Madman Entertainment has revealed the first trailer and official artwork for No Other Choice, the highly anticipated darkly comic thriller from BAFTA Award-winning director Park Chan-wook (The Handmaiden, Oldboy). The film is set for release in Australian cinemas on 15 January 2026.
Based on Donald E. Westlake’s novel The Ax, No Other Choice tells the story of Man-su, a middle-aged man who, after being unexpectedly fired from a paper company where he dedicated 25 years, embarks on a determined job hunt. “If there is no opening for me, I’ll just have to get hired by creating one. I have no other choice,” he declares, setting off a chain of events that is as darkly humorous as it is suspenseful.
The film stars Lee Byung-hun (I Saw the Devil) and Son Ye-jin (The Last Princess), supported by an ensemble cast including Park Hee-soon (My Name), Lee Sung-min (The Spy Gone North), Yeom Hye-ran (The Glory), Cha Seung-won (Believer), and Yoo Yeon-seok (Mr. Sunshine). The screenplay is a collaboration between Park Chan-wook, Lee Kyoung-mi, Don McKellar, and Jahye Lee.
Following its world premiere at the Venice Film Festival, No Other Choice has already generated buzz for its sharp direction, dark humour, and tightly wound narrative. Fans of Park Chan-wook can expect a story that blends suspense, satire, and a piercing look at ambition and desperation in modern life.
No Other Choice arrives in Australian cinemas on 15 January 2026, promising audiences a thrilling and darkly comedic cinematic experience to start the new year.