Netflix comedy 'Husbands in Action' promises big laughs, chemistryThe Netflix movie "Husbands in Action" is an action-comedy that follows the hijinks of a rescue operation put together by the ex-husband and current husband of a woman kidnapped by a criminal organization, according to director Park Gyu-tae as he introduced the film, Monday. "I've focused on situational comedy from clashing groups in my past works, but the biggest difference in this film is the action," Park said during a press conference in Seoul. The director, known for the 2022 comedy "6/45," added that the action sequences unfolding across various locations will be a key point for the audience to watch. The movie follows a desperate rescue mission by the elite narcotics detective and ex-husband Choong-shik (Jin Sun-kyu) who teams up with his former wife's handsome young veterinarian husband Min-seok (Gong Myung). Together they chase down a criminal group that has kidnapped Shi-nae (Kang Han-na), Min-seok's current and Choong-shik's former spouse. Throughout the movie, the two leads try to overcome their awkward relationship to navigate a series of dangerous situations while fightingJun 15, 2026By Baek Byung-yeul
'Colony' breaks 5 mil. admissions, tops weekend box-office chart for 4th weekThe Korean zombie thriller "Colony" broke 5 million admissions during the weekend as it reigned atop the weekend box-office chart for the fourth straight week, data showed Monday. The film added 301,053 admissions over the weekend, logging 5,212,824 accumulated admissions as of Sunday, according to the data released by the Korean Film Council, which compiles admissions from Friday through Sunday for its weekend chart. It is the second movie released this year to accomplish the 5-million milestone, following the Korean history drama "The King's Warden." "Colony" is the latest zombie thriller from director Yeon Sang-ho, known for "Train to Busan" (2016). It follows biotechnology professor Se-jeong (Jun Ji-hyun) and a group of survivors who fight to escape a building locked down by a virus outbreak. The blockbuster also stars Koo Kyo-hwan as a lone wolf researcher who controls zombies and Ji Chang-wook and Kim Shin-rok as survivors battling the zombies, alongside Jun. On the weekend chart, "Wild Sing," a Korean comedy film starring Gang Dong-won, ranked No. 2 as it attracted 205,100 admissioJun 15, 2026By Yonhap
For ‘Colony,’ K-zombie film from ‘Train to Busan’ director, Korean box-office success is no surpriseIt is another success, and another win, for K-zombie films. One might even say they have evolved. “Colony,” one of the most anticipated zombie films of the first half of the year, is on a record-breaking run. In the third week of its release, “Colony” is eyeing the 5 million admissions mark. It took four days for the film to cross 1 million admissions after its release on May 21. It crossed 2 million the very next day, and cleared the 3 million mark five days later. Exactly two weeks after its release, the film surpassed 4 million admissions. It is roaring through box-office milestones faster than any other film released in 2026, a lineup that includes “The King’s Warden,” “Project Hail Mary” and “Salmokji: Whispering Water.” That raises an obvious question: What is driving its success? The key to its success, according to critics, comes from the combination of the genre’s strong, dedicated fandom and trust in director Yeon Sang-ho. And, of course, there is the anticipation surrounding K-zombies, which have more than earned their hype. At the forefront of the keysJun 13, 2026By Hankookilbo
ReviewSpielberg returns to familiar territory with ‘Disclosure Day’Master of science fiction Steven Spielberg returns to the world of extraterrestrials with “Disclosure Day,” his fourth film centered on alien encounters. Nearly five decades after “Close Encounters of the Third Kind” (1977) and more than 20 years after “War of the Worlds” (2005), the veteran filmmaker attempts to combine the sense of wonder that defined his earlier works with the tension of a modern political thriller. The story expands on themes explored in “Close Encounters of the Third Kind,” “E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial” (1982) and “War of the Worlds.” Unlike those films, however, “Disclosure Day” focuses less on the aliens themselves and more on humanity’s response to them. At the center of the story is Wardex, a secretive military organization that has hidden evidence of extraterrestrial life for decades while conducting controversial experiments on alien visitors. The plot begins when Daniel Kellner (Josh O’Connor) decides to leak classified information about the coverup. A cybersecurity expert working inside Wardex, he risks everything to expose theJun 10, 2026By Baek Byung-yeul
Jun Ji-hyun opens up about 'Colony' role, timeless beauty praised by viewersActor Jun Ji-hyun spoke candidly about the widespread praise for her appearance following the release of the new zombie thriller "Colony." "There was no intention whatsoever, so it was unexpected that people responded so positively," Jun said in a recent interview. "I only wore jeans and a white T-shirt ... I didn't do anything." Her striking appearance as Se-jeong has drawn widespread praise from moviegoers. "On set, nobody said, 'Because it's Jun Ji-hyun, she needs to look like this.' Everyone wanted to focus only on the narrative, so it was unexpected," she said. "I felt good, but in some ways, I was pleasantly surprised." While she said she still wants to take on action roles, her principle was to avoid flashy action sequences. "I appear as a biotechnology professor, so I thought it would be awkward if I suddenly became good at action," she said. "There was no need to beat down zombies, and I only wanted to show as much as Se-jeong could realistically do." This grounded approach focused on portraying Se-jeong not as a superhero, but as a relatable figure who serves as an anchor and guiJun 10, 2026By Hankookilbo
Bucheon Fantastic Film Festival leaps into AI-driven era for 30th anniv.The Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival (BIFAN) is ready to lead changes in the movie industry this year, its 30th anniversary, by actively embracing AI and new media while staying true to its identity as a home for genre cinema. As it celebrates 30 years of showcasing unique and imaginative movies, Asia's top genre film festival aims to create a new trend where advanced technology and human creativity come together. This year’s BIFAN, running from July 2 to 12 in Bucheon, just west of Seoul, will feature an all-time high of 321 films from 50 countries. Reflecting the festival's tech-forward vision, the lineup includes 38 AI-generated films and 28 extended reality (XR) projects, alongside 170 feature films and 85 shorts. Director Yuen Woo-ping’s "The Blades of the Guardians" will open the festival. The organizers emphasized that the anniversary is not just a celebration of longevity, but a new beginning for the future of moviemaking. "This is not merely a story of the trajectory of time that has passed, but a moment to reflect on the journey of the past 30 years and to leapJun 9, 2026By Baek Byung-yeul
‘Toy Story 5’ returns to face challenge of smart devicesThe beloved toys are back in "Toy Story 5" to face their biggest modern challenge — smart devices. In this fifth installment, the familiar toys face a completely new reality where children put toys away and pick up digital devices. Bonnie, the main child character, gets introduced to Lilypad (voiced by Greta Lee), a smart device that begins taking away her playtime with traditional toys. "Yes, well, one of the biggest advancements in ‘Toy Story 5’ is that we're kind of finally catching up to the truth of childhood today, which is that kids everywhere are playing with iPads and screens and devices all the time," co-director McKenna Harris said during an online conference, Monday. "Bonnie, the main character, or the main child, has been introduced to Lilypad, a device that is really taking away a lot of playtime with the toys, so this is a bigger challenge than any of the toys in the previous films have ever had to face.” Unlike previous films where Woody (Tom Hanks) took the lead, "Toy Story 5" places Jessie (Joan Cusack) at the center of the narrative, a creative decision by direJun 8, 2026By Baek Byung-yeul
J-horror meets K-occult in spiritual thriller ‘The Shrine’Singer and actor Kim Jae-joong is making his long-awaited return to the big screen in a unique horror movie that bridges the chilling aesthetics of Japanese and Korean cinema. Directed by Japanese filmmaker Kazuyoshi Kumakiri, upcoming horror movie “The Shrine” marks Kim’s first movie in 14 years since his appearance in the 2012 comedy “Code Name: Jackal.” “The Shrine” follows the story of three university students who mysteriously disappear after visiting an abandoned shrine in Kobe, Japan. Shaman Myung-jin (Kim) tries to uncover the truth behind the disappearances, but faces a bizarre and terrifying evil spirit. Joining him is Yu-mi (Kong Seong-ha), Myung-jin’s university junior who seeks his help. Kim described the film as a refreshing departure from typical Korean horror movies, largely due to the cross-cultural collaboration. “Even though this is a Korean production, about 90 percent of the crew members were Japanese,” Kim said Monday after the premiere. “Because we worked with a Japanese director, it became a movie where the distinct characteristics of J-horrorJun 8, 2026By Baek Byung-yeul
'Colony' tops weekend box-office chart for 3rd weekThe Korean zombie thriller "Colony" ranked No. 1 at the weekend box office for the third straight week following its release, ahead of the comedy "Wild Sing," data showed Monday. The blockbuster had logged 4,727,520 accumulated admissions as of Sunday, adding 603,868 admissions over the weekend, according to the data released by the Korean Film Council, which compiles admissions from Friday through Sunday for its weekend chart. "Colony" is the latest zombie thriller from director Yeon Sang-ho, known for "Train to Busan" (2016). It follows biotechnology professor Se-jeong (Jun Ji-hyun) and a group of survivors who fight to escape a building locked down by a virus outbreak. The blockbuster also stars Koo Kyo-hwan as a lone wolf researcher who controls zombies and Ji Chang-wook and Kim Shin-rok as survivors battling the zombies, alongside Jun. "Wild Sing," another Korean film starring Gang Dong-won, came in second place, attracting 321,190 admissions over the weekend and bringing its total admissions to 543,724. The American sci-fi horror film "Backrooms" ranked No. 3 with 199,817 admissionsJun 8, 2026By Yonhap
InterviewKore-eda explores human nature, imagination in 'Sheep in the Box'Renowned Japanese filmmaker Hirokazu Kore-eda has focused on the concept of unseen imagination as the ultimate message of his new sci-fi film "Sheep in the Box." The movie, which competed for the Palme d'Or at the 79th Cannes Film Festival last month, follows human parents (Haruka Ayase as the mother and Daigo Yamamoto as the father), who adopt a 7-year-old "humanoid" robot Kakeru (Rimu Kuwaki) to replace their deceased son. The film’s title is inspired by an episode in Antoine de Saint-Exupéry’s novel “The Little Prince,” where a pilot draws a box and tells the prince a sheep is inside to satisfy the boy's imagination. Kore-eda gave the film an ambiguous ending where the parents leave the robot boy in a forest because he believes there should be a certain emotional distance between humans and an entirely different entity, like the adopted humanoid. "The adults do not go into the forest. Instead, they return. It doesn't end with 'everyone lived happily ever after,'" Kore-eda told The Korea Times at film distributor NEW’s office in Seoul, Friday. "But I believed those who returnJun 7, 2026By Baek Byung-yeul
