No Other Choice cast 2025 brings an intense survival drama story filled with tough decisions and emotional pressure. The movie shows how ordinary people are pushed into extreme situations where every choice can change their life forever. What starts as a normal situation slowly turns into a fight for survival and truth. With powerful acting and a realistic story, this movie keeps viewers connected from start to end. Here, you will find story details, release date updates, and cast information explained on castadda.com.
No Other Choice Cast 2025: Full Cast & Crew List
Below is the complete cast list of the No Other Choice movie 2026 with actor and role details.
| Name | Character / Role |
|---|---|
| Park Chan‑wook | Director / Writer / Producer |
| Lee Kyoung‑mi | Writer |
| Jahye Lee | Writer |
| Don McKellar | Writer |
| Donald E. Westlake | Novel “The Ax” |
| Jisun Back | Producer |
| Lee Byung‑hun | Man‑su |
| Son Ye‑jin | Miri |
| Park Hee‑soon | Sun‑chul |
| Lee Sung‑min | Bummo |
| Yeom Hye‑ran | Ara |
| Cha Seung‑won | Sijo |
| Oh Dal‑su | Middle‑aged Detective |
| Woo Seung Kim | Si‑one |
| So Yul Choi | Ri‑one |
| Kim Hae‑sook | Grandmother on Rooftop |
| Yoo Yeon‑seok | Chin‑ho |
| Yoon Ga‑yi | YouTuber |
| Lee Seok‑hyeong | Young Detective |
| Kim Hyung‑mook | Wonno |
| Woo Jung‑won | Dongho’s Mother |
| Derek Chouinard | American Executive 3 |
| Post Published By | castadda.com |
Above is the confirmed Cast & Crew list of No Other Choice.
No Other Choice Movie Story
No Other Choice is a South Korean black comedy thriller movie. It is written, produced, and directed by famous filmmaker Park Chan-wook. The movie is based on the novel The Ax by Donald Westlake. It stars Lee Byung-hun, Son Ye-jin, Park Hee-soon, Lee Sung-min, Yeom Hye-ran, and Cha Seung-won. This film is the second movie adaptation of the novel. The first one was a French film released in 2005, directed by Costa-Gavras. No Other Choice is dedicated to him in the ending credits.
The story follows a jobless paper industry expert who becomes desperate to keep his lifestyle. To make sure he gets the job he wants, he decides to kill his competitors, leading to dark and shocking events.
The movie had its first big showing at the Venice Film Festival on August 29, 2025, and critics loved it. At the Golden Globe Awards, it was nominated for Best Movie – Musical or Comedy, Best Foreign Language Film, and Best Actor for Lee Byung-hun. It was also chosen as South Korea’s entry for the Best International Feature Film at the Oscars, and it made the shortlist in December.
Man-su is a top worker at a paper company called Solar Paper. He earns good money and buys the house he grew up in. He lives happily with his wife Mi-ri, his teenage stepson Si-one, their daughter Ri-one, who is a shy cello prodigy, and their two dogs. But then, Americans take over the company and fire many workers, including Man-su. Feeling sad, he tells his family and promises to start making paper again within three months.
Man-su tries to get a job at Moon Paper, but the manager Seon-chul embarrasses him. Angry and wanting Seon-chul’s position, Man-su almost attacks him with a potted plant, but stops when the company owner sees him. Later, Man-su buys the plant and uses it in a fake ad to find out who else wants papermaking jobs. He gets applications and discovers two men, Beom-mo and Si-jo, who have better qualifications than him.
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Man-su starts spying on Beom-mo, who is jobless and drinks a lot. He tries to kill Beom-mo but gets bitten by a snake. Beom-mo’s unhappy wife, A-ra, saves him. Later, both men find out that A-ra is cheating. Man-su points a gun at Beom-mo, but Beom-mo thinks Man-su is A-ra’s secret boyfriend. The three fight over the gun, and A-ra shoots Beom-mo. Man-su barely escapes. He then goes to a costume dance party, but arrives late and sees his wife Mi-ri dancing with Jin-ho. Angry, Man-su goes back to Beom-mo’s house, where A-ra and her lover have buried Beom-mo and the gun.
Thirteen months later, Man-su is working at a low-paying store job because he couldn’t get hired for papermaking. His family has cut back on spending, even giving their dogs to Mi-ri’s parents, which makes Ri-one very sad. Ri-one’s teacher suggests she join advanced cello classes, but they are too expensive. The family also can’t pay the mortgage, and they may lose their home. One possible buyer is the parents of Si-one’s best friend, Geon-ho.
Later, on a highway, Man-su shoots Si-jo and hides his body in his car. At the same time, Si-one and his friend Geon-ho steal iPhones from Geon-ho’s father’s store, but the police catch them. To protect Si-one, Man-su and Mi-ri blackmail Geon-ho’s father, who had been using the store for his own secret affairs, so that Geon-ho takes the blame instead. Detectives warn Man-su about the disappearances of Beom-mo and Si-jo, since both cases look connected. Si-one then sees Man-su trying to cut up Si-jo’s body. When he fails, Man-su buries the body in his garden along with the stolen iPhones.
“Man-su goes to Seon-chul’s house to act friendly. He gives Seon-chul alcohol and ends up drinking too, breaking his sobriety. He painfully pulls out his bad tooth. Meanwhile, Si-one tells Mi-ri what he saw, and Mi-ri secretly digs up Si-jo’s body but lies to protect her son. She calls Man-su to share her worries, but he refuses to stop. Man-su then suffocates Seon-chul and makes it look like Seon-chul died from drinking too much.
After this, Moon Paper hires Man-su to take Seon-chul’s place. His new job saves the family’s home, and they even get their dogs back, which helps Ri-one feel less withdrawn. Detectives later tell Man-su that A-ra blamed Beom-mo for owning the gun and possibly killing Si-jo, which clears suspicion from Man-su. In the end, Man-su celebrates alone in the paper mill, now run by machines instead of people.
Why No Other Choice Is a Gripping Drama Thriller
Strong emotional conflict
Intense survival theme
Realistic characters and decisions
Story driven by human psychology
No Other Choice Release Date Update
The film opened the 30th Busan International Film Festival on September 17, 2025. At the event, both Lee Byung-hun and Son Ye-jin were honored with a special career tribute called the Actors’ House.
After that, the movie released in South Korean theaters on September 24, 2025, through CJ Entertainment, including IMAX screenings. In the United States, the film had a one-night special screening on December 8, 2025.
The movie continued its festival journey with screenings at:
- Vancouver International Film Festival on October 4, 2025
- New York Film Festival on October 12, 2025
- Sitges Film Festival on October 14, 2025, where it competed for awards
- BFI London Film Festival on October 15, 2025
- Adelaide Film Festival on October 24, 2025
- Chicago International Film Festival on October 25, 2025
- Later, the film was screened at:
- Stockholm International Film Festival on November 12, 2025
No Other Choice Trailer Update
Watch the official trailer of No Other Choice Released by VIFF.
Where to Watch No Other Choice Movie
No Other Choice premiered at Venice in Aug 2025, released in Korea in Sep 2025, and is expected to stream on Netflix globally and TVING/Wavve in Korea by late 2025, though official confirmation is pending.
About No Other Choice Movie
No Other Choice is a South Korean black comedy thriller directed by Park Chan‑wook. Based on Donald E. Westlake’s novel The Ax, the film follows Man‑su (Lee Byung‑hun), a jobless paper industry expert who becomes desperate to maintain his lifestyle. His obsession with securing a new job leads him to eliminate his competitors, spiraling into shocking crimes and moral collapse.
FAQs; No Other Choice Movie 2025
Q: Who directed and wrote No Other Choice?
Ans: The film is directed, written, and produced by Park Chan‑wook, with contributions from Lee Kyoung‑mi, Jahye Lee, and Don McKellar. It is based on the novel The Ax by Donald E. Westlake.
Q: When did No Other Choice premiere?
Ans: No Other Choice had its premiere and releases across major international platforms in 2025.
- World Premiere: August 29, 2025, at the Venice Film Festival
- South Korean Release: September 24, 2025 (CJ Entertainment, including IMAX screenings)
- U.S. Special Screening: December 8, 2025
Q: Is No Other Choice based on a true story?
Ans: No, it is based on the novel The Ax by Donald E. Westlake. The story is fictional but reflects real anxieties about unemployment, corporate takeovers, and the extreme measures people might take when pushed to the edge.
Q: How does No Other Choice compare to the original French adaptation?
Ans: The first adaptation was Costa‑Gavras’ 2005 film The Ax. Park Chan‑wook’s version is darker, more satirical, and deeply rooted in South Korean social realities, while still honoring Costa‑Gavras with a dedication in the credits.
Q: Who plays the lead role of Man‑su?
Ans: Lee Byung‑hun stars as Man‑su, a paper industry expert whose desperation leads him down a violent path. His performance has been praised for balancing charm, vulnerability, and menace.
