Below are 4 movies that moviegoers are looking forward to enjoying on the big screen in May.
In the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic, the theaters could only welcome a few visitors for a while. As the number of moviegoers decreased due to Covid-19, many highly anticipated films have postponed their releases.
However, with the social distancing regulation being completely removed in Korea on April 18th as well as popcorns and drinks being allowed to be taken inside theaters from April 25th, the country’s cinema industry, which had seen a great slump, is expected to revive in earnest.
In line with the situation, many masterpieces are going to be introduced on the big screen from next week.
Let’s look through some upcoming films that will attract people back to the theaters.
1. The Roundup
The sequel to the legendary action movie “The Outlaws”, which captivated the hearts of many movie fans when it premiered in 2017, will finally be released.
“The Roundup” is a movie about a satisfying criminal-chasing operation conducted by the monster detective Ma Seok-do to catch Kang Hae-sang, the strongest villain living hiding in Vietnam.
The main character of the series Ma Seok-do (Ma Dong-seok) will stimulate prospective audiences’ excitement by showing overwhelming actions crossing the borders. The viewers are raising high expectations for the perfect comeback of the monster detective, an irreplaceable Korean hero who gives off a unique aura.
In addition, the appearances of original casts of “The Outlaws” and newly joined characters are also drawing attention. Following the previous movie, “The Roundup” will captivate the audience with its pleasant laughs and impressive actions.
“The Roundup” will be released on May 18th.
2. UMMA
Starring Canadian-American actress Sandra Oh, the horror film “UMMA” (written and directed by Iris K. Shim, a Korean-American from Chicago) will be released this month.
It is a movie about an unidentified phenomenon that occurs when the remains of a deceased mother arrive in Korea in front of Amanda (Sandra Oh), who is living peacefully with her daughter Chris (Fivel Stewart) on a remote farm.
Under the theme of “resentment”, a characteristic Korean sentiment, the work plans to present a unique thriller by combining various Korean cultures. “UMMA” is set to be released on May 11th.
3. Broker
“Broker” is one of the upcoming releases that many cinema fans are already looking forward to. Directed by Hirokazu Koreeda, “Broker” features a brilliant star-studded cast including Song Kang-ho, Kang Dong-won, Bae Doo-na, IU (Lee Ji-eun), Lee Joo-young, and more.
The movie follows self-proclaimed good-will broker Sang-hyun (Song Kang-ho), his partner Dong-soo (Kang Dong-won), baby’s mother So-yeong (Lee Ji-eun), detective Soo-jin (Bae Doo-na) and junior detective Lee (Lee Joo-young), who chase after Sang-hyun and Dong-soo.
Viewers are anticipating the unpredictable chemistry between people who meet around baby boxes, where infants are left behind by their parents anonymously.
“Broker” is scheduled to be released on June 8.
4. Decision to Leave
Director Park Chan-wook’s highly-anticipated mystery thriller film “Decision to Leave,” starring Tang Wei, has been confirmed to hit Korean theaters this June.
“Decision to Leave” tells the story of detective Hae-jun (Park Hae-il), who is investigating a murder case in the mountains. The meeting with Seo-rae (Tang Wei), the wife of the deceased, makes Hae-jun feel both suspicious and interested at the same time.
With its splendid cast, “Decision to Leave” is one of the upcoming films that has been officially invited to have its world debut this May in competition at the 75th Cannes International Film Festival, drawing high expectations from both audiences and critics.
