| No Other Choice | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster | |
| Hangul | 어쩔수가없다 |
| Lit. | It Cannot Be Helped |
| RR | Eojjeolsugaeopda |
| MR | Ŏtchŏlsugaŏpta |
| Directed by | Park Chan-wook |
| Screenplay by |
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| Based on | The Ax byDonald Westlake |
| Produced by |
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| Starring | |
| Cinematography | Kim Woo-hyung |
| Edited by | Kim Sang-bum |
| Music by | Jo Yeong-wook |
Production companies |
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| Distributed by | CJ Entertainment |
Release dates |
|
Running time | 139 minutes |
| Country | South Korea |
| Language |
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| Budget | ₩17 billion (~$12.2 million)[1] |
| Box office | $20.2 million[2] |
No Other Choice (Korean:어쩔수가없다;RR:Eojjeolsugaeopda) is a 2025 South Koreansatiricalblack comedythriller film co-written, produced, and directed byPark Chan-wook. Based onThe Ax byDonald Westlake, the film starsLee Byung-hun,Son Ye-jin,Park Hee-soon,Lee Sung-min,Yeom Hye-ran, andCha Seung-won. It is the second film adaptation of the novel, after the 2005 French-language featureThe Axe directed byCosta-Gavras. The film follows a desperatepaper industry expert who decides to kill off his competition to be assured of the job he seeks to maintain his way of life.
The film had its world premiere in the main competition of the82nd Venice International Film Festival on 29 August 2025, where it garnered critical acclaim, and had its domestic premiere as the opening film of the30th Busan International Film Festival on 17 September, followed by its theatrical release in South Korea on 24 September byCJ Entertainment. It was also selected as theSouth Korean entry for theBest International Feature Film category for the98th Academy Awards.
Yoo Man-su is an award-winningpaper industry expert with 25 years of experience working at Solar Paper. Due to his employment, he lives happily and comfortably in his lavish refurbished childhood home with his wife Mi-ri, his teenage stepson Si-one from Mi-ri's previous relationship, their young daughter Ri-one, an antisocialneurodivergentcello prodigy, and their two dogs Si-Two and Ri-Two whom Ri-one is particularly close to. Man-su and Mi-ri enjoy several luxuries including dance classes and Mi-ri's regular tennis games with friends. However, a buyout from an American company leads to Man-su being among thousands abruptly laid off. After informing his family, he promises to find another job within three months with his stellar resumé.
Thirteen months later, Man-su works at a lowly retail job while taking several job interviews. As a result, they have cut back on finances, sold several belongings, stopped tennis games and dance classes, let go of Si-Two and Ri-Two to the care of Mi-ri's parents to Ri-one's distress, sold their expensive cars in exchange for older and cheaper models, and cancelled theirNetflix subscription. Ri-one's talent leads to her mentor recommending her to higher learning which would be more expensive. They are given a letter of foreclosure by their mortgage, with the parents of Si-one's best friend Geon-ho being prospective buyers. Mi-ri is hired as a part-time dental assistant to the much-younger Oh Jin-ho. Man-su begins having a toothache that he ignores despite his wife's pleas.
Man-su seeks out Moon Paper, a rival paper company, and submits his resumé, only to be humiliated by line manager Choi Seon-chul, who also dabbles as an influencer online. The desperate Man-su follows Seon-chul and ponders killing him by dropping a large pot holding a red pepper plant, but decides not to follow through with it. He decides he wants to eliminate his competition for the job he seeks. After buying the plant, he puts out a fake ad of a fictional "Red Pepper Paper" in need of a paper specialist like him. He receives several applications but targets two men whose credentials exceed his: Goo Beom-mo and Ko Si-jo. He retrieves the gun of his father, aVietnam War veteran, which he will use to murder the two and Seon-chul.
Man-su begins spying on Beom-mo to find a window to kill him. Beom-mo lives as a drunkard after being unable to find a job for over a year to provide for himself and his wife Lee A-ra, his college sweetheart and a veteran stage actress struggling to find roles. Beom-mo seeks to rekindle his love with his wife, while A-ra is frustrated with her husband's drinking and his stubborn refusal to pursue another field. While observing the couple having a picnic, Man-su is accidentally bitten by a rattlesnake and is saved by A-ra. Mi-ri also proposes her husband to pursue another field and that they downsize their lifestyle, but Man-su adamantly refuses. Beom-mo spots Man-su's ad and resolves to quit drinking and apply for the job. In his next attempt to kill him, Man-su discovers A-ra having sex with a younger actor. When Beom-mo arrives home, Man-su is unable to prevent him from discovering his wife's affair. In his third effort, Man-su confronts a drunken Beom-mo at gunpoint, which devolves into a scuffle between the two men and A-ra. A-ra takes the gun and Man-su flees, but he is shocked when A-ra kills Beom-mo instead due to her frustrations towards her husband coming to a head. He narrowly escapes A-ra, but he realizes he is late to a costumed dance party where he watches Mi-ri dance with Jin-ho out of spite for him being late. Man-su leaves and returns to Beom-mo's residence, where he observes that A-ra and her lover have buried Geom-mo and the gun in their gardens, and Man-su digs out and retrieves the gun. At home, Man-su and Mi-ri accuse each other of being unfaithful before they reconcile.
Man-su next visits and bonds with Si-jo, who is working at a shoe store and also has a young daughter he loves and provides for. Despite this, Man-su reluctantly lures Si-jo to a highway and kills him, hiding his body in his car's trunk. Meanwhile, Si-one and Geon-ho stealiPhones from the storefront of Geon-ho's father in the hopes of reselling them, but they are caught by police instead. Man-su and Mi-ri blackmail Geon-ho's father, who has been secretly using the storefront for his own infidelity, to having Geon-ho take responsibility and letting Si-one go. Detectives later come to Man-su's home to warn him of Beom-mo's and Si-jo's disappearances which they linked to their common circumstances; overhearing them, Mi-ri becomes suspicious of her husband. Si-one witnesses Man-su trying to dispose of Si-jo's body in their greenhouse. Man-su struggles with disposing Si-jo's body before he decides to wrap the body into a ball and buries it in their garden alongside Si-one's stolen iPhones under an apple tree.
Man-su travels to Seon-chul's home in the country, where he reconnects with him and plies him with alcohol. However, Man-su is forced to break his sobriety and drink as well to not raise suspicions, and the drunk Man-su forcefully removes his cavity-filled tooth. Meanwhile, at home, Si-one begins having nightmares of his father. He confesses what he saw to his mother, who digs up the apple tree and finds Si-jo's body, but Mi-ri decides to lie to Si-one about her discovery to comfort her son. She contacts Man-su while he is suffocating Seon-chul to death, sharing vaguely her concerns to him. Man-su lays out Seon-chul's body to make it look like he drank himself to death before leaving. Man-su returns home in the morning where he is coldly greeted by his wife.
Some time later, Man-su is given the job of manager at Moon Paper following Geom-mo and Si-jo's disappearances. However, they inform him that their factory is beingfully automated after letting go of their workers. He is in charge of overseeing the machines functioning well, but he is not assured of his job being kept if the trial run is successful. Despite this, he is afforded enough money to keep his house, and their dogs are returned home. The detectives visit Man-su again where he learns that Geom-mo and Si-jo were former colleagues in their previous jobs; A-ra has given him an alibi to cover up her own involvement in her husband's murder. She told them that Geom-mo had suicidal tendencies and owned the gun, and might be responsible for Si-jo's disappearance as well to ensure his job, thus lifting any suspicion off Man-su. As Man-su leaves for his first day, Si-one leaves to hang out with Geon-ho, and Mi-ri listens to Ri-one playing cello for their dogs, who previously didn't allow her family to listen to her play the cello before. At work, Man-su celebrates at his new job alone in the paper factory run by machines.
During theBusan International Film Festival in 2009, it was announced that Park would remakeCosta-Gavras' 2005 filmThe Axe.[4] Park would later clarify that he had readDonald Westlake's 1997 novelThe Ax upon which the film was based and decided to adapt it prior to knowing about Costa-Gavras' film.[5] However, the project was delayed when Park received the screenplay for his 2012 filmStoker.[6] In 2012, Park said he planned to make the film his next project but it still needed "more work on the casting and attracting investors".[6][7]
During a live discussion with Costa-Gavras at the 2019 Busan International Film Festival, Park told audiences that he was still working on his adaptation of Westlake's novel.[5] The film was described by Park as a "lifetime project" and that while he hadn't begun filming it yet, he wished "to make this film as my masterpiece."[8] Gavras, who still held the rights to the book, had helped Park to develop the project. The film was set to be an English-language picture, withDon McKellar co-writing the script alongside Park.[5]
Park's team toldThe Hollywood Reporter that he was approaching the project with the intent to "strengthen the moral dilemma in this story as much as possible, and he will increase the role of protagonist's wife".[5]
At the2022 Cannes Film Festival, Park stated that the project was still in development and followed "a heartbreaking story about a middle-aged man who lost a job, and now he needs to bring the bread to the table to feed his family. So, he struggles in the process of looking for a job in a specialized field, and he becomes a serial killer."[9]
In March 2024,Lee Byung-hun andSon Ye-jin were announced as the film's leads.[10] Park and Son previously worked together in the 2016 movieThe Truth Beneath, while Park collaborated with Lee onJoint Security Area (2000). Park revealed that the film would now be set in Korea.[11]
In August 2024, Park's frequent collaboratorsLee Kyoung-mi and Lee Ja-hye were also announced as writers on the project.
Principal photography began in August 2024.[12][3] Filming wrapped in January 2025, lasting a total of five months.[13]
In June 2025,Neon acquired North American distribution rights toNo Other Choice, withMubi taking rights to the film in the U.K., Ireland, Latin America, Spain, Turkey, the SAARC, Australia, New Zealand and the Benelux, the latter in association with its subsidiary Cinéart.[14] According toCJ ENM and Moho Film, the film was pre-sold to over 200 countries around the world, including North America, the UK, France, Germany, and Japan. It surpasses the pre-sale record of 192 countries held by Park Chan-wook's 2022 filmDecision to Leave.[15]
The film had its world premiere in the main competition of the82nd Venice International Film Festival on 29 August 2025.[16][17] It had its North American premiere on 5 September 2025 at the2025 Toronto International Film Festival,[18] where Lee Byung-hun received a Special Tribute Award at theTIFF Tribute Awards event.[19] It was also screened in the Special Presentations section at the2025 Cinéfest Sudbury International Film Festival,Sudbury, Ontario, on 17 September 2025.[20][21]
It opened the30th Busan International Film Festival on 17 September 2025, where bothLee Byung-hun andSon Ye-jin were honoured with the "Actors' house", a special career retrospective.[22] Theatrical release in South Korea followed on 24 September, byCJ Entertainment.[23][24]
On 4 October 2025,No Other Choice was presented in Galas and special presentations section and Spotlight on Korea at the2025 Vancouver International Film Festival.[25] It had its US premiere at the Main Slate of2025 New York Film Festival on 12 October 2025.[26] On 14 October,[27] the film competed in the58th Sitges Film Festival in the Oficial Fantàstic Competició section, vying for the various awards given in the section.[28][29] It is presented in the Galas section of the2025 BFI London Film Festival on 15 October 2025,[30][31] and will also be screened as a late addition to theAdelaide Film Festival on 24 October,[32] and in the Special Presentations of the61st Chicago International Film Festival on 25 October 2025.[33]
It was screened in Masters section of the2025 Stockholm International Film Festival on November 12, 2025,[34] and in 'From The Festivals - 2025' section of the56th International Film Festival of India in November 2025.[35]
No Other Choice recouped its 17 billion won production budget before its release through overseas presales, making its financial success unaffected by its domestic performance.[1][36]
The film was released on 24 September 2025 on 2,114 screens.[37] It opened at the top recording 331,518 viewers on its opening day at the Korean box office. The film achieved the highest opening of all time for a film directed by Chan-wook, surpassingDecision to Leave and his highest-grossing filmThe Handmaiden.[38] On 28 September, it surpassed 1 million cumulative viewers in five days of its release by registering 1,042,800 cumulative audience.[39]
As of 9 November 2025[update], it has grossed $22 million worldwide.[2] IncludingUS$19.7 million from 2,938,283 domestic admissions only in South Korea.[37][40]
After earning a nine-minute standing ovation and applause at the82nd Venice International Film Festival,[41][42]The Dong-A Ilbo stated that the film left a significant mark on the Korean film industry, receiving rave reviews from international critics and media and helping to revitalize Korean cinema.[43]
The film continued to attract critical acclaim;[a]Variety reported that critics "have hailedNo Other Choice as one of Park's most humane and mordantly funny works to date."[48] On thereview aggregator websiteRotten Tomatoes,100% of 85 critics' reviews are positive. The website's consensus reads: "Directed with pristine precision by Park Chan-wook,No Other Choice is a wickedly clever takedown of the corporate rat race that finds a perfect avatar in Lee Byung-Hun's skillfully hapless performance."[49]Metacritic, which uses aweighted average, assigned the film a score of 86 out of 100, based on 20 critics, indicating "universal acclaim".[50]
Time Out rated the film 5 out of 5 stars, describing it as "a masterful work of cinema which might well be Chan-wook's masterpiece. And given this is the man who directedThe Handmaiden that's saying a lot."[51] According toPeter Bradshaw ofThe Guardian, who rated the film 4 stars out of 5, "it may not be Park's masterpiece but it is the best film in the Venice competition so far".[52]
No Other Choice was selected as theSouth Korean entry for theBest International Feature Film category for the98th Academy Awards.[53]
| Award | Date of ceremony | Category | Recipient(s) | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Venice International Film Festival | 6 September 2025 | Golden Lion | Park Chan-wook | Nominated | [54][55] |
| TIFF Tribute Awards | 7 September 2025 | Special Tribute Award | Lee Byung-hun | Honored | [56] |
| Toronto International Film Festival | 14 September 2025 | International People's Choice Award | No Other Choice | Won | [57] |
| Sitges Film Festival | 18 October 2025 | Best Feature Film | Nominated | [58] | |
| Best Director | Park Chan-wook | Won | |||
| Newport Beach Film Festival | 22 October 2025 | Global Impact Award | Honored | [59] | |
| Artist of Distinction Award | Lee Byung-hun | Honored | |||
| Outstanding International Feature | No Other Choice | Won | [60] | ||
| Outstanding Editing Feature | Won | ||||
| Savannah Film Festival | 25 October 2025 | International Auteur Award | Park Chan-wook | Honored | [61] |
| International Audience Award | No Other Choice | Won | [62] | ||
| Adelaide Film Festival | 26 October 2025 | Audience Award for Feature Fiction | Won | [63] | |
| Miami Film Festival | 31 October 2025 | Master of the Precious Gem Award | Park Chan-wook | Honored | [64] |
| Korean Association of Film Critics Awards | 6 November 2025 | Best Supporting Actor | Park Hee-soon | Won | [65] |
| FIPRESCI Award (Domestic) | No Other Choice | Won | |||
| Stockholm International Film Festival | 14 November 2025 | FIPRESCI Award | Won | [66] | |
| Blue Dragon Film Awards | 19 November 2025 | Best Film | Won | [67] | |
| Best Director | Park Chan-wook | Won | |||
| Best Actor | Lee Byung-hun | Nominated | |||
| Best Actress | Son Ye-jin | Won | |||
| Best Supporting Actor | Lee Sung-min | Won | |||
| Best Supporting Actress | Yeom Hye-ran | Nominated | |||
| Best Screenplay | Park Chan-wook,Don McKellar,Lee Kyoung-mi, Lee Ja-hye | Nominated | |||
| Best Editing | Kim Sang-bum, Kim Ho-bin | Nominated | |||
| Best Cinematography and Lighting | Kim Woo-hyung, Kim Min-jae | Nominated | |||
| Best Art Direction | Ryu Seong-hie | Nominated | |||
| Best Music | Jo Yeong-wook | Won | |||
| Technical Award | Jo Sang-gyeong (Costume) | Won | |||
| Gotham Independent Film Awards | 1 December 2025 | Best Adapted Screenplay | Park Chan-wook, Lee Kyoung-mi, Jahye Lee and Don McKellar | Pending | [68] |
| Best International Feature | Park Chan-wook,Alexandre Gavras,Michèle Ray-Gavras, and Back Jisun | Pending | |||
| Outstanding Lead Performance | Lee Byung-hun | Pending | |||
| Astra Creative Arts Awards | 11 December 2025 | Best Film Editing | Kim Sang-bum and Kim Ho-Bin | Pending | [69] |
| Astra Film Awards | January 9, 2026 | Best International Feature | No Other Choice | Pending | [70] |
| Best Motion Picture Comedy or Musical | Pending | ||||
| Best Adapted Screenplay | Park Chan-wook, Don McKellar, Lee Kyoung-mi, and Lee Ja-hye | Pending | |||
| Best Actor in a Motion Picture Comedy or Musical | Lee Byung-hun | Pending |
