V.I.P. (2017 film)


V.I.P. is a 2017 South Korean crime-action thriller film directed by Park Hoon-jung and starring Jang Dong-gun, Kim Myung-min, Park Hee-soon and Lee Jong-suk. In the film, officers from South Korea, North Korea and Interpol chase after a serial killer suspect.
The film was released on August 23, 2017. The reception was largely negative, with criticism directed mainly towards the portrayal of graphic violence towards a female character. The film was later released on DVD and Blu-ray formats on 7 March 2018.

Plot

The son of a high-ranking North Korean official, Kwang-il, is suspected of committing serial murders around the world. To stop the killer, South Korea, North Korea and Interpol chase after him.

Cast

Main

Filming began on October 22, 2016 and ended on January 22, 2017. Filming took place in South Korea, Hong Kong, Thailand and other countries.

Release

The cast of V.I.P was invited to the 74th Venice International Film Festival which began on August 30, 2017. However, the invitation was declined by the production company as the film's release could not be rescheduled to a later date.
The film was released in South Korean cinemas on August 23, 2017.

Reception

Critical response

V.I.P was named as an R-rated crime film, which restricted audiences younger than eighteen years of age.
Many viewers criticized the film's depiction of violence against women. Some of the comments were regarding the film's unnecessary cruel and gruesome scenes, while others critiqued the use of female characters as devices of sexual violence to show the cruelty of male characters.

Box office

Upon its release in South Korean cinemas on August 23, 2017, V.I.P. hit the top spot, selling 174,022 ticket and earning a gross income of US$1.17 million on its opening day. During the first two days V.I.P sold 341,610 tickets earning US$2.3 million. After five days of its release the movie has attracted 940,359 audience screening in 966 venues.
According to the Korean Film Council V.I.P had surpassed 1 million viewers by August 29, in just seven days since its release, and the film earned a total gross income of US$7.8 million.

Awards and nominations