The black comedy thriller climbing Netflix charts: ‘No Other Choice’
Netflix viewers are currently in a thriller state of mind, and the rise of No Other Choice on its charts is the only proof one needs.
In the week from January 26th to February 1st, the black comedy thriller was ranked seventh on the most popular non-English movies chart with 1.4million views amassed.
No Other Choice is not exactly a Netflix original production. Directed by Park Chan-wook, it is based on Donald Westlake’s The Ax, serving as the second film adaptation of the novel following the 2005 French-language feature, The Axe, directed by Costa-Gavras.
Currently boasting a whopping 97% on Rotten Tomatoes, the South Korean movie follows struggling family man Man-su, who, after losing his job to American management, decides to eliminate his competition to secure a new job. While the film portrays the psychological toll of unemployment in today’s fast-forward world, No Other Choice depicts the absurdity and brutality of contemporary corporate culture.
The title highlights how Man-su is left with “no other choice” but to resort to a ruthless approach, turning the job search into a desperate mission with violent repercussions. Although the violence is essentially a narrative tool that exposes the cutthroat dichotomy of sustenance and necessity, what No Other Choice also pulls back the curtains on is how this contagious despair often results in systematic assimilation and, by default, a loss of self.
In a way, Man-su and his desperate choices are reflections of the harsh system that discarded him despite 25 years of commitment. While it may not be an ordinary exploration of unemployment, it is the satirical and violent structure that sets No Other Choice apart.
No Other Choice already had massive festival runs at the Venice International Film Festival and Busan International Film Festival before it landed on Netflix late in January. So, the storm of reception is honestly no surprise considering the film’s finally accessible to a global audience. However, what could have also influenced the rise of No Other Choice on Netflix is its controversial award season snub.
Despite being South Korea’s official entry for the 2026 Academy Awards, the film couldn’t land a nomination at the upcoming Oscars. While it sparked significant social media outrage, now fans are clearly flocking to Netflix to decide for themselves.
So, if you were out of the loop all this time, we hope the update counts because No Other Choice is currently streaming on Netflix, and there’s no other place you’d rather want to be.