Park Chan-wook's 'No Other Choice' Misses Final Oscar Cut

Park Chan-wook’s latest film, "No Other Choice", didn’t make the final slate of nominees for the 98th Academy Awards.

Despite eyeing International Feature Film and a Best Actor nod for Lee Byung-hun, the movie was left off the list announced by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences on the 22nd (local time).

"No Other Choice" had built momentum as South Korea’s submission in International Feature, landing on last month’s 15-title shortlist. It also picked up nominations across the North American awards circuit ― including the Gotham Awards, Critics Choice Awards, and the Golden Globes ― hinting at an Oscar breakthrough that ultimately didn’t happen, as it missed the final five.

This year’s International Feature finalists are "The Secret Agent" (Brazil), Jafar Panahi’s "It Was Just an Accident" (France), "Sentimental Value" (Norway), "The Voice of Hind Rajab" (Tunisia), and "Sirāt" (Spain).

Trade outlets in North America called the outcome a disappointment. Variety noted that while Park’s dark social satire drew strong box office and critical praise, competition in the category was especially fierce this year ― with distributor Neon fielding multiple heavyweight contenders.

Neon handled "No Other Choice" as well as four of the five International Feature finalists ("The Secret Agent," "It Was Just an Accident," "Sentimental Value," and "Sirāt"), making it tough for any single title to command the full force of an Oscar campaign.

Gold Derby also pointed out that Park ― long a critics’ darling ― was once again shut out, adding that late surges from "Sirāt" and "The Voice of Hind Rajab" squeezed him from the final lineup in a stacked race.

Park previously reached the International Feature shortlist with "Decision to Leave" at the 95th Oscars in 2023 but fell short of a nomination. With "No Other Choice", his second straight bid stops just shy of the finish line once more.

(SBS Entertainment News | Kim Ji-hye)