Concrete Utopia

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Concrete Utopia

Released Dec 8, 2023

2h 10m

Action

Adventure

Drama

Sci-Fi

Mystery & Thriller

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

100%

Tomatometer

61 Reviews

75%

Popcornmeter

100+ Ratings

The world has been reduced to rubble by a massive earthquake. While no one knows for sure how far the ruins stretch, or what the cause of the earthquake may be, in the heart of Seoul there is only one apartment building left standing. It is called Hwang Gung Apartments. As time passes, outsiders start coming in to Hwang Gung Apartments trying to escape the extreme cold. Before long, the apartment residents are unable to cope with the increasing numbers. Feeling a threat to their very survival, the residents enact a special measure.

Critics Consensus

Concrete Utopia uses its post-apocalyptic framework to pose questions regarding the drive for survival, intelligently probing darker corners of human nature along the way.

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Phil Hoad

Guardian

If George Orwell had had a career stint as a Korean estate agent, this is the kind of story he might have turned out.

Rated: 4/5

Apr 5, 2024

Full Review

Peter Rainer

FilmWeek (KPCC - NPR Los Angeles)

It's a powerful movie, very well-made and well-directed with a contemporary resonance.

Dec 11, 2023

Full Review

Carlos Aguilar

Los Angeles Times

Though the humor and acting in “Concrete Utopia” can occasionally feel broad, Lee’s viscerally monstrous performance grounds a high-stakes drama.

Dec 11, 2023

Full Review

Kat Halstead

Common Sense Media

There are no black and white morals here and human nature itself is laid bare at its best, but mostly its worst.

Sep 11, 2024

Full Review

Steve Morrissey

Radio Times

As allegories go, it is a bit heavy-handed, but Um's totalising vision in terms of imagery, soundscape and performances can't be faulted.

Rated: 3/5

Jul 31, 2024

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Joshua Polanski

Boston Hassle

At its most political, Concrete Utopia finds the fascist project essentially anti-life and destined for a systemic collapse.

Jul 4, 2024

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Patricia M

Fantastic film, provocative story telling. Park Seo Joon gives a performance that is on another level, so moving and nuanced. Even the song during the credits was beautiful and touching.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

12/22/23

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Jamie

Riveting movie! Great special effects and scenery. The three main actors engaged the audience without a lot of dialog. Much of the story was told through their emotions.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

12/20/23

Full Review

Simoa

If there was any justice in the world, Park Bo Young would be nominated for an Oscar

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

12/16/23

Full Review

Celina

Exceptional story-telling of a diaster-thriller film. In other films of the same genre typically the story takes place during a disaster with loaded action shows and heroic characters. Concrete Utopia focuses on the aftermath with a realistic portrayal of human nature in their quest for survival.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

12/15/23

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브래디 톰

Giving meaning to the obvious story makes it even more boring.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

02/07/25

Full Review

Michael Shane B

This concept offers a tense and haunting exploration of survival, morality, and the breakdown of social order in the wake of disaster. The unique setting—a lone apartment building amidst the desolation of Seoul—creates an atmospheric backdrop, ripe for storytelling.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

12/01/24

Full Review

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Um Tae-hwa

Director

Lee Byung-hun

Young-tak

Park Seo-joon

Min-sung

Park Bo-young

Myung-hwa

Kim Sun-young

Geum-ae

Park Ji-hu

Hye-won

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Synopsis

The world has been reduced to rubble by a massive earthquake. While no one knows for sure how far the ruins stretch, or what the cause of the earthquake may be, in the heart of Seoul there is only one apartment building left standing. It is called Hwang Gung Apartments. As time passes, outsiders start coming in to Hwang Gung Apartments trying to escape the extreme cold. Before long, the apartment residents are unable to cope with the increasing numbers. Feeling a threat to their very survival, the residents enact a special measure.

Director: Um Tae-hwa
Screenwriter: Um Tae-hwa, Lee Shin-ji, Jo Seul-yeah
Distributor: 815 Pictures
Production Co: Lotte Entertainment, Climax Films, BH Entertainment
Genre: Action, Adventure, Drama, Sci-Fi, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: Korean
Release Date (Theaters): Dec 8, 2023, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 26, 2024
Runtime: 2h 10m
Sound Mix: Dolby Digital