Rotten Tomatoes
Cancel Movies Tv shows Shop News Showtimes

3-Iron

Play trailer Poster for 3-Iron R Released Apr 29, 2005 1h 27m Romance Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
87% Tomatometer 93 Reviews 94% Popcornmeter 10,000+ Ratings
Tae-suk (Jae-hee) is a lonely drifter who spends his nights in one empty vacation home after another. However, Tae-suk is not your usual squatter, as the courteous young man always makes sure to show his absent -- and unknowing -- hosts his gratitude by doing small household tasks or making simple improvements before moving on. One day, Tae-suk mistakes a quiet home for an empty one and stumbles across an abused housewife (Seung-Yun Lee) in urgent need of his intervention.
Watch on Fandango at Home Buy Now

Where to Watch

3-Iron

3-Iron

What to Know

Critics Consensus

A tender and moving romance from Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter... And Spring's director Kim Ki-Duk.

Read Critics Reviews

Critics Reviews

View All (93) Critics Reviews
Steve O'Hagan Empire Magazine An engrossing, if demandingly obscure, watch. Rated: 3/5 Jul 15, 2005 Full Review Jamie Woolley BBC.com If the snail's pace doesn't send you to sleep, you'll be rewarded with a tender and unusual love story. Rated: 3/5 Jul 12, 2005 Full Review Richard Nilsen Arizona Republic What is so engaging about the film is the way its director, Ki-duk Kim, manages to keep our interest intensely focused on the couple. Rated: 3.5/5 Jun 16, 2005 Full Review Carlos Bonfil La Jornada A triangle of frustrations, revenge and disagreements, handled with ample irony, in which the storytelling talent of this surprising and versatile filmmaker shines. [Full review in Spanish] Aug 28, 2023 Full Review Eddie Harrison The List Oddly, 3-Iron is a violent yet serene meditation on the transitory nature of human existence. A work of genuine poetry, it's a cinematic hole in one. Rated: 4/5 Apr 25, 2019 Full Review Josh Larsen LarsenOnFilm Evanescence is the movie's most distinguishing characteristic. Rated: 2.5/4 Sep 1, 2013 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View All (1000+) audience reviews
Joey c It is a very new and shocked way to express love, Kim Ki duk is a genius Rated 5 out of 5 stars 05/25/23 Full Review Courtney K interesting. i actually really loved how dialog-less it was; i sort of wish there was none at all. it is a beautiful story & that last scene is really quite powerful, but i'm not sure i'd recommend it to anyone else. it's more like if you happen to stumble upon it & you're in the mood for an artsy almost-silent love story, then absolutely watch it. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 05/21/23 Full Review Audience Member so new story and Very new and fresh film..Dialogues are very few but this does not diminish the dynamism and charm of the story Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/24/23 Full Review William L Jae Hee plays as the golfing version of Hawkeye in an ethereal love story that develops the relationship between Lee Seung-yeon's Sun-hwa and Jae Hee's Tae-suk in complete defiance of social standards before taking their connection into something even further beyond - an unexplained transcendence when the rules of society prevent them from being together. They communicate almost wordlessly, seemingly drawn together by a shared disaffection with the world around them, compensating by entering other people's homes and taking care of small chores, like a pair of angels or fairytale spirits. They seemingly have found a way to exist above the brief, confusing, and pointless trappings of modern life as they touch on mortality, wealth, personal satisfaction, and romance in equal measure. It's original, entertaining, and oddly compelling. Always love a film that can combine a slow pace with a short runtime, as long as the plot doesn't suffer. Why the 3-Iron specifically? I'm sure there is some thematic justification that you could craft regarding how that club delivers the straightest, most direct shot, but I think in reality Kim Ki-duk just wanted a way to make a shot through a car windshield seem as realistic as possible. Can't pull that off with a sand wedge. (4/5) Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/28/22 Full Review william d The movie starts out strong and amusing, but ultimately devolves into the strange and the weird. Can't quite recommend. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review andreas h Ein Film wie ein Traum, in dem nur die Bösen sprechen und die Protagonisten keine Worte brauchen, um sich in ihrer eigenen Welt zu verstehen. Großartiges Kino von Kim Ki-duk über Entfremdung, Einsamkeit und das Glück, etwas mit einem gleichgesinnten Menschen teilen zu können. Auf seine ganz eigene, verschrobene Weise schön. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Read all reviews
3-Iron

My Rating

Read More Read Less POST RATING WRITE A REVIEW EDIT REVIEW

Cast & Crew

Show Less Cast & Crew Show More Cast & Crew

More Like This

View All Best Movies to Stream at Home
Last Life in the Universe 90% 90% Last Life in the Universe Watchlist The Cooler 77% 69% The Cooler Watchlist Samsara 100% 89% Samsara Watchlist 2046 87% 85% 2046 Watchlist Baby Boy 72% 87% Baby Boy Watchlist Discover more movies and TV shows. View More
View All 3-Iron photos

3-Iron

A scene from the film "3-Iron." A scene from the film "3-Iron." A scene from the film "3-Iron." On the set of the film "3-Iron." A scene from the film "3-Iron." A scene from the film "3-Iron." A scene from the film "3-Iron." A scene from the film "3-Iron." A scene from the film "3-Iron." A scene from the film "3-Iron." View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis Tae-suk (Jae-hee) is a lonely drifter who spends his nights in one empty vacation home after another. However, Tae-suk is not your usual squatter, as the courteous young man always makes sure to show his absent -- and unknowing -- hosts his gratitude by doing small household tasks or making simple improvements before moving on. One day, Tae-suk mistakes a quiet home for an empty one and stumbles across an abused housewife (Seung-Yun Lee) in urgent need of his intervention.
Director
Kim Ki-duk
Producer
Kim Ki-duk
Screenwriter
Kim Ki-duk
Distributor
Sony Pictures Classics
Production Co
Kim Ki-Duk Film, Cineclick Asia
Rating
R (Some Sexual Content)
Genre
Romance, Drama
Original Language
Korean
Release Date (Theaters)
Apr 29, 2005, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Jan 1, 2014
Box Office (Gross USA)
$238.5K
Runtime
1h 27m
Aspect Ratio
Flat (1.85:1)
Most Popular at Home Now