.
Ten years later, Tae-jung, who has long aspired to become president, is working as a parliamentary aide while maintaining his political ambitions. Do-jin, who has been receiving treatment for a psychiatric illness that developed after high school, shows signs of improvement and suggests that they finally take the trip they were unable to make years earlier. Geum-bok, who is preparing to formally enter monastic life, also wishes for one last act of freedom before ordination. Tae-jung agrees to join them, promising to return before an upcoming party convention, and the group departs for Pattaya during the Songkran music festival. They are joined by a dakimakura representing Yeon-min, who had emigrated to New Zealand, and by Ok-sim, a friend of Tae-jung's younger sister who has an unrequited crush on him.
Shortly after arriving in Thailand, the group meets Tai Park, who has come to drive them to their accommodation. On the way, a traffic accident occurs involving another vehicle, leading to an argument. When Tae-jung attempts to intervene, Tai Park suddenly punches Tae-jung, knocking him unconscious. Tai Park flees into the sea and the police arrive. After learning that the vehicle Tai Park was driving was stolen, the group is taken to the police station. With assistance from the Korean embassy, they are soon released and proceed to their lodging.
Do-jin's mental condition deteriorates during the trip, causing repeated conflicts and disturbances. When Tae-jung tries to retrieve Do-jin's medication at a nightclub, an altercation with patrons leads to police intervention, during which an officer mistakenly tasers Ok-sim. Footage of the incident reaches South Korea, prompting Tae-jung's superior, Assemblyman Nam Joong-dae, to reprimand him. Tae-jung subsequently clashes with his friends, particularly over Yeon-min's dakimakura. Do-jin accuses him of having abandoned Yeon-min in the past to protect his own future. The two eventually reconcile.
Despite the earlier chaos, the group enjoys the Songkran music festival. Later, while drinking with Sylvia, a Korean bartender they befriended during the trip, they lose consciousness and awaken in an illegal organ-harvesting facility. Ok-sim, who had been arrested separately for failing to pay at a hotel restaurant, recognizes Sylvia on a wanted poster at the police station and claims to know her whereabouts. By leading the police to Sylvia, Ok-sim manages to rescue her friends before the operation is carried out. As the facility burns during the escape, Do-jin insists on retrieving Yeon-min's dakimakura, causing another confrontation. It is revealed that the real reason the friends never went on their high school trip was not because they missed the bus, but because Yeon-min had died in an ensuing traffic accident. Do-jin's illness stems from guilt over abandoning Yeon-min, who was severely injured and unable to move after the crash, out of fear instead of helping him. Unable to let Yeon-min go, Do-jin breaks down, prompting Tae-jung to re-enter the facility to retrieve the dakimakura.
The group rushes to the airport but arrives too late to board their flight. Tae-jung despairs, believing he will miss the party convention, but Ok-sim intervenes by stopping the plane on the runway, allowing them to board in time. After returning to South Korea, the friends gather at Yeon-min's grave to share memories. Tae-jung successfully delivers his speech, helping Assemblyman Nam become party leader. Do-jin attends a job interview at a travel agency. Ok-sim is briefly detained by Thai authorities due to the airport incident but is released through Tae-jung's diplomatic efforts. On the day of her return to Korea, Tae-jung meets Ok-sim at the airport and accepts the ring she had previously given him.
On July 28, 2025, the first promotional image was released, confirming an October theatrical release. On September 12, 2025, the release date of October 29 was announced along with a new poster. Character posters and teaser videos were released on September 18, 2025.[citation needed] Additional posters and the official trailer were released on September 26, 2025.
Release
The First Ride was released in South Korean theaters on October 29, 2025, by Showbox.
A special premiere screening took place on October 20, 2025, at the Ewha Womans University auditorium in Seoul.
According to distributor Showbox, the film opened in Mongolia and Indonesia on November 7, followed by Macao, Singapore, and Hong Kong on November 13, Taiwan on November 14, Thailand on November 20, and Vietnam on November 21. Malaysia followed on November 13, while the Philippines received the film on December 10 through Purple Plan. Australia and New Zealand followed in November 2025.
Theatrical distribution in Cambodia, Brunei, Laos, and Myanmar was also confirmed. The theatrical release in Japan is scheduled for September 25, 2026.
It is scheduled to be screened as part of the non-competitive feature film selection at the 4th Korean Film Festival Brazil (KOFF 2026), which will be held in several Brazilian cities from August to October 2026.
Home media
The film became available for digital purchase and rental (VOD) in South Korea on December 4, 2025, through IPTV services, digital cable TV, and various OTT platforms, including Wavve, Watcha, Coupang Play, Apple TV, Google TV, and YouTube. In Taiwan, The First Ride was added to the OTT platform friDay Video (friDay影音) on February 14, 2026. It was also made available on Hami Video, LINE TV, and Chunghwa Telecom MOD. In Indonesia, the film was made available on Vidio, while Viu Indonesia announced that it would be available on the platform in August 2026. In Vietnam, the film was listed on VieON under the local title Anh Trai Say Xe. In Thailand, Viu scheduled the film to stream on September 13, 2026, at 10:00 p.m.
A limited-edition Blu-ray was released by NOVA Media on July 31, 2026.
Television
The film had its South Korean television premiere on OCN on August 21, 2026. It was scheduled to air on tvN Movies in Indonesia and Malaysia on September 12, 2026.
Box office
The film was released on October 29, 2025 on 1,227 screens.
It grossed US$4,660,158 from 742,535 admissions. The film's target break-even point was 1,600,000 admissions.
↑Jang Ju-yeon (April 3, 2025). "[단독] 김영광·강영석·한선화, 차은우 스크린 주연작 합류…'퍼스트 라이드' 출연"[[Exclusive] Kim Young-kwang, Kang Young-seok, and Han Sun-hwa join Cha Eun-woo in a lead role in "First Ride."]. Daily Sports (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved July 31, 2025.
12Choi, Yi-jeong (April 10, 2025). 강하늘-김영광-차은우-강영석-한선화 뭉쳤다..'퍼스트 라이드' 캐스팅 [공식][Kang Ha-neul, Kim Young-kwang, Cha Eun-woo, Kang Young-seok, and Han Sun-hwa join forces for "First Ride" [Official]]. Osen (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved April 10, 2025.
↑Jeong, Yu-jin (July 28, 2025). 강하늘·차은우·한선화 '퍼스트 라이드', 10월 개봉 확정…다섯 절친[Kang Ha-neul, Cha Eun-woo, Han Sun-hwa 'First Ride', confirmed for release in October... Five close friends]. News 1 (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved July 28, 2025.
↑Kim Yu-jin (July 30, 2025). 어제 삭발 공개 차은우 오늘 군대가는데‥영화 ‘퍼스트 라이드’ 10월 극장 개봉[Cha Eun-woo, who shaved his head yesterday, is enlisting in the military today. The movie "The First Ride" will be released in theaters in October.]. Newsen (in Korean). Retrieved July 31, 2025.
↑"강하늘·김영광·차은우, '퍼스트 라이드' 출연 확정"[Kang Ha-neul, Kim Young-kwang, and Cha Eun-woo confirmed to appear in 'The First Ride']. The Fact (in Korean). April 10, 2025. Retrieved July 28, 2026.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
↑"5월, 칸, 발견의 즐거움: 절반 지난 칸영화제- 황금종려상 향방 예측부터 두드러지는 공통적 경향성까지"[May, Cannes, the joy of discovery: halfway through the Cannes Film Festival – from predictions for the Palme d'Or to noticeable common trends]. Cine21 (in Korean). Naver. May 30, 2025. Retrieved July 28, 2026.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
↑"강하늘·차은우·한선화 '퍼스트 라이드', 10월 개봉 확정…다섯 절친"[Kang Ha-neul, Cha Eun-woo, and Han Sun-hwa's 'The First Ride' confirmed for an October release]. News1 (in Korean). July 28, 2025. Retrieved July 28, 2026.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
↑"강하늘→차은우 뭉쳐야 웃긴다..'퍼스트 라이드' 10월 29일 개봉 [무비타이밍]"[Kang Ha-neul and Cha Eun-woo need to team up for a more entertaining film. "The First Ride" opens October 29 [Movie Timing]]. Star News (in Korean). September 12, 2025. Retrieved July 28, 2026.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
↑"강하늘·차은우 '퍼스트 라이드', 초심으로 돌아간 코미디 약속"[Kang Ha-neul and Cha Eun-woo's 'The First Ride', a comedy promise of returning to the beginning]. The Fact (in Korean). September 26, 2025. Retrieved July 28, 2026.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
↑Kim Na-yeon (September 12, 2025). "강하늘→차은우 뭉쳐야 웃긴다..'퍼스트 라이드' 10월 29일 개봉 [무비타이밍]"[Kang Ha-neul and Cha Eun-woo need to team up for a more entertaining film. "First Ride" opens October 29th [Movie Timing]]. Star News (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved September 15, 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
↑"[일반][쇼박스] 영화 <퍼스트 라이드> 이화여대 시사회 초대"[[General] [Showbox] Invitation to the Ewha Womans University preview of the film The First Ride]. Ewha Womans University (in Korean). October 13, 2025. Retrieved September 10, 2026.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
↑"강하늘→한선화, 3천석 대규모 쇼케이스 성료..제대로 터졌다(퍼스트 라이드)"[Kang Ha-neul to Han Sun-hwa wrap a 3,000-seat showcase for The First Ride]. The Korea Daily (in Korean). October 23, 2025. Retrieved September 10, 2026.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
↑"코미디 영화 '퍼스트 라이드', 오늘(4일)부터 안방에서도 만난다!"[Comedy film 'The First Ride' available at home starting today (4th)!]. NBN News (in Korean). December 4, 2025. Retrieved July 28, 2026.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
↑"'퍼스트 라이드', 오늘(4일) VOD 서비스 시작…누적 관객 수→손익분기점?"['The First Ride' VOD service starts today (4th)... Cumulative audience → break-even point?]. Topstarnews (in Korean). December 4, 2025. Retrieved July 28, 2026.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
↑Choi, Jae-wook (November 9, 2025). '프레데터:죽음의 땅', 4일 연속 흥행 1위! 적수가 없다['Predator: Death Zone', #1 at the box office for 4 consecutive days! It has no rivals.]. Money Today (in Korean). Retrieved July 28, 2026.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
↑Ji, Hyung-jun (June 8, 2026). [사진]한선화, 촬영감독이 뽑은 인기상[[Photo] Han Sun-hwa, Popularity Award Chosen By The Cinematographers]. Osen (in Korean). Retrieved June 8, 2026– via Naver.
↑"엑스러브·장민호·차은우·진, '메가챔프어워즈'를 빛낸 얼굴들 [종합]"[XLOV, Jang Min-ho, Cha Eun-woo, Jin shine at the Mega Champ Awards [Comprehensive]]. X. iMBC Entertainment. January 11, 2026. Retrieved July 28, 2026.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
