Are you a CLOY, Squid Game fan? Head to cinemas soon

Calling all 'Crash Landing on You' and 'Squid Game' devotees! Your favorite South Korean stars, Son Ye-jin and Lee Byung-hun, have reunited on the big screen in a film that's been making subtle waves: 'No Other Choice'.

If you blinked, you might have missed it, but 'No Other Choice' quietly premiered in select Philippine cinemas, primarily across SM and Ayala Malls, starting October 29. Despite featuring two of Hallyu's biggest names, local buzz has been somewhat subdued, with only a handful of Filipino reviews surfacing by early November. An observed screening in Makati, for instance, saw a 60-seater cinema about half-full, suggesting a moderate but not overwhelming interest. So, if you're keen to catch it, this week might be your prime window!

More than just a star vehicle, 'No Other Choice' is South Korea's official entry for the Best International Feature Film category at the 2026 Oscars. Directed by the acclaimed Park Chan-Wook, the film is a dark comedy adapted from Donald Westlake’s novel, 'The Ax'. The Korean Film Council (KOFIC) lauded its "cinematic completeness" and "relevant themes surrounding job termination," noting its humorous take on a universally relatable tragedy makes it a strong Oscar contender.

In this intriguing narrative, Lee Byung-hun (who many will recognize as the intense Front Man from 'Squid Game') portrays Man-soo, a senior manager whose life takes an unexpected turn after being abruptly laid off. Son Ye-jin, beloved for her role in 'Crash Landing on You' as Yoon Se-ri, plays Mi-ri, Man-soo’s wife. The story pivots on Man-soo's desperate response to his job loss, leading him down a clumsy, dark path of "eliminating" his job rivals.

This film marks Son Ye-jin’s eagerly awaited return to feature films following her marriage to 'CLOY' co-star Hyun Bin in March 2022 and the birth of their child in November 2022. Reflecting on her new phase in life, Son shared with Korea Times’ Hankook Ilbo online that her "lived experience" as a mother now allows her to "act those emotions more truthfully," adding depth to her performance as Mi-ri.

While local reception has been quiet, 'No Other Choice' was a significant box-office hit in South Korea, raking in nearly 3 million admissions and approximately $20 million after its September 24 opening, partly boosted by government-offered cinema discounts. Its darkly humorous take on societal issues draws parallels to Bong Joon-Ho’s 'Parasite', another South Korean dark comedy that famously captured the Best Picture Oscar for its incisive look at class divides.

The film also had its moment on the international stage, featuring at the 82nd Venice International Film Festival, though it didn't secure any awards there. Ultimately, this two-hour, 19-minute feature delivers a powerful, thought-provoking ending, offering a scathing commentary on the rise of automation and artificial intelligence, and underscoring the enduring importance of human contribution in an increasingly technological world.