The Korean comedy thriller No Other Choice, which The Guardian called “sensational,” is coming to UK and Irish cinemas on January 23, 2026. Directed by Park Chan-wook, known for films like Snowpiercer and The Handmaiden, the movie will premiere next year.
Inspired by Donald Westlake’s novel The Ax, the film No Other Choice centers around Yoo Man-su (played by Lee Byung-hun, known from Squid Game), a dedicated family man and professional in the paper industry. Driven to get a new job at Moon Paper, he makes the drastic decision to eliminate his rivals in order to land the position.
The film also features Son Ye-jin, known for her roles in The Last Princess and The Negotiation, along with Park Hee-soon (The Policeman’s Lineage), Lee Sung-min (Handsome Guys), and Yeom Hye-ran (Wall to Wall).
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The highly praised film, No Other Choice, first premiered internationally at the Venice Film Festival in August, and then in the UK at the London Film Festival in October.
The movie is currently receiving rave reviews and has a perfect 100% score on Rotten Tomatoes, with many critics calling it one of the best films of 2025.
According to RogerEbert.com, Park has teamed up with cinematographer Kim Woo-hyung to create another stunningly beautiful film this year.
In a similar vein, The Wall Street Journal praised the film as a wildly entertaining and joyful experience. They highlighted the director’s exceptional camera work, noting his inventive and stunning shots, zooms, and transitions, which perfectly complemented the film’s quirky and unusual story.
According to Salon.com, the film’s beautiful visuals create a striking contrast with the uncomfortable and often pointless events unfolding on screen. This difference, however, actually builds suspense, leaving the viewer constantly wondering what will happen next and how it will be shown.
Park Chan-wook shared with The Hollywood Reporter that he’s been wanting to make a movie out of No Other Choice ever since he first read the book around twenty years ago.
This story beautifully combines a character’s personal struggles with larger social problems. I believe adapting it would let me explore both of these aspects together naturally, and that’s exactly the type of compelling material filmmakers are eager to work with.
No Other Choice will open in cinemas across the UK and Ireland on 23 January 2026.
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2025-11-02 12:49