Burning

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1:44

Burning

Released Oct 26, 2018

2h 28m

Mystery & Thriller

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

95%

Tomatometer

197 Reviews

80%

Popcornmeter

1,000+ Ratings

Jong-soo runs into Hae-mi, a girl who once lived in his neighborhood, and she asks him to watch her cat while she's out of town. When she returns, she introduces him to Ben, a man she met on the trip. Ben proceeds to tell Jong-soo about his hobby.

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Critics Consensus

Burning patiently lures audiences into a slow-burning character study that ultimately rewards the viewer's patience -- and subverts many of their expectations.

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David Stratton

The Australian

Burning...refers to the resentment and the anger felt by the young and struggling towards the rich and overbearing. Revelations like these hover just beneath the surface of this beautifully directed mystery.

Rated: 4.5/5

Apr 25, 2019

Full Review

Wenlei Ma

News.com.au

Lee hypnotises with his story of a love triangle, crafting a movie that could be described as visual poetry.

Rated: 4.5/5

Apr 21, 2019

Full Review

Jake Wilson

The Age (Australia)

This is the kind of film that all but demands a second viewing in order to appreciate the complex elegance of the design, assembled from details systematically calculated to lend themselves to more than one interpretation.

Rated: 4/5

Apr 19, 2019

Full Review

Bianca Garner

Filmotomy

Burning still holds up to multiple viewings, because it’s not really about one particular mystery regarding a missing young woman. The film is dealing with a much bigger mystery…what is our purpose in life?

Oct 10, 2024

Full Review

Calum Cooper

Source (Scotland)

But no matter which way you choose to interpret the film, we’re left with a hauntingly engrossing experience that’s going to gnaw away at my psyche for weeks to come.

Rated: 4/5

Jul 14, 2024

Full Review

Juan Pablo Russo

EscribiendoCine

... A captivating film that explores mysteries, class struggles, and fiery love triangles. [Full review in Spanish]

Rated: 9/10

Jan 2, 2024

Full Review

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Kyle C

A slow burn (ha!) that really takes its time to get going. I found it rewarding, though some might lose interest. What begins as a straightforward drama/romance gradually veers into darker, mystery-thriller territory, keeping you guessing the whole way. Steven Yeun is a standout, somehow managing to be both disgustingly likeable and subtly creepy. While an epilogue could have added some much-needed resolution, Burning remains a well-made, engaging film—even if it tests your patience.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

07/28/25

Full Review

Patrick G.

8.2/10 Good movie and very interesting character dynamics. Only problem was that it seemed like an attempt to stray from cliche portrayals, which it did a good job of, aside from the portrayal of the antagonist.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

07/22/25

Full Review

Dani G

Honestly, the first time I saw it I didn't find this that cool or interesting. The second time (and until somebody told me something I was missing), that was when I said "whoooa, now that's intriguing"

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

07/07/25

Full Review

Audience Member

Brilliant! I have watched this movie multiple times and each time it gets me. SPOILER ALERT!!!!!! Each time it gets me because of ambiguous ending. Why would Ben show up up in rural area with Jung-Soo? Originally I thought Ben and Hai-Mai was trying to inspire Jung-Soo to finish his book. He finished his life instead. The deeper meaning is how modernity and trying to keep up with Jetsons has reduced traditional family values. Also, mental illness is prevalent with city and country people.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

07/07/25

Full Review

Siwoo J

청춘이란 건 수음에 지나지 않고 진리는 흥미로 다져진 그에게 있다면.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

06/10/25

Full Review

Audience Member

Kept waiting for it to get good over the 2.5 hours I spent watching this movie. Still waiting lol. Best part is that I never have to watch it again.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

06/07/25

Full Review

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Lee Chang-dong

Director

Yoo Ah-in

Jong-soo

Steven Yeun

Ben

Jeon Jong-seo

Hae-mi

Kim Soo-kyung

Yeon-ju

Choi Seung-Ho

Yong-seok

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Burning: Trailer 1

1:44

Burning: Teaser Trailer 1

1:17

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Synopsis

Jong-soo runs into Hae-mi, a girl who once lived in his neighborhood, and she asks him to watch her cat while she's out of town. When she returns, she introduces him to Ben, a man she met on the trip. Ben proceeds to tell Jong-soo about his hobby.

Director: Lee Chang-dong
Producer: Lee Chang-dong, Lee Joon-dong, Ok Gwang-hui
Screenwriter: Oh Jungmi, Lee Chang-dong
Distributor: Well Go USA
Production Co: NHK, Pine House Film, NOW Films
Genre: Mystery & Thriller, Drama
Original Language: Korean
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 26, 2018, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 29, 2019
Box Office (Gross USA): $715.0K
Runtime: 2h 28m
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)

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