Concrete Utopia

Seoul is devastated overnight by a major earthquake. Everything has collapsed, and only one place remains intact: Imperial Palace Apartments. Residents begin to feel threatened as external survivors who have heard of this haven flock to the apartments. They unite for survival, and with a new resident leader, Yeong-tak, they create new rules for residents and prevent entry to outsiders. Thanks to this, unlike the hellish world outside, the utopian apartments remain safe and peaceful. In an endless crisis for survival, however, an unexpected conflict begins among them.

• Lee Byung-hun as Yeong-tak (room 902){{Cite web|url=https://entertain.naver.com/now/read?oid=108&aid=0002884453|script-title=ko:이병헌X박서준X박보영, 재난 스릴러 '콘크리트 유토피아'로 호흡 [공식]|trans-title=Byung-Hun Lee X Seo-Jun Park X Bo-Young Park Breathe With Disaster Thriller 'Concrete Utopia' [Official]|author=Kim Mi-hwa|date=August 4, 2020|access-date=April 16, 2021|work=Maeil Broadcasting Network|publisher=Naver|language=ko|archive-date=April 16, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210416075258/https://entertain.naver.com/now/read?oid=108&aid=0002884453|url-status=live}}

: Interim resident leader of Imperial Palace Apartments. With his decisiveness and ability to act in a crisis situation, he is a leader who does not hesitate to take risks to protect the apartments from outsiders.

• Park Seo-joon as Min-sung (room 602)

: A civil servant who majored in public administration and met his wife, Myeong-hwa, on a blind date as a college student. After being noticed by Yeong-tak and selected as a security guard, his skills are recognized, and he became the leader's assistant.

• Park Bo-young as Myeong-hwa (room 602)

: Min-sung's wife, who is a nurse with a warm personality and strength. She calmly cares for the injured even in extreme situations.

• Kim Sun-young as Geum-ae (room 1207){{Cite news|url=https://n.news.naver.com/entertain/movie/article/382/0000933662|script-title=ko:김선영 출연확정...이병헌 '콘크리트 유토피아' 합류 [공식]|trans-title=Kim Seon-young confirmed to appear... Lee Byung-hun joins 'Concrete Utopia' [Official]|author=Ham Nayan|work=Sports Donga|publisher=Naver|date=September 16, 2021|access-date=September 16, 2021|language=ko}}

: President of the women's association of Imperial Palace Apartments

• Park Ji-hu as Hye-won (room 903){{Cite news|author=Jung Yu-jin|script-title=ko:[단독] '벌새' 박지후, 이병헌·박보영 만난다..'콘크리트 유토피아' 합류|trans-title=[Exclusive]'Hummingbird' Park Ji-hoo, Lee Byung-hun and Park Bo-young meet... joining'Concrete Utopia'|url=https://movie.v.daum.net/v/20210405165641662|work=News1|publisher=Daum|date=April 5, 2021|access-date=April 16, 2021|language=ko|archive-date=April 16, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210416075300/https://movie.v.daum.net/v/20210405165641662|url-status=live}}

: A high school student survivor

• {{Interlanguage link|Kim Do-yoon|ko|김도윤 (배우)}} as Do-gyun (room 809){{Cite web|url=https://n.news.naver.com/entertain/article/052/0001572261|script-title=ko:[단독] '반도' 김도윤, '콘트리트 유토피아' 캐스팅|trans-title=[Exclusive] 'Bando' Kim Do-yoon, 'Contreat Utopia' cast|author=Kwak Hyun-soo|date=April 7, 2021|access-date=April 16, 2021|work=YTN|publisher=Naver|language=ko|archive-date=October 4, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221004041353/https://n.news.naver.com/entertain/article/052/0001572261|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|last=Kim Seon-woo|date=July 3, 2023|script-title=ko:'콘크리트 유토피아' 김선영·박지후·김도윤, 신뢰 가득 캐스팅|url=https://entertain.naver.com/read?oid=437&aid=0000349601|access-date=July 3, 2023|publisher=JTBC|language=ko|via=Naver}}

: A resident who initially appears to be uncooperative but is actually a person of upright character who sticks to his beliefs even among people who are becoming corrupted.

Special appearances

• Uhm Tae-goo as a homeless man{{cite web|url=https://entertain.naver.com/movie/read?oid=477&aid=0000444372|last=Yoo|first=Eun-bi|script-title=ko:학연·혈연에 팬心까지 총동원 ...특별출연 '美친 라인업'[이슈S]|trans-title=Mobilize school ties, blood ties, and even fan hearts...Special appearance on "Crazy Friendly Lineup" [issue S]|publisher=SpoTV News|via=Naver|date=August 5, 2023|access-date=August 9, 2023|language=ko}}

: One of the homeless people moving in groups outside Imperial Palace Apartments

• Lee Seon-hee as Ju-mong's mother{{cite web|url=http://www.stoo.com/article.php?aid=89608115188|script-title=ko:이선희, '콘유'·'마스크걸'→광고계 넘나드는 활약|website=Sports Today|date=October 20, 2023}}
• Oh Hee-joon as homeless man{{cite web|url=https://sports.khan.co.kr/article/202406040722003|title=배우 오희준, 드라마 '감사합니다' 출연|website=Sports Trends|date=August 2, 2024}}
• Joo In-young as Kim Po-daek{{Cite web|script-title=ko:박찬욱 감독이 극찬한 '콘유' 속 신스틸러, 주인영|url=https://entertain.naver.com/now/read?oid=144&aid=0000907466|access-date=August 18, 2023|website=Naver|language=ko}}

On August 4, 2020, Lotte Entertainment announced a disaster thriller film with Um Tae-hwa as director and Lee Byung-hun and Park Bo-young in pivotal roles.{{Cite news|url=https://n.news.naver.com/entertain/article/468/0000684978|author=Kim Sun-woo|script-title=ko:[단독]이병헌X박보영, '콘크리트 유토피아' 캐스팅...'믿보배' 라인업|trans-title=[Exclusive] Lee Byung-hun X Park Bo-young cast'Concrete Utopia'... 'Believe' lineup|work=Sports Seoul|publisher=Naver|date=August 4, 2020|access-date=April 16, 2021|language=ko|archive-date=April 16, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210416091700/https://n.news.naver.com/entertain/article/468/0000684978|url-status=live}} Park Seo-joon was also set to star, in a film based on the webtoon Pleasant Bullying, by Kim Soongnyung.{{Cite web|url=https://www.yna.co.kr/view/AKR20200804120500005|script-title=ko:영화 '콘크리트 유토피아'에 이병헌·박서준·박보영 캐스팅|trans-title=Casting Lee Byung-hun, Park Seo-jun, and Park Bo-young in the movie 'Concrete Utopia'|first=Mi-hee|last=Han|website=Yonnhap News|date=August 4, 2020|access-date=April 16, 2021|language=ko|archive-date=April 16, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210416091710/https://www.yna.co.kr/view/AKR20200804120500005|url-status=live}} Park Ji-hu and Kim Do-yoon joined the cast in April 2021.

The film is directed by Um Tae-hwa and produced by Climax Studio, and co-produced by BH Entertainment. It is distributed by Lotte Entertainment, who also work as international sales agents for the production.{{cite web|url=https://entertain.naver.com/read?oid=109&aid=0004887957|author=Kim Bo-ra|script-title=ko:'콘크리트 유토피아' 이병헌→박서준x박보영, 메인 포스터 공개|trans-title='Concrete Utopia' Lee Byung-hun → Park Seo-joon x Park Bo-young, main poster revealed|publisher={{ill|Osen (newspaper)|ko|OSEN|lt=OSEN}}|via=Naver|date=July 13, 2023|access-date=July 14, 2023|language=ko}} The film's score is composed by Kim Hae-won, while Cho Hyoung-rae is the cinematographer.{{cite web|url=https://tiff.net/events/concrete-utopia|title=TIFF: Concrete Utopia|date=July 24, 2023|access-date=September 9, 2023|website=Toronto International Film Festival}}

Principal photography began on April 16, 2021,{{Cite web|url=https://m.breaknews.com/800063|script-title=ko:이병헌·박서준·박보영 '콘크리트 유토피아', 오늘 크랭크인 '기대감↑'|trans-title=Lee Byung-hun, Park Seo-jun, and Park Bo-young'Concrete Utopia', today's crank 'Expectation↑'|first=Dong-je|last=Park|website=BreakNews|date=April 16, 2021|access-date=April 16, 2021|language=ko|archive-date=April 16, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210416024023/https://m.breaknews.com/800063|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.sedaily.com/NewsView/22L3VBTBXA/GL02|script-title=ko:이병헌X박서준X박보영 '콘크리트 유토피아' 오늘(16일) 크랭크인|trans-title=Lee Byung-hun x Park Seo-jun x Park Bo-young 'Concrete Utopia' Crank-in today|first=Soo-jin|last=Choi|website={{ill|The Seoul Economic Daily|ko|서울경제}}|date=April 16, 2021|access-date=April 16, 2021|language=ko|archive-date=April 16, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210416093005/https://www.sedaily.com/NewsView/22L3VBTBXA/GL02|url-status=live}} and wrapped up at the end of August.{{Cite web|url=http://m.joynews24.com/v/1401781#_DYAD|script-title=ko:이병헌·박서준·박보영 '콘크리트 유토피아', 지난주 촬영 종료|trans-title=Lee Byung-hun, Park Seo-joon, and Park Bo-young's 'Concrete Utopia' finished filming last week|first=Jin-young|last=Park|website=Joy News 24|date=September 3, 2021|access-date=September 4, 2021|language=ko|archive-date=September 3, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210903181900/http://m.joynews24.com/v/1401781#_DYAD|url-status=live}}

The film was theatrically released on August 9, 2023, and was screened at the 2023 Toronto International Film Festival in the Gala section on September 9 for the press and on September 10 for the public.{{Cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2023/07/2023-toronto-film-festival-lineup-movies-list-1235446040/|title=TIFF Lineup Unveiled Amid Strikes: Awards Contenders 'Dumb Money', 'The Holdovers', 'Rustin'; Starry Pics for Sale with Scarlett Johansson, Kate Winslet, Michael Keaton, Viggo Mortensen & More|author=Anthony D'Alessandro|website=Deadline Hollywood|date=July 24, 2023|access-date=July 24, 2023}} It was invited to the Òrbita competition section of the 56th Sitges International Film Festival and screened on October 12. It also screened in the Spotlight on Korea section at the Hawaii International Film Festival, on October 18, 2023.{{Cite web|url=https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/art/2023/07/398_355418.html|title='Concrete Utopia' invited to film festivals in US, Spain|date=July 21, 2023|access-date=July 21, 2023|website=The Korea Times}} It closed the 2023 London East Asia Film Festival on October 29, 2023.{{cite web|url=https://n.news.naver.com/entertain/movie/article/609/0000782713|script-title=ko:런던아시아영화제, 설경구 열고 이병헌 닫는다..한국영화 16편 초청|trans-title=London Asian Film Festival opens with Sol Kyung-gu and closes with Lee Byung-hun. 16 Korean films invited [Comprehensive]|author=Bae Hyo-joo|work=Newsen|publisher=Naver|date=October 15, 2023|access-date=October 15, 2023|language=ko}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.leaff.org.uk/closing2023|title=The closing gala: Concrete Utopia|website=London East Asia Film Festival|date=October 15, 2023|access-date=October 15, 2023}} It was also selected at the 54th International Film Festival of India, in the Kaleidoscope section, and screened on November 23 and 26.{{Cite web|url=https://iffigoa.org/international-cinema-curated-sections/festival-kaleidoscope/en|title=IFFI unveils its Festival Kaleidoscope|date=November 18, 2023|access-date=November 22, 2023|website=IFFI}} A few days later, it was selected in the Cinema International section of the 29th Kolkata International Film Festival and was screened on December 7, 2023.{{cite web|url=https://kiff.in/archive/2023/official-selection/cinema-international|title=Cinema International|website=Kolkata International Film Festival|date=November 30, 2023|access-date=December 1, 2023}}

Concrete Utopia was pre-sold in 152 countries in Europe, Asia, and South America.{{cite web|url=https://n.news.naver.com/entertain/movie/article/117/0003753103|script-title=ko:이병헌 '콘크리트 유토피아'스·하와이 국제영화제 공식초청 "흥분과 감동 기대하라"|trans-title=Lee Byung-hun's 'Concrete Utopia', officially invited to the Sitges-Hawaii International Film Festival "Expect excitement and emotion"|author=Kwak Myeong-dong|work=My Daily|publisher=Naver|date=July 21, 2023|access-date=July 21, 2023|language=ko}}

The film will be released in North America through Viki in the first quarter of 2024.{{cite web|url=https://n.news.naver.com/entertain/movie/article/241/0003319050|title=K무비 '콘크리트 유토피아'→'30일' 북미 OTT 최초 공개|trans-title=K-Movie 'Concrete Utopia' → '30 Days' released for the first time on North American OTT|author=Jeong Jin-young|work=Daily Sports|publisher=Naver|date=December 15, 2023|access-date=December 15, 2023|language=ko}}

Concrete Utopia was released on August 9 on 1,621 screens.{{Cite web|url=http://www.koreanfilm.or.kr/eng/films/index/filmsView.jsp?movieCd=20204264|title=KOFIC, KOBIS (Korean Box Office Information System) Box office: Concrete Utopia (2023)|access-date=August 10, 2023|work=KOFIC}} It opened in first place at the Korean box-office, with 231,015 admissions,{{cite web|url=https://n.news.naver.com/entertain/movie/article/109/0004905237|script-title=ko:'콘크리트 유토피아' 입소문으로 일군 영예 1위...'밀수' 이어 흥행[종합]|trans-title='Concrete Utopia' won first place through word of mouth... Box office success following 'smuggling' [general]|author=Kim Bora|work={{ill|Osen (newspaper)|ko|OSEN|lt=OSEN}}|publisher=Naver|date=August 10, 2023|access-date=August 10, 2023|language=ko}} and surpassed one million viewers on August 12, four days after its release.{{cite web|url=https://n.news.naver.com/entertain/movie/article/108/0003174224|script-title=ko:'콘크리트 유토피아' 100만 돌파..韓 영화 돌풍 시작 [공식]|trans-title='Concrete Utopia' surpasses 1 million views.|author=Ahn Yoon-ji|work=Star News|publisher=Naver|date=August 12, 2023|access-date=August 12, 2023|language=ko}} It registered another million in the next three days, thus surpassing two million viewers in seven days, on August 15.{{cite web|url=https://n.news.naver.com/entertain/movie/article/312/0000623465|script-title=ko:'콘크리트 유토피아', 개봉 7일 만에 200만 관객 돌파...짜임새 있는 연출력|trans-title='Concrete Utopia' surpasses 2 million viewers in 7 days of release... well-organized performance.|author=Lee Ha-neul|work=Ten Asia|publisher=Naver|date=August 15, 2023|access-date=August 15, 2023|language=ko}} The three-million mark was achieved on August 24, the 16th day of its release.{{cite web|url=https://n.news.naver.com/entertain/movie/article/117/0003764006|script-title=ko:'콘크리트 유토피아', 개봉 16일째 300만 돌파...이병헌→엄태구 "감사합니다"|trans-title='Concrete Utopia' surpassed 3 million views on the 16th day of release... Lee Byung-hun → Um Tae-goo "Thank you"|author=Yang Yu-jin|work=My Daily|publisher=Naver|date=August 25, 2023|access-date=August 25, 2023|language=ko}}

{{As of|2023|12|26}}, it is the fourth highest-grossing Korean film of 2023, at US$28,901,354 in revenues and 3,849,242 admissions.

On the review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, the film has an approval rating of 100%, based on 61 reviews, with an average rating of 7.3/10.{{cite Rotten Tomatoes|title=Concrete Utopia (2023, Action/Dram)|id=concrete_utopia|type=m|access-date=February 12, 2025}}

Choi Jeong-ah, writing for Sports World, praised Lee Byung-hun's acting, stating, "this movie is a comprehensive gift set for Lee Byung-hun's acting" and adding the film was "more creepy than most horror movies".{{cite web|url=https://n.news.naver.com/entertain/movie/article/396/0000652339|script-title=ko:[영화리뷰] 공포영화보다 무서운 '콘크리트 유토피아'...남우주연상 부르는 이병헌|trans-title=[Movie Review] 'Concrete Utopia' scarier than horror movies... Lee Byung-hun singing the Best Actor Award|author=Choi Jeong-ah|work=Sports World|publisher=Naver|date=August 13, 2023|access-date=August 13, 2023|language=ko}} John Lui, reviewing for The Straits Times, graded the film with three stars out of five and wrote, "Concrete Utopia unravels slightly at the end, but is mostly a darkly funny take on Nimby-ism as a force so powerful it will survive the ending of the world."{{cite web|url=https://www.straitstimes.com/life/entertainment/at-the-movies-in-concrete-utopia-an-apartment-block-becomes-a-lifeboat-in-a-sea-of-ruin|title=At The Movies: In Concrete Utopia, an apartment block becomes a lifeboat in a sea of ruin|first=John|last=Lui|date=August 23, 2023|access-date=September 9, 2023|website=The Straits Times}} Casey Chong of Fiction Horizon rated the film eight out of ten and described it as "An intriguing disaster movie that skilfully blends black comedy and psychological thriller". Praising the performances of the lead cast, especially Lee Byung-hun, he wrote, "Lee's chameleon-like acting is no doubt one of the best performances I've ever seen in his illustrious career." He also commended Tae-Hwa's "confident pacing and crafty direction". Concluding, he opined that the film is "cliched and oft-told as a disaster movie, still it can overcome its familiarity by giving it a thought-provoking twist with relatable themes, intriguing storytelling, and solid acting."{{cite web|url=https://fictionhorizon.com/concrete-utopia-review/|title='Concrete Utopia' Review: An Intriguing Disaster Movie That Skilfully Blends Black Comedy and Psychological Thriller|first=Casey|last=Chong|date=August 17, 2023|access-date=September 9, 2023|website=Fiction Horizon}}

Allan Hunter for ScreenDaily wrote a positive review, stating, "A slick, inventive blend of jeopardy, violence and black comedy gains further appeal from the echoes of J. G. Ballard's High-Rise and elements of biting satire in the style of Triangle of Sadness."{{cite web|url=https://www.screendaily.com/reviews/concrete-utopia-toronto-review/5185469.article|title='Concrete Utopia': Toronto Review|first=Allan|last=Hunter|date=September 11, 2023|access-date=September 15, 2023|website=ScreenDaily}} Alex Hudson, writing for Exclaim!, described the film as "a canny allegory about the haves and the have-nots". He graded the film 7/10.{{cite web|url=https://exclaim.ca/film/article/tiff_2023_concrete_utopia_film_review|title=TIFF 2023: Earthquake Thriller 'Concrete Utopia' Exposes the Cracks in Class Struggles|first=Alex|last=Hudson|date=September 11, 2023|access-date=September 16, 2023|website=Exclaim!}} Anna Miller, with Next Best Picture, graded the film 8/10 and wrote, "Concrete Utopia is a gripping, disturbing, and powerful representation of the worst of society, yet equally showcasing the best qualities in humans and how hope, community, and decency will always exist through the dust and devastation."{{cite web|url=https://nextbestpicture.com/concrete-utopia/|title=TIFF 2023: 'Concrete Utopia'|first=Anna|last=Miller|date=September 16, 2023|access-date=September 17, 2023|website=Next Best Picture}}

Concrete Utopia has won 14 awards, including two for best film, {{as of|2023|11|24|lc=s}}.{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2023/film/news/concrete-utopia-korea-grand-bell-awards-1235792370/|title='Concrete Utopia' Dominates Korea's Grand Bell Awards – Global Bulletin|author=Patrick Frater|date=November 16, 2023|access-date=November 17, 2023|publisher=Variety}}

A sequel to Concrete Utopia, titled Badland Hunters, began production on November 14, 2021. It is the first feature film by martial arts director Huh Myung-haeng and features Ma Dong-seok, Lee Hee-joon, Lee Jun-young, and Roh Jeong-eui in the lead roles.{{Cite news|url=https://n.news.naver.com/entertain/article/108/0003016005|script-title=ko:[단독]이병헌·박서준→마동석 '콘크리트 유토피아' 세계관 2022년 기대↑ [종합]|trans-title=[Exclusive] Lee Byung-hun, Park Seo-joon → Ma Dong-seok's 'Concrete Utopia' world view in 2022 ↑ [Comprehensive]|author=Jeong Hyung-hwa|work=Star News|publisher=Naver|date=December 27, 2021|access-date=December 27, 2021|language=ko|archive-date=December 27, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211227014627/https://n.news.naver.com/entertain/article/108/0003016005|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/art/2022/07/689_323006.html|title='Concrete Utopia' sequel underway with star-studded cast|author=Kwak Yeon-soo|work=The Korea Times|date=January 27, 2022|access-date=March 14, 2023}} It was released on Netflix on January 26, 2024.{{cite web|url=https://n.news.naver.com/entertain/movie/article/312/0000643191|script-title=ko:"멸망한 세상, 우리에겐 사냥꾼이 필요하다" 마동석 '황야', 1월 26일 넷플릭스 공개|trans-title="A world in ruins, we need hunters" Ma Dong-seok's 'Wilderness' to be released on Netflix on January 26th|author=Lee Ha-neul|work=Ten Asia|publisher=Naver|date=January 2, 2024|access-date=January 2, 2024|language=ko}}

• List of submissions to the 96th Academy Awards for Best International Feature Film
• List of South Korean submissions for the Academy Award for Best International Feature Film

{{Reflist}}

• {{IMDb title}}
• {{hancinema film|Concrete_Utopia}}
• {{KMDb movie}}

{{Kakao M}}

{{Buil Film Awards for Best Film}}

{{Grand Bell Awards Best Picture}}

{{South Korean submissions for the Academy Award}}

Category:2020s Korean-language films

Category:4DX films

Category:South Korean black comedy films

Category:South Korean drama films

Category:South Korean disaster films

Category:South Korean post-apocalyptic films

Category:South Korean survival films

Category:South Korean thriller films

Category:Films about earthquakes

Category:Films about survivors of disasters

Category:Films based on South Korean webtoons

Category:Films set in apartment buildings

Category:Films set in Seoul

Category:Lotte Entertainment films

Category:IMAX films