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South Korea’s Plus M Entertainment arrives at the 2025 Berlin European Film Market (EFM) with a star-studded lineup led by “Squid Game 2” actor Kang Ha-neul in crime thriller “Yadang: The Snitch” and an international cast including Michael Fassbender, Alicia Vikander, Hwang Jung-min, Zo In-sung, and “Squid Game” actor Hoyeon in Na Hong-jin’s “Hope.”

“Yadang: The Snitch,” from the producers behind record-breaking hit “12:12 The Day” and “Inside Men,” follows professional informants called “yadang” who provide covert information about the drug world to prosecutors and police. When a drug bust at a party attended by high-profile second-generation VIPs leads to a dangerous conspiracy, a seasoned yadang must fight to survive. The film pairs Kang with “Exhuma” star Yoo Hai-jin and “The World of the Married” actor Park Hae-joon.

“Train to Busan” director Yeon Sang-ho returns with “The Ugly,” a mystery thriller starring “Harbin” lead Park Jeong-min and “Parasyte: The Grey” actor Kwon Hae-hyo,...

With Bong Joon-ho, Na Hong-jin, Pak Chan-wook, Takashi Miike, Park Hoon-jung having new movies in 2025, the year is already shaping up to be a great one, perhaps even signaling some sort of come-back for Korean cinema. At the same time, the directorial debut of Shu Qi, the return of Bi Gan and Edwin, and a number of rather interesting anime movies have us all excited here in Amp. Without further ado, here is a countdown of 35 films that are easily described as much anticipated, in random order.

1. All Before You by Annemarie Jacir (Palestine)

Yusuf spends his days moving between his farming village, Al Basma, and his work in the city of Jerusalem, enthusiastically working to find his place in the changing, modern world. Young and restless, he’s more interested in getting away from the confines of village life than becoming involved in its problems. Yusuf’s story is...

The Wailing (2016) directed by Na Hong-jin, features an ensemble cast led by Kwak Do-won as Jong-Doo, Hwang Jung-min as Il-gwang, Jun Kunimura, Chun Woo-hee as Moo-Myung, Kim Hwan-hee as Jyo-Jin, and more. The film is the story of Jong-Goo, a police officer whose life takes a turn when strange deaths start to plague his village, with rumors pointing toward an old Japanese man.

The Wailing (2016) Plot Summary & Movie Synopsis: What is Happening in the Gokseong Village?

The story begins in a small village in South Korea called Gokseong, a quiet place with a tiny population. Jong-Goo, a local police officer, wakes up early one morning after hearing about a death in a nearby house. After dropping his daughter off at school, he heads straight to the scene. There, he finds the bodies of a woman and her husband, who were killed by one of their friends but something about the...

One of the darkest chapters in South Korean history is chronicled in “12.12: The Day,” a riveting account of the coup d’état of the 1979 coup d’état that followed the Oct. 26 assassination of authoritarian president Park Chung-hee. Meticulously written and very well-performed by a top-notch cast including Hwang Jung-min (“Deliver Us From Evil”), the first feature from director and co-writer Kim Sung-su since 2016 is an exciting and highly suspenseful political action-thriller that ventures where no South Korean feature has gone before. This forensic examination of events that dashed hopes of democratic reform and plunged the nation into eight more years of severe military rule was a smash hit in its December 2023 release in Korea. Now it marks a worthy competitor in the best international feature film Oscar race as the country’s submission in the category.

With a domestic box office gross of $91.7 million, “12.12” is of those films that serves a purpose beyond entertainment.

South Korean action comedy “Veteran”, written and directed by Ryoo Seung-wan, came out in 2015. It was a huge success which grossed over US$92M and became the all-time 5th highest-grossing film in the local cinema history. A sequel with Ryoo directing, Hwang Jung-min and Oh Dal-su reprising their roles was soon in the works, but it only hit the screens titled “I, The Executioner” nine years later.

This time around, detective Seo Do-cheol (Hwang Jung-min) and his Violent Crimes Investigation Unit members have to deal with Haechi, a serial killer and a vigilante rolled into one. Haechi only kills criminals who deserved to die, according to him anyway. Furthermore, when the judicial system fails to discipline the guilty, his punishment of these criminals has gained him a following on social media. Detective Seo is just the opposite, he believes in doing good police work and therefore he is willing to protect these kinds of criminals.

Director Kim Sung-su’s historical drama “12.12: The Day,” South Korea’s entry for the 2024 international feature Oscar race, chronicles a pivotal moment in the country’s history. The film depicts the military coup of Dec. 12, 1979, which led to an eight-year military junta.

The tense action drama features an ensemble cast including Hwang Jung-min (“Deliver Us from Evil”), Jung Woo-sung (“Asura: The City of Madness”), Lee Sung-min (“The Spy Gone North”), Park Hae-joon (“Believer”), Kang Gil-woo (Netflix’s “The Glory”), and Jung Hae-in (Netflix’s “D.P.”).

For Kim, the events depicted in the film left an indelible mark on his teenage years. “That night left a very clear memory. I was getting ready to apply for colleges that winter night when I saw in my own neighborhood an armored military vehicle passing down the street,” Kim tells Variety. “I climbed to the rooftop of my friend’s house and watched...

They seem like an ordinary married couple—she’s a detective, and he keeps their home in order. But in Mission: Cross, appearances are deceiving. Hwang Jung-min stars as Kang-moo, a devoted househusband hiding a history as a top special agent. His past catches up when a chance encounter pulls him back into danger. Now his wife Mi-sun, played by Yeom Jung-ah, must uncover her husband’s secrets while joined in a thrilling adventure.

Directed by Lee Myeong-hoon, this Korean action comedy from 2024 mixes married antics with espionage intensity. We discover that behind closed doors, nothing is as it seems. When a woman from Kang-moo’s past asks for help, he plunges back into mysteries that put loved ones at risk. Meanwhile, Mi-sun, an ace shooter, sees her easy life upended.

Through thrills, twists, and romantic comedy, Mission: Cross puts a marriage to the test. Can the truth, and possibly saved lives,...

Ryoo Seung-wan, also known as “Action Kid,” is one of the major players in the Korean film industry today. He’s most famous for directing the 5th all-time highest grossing film in South Korean cinema history, action-comedy detective film “Veteran” (2015). In more recent years, he wrote and directed the South Korean entry for Best International Film at the 94th Academy Awards, “Escape from Mogadishu” (2021) – a Korean peninsular analog to “Argo” set in Mogadishu, Somalia.

This year, Ryoo Seung-wan showed up to Toronto International Film Festival with “I, the Executioner,” the long-awaited sequel to “Veteran.” Hwang Jung-min returns as Seo Do-cheol: still a dedicated detective, but this time also an unenthused husband and even more lackluster father. Though his son is mercilessly bullied at school, Seo Do-cheol is blasé about the situation. He has other priorities at hand – such as a serial killer on the loose, a viral Internet sleuth undermining his authority,...

Lee Myung-hoon‘s debut feature “Mission: Cross” has had a bit of a rocky road to its release. Firstly confirmed for a theatrical release in January of this year, it had to be postponed indefinitely to give grieving time to actress Jeon Hye-jin, who features in a prominent role here, following the untimely passing of her husband Lee Sun-kyun. For whatever reason, that led to the cancellation of its theatrical release and Netflix picked it up for itself, premiering it worldwide on their platform.

Click on the image below to follow our Tribute to Netflix

Kang Mi-seon is an ace detective, very good at her job and respected by her colleagues. Her husband Park Kang-moo is a meek, fully domesticated househusband, who needs to pinch money out of his successful wife’s wallet. So good is he around the house that Mi-seon’s colleagues, including team leader Lee, call him Wifey Kang.

Korean crime comedy action film “I The Executioner” has amassed more than $30 million of gross revenues on its sixth day of release, making it one of the fastest movies in local history to reach that mark.

Kobis, the cinema data service operated by the Korean Film Council, reported that the film had reached 3.71 million admissions and a gross haul of $27.2 million by the evening of Tuesday, its fifth full day in cinemas.

On Wednesday morning, the film’s distributor Cj Enm said that the film’s ticket sales total had surpassed 4 million by 9am local time. That would give an estimated box office total of $30 million, that will be confirmed by independent data later in the day.

Cj Enm has not disclosed a production budget for the title, but it said that with this level of business the film has now broken even. It is not clear whether that calculation...

“I, the Executioner,” Ryoo Seung-wan’s sequel to his 2015 action-comedy “Veteran,” scales back on its predecessor’s laughs in order to focus more closely on — as well as to examine — the violence of its police protagonists. Although undoubtedly entertaining, Ryoo’s follow-up is also highly introspective, weaving a serial killer mystery that makes for a surprising mirror to the series’ lead.

Roguish detective Seo Do-cheol (Hwang Jung-min) returns in a dynamic blast of an opening salvo, as the camera weaves in and out of (and above) an illicit casino, as a police sting operation unfolds. Amusing action soon ensues, reminiscent of the first film’s zesty, high-impact sequences, and with its central conceit in tow: Seo and his returning, idiosyncratic team are either hyper-competent or bumbling fools, depending on what the script demands. Sometimes, they’re both these things at once, as the film’s prologue provides a dose of the familiar.

Several new and returning films found success at the global box office this past weekend. Tim Burton’s comedy sequel Beetlejuice Beetlejuice maintained its lead in its second week of release. The film earned an additional $80 million worldwide between Friday and Sunday. Its total global ticket sales now stand at $264 million after 10 days in theaters.

Beetlejuice Beetlejuice saw attendance drop 53% domestically but held strong internationally with a 44% decrease. The movie continues attracting large audiences worldwide. Britain remains its top market outside North America with $19 million in sales so far. Mexico and Spain have also contributed to the film’s robust global numbers. It debuted atop box office charts in both France and Germany this weekend.

The psychological horror remake Speak No Evil also premiered to solid ticket sales. Directed by James Watkins, the film stars James McAvoy and Mackenzie Davis. It generated $11.5 million in the United States and $9.3 million in...

Crime action film ‘I The Executioner” topped the South Korea cinema box office weekend with an utterly dominant $15 million haul. The session represented the first half of a long holiday in Korea.

Data from Kobis, the tracking service operated by the Korean Film Council (Kofic) showed that the film enjoyed a market share of 86% between Friday and Sunday. It was watched by 2.09 million spectators.

That represented the second biggest opening weekend score by any film this year in Korea, behind the $20.8 million attained by “The Roundup: Punishment” in late April. Nationwide, the latest weekend was the third-highest Friday-Sunday session of 2024, at $17.5 million, behind the first two weekends of release of “Punishment.”

The film known locally as “Veteran 2,” is a sequel to “Veteran,” which released in August 2015 and shares the same writer-director Ryoo Seung-wan and lead actor Hwang Jung-min as the new picture. “Veteran” earned $78.4 million from 13.4 million spectators, making...

Marking its 4th year, Actors’ House is a special event that offers an in-depth look into the works of actors who represent the contemporary film industry, sharing their candid stories. This year’s event draws attention with prominent figures’ participation, including Sul Kyung-gu, Park Boyoung, Hwang Jung-min, and Chun Woo-hee.

First, actor Sul Kyung-gu, known for his limitless transformations through various roles, will be featured at the Actors’ House. Continuously expanding his spectrum by navigating different themes, genres, and characters, Sul Kyung-gu has consistently garnered praise from audiences for his solid acting skills. Most recently, he crafted a new iconic character in the 2024 Netflix series The Whirlwind (2024). At the Actors’ House, Sul Kyung-gu is set to showcase his true essence as an actor.

Actor Park Boyoung will also meet with the audience in Busan. After skyrocketing to fame as a rising star in Chungmuro with the success of the film...

South Korea has selected historical action film 12.12.: The Day as the country’s Oscar entry for best international film.

The film was the highest-grossing film last year at the Korean box office and the decision to select it for the Oscars was a unanimous one, the Korean Film Council (Kofic) said.

Set against the backdrop of the December 1979 military coup, the film stars Hwang Jung-min, Jung Woo-sung, Lee Sung-min, Park Hae-joon and Kim Sung-kyun.

Directed by Kim Sung-su, the film was released in November last year. 12.12: The Day‘s domestic success marked the first time in four years since Parasite‘s release that a non-franchise local title crossed 12 million admissions.

12.12: The Day won the Grand Prize for Film and Best Film at Korea’s Baeksang Arts Awards. Hwang also picked up the Best Actor prize at the ceremony. Hwang played the role of Chun Doo-gwang.

The film is produced by Hive Media Corp and distributed by Plus M Entertainment.

"If the situation turns dangerous, are we allowed to response with force?" Capelight Pictures has debuted a new official US trailer for the Korean action thriller titled I, The Executioner, which will be screening at the 2024 Toronto Film Festival soon this month. It first premiered in Cannes in the Midnight section there and should get more good reviews. This is a sequel to director Ryoo Seung-wan's 2015 film titled Veteran, though with a new title for this next thriller. I, The Executioner follows detective Seo Do-cheol, head of the Violent Crime Investigation Division, as he faces a major crisis. TIFF hypes this up: "the film's critique of vigilantism and the abuse of social media and its reflection on societal disillusionment with the legal system are timely - rooted in a collective global consciousness. Spectacular action sets and carefully orchestrated editing — enhanced by the chilling sound design — offer a high level...

Kang-mu, a former agent living as a homemaker, has been hiding his past from his wife, Mi-seon, one of Seoul’s most skilled detectives. As they become entangled in a high-stakes investigation, Mi-seon’s misunderstanding about her husband’s secret threatens to break up their relationship — that is, if their mission doesn’t break them first. Written and directed by Lee Myung-hoon, the action-comedy film Mission: Crossstars Hwang Jung-min and Yum Jung-ah.

Stream it now.

Check it out at the top of this page.

A veteran officer in Seoul’s major crimes unit, Mi-seon (Yum) is known for being one of the best in her field — while her stay-at-home husband, Kang-mu (Hwang Jung-min), busies his days with meal-prepping for his wife and keeping the house in order. But Mi-seon has no idea Kang-mu is a former agent who’s been concealing his espionage past. So when he comes to the...

Mission: Cross, the Korean thriller now on Netflix, blends suspense and humor in a way that’s sure to hook you. What really sets it apart is its vibrant cast and its engaging character backgrounds. Let’s dive into the cast and character guide to explore what makes each individual stand out in the movie directed by Lee Myung Hoon.

Spoilers Ahead

Park Kang-moo

Park Kang-moo, portrayed by Hwang Jung-min, is a complex character whose journey reveals deep layers of devotion, sacrifice, and redemption. As a husband, Park Kang-moo comes across as incredibly dedicated and loving. He takes on traditional roles at home with genuine care—cooking, cleaning, and all sorts of chores. He takes care of Kang Mi-seon, who is a major detective. His actions show his unwavering support and commitment, even if it means stepping into a less glamorous role as a school van driver to contribute to their household.

Directed by Lee Myung Hoon and starring Hwang Jung-min and Yum Jung-ah, Mission: Cross is an action comedy-drama centered around a former special agent and his detective wife. Even though the premise is similar to Mr. and Mrs. Smith, the twists are interesting, the action sequences are well executed, and the comic relief works. Kang-mu was a dedicated stay-at-home husband who looked after his wife’s every need. Mi-seon was a cop who had previously won a silver medal for shooting in the Asian Games. While her husband managed the household chores, Mi-seon focused on putting the bad boys behind bars. Their opposite personalities complemented each other, and even though Mi-seon pretended not to care much about Kang-moo, deep down she loved him.

Spoiler Alert

Why did Kang-mu decide to help Hee-ju?

Kang-mu used to spend his mornings driving a school bus and the rest of his day managing his household chores.

I suppose it is the year of PG action comedies, with the likes of The Fall Guy making huge box office numbers for sheer giddy fun. If you read the script of the South Korean action-comedy Mission: Cross, you’d think it was yet another American spy film that would probably star an actor who should be retiring the action roles and playing dads instead, alongside a young and attractive female lead, who could probably be his daughter. I’m obviously joking, but there’s a certain pattern we’ve all observed, and it’s hard not to deny that Mission: Cross is very run-of-the-mill in that way, but it isn’t American, and that’s what makes all the difference. Before you come at me, I’m not a hater, maybe just a little bit biased.

Mission: Cross follows the thrilling journey of Kang-Moo, a former secret...

“Mission Cross” is a Korean comedy thriller starring Hwang Jung-min and Yum Jung-ah. It is directed by Lee Myeong-hoon.

Combining elements of comedy and thriller, “Mission Cross” turns the mundane life of a married couple upside down in a style reminiscent of the iconic “Mr. & Mrs. Smith” (2005). This film manages to inject new life into the typical boring marriage trope, transforming it into an action-packed thriller with role reversals that are both amusing and captivating.

While it may not break new ground, the film’s greatest strength lies in its humor, which elicited genuine laughter from me through clever lines and engaging dialogue. This particular brand of humor is a staple of the Korean film industry, and although the production values may not be top-tier, the entertainment quotient is undeniably high.

Plot Overview

Meet Mi-sun, a formidable police officer who excels at taking down the most dangerous criminals in Seoul.

Ryoo Seung-wan has been a pillar of the South Korean film industry for over 20 years, respected there for his keen social observation and thrilling action. But Europe’s great film festivals have feted him conspicuously less than some of his more internationally well-known peers. The Cannes Film Festival recently took a step toward correcting that record in 2024.

Ryoo, 50, made his first and only trip to Cannes back in 2005 with the gritty boxing drama Crying Fist, co-starring his brother, Ryoo Seung-bum, today a major star, and Korean cinema icon Choi Min-sik, then riding high thanks to his iconic role in Park Chan-wook’s Old Boy (2003).

“Crying Fist was very well received, but since we were in the Directors’ Fortnight section of the festival, it wasn’t screened in Cannes’ Grand Lumière Theater,” Ryoo recalls. “Back then, I was much younger and everything just felt fresh, fun and exciting. But I remember...

Even eight years since its release and with a fair few recent releases pushing for its spot, none have been able to push Ryoo Seung-wan's “Veteran” out of the top 5 highest grossing Korean films (by attendance) of all time. Talk of a part 2 has floated since the feature's immense success and the moment is finally here when it is gearing up for its world premiere, with the official title it borrows from Tai Kato's 1968 Japanese classic “I, the Executioner”.

Synopsis

Detective Seo Do-cheol and his Major Crime Investigation Division tirelessly track down criminals day and night, often at the expense of their personal lives.

When the murder of a professor reveals links to past cases, suspicions of a serial killer arise, plunging the country into turmoil. As Major Crimes delves into the investigation, the killer taunts them by publicly releasing a teaser online, indicating the next victim, and intensifying the chaos.

"Catching perps is my job." Cj Entertainment in Korea has unveiled the first look trailer for a Korean action thriller titled I, The Executioner. This is actually a sequel to director Ryoo Seung-wan's 2015 film titled Veteran, though with a new title this time. It's premiering at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival this month in the Midnight Screening section where they always show a few Korean action films every year. The veteran detectives renowned for always getting their man are back in action!" I, The Executioner follows detective Seo Do-cheol, head of the Violent Crime Investigation Division, as he faces a major crisis. The film promises to be an intense thriller, blending action and suspense. Starring Jung Hae-in, Hwang Jung-min, Jang Yoon-ju, and Oh Dal-su. There's only 60 seconds of footage in this trailer, but damn does it look badass! Fights in the rain, on stairs, all over the city. Looks like...

Disney+ series Moving and historical action film 12:12: The Day took home the top prizes at the 60th Baeksang Arts Awards, one of Korea’s most prestigious entertainment award ceremonies.

After receiving the most number of nominations (seven) in the television category, Moving took home the Grand Prize, with writer Kangfull receiving the Best Screenplay award and actor Lee Jungha winning Best New Actor.

The sci-fi series stars the likes of Rye Seung-ryong, Han Hyo-joo and Zo In-sung. Based on a webtoon of the same name, it follows a trio of teenage high school students who discover they have superpowers. It has won a glut of prizes at the 2023 Asia Contents Awards & Global Ott Awards.

Made with a budget of around $18M, 12:12: The Day swept up the Grand Prize and Best Film awards, with Hwang Jung-min scoring a Best Actor win. Set in 1979 just after the assassination of Korean President Park Chung-hee,...

Essentially a sequel of ”Man Standing Next”, in terms of the succession of historical events, “12.12: The Day” became the highest-grossing Korean film of 2023, with many citing it as the movie that saved Korean cinema in the particular year.

12.12: The Day is screening at Udine Far East Film Festival 2024

The story begins in December 1979, after the assassinaton of President Park, with the whole country being in turmoil and martial law having been declared. The initial 30 minutes of the 140 of the movie set the base of what happened after the aforementioned events, additionally introducing the two main rivals, Defense Security Commander Chun Doo-gwan and Capital Defense Commander Lee Tae-sin, while the rest focus on the 9 hours which the coup unfolded, starting with the arrest of the Army Chief of Staff, Jeong Sang-ho.

Kim Seong-su directs the movie in a style that will remind many of the TV-news style implemented frequently in Japanese cinema,...

Rights to “I, The Executioner,” which will premiere as a Midnight Screening at the Cannes Film Festival this year, have been picked up by South Korea’s Cj Enm.

The crime-action film directed by Ryu Seung-wan (also written Ryoo Seung-wan) is a sequel to Ryu’s 2015 hit “Veteran” and in Korea goes by the title “Veteran 2.”

Few details of the story have yet been disclosed, but Cj describes the film as “combining Ryu’s trademark action with observations and messages about social change.” Ryu last year enjoyed major box office success with crime comedy “Smugglers.”

Hwang Jung-min, who recently enjoyed box office success in “12.12: The Day,” reprises his role from “Veteran.” He is joined in the sequel by Jung Hae-in (“Tune in for Love”) as a new member of the film’s Violent Crime Investigation Squad.

“I, The Executioner” was produced by Filmmaker R & K, the production shingle owned...

Blue Finch Film Releasing presents A Bittersweet Life, The Foul King and The Chaser on digital platforms from 8 April. These must-see modern Korean cult cinema classics from acclaimed filmmakers Kim Jee-woon and Na Hong-jin, are exploding back onto screens, with The Foul King available in the UK and Ireland for the very first time.

A Bittersweet Life

Gangster Sun-woo (Lee Byung-hun) has worked his way up the ranks in his organisation, earning the trust of his callous crime boss Mr. Kang, who assigns him to spy on his mistress fearing she may be having an affair. When Mr Kang's suspicions are found to be true, Sun-woo finds his life on the line when his choice to spare the mistress and her secret lover's lives starts an irreversible gang war.

This ultra-stylish neo noir is written and directed by renowned filmmaker Kim Jee-woon, and features a career-defining performance from international star Lee Byung-hun,...

Oscar winner Ryusuke Hamaguchi’s formalist arthouse drama Evil Does Not Exist won the best film prize Sunday night at the Asia Film Awards in Hong Kong.

The Japanese film industry had a big night overall at the 17th edition of the awards ceremony, which was hosted this year in Hong Kong’s gleaming new Xiqu Centre, part of the city’s $2.7 billion West Kowloon Cultural District development. Japanese festival favorite Hirokazu Kore-eda won best director for his mystery drama Monster, while the great Koji Yakusho took best actor for Wim Wender’s moving minimalist drama Perfect Days. Hamaguchi’s chief collaborator on Evil Does Not Exist, Eiko Ishibashi, won best music and the Kaiju critical and commercial sensation Godzilla Minus One claimed both best visual effects and best sound.

In many ways, it was Zhang Yimou’s night, however. The venerated Chinese director took the stage twice, once to...

Hamaguchi Ryusuke’s “Evil Does Not Exist,” was Sunday evening named as the best picture at the Asian Film Awards.

The 17th edition of the prizes was held at the Xiqu Centre, part of the West Kowloon Cultural District in Hong Kong.

While “Evil Does Not Exist” and Korean blockbuster “12.12: The Day” had dominated the nominations with six each, including those in the best film category, the prizes on Sunday were much more evenly distributed. No title collected more than two prizes.

Outside, crowds failed to be muted by the March drizzle, though VIP guests were given escorts with purple umbrellas.

Filmmaker and industry attendance was also robust. Those spotted on the red carpet and pre-event cocktails included: Lee Yong Kwan (former chair of the Busan film festival), Tom Yoda, Udine festival heads Sabrina Baracetti and Thomas Bertacche, Anthony Chen, Stanley Kwan, Rina Damayanti, Hong Kong distributor Winnie Tsang,...

Essentially a sequel o f”Man Standing Next”, in terms of the succession of historical events, “12.12: The Day” became the highest-grossing Korean film of 2023, with many citing it as the movie that saved Korean cinema in the particular year.

“12.12: The Day” is available from Echelon Studios

The story begins in December 1979, after the assassinaton of President Park, with the whole country being in turmoil and martial law having been declared. The initial 30 minutes of the 140 of the movie set the base of what happened after the aforementioned events, additionally introducing the two main rivals, Defense Security Commander Chun Doo-gwan and Capital Defense Commander Lee Tae-sin, while the rest focus on the 9 hours which the coup unfolded, starting with the arrest of the Army Chief of Staff, Jeong Sang-ho.

Check also this article The 20 Best Korean Movies of 2023

Kim Seong-su directs the movie in a style that will remind...

Echelon Studios, in collaboration with 815 Pictures, has officially picked up US distribution rights to Kim Sung-su's latest feature and box office hit, 12:12 The Day.

The historical action drama broke records last year, grossing $90m to become Korea's biggest film of 2023. Since its release, the box office sensation has received rave reviews from critics and left a lasting impression with audiences, and currently leads nominations at this year's Asian Film Awards, including Best Film, Best Director, and Best Actor.

Based on true events, 12:12 The Day is set against the backdrop of the real-life military coup that took place on 12 December 1979, which resulted in an eight-year military junta in South Korea. The film stars Hwang Jung-min (Deliver Us from Evil), Jung Woo-sung (Asura: The City of Madness), Lee Sung-min (The Spy Gone North), Park Hae-joon (Believer), Kang Gil-woo (Netflix Original The Glory), and Jung Hae-in (Netflix Original D.

North American Digital Release

North American digital distributor Echelon Studios has come on board “12.12: The Day,” the highest grossing film from Korea last year.

The film has been on theatrical release in North America, through 815 Pictures since last year and grossed over $1 million. Echelon said that the film will have a streaming release later this year. It will also be available to pre-order to own on iTunes, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube Movies, Vudu, Vimeo OnDemand and OnDemand Korea shortly.

Directed by Kim Sung-su and with a Korean gross exceeding $90 million, the action drama is based on true events in December 1979, which resulted in an eight-year military junta in South Korea.

The film stars Hwang Jung-min (“Deliver Us from Evil”), Jung Woo-sung (“Asura: The City of Madness”), Lee Sung-min (“The Spy Gone North”), Park Hae-joon (“Believer”), Kang Gil-woo (Netflix series “The Glory”), and Jung Hae-in (Netflix’s “D.P.”).

Treasure Island...

A total of 35 films from 24 countries and regions have been shortlisted to compete for 16 awards at this year's Asian Film Awards.

Renowned Japanese director Kurosawa Kiyoshi will serve as the Jury President for this year's Awards. As the first Japanese director to hold this position, Kurosawa Kiyoshi is deeply honored. He will lead the Jury and over 200 Voting Members in selecting the winners for this year's Asian Film Awards.

The winners of other Afa awards, including the Lifetime Achievement Award, Excellence in Asian Cinema Award, Afa Next Generation Award, and Rising Star Award, will be announced later.

The 17th Asian Film Awards Nomination List

Best Film

12.12: The Day (South Korea)

Evil Does Not Exist (Japan)

Paradise

Perfect Days (Japan)

Snow Leopard (Mainland China)

Best Director

Kim Sung-soo | 12.12: The Day (South Korea)

Gu Xiaogang | Dwelling by the West Lake (Mainland China)

Hamaguchi Ryusuke | Evil Does Not Exist (Japan)

Kore-eda Hirokazu...

‘Snow Leopard’, ‘Paradise’, ‘The Goldfinger’ and ‘Godzilla Minus One’ also land multiple nods.

South Korean box office hit 12.12: The Day and Ryusuke Hamaguchi’s Evil Does Not Exist lead the nominations for the 17th Asian Film Awards, with six nods each including best film.

Also up for best film is Prasanna Vithanage’s Paradise from Sri Lanka-India, Wim Wenders Perfect Days from Japan and Chinese feature Snow Leopard by the late Pema Tseden.

Scroll down for full list of nominations

The winners will be announced at a ceremony in Hong Kong on March 10 and will be decided by a...

Japanese filmmaker Ryusuke Hamaguchi’s latest feature, Evil Does Not Exist, and the period action pic 12.12: The Day, from Korea, lead the nominations at this year’s Asian Film Awards.

Both films received six nominations, including Best Film and Best Director. Directed by Kim Sung-soo, whose credits include Asura: The City Of Madness and The Flu, 12.12: The Day is set against the backdrop of the real-life military coup of 1979, which resulted in an eight-year military junta in South Korea. The cast includes Hwang Jung-min (The Wailing), Jung Woo-sung (Asura: The City Of Madness), and Lee Sung-min (The Spy Gone North). Released on November 22, the film sailed past the 12 million admissions mark at the Korean box office over the Christmas holiday period, becoming the highest-grossing film of 2023 in the market.

Hamaguchi’s Evil Does Not Exist — which debuted out of Venice — follows Takumi and his daughter Hana, who live...

The historial action drama has become the biggest film of 2023 at the local box office.

Historical action drama 12.12: The Day has surpassed 12 million admissions and $90m at the South Korea box office as of today (January 2), according to the Korea Box-office Information System (Kobis).

The Korean film has been revitalising the local box office, where the only stand-out hit of 2023 had been Don Lee’s crime action franchise film The Roundup: No Way Out, with 10.6 million admissions and $79.8m.

12.12: The Day, released by Plus M Entertainment on November 22, ended the year with more than 11.8 million admissions and $88m,...

Hwang Jung-min. Yum Jung-ah. Both together for the first time in careers spanning over three decades. Need I say more to entice you about Lee Myung-hoon's debut feature “Mission Cross”?

Synopsis

A man leaving his past behind and living as a househusband is chased by his wife for his secret life!

A hardworking househusband and a former special forces officer Kang-moo is hiding his past from his wife Mi-seon who is a violent crime detective. One day, a mysterious woman, Hee-joo appears to Kang-moo and Mi-seon assumes that his husband is having an affair. Mi-seon is after Kang-moo and Kang-moo is after something else. It eventually leads both of them to unexpected situations!

Kang-moo can no longer be a peaceful househusband after all…!

Hwang Jung-min plays Kang-moo whereas Yum Jung-ah takes on the role of Mi-seon. They are joined by Jeon Hye-jin, who plays Hee-joo. Additionally, everybody's favourite Jung Man-sik...

Box office in South Korea has faced a challenging 2023.

Korean drama 12.12: The Day has taken a strong $11.2m on its opening weekend in South Korea, delivering a shot of optimism to the local box office in the wake of a challenging year.

The film, distributed by Plus M Entertainment, comfortably claimed the number one slot and has taken $14.1m since its release on November 22. It has recorded nearly 1.9 million admissions to date and accounted for 80% of all tickets sold across its opening period.

Based on events that took place in the chaotic time after dictator Park Chung-hee was assassinated...

Korean drama “12.12: The Day” brought life back to South Korean cinemas with a powerful $11 million opening weekend.

Directed by Kim Sung-soo and starring the reliable Hwang Jung-min and Jung Woo-sung, the film recounts a nine-hour period in 1979 in which a military coup was attempted. It is understood to be based on real events, but with a fictional telling.

It earned $11.2 million between Friday and Sunday accounting for four out of every five tickets sold in the country. Over its five-day opening run it earned $14.1 million.

That is the second highest opening by any film this year, behind only summer hit “The Roundup: No Way Out” and it is expected to achieve two million ticket sales on Monday.

The strong performance lifted the overall box office for the weekend back above $10 million for the first time since the Chuseok holiday in late September and only the second time since the summer.

The sequel to 2018’s Believer has left fans more than dissatisfied. It’s already an established fact that the only good thing about the film is Han Hyo-Joo’s performance, which has taken over social media for her badassery alone. The film attempts to fill the gaps like plastering over the Mona Lisa, making a terrible sequel to a well-received film. What made Believer a big hit was the impressive cast, the action-packed story that kept you on the edge of your seats, as well as the impactful ending. Believer 2 begins before that open ending, leading up to the moments there, and then completely ruins it. We suppose you can’t trust anything with Believer in the title right now. If you’re looking for some fantastic Korean thrillers to make yourself feel better after seeing this blunder, here’s the perfect list for you.

Ballerina

Let’s start...

Killer Collectibles highlights five of the most exciting new horror products announced each and every week, from toys and apparel to artwork, records, and much more.

Here are the coolest horror collectibles unveiled this week!

Cutting Class 4K Uhd from Mvd

Cutting Class will be released on 4K Ultra HD on January 16 via Mvd as part of its 4K LaserVision Collection. The 1989 slasher is presented in 4K from Vinegar Syndrome’s 2018 4K restoration with Lpcm 2.0 Mono and Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo sound.

Excalibur writer Rospo Pallenberg makes his directorial debut from a script by Steve Slavkin (Salute your Shorts). Donovan Leitch, Jill Schoelen, Brad Pitt, Roddy McDowall, and Martin Mull star.

Special features include: the R-rated edit (in standard definition), interviews with Leitch and Schoelen, Kill Comparisons featurette, VHS video store retailer promo, and the trailer.

Chucky Board Game from Trick or Treat Studios

Just in time for his 35th anniversary,...

The 2016 South Korean horror film "The Wailing" is a roller coaster ride with enough twists and turns to keep even the most experienced movie watcher guessing. Set in the small mountain village of Gokseong, the movie follows bumbling police officer Jong-goo (Kwak Do-won) as he tries to solve the mystery of an infection that causes people to become mentally unwell and kill their loved ones. The infection and its effects are horrifying enough, but then Jong-goo's daughter Hyo-jin (Kim Hwan-hee) becomes stricken with the same infection. Desperate to save his daughter, Jong-goo will do just about anything, delving into solutions both spiritual and mundane. He recruits the help of his friends, co-workers, and a local shaman named Il-gwang (Hwang Jung-min), but it seems like the evil descending on Gokseong is too much for anyone to stop.

The ending of "The Wailing" is a horrific tragedy that offers possible explanations for...

Right from his debut feature “Runaway” in 1995, Kim Sung-su has established two things vehemently: he can work with big stars and he can work on a big budget quite effectively. Starting with a then-young but nonetheless impressive Lee Byung-hun, he has since gone on to work with the likes of Lee Jung-jae, Jung Woo-sung, Hwang Jung-min and even Zhang Ziyi in a rare Korean production appearance. Since his last two works, he has also established that he is also adept at working with an ensemble cast, with both “The Flu” and the highly impressive “Asura: The City of Madness” having an extensive and impressive cast-list. Seven years since “Asura: The City of Madness”, Kim returns to the big screen and with a couple actors he has worked with for “12.12: The Day”, a political thriller based on recent Korean history.

Synopsis

On December 1979, Seoul had been enduring a harsh winter before the upcoming spring.

The successful distribution of Korean media around the world has led to the celebration of brilliant filmmakers like Park Chan-wook and Bong Joon-ho. However, if you ask an American cinephile or film critic to name one Korean woman director they would likely not be able to come up with an answer.

With its ongoing series “A New Wave of K-Cinema: Korean Women Directors,” The Academy Museum of Motion Pictures is hoping to change that. Across the month of June, the Los Angeles museum is showing 10 contemporary Korean films made by women that “explore the complexities of diverse conditions, including the trauma of domestic violence, investigations into gender and class politics, humanity’s relation to nature and the environment, and love and friendship.”

Hyesung ii, who organized “A New Wave of K-Cinema,” told TheWrap it is a series she has had in mind since she began working at the museum. “As...

Na Hong-Kon’s highly anticipated new thriller feature film “Hope” adds two more cast members: Uhm Tae-goo (from “Night in Paradise”) and Lee Kyu-hyung (from “Seoul Vibe”).

The two join an already star-studded cast-list that is headlined by superstars Hwang Jung-min, Jo In-sung and, in her first feature film role since the unprecedented success of “Squid Game”, Jung Ho-yeon. The production will also Hollywood’s real-life couple Michael Fassbender and Alicia Vikander in important, English-speaking roles.

Just like Hwang Jung-min, who worked with Na in “The Wailing”, Uhm Tae-goo too will be working with the director again after having recently joined hands with him on his short film “Faith”.

Na Hong-jin, through his production company “Forged Films”, will produce the film alongside Saemi Kim. Ku Tae-jin and Cheon Ji-in will co-produce, whereas Kim Deok-geun and Kim Do-soo will be the executive producers.

The production also confirmed that Na has chosen...

Kill Bok-soon (キル・ボクスン) is a South Korean film directed by Byun Sung-hyun starring Jeon Do-yeon and Sol Kyung-gu.

Funny from the start, with its hilarious one-liners and stylish main character, but the movie wins us over in the action scenes, shot with a lot of punch in a movie that definitely knows when to strike.

Kill Bok-soon (2023) Movie Review Kill Bok-soon (2023)

Funny, ironic and, with all its brutal violence, highly entertaining and destined to stand out on account of its funny, intelligent irony and for its many moral lessons:

-Drinking may be fun, but smoking is not.

After that, the good mother devotes herself to murdering people, while at the same time, combining that activity with meetings with the mothers of students.

Very good on the aesthetic level, very curated in the photography, it knows how to maintain the pace of the story through the elaborate editing, particularly in the special scenes,...

Na Hong-Jin will direct the Korean thriller for Plus M Entertainment.

Award-winning Korean actors Hwang Jung-min, Zo In-sung and Hoyeon have joined Alicia Vikander and Michael Fassbender in the cast of upcoming thriller Hope.

The Korean feature is directed by Na Hong-jin, marking his first film since The Wailing in 2016, and is backed by Korean producer-distributor Plus M Entertainment.

Hwang starred in The Wailing, which played at Cannes, and is also known for Netflix’s Narco-Saints, Cannes 2022 title Hunt and Berlin 2023 feature Kill Boksoon.

Zo is known for roles in war epic The Great Battle and more recently Escape From Mogadishu,...

Korean director Na Hong-Jin (The Wailing) is teaming up with two of Hollywood’s most intriguing stars, Michael Fassbender and Alicia Vikander, for his new thriller, Hope. According to Deadline, the mostly Korean-language film follows the residents of Hopo Port, where a mysterious discovery upsets the outskirts of the remote harbor town. Before long, the residents find themselves desperately fighting for survival against something they have never encountered before.

Hope is selecting additional cast members now while the project is in pre-production. Cameras will roll in Korea in late 2023, with Fassbender and Vikander eagerly anticipating the chance to work with Na Hong-Jin. The couple will speak English in the film, despite most of the cast speaking in Korean.

Plus M Entertainment is producing Hope. The Korean producer-distributor recently entered a deal with Na, hoping for a smooth production as they build their relationship. Hong Kyung-pyo, who worked with Na on The Wailing,...

2022 was finally the year that the Korean box office, after the pandemic, was defibrillated back to life. Producers and distributors were finally confident that the time was right for big budget, blockbuster projects, that had long been queueing up for a release, to start making their way to the theatres. After having to resort to Ott streaming and generally smaller scale films, the audience too was hungry to see high-value productions, entertainment and their favorite stars on the big screen and thronged to the theatres, lapping up these releases. So much so that 2022 saw four new films make their way into the 100 highest grossing Korean films of all tie at the domestic box-office, with Ma Dong-seok’s “The Roundup” even rolling comfortably into the top 10.

2023 too began strongly, with the long-in-production “The Point Men” starring Hwang Jung-min and Hyun Bin and the Sol Kyung-gu led ensemble spy thriller “Phantom” opening the year strong.