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Poster for The Yellow Sea

The Yellow Sea

Seen it?

2010 | 156 min | Drama, Thriller, Crime

Sunday Safe Bet

Why it’s a Sunday Safe Bet

It earned strong reviews (88% on Rotten Tomatoes), though it had soft box office. 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 crime-drama fans and anyone who likes to be kept guessing. If you loved Drive or The Silence of the Lambs, start here. Critics rate it higher than audiences do, so it rewards patience more than it chases thrills.
The mood
Tense, dark and gritty.
The pace
Unhurried and epic, at 2 hr 36 min.
What might put you off
  • Rated R: expect violence.
  • It's long: 2 hr 36 min.
  • It's in Korean, so expect subtitles (or a dub).

A Korean man in China takes an assassination job in South Korea to make money and find his missing wife. But when the job is botched, he is forced to go on the run from the police and the gangsters who paid him.

How it earned its rating

  • CriticsStrong

    88% on Rotten Tomatoes, 70 on Metacritic

  • AudiencesSolid

    7.4 out of 10

  • AwardsSolid

    Nominated for 1 Cannes award.

  • Box office & staying powerBelow par

    $16 million worldwide on a $8 million budget

  • Buzz & cultural impactSolid

    About 100K people sought it out in the past year, and interest is climbing

Trailer

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Cast & crew

Directed by Na Hong-jin

  • Ha Jung-wooKim Goo-nam
  • Kim Yoon-seokMyun Jung-hak
  • Cho Seong-haKim Tae-won
  • Lee Cheol-minChoi Seong-nam
  • Kwak Do-wonProfessor Kim Seung-hyun
  • Im Ye-wonProfessor's Wife
  • Tak Sung-eunGoo-nam's Wife
  • ELJoo Yeong
  • Jeong Man-sikDetective 1
  • Jung Min-sungDetective 2