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| yna@yna.co.kr 2024-12-29 08:46:35
SEOUL, Dec. 29 (Yonhap) -- Next year’s movie scene is gearing up with an impressive slate of films promising laughter and emotion for audiences.
Among them are new works by globally renowned directors Bong Joon-ho and Park Chan-wook, as well as major releases from top distributors. Online streaming services, led by Netflix, also have films ready for release, while Hollywood heavyweights like Avatar 3 will land in theaters.
◇ Bong Joon-ho’s Sci-Fi Adventure and Park Chan-wook’s Drama Starring Lee Byung-hun & Son Ye-jin
Two of the most anticipated titles in the 2025 lineup are Bong Joon-ho’s Hollywood sci-fi film Mickey 17 and Park Chan-wook’s Korean feature No Other Choice.
Mickey 17 marks Bong’s return six years after his Oscar-winning Parasite (2019). Based on Edward Ashton’s novel Mickey 7, the film explores the story of a clone sent to colonize a frozen alien planet. The cast features Hollywood A-listers including Robert Pattinson, Steven Yeun, Naomi Ackie, Toni Collette, and Mark Ruffalo, further fueling audience anticipation.
With a global audience in mind, Mickey 17 will premiere in the U.S. on March 7, aligning with spring break. Notably, Warner Bros. plans to debut the film in South Korea first, ahead of its global release, in early March.
Meanwhile, Park Chan-wook’s No Other Choice arrives three years after his Cannes-winning Decision to Leave (2022).
Adapted from Donald E. Westlake’s novel The Ax, the film follows Man-soo, a contented paper company employee who faces abrupt termination. As he navigates the challenges of re-employment to support his wife and two children, unexpected events unfold.
Reuniting with Park after 20 years, Lee Byung-hun stars as Man-soo, while Son Ye-jin plays Mi-ri, Man-soo’s resilient and optimistic wife.
The film boasts a stellar supporting cast, including Park Hee-soon, Lee Sung-min, Yum Hye-ran, Cha Seung-won, and Yoo Yeon-seok.
Both films are set to dominate theaters, showcasing the brilliance of these master filmmakers while meeting high expectations from fans worldwide.
◇ Concerns Rise Over Shrinking Lineup Despite Strong Lineup of Mid-Scale Films
Next year, South Korea's five major distributors—CJ ENM, Lotte Entertainment, NEW, Showbox, and Plus M Entertainment—are set to release a variety of Korean films.
While the slate lacks blockbuster productions with budgets in the hundreds of billions of won, it features a robust lineup of promising, mid-scale films likely to draw audience interest.
CJ ENM plans to unveil It Can't Be Helped and The Devil Moved In, starring Im Yoona and Ahn Bo-hyun, both directed by Lee Sang-geun.
In addition, CJ will release the Hollywood film Bugonia, helmed by acclaimed director Yorgos Lanthimos. The film, starring Emma Stone and Jesse Plemons, is a remake of Jang Joon-hwan’s Save the Green Planet!
Lotte Entertainment’s flagship film is Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint, based on the popular web novel. Directed by Kim Byung-woo, it stars Lee Min-ho and Ahn Hyo-seop as two men teaming up to save a ruined world.
Other notable releases include Ma Dong-seok’s action-packed Holy Night: Demon Hunters, Koo Kyo-hwan’s thriller Resurrected Man, and Kang Ha-neul’s suspense film Streaming. Long-delayed productions like Ryu Seung-ryong and Park Hae-joon’s Jungga Ranch and Choi Min-sik and Park Hae-il’s To the Land of Happiness are also expected to debut.
NEW is kicking off the Lunar New Year holiday season with the occult thriller Black Nuns, starring Song Hye-kyo and Jeon Yeo-bin, and the comedy My Daughter Became a Zombie, featuring Jo Jung-suk and Lee Jung-eun.
Showbox will present Kim Yoon-seok and Koo Kyo-hwan’s thriller Snowstorm, Ha Jung-woo’s directorial effort Lobby, Koo Kyo-hwan and Moon Ga-young’s romance Someday, We, and Moral Hazard with Yoo Hae-jin and Lee Je-hoon.
Plus M Entertainment’s offerings include Opposition, a crime film starring Kang Ha-neul and Yoo Hae-jin; the action movie Tropical Night with Woo Do-hwan and Jang Dong-gun; Yeon Sang-ho’s low-budget film Face; and the drama Pavane, featuring Go Ah-sung and Byun Yo-han.
Compared to the pre-pandemic era, when distributors released more than 10 films annually, the number of new releases has dropped significantly. Many so-called "shelved films" were cleared out this year, and the downturn in production reflects the ongoing crisis in the film industry.
Film critic Yoon Sung-eun expressed concern, saying, “The number of Korean films being released is small, and it’s unrealistic to expect all of them to succeed. The outlook isn’t optimistic, but there could be a few surprise hits.”
Yoon added, “If the industry survives next year and sees increased investment and production, it might begin to recover in the year after.”
An insider from one distributor predicted, “Next year’s theatrical landscape will be even more challenging, potentially placing the industry at a crossroads of survival. Investors are looking for mid-scale projects with manageable risks, but such films have limitations in attracting large audiences, creating a dilemma.”
The film industry faces a pivotal year in 2025, as it strives to stabilize amidst these growing concerns.
◇ Hollywood Blockbusters and Netflix Originals to Fill the Gap Left by Fewer Korean Films
The 2025 theater landscape may face a reduced number of Korean films, but a strong lineup of Hollywood blockbusters and Netflix originals offers hope for a rebound in audience attendance.
Among the most anticipated international releases is Avatar: Fire and Ash (Avatar3), set to hit theaters in December.
The sequel to Avatar: The Way of Water continues the journey of Jake Sully (played by Sam Worthington), now a leader among the Na’vi. The story introduces new factions, including nomadic tribes and a volcanic ash-covered group turned hostile after a natural disaster. Given the massive success of the previous two films—both surpassing 10 million viewers in South Korea—expectations are high for another record-breaking performance.
Disney's Zootopia 2 is also highly anticipated. Featuring the return of Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde, the sequel aims to replicate the success of its predecessor, which attracted 4.7 million viewers in South Korea. The recent success of Inside Out 2, which drew 8.79 million moviegoers, suggests potential for another Disney hit.
Tom Cruise returns in Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part Two, widely considered the final installment of the franchise. As audiences eagerly anticipate the climactic action sequences, industry insiders hope the film will energize the box office.
Other notable releases include the musical Wicked Part Two, Pixar’s animated feature Elio, and Disney’s live-action musical adaptation of Snow White.
Streaming giant Netflix is ramping up its presence in the Korean film market. At the Busan International Film Festival in October, Netflix showcased its upcoming releases for 2025, signaling an aggressive expansion into cinema.
Highlights include The Great Flood by Kim Byung-woo, a disaster movie starring Kim Da-mi and Park Hae-soo, and Good News, a collaboration between Seol Kyung-gu and director Byun Sung-hyun.
Additional Netflix originals slated for release include Yeon Sang-ho’s Revelation, Nam Koong-sun’s The History of Confessions, Kim Tae-joon’s 84 Square Meters, Lee Tae-sung’s The Mantis, and Han Ji-won’s What This Planet Needs.
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