No Other Choice Parent Guide
Thought-provoking and darkly comic, this film has a lot to say about "means" and "ends".
Parent Movie Review
As he barbecues dinner on a golden evening, Man-su (Lee Byung-hun) looks around in satisfaction. “I’ve got it all,” he says, as he eyes his expansive lawn, large home, and loving family.
Within days, Man-su’s Korean dream comes crashing down. The paper company that has employed him for over twenty years is purchased by an American conglomerate. The new owners demand staff cuts and Man-su’s resistance is met with termination.
Being fired is emotionally devastating for Man-su, but when he’s unable to find a new job quickly, the financial consequences pile up. His teenage son (Woo Seung Kim) gets in trouble. Neurodivergent daughter Ri-one (Su Yul Choi) needs a more advanced cello instructor and a higher quality instrument. Wife Miri (Son Ye-jin) has been forced to give up tennis and start working part-time. Even the dogs have been given away when their food is too big an expense. More personally, Man-su has a chronic toothache and can’t afford to see a dentist. He’s increasingly desperate.
After a series of failed job interviews, Miri jokes that maybe another candidate will be struck by lightning. A plan pops into Man-su’s head: what if he kills the most qualified paper executives so he’ll be the best option for available jobs? It’s not what he wants to do, but after all, he has no other choice…
Based on the book The Ax by Donald E. Westlake, No Other Choice presents as a dark satire critiquing late-stage capitalism. It pitilessly depicts the social costs of frayed bonds between business and employees and the financial desperation that ensues when that relationship breaks.
To my mind, this film is less a socio-economic critique and more a cautionary tale about the slippery slope of personal moral failings. Man-su’s goals are understandable: he wants to support his family and keep their home. But he soon learns that actions have unavoidable consequences and that using the wrong means can taint even the most desirable ends.
It should come as no surprise that this production carries significant levels of negative content. There are scenes of murder and attempted murder: people are shot and smothered, and a dead body is disposed of unlawfully. Profanity includes 20 sexual expletives and there are frequent scenes of adults smoking (and even one of adult-sanctioned teen marijuana use). Heavy drinking, to the point of severe intoxication is shown on screen; to make matters worse, this involves a recovering alcoholic. Throw in sexual innuendo and a very unpleasant scene where a jealous husband paws at his wife and this R-rated film is clearly not suited for mass audiences.
No Other Choice is clever, thought-provoking, darkly funny, and clearly has something to say. Unfortunately, it is so morbid and amoral that I cannot recommend it. Moviegoers have a choice and I encourage you to pick a different film.
Directed by Park Chan-wook. Starring Lee Byung-hun, Son Ye-jin, Woo Seung Kim, So Yul Choi. Running time: 139 minutes. Theatrical release January 16, 2026. Updated January 19, 2026About author
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No Other Choice
Rating & Content Info
Why is No Other Choice rated R? No Other Choice is rated R by the MPAA for violence, language, and some sexual content
Violence: A man contemplates dropping a heavy object on someone else’s head but does not. An inebriated man uses a wrench to rip out his own infected tooth. There are a couple of scenes where people are fatally shot. A man sticks a dead body in his car before binding it up and burying it. People get involved in a physical fight involving hitting, pushing, and grappling. A man is shown with a snakebite on his leg and a woman uses a knife to cut the bite so she can suck out the venom. A man bangs his own head into a wall. There’s a brief reference to war violence. There’s mention of a man’s suicide by hanging. A man is suffocated.
Sexual Content: There is an adulterous sex scene that involves panting but no explicit nudity. Men’s buttocks are seen on two occasions. There are accusations of infidelity. A man insists on sniffing his wife’s underwear to see if she’s cheating on him. A man grabs at his wife. A woman goes braless so her visible nipples will distract a man. A man and woman kiss. There’s a brief reference to condoms.
Profanity: The script contains 20 sexual expletives, four scatological curses, four terms of deity, five minor profanities, and an anatomical term.
Alcohol / Drug Use: Adults, including a main character, smoke cigarettes. A father winks at his teenage son’s marijuana use. Men smoke cigars. A recovering alcoholic drinks alcohol. People are seen intoxicated and alcoholism is a topic of conversation. Two men become extremely drunk.
Page last updated January 19, 2026
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Better films about parents struggling to support their families include The Pursuit of Happyness, The Grapes of Wrath, Parasite, Green and Gold, and Sorry We Missed You.