Phil Roberts 
Park Chan-wook’s zany and completely off-the-wall thriller, No Other Choice, secures a UK theatrical release from MUBI.
MUBI, the global distributor, streaming service, and production company, has confirmed that Park Chan-wook’s off-the-wall thriller, No Other Choice, has bagged a UK release date. The film was a triumph at the London Film Festival, and now fans can look forward to their first glimpse on the big screen on January 23rd, 2026.
The film is based on Donald E. Westlake’s novel The Ax. The story follows a middle-aged man named Man-su who embarks on a determined job hunt after being unexpectedly fired from the paper company that he worked for 25 years. But in a bizarre twist, his employment search is blocked at every turn. With his family cutting costs and his childhood home on the verge of repossession, Man-su decides to create an opening for himself instead of waiting for one… no matter the cost. Check out the trailer below.
SYNOPSIS
Receiving its world premiere at this year’s Venice Film Festival and its UK premiere at London Film Festival, No Other Choice is based on Donald E. Westlake’s novel The Ax, the story follows a middle-aged man named Man-su who embarks on a determined job-hunt after being unexpectedly fired from the paper company that he worked for 25 years. “If there is no opening for me, I’ll just have to get hired by creating one. I have no other choice.”
CAST & CREW
No Other Choice is directed by Park Chan-wook (The Handmaiden, Oldboy), and stars Lee Byung-hun (I Saw the Devil) and Son Ye-jin (The Last Princess) alongside an ensemble cast including Park Hee-soon (My Name), Lee Sung-min (The Spy Gone North), Yeom Hye-ran (The Glory), Cha Seung-won (Believer) and Yoo Yeon-seok (Mr. Sunshine). The film is written by Park Chan-wook, Lee Kyoung-mi, Don McKellar and Jahye Lee.
REACTIONS
Thankfully, two members of our team caught the film at the London Film Festival and had a blast with it. In his initial reactions to the film, our News Editor Carl Roberts said: “No Other Choice is a wickedly amusing film that doesn’t take itself too seriously. With emotional and winning performances, a cutting script, and great comedy, the film is a winner. Who knew paper production could be so deadly?!!”
And finally, in my reactions, I said: “Park Chan-wook’s No Other Choice is a wonderfully well-layered and fun thriller. Often zany and entirely off the wall, the film effortlessly captures the stresses of being made redundant while slipping into the realm of outrageous fantasy. A welcome surprise package.” Watch out for our full review soon.
RELEASE
Trust us, this is a film you do not want to miss. With its rich and engrossing storyline, zany off-the-wall comedy, and winning performances, the film is the ultimate surprise package. Fans of Squid Game will recognize Lee Byung-hun as the infamous Front Man, and here he dazzles as the film’s lead. The zany plot goes to some unbelievable places. So if you’re in the mood for some hilarious antics, this is the film for you.
No Other Choice will release in cinemas across the UK and Ireland on January 23rd, 2026.
Will you be checking out the film when it hits UK cinemas? Drop a comment in the chat below.
Meet Phil Roberts! He’s the dedicated owner, daily content manager, and editor-in-chief of The Future of the Force. Phil is a budding novelist who turned his passion toward writing about the franchises he loves back in 2016. He’s a huge fan of all things Star Wars, Batman, DC, Marvel, Star Trek, Indiana Jones, Ghostbusters, King Kong, and the Ray Harryhausen movies. Phil is a BFI-accredited journalist and a distinguished member of the Film Critics Association UK.
If he’s not catching a movie at the cinema, you can bet he’s streaming something just as awesome!
