The Man Standing Next
Seen it?2020 | 114 min | Drama, Thriller
Sunday Safe Betearly ratingWhy it’s a Sunday Safe Bet
It earned strong reviews (80% on Rotten Tomatoes), though it had soft box office and little lasting buzz. A safe bet when you want something reliable.
Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.Is it for you?
- Who'll love it
- Made for anyone who likes to be kept guessing. If you loved The Manchurian Candidate or The Parallax View, start here. Critics rate it higher than audiences do, so it rewards patience more than it chases thrills.
- The mood
- Tense.
- The pace
- Takes its time with its characters, at 1 hr 54 min.
- What might put you off
- It's in Korean, so expect subtitles (or a dub).
When the investigation of 'Koreagate' takes place, Park Yong-gak, a former KCIA director who knows everything about the government's operations, heads to the United States in exile.
How it earned its rating
- CriticsStrong
80% on Rotten Tomatoes
- AudiencesSolid
7.1 out of 10
- AwardsSolid
13 wins and 21 nominations from smaller awards and festivals
- Box office & staying powerBelow par
$35 million worldwide; still draws a steady audience long after release
- Buzz & cultural impactBelow par
About 46K people sought it out in the past year
Trailer
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Cast & crew
Directed by Woo Min-ho
- Lee Byung-hunKim Gyu-pyeong
- Lee Sung-minPresident Park
- Kwak Do-wonPark Yong-gak
- Lee Hee-junKwak Sang-cheon
- Kim So-jinDeborah Shim
- Seo Hyun-wooJeon Du-hyeok
- Ji Hyun-junKCIA Agent Ham Dae-yong
- Park Seong-geunKCIA Secretary Kang Chang-su
- Park Ji-ilKim Gye-hoon
- Lee Tae-hyungYoo Dong-hun