Park Chan-wook’s film No Other Choice has been quietly successful in the U.S., but predictions suggest it may miss out on an Academy Award nomination.
Deadline, a prominent American entertainment news outlet, recently reported that No Other Choice is expected to reach around 10 million USD at the U.S. box office. This would make it the second-highest-grossing Korean film in America, trailing only Bong Joon-ho’s Parasite, which raked in 53.8 million USD.
Currently, the second-highest-grossing Korean film in the U.S. is Shim Hyung-rae’s D-War (2007), which earned 10.9 million USD. As of Wednesday, No Other Choice has grossed 6,982,452 USD in North America, according to Box Office Mojo.
Deadline also anticipates that No Other Choice will surpass Park’s previous worldwide box office champion, The Handmaiden. While The Handmaiden earned 38 million USD globally, No Other Choice has already accumulated 30,098,698 USD worldwide.
No Other Choice has clearly captivated American audiences with its charm and mass appeal. The film’s dark comedy elements have resonated not only in Korea but also across North America. Currently shortlisted for the Academy Award for Best International Feature Film, Park’s potential highest-grossing work awaits the final nominations announcement on January 22 at 8:30 a.m. ET.
However, some industry insiders predict that No Other Choice might not make the cut for the Best International Feature Film category. The Los Angeles Times recently forecasted five likely nominees: The Secret Agent,Sentimental Value, It Was Just an Accident, Sirat, The Voice of Hind Rajab, listing No Other Choice only as a possible surprise contender.
What’s behind these pessimistic predictions? The Academy Awards, while not always predictable, often follow trends set by precursor ceremonies like the Critics’ Choice Awards and Golden Globes. These earlier awards can provide insights into the potential Oscar lineup.
No Other Choice received nominations for Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Foreign Language Film at the 31st Critics’ Choice Awards but didn’t win either. At the 83rd Golden Globe Awards, it competed in three categories – Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy, Best Foreign Language Film, and Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy (Lee Byung Hun) – but came up empty-handed. These results suggest that other international films released around the same time garnered more attention during the awards season. Moreover, the Academy has a reputation for favoring socially relevant dramas over satirical black comedies, which may work against No Other Choice’s chances.
As the announcement approaches, the question remains: Will No Other Choice secure a nomination for Best International Feature Film or any other category at the Academy Awards? If it does, it would mark a historic first for a Park film at the Oscars.