Okja

Name: Okja
Genre: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi, Drama
Released: June 28, 2017
Duration: 120 min
Rating: 75
Cast: Colm Hill, Giancarlo Esposito, Jake Gyllenhaal, Jose Carias, Kathryn Kirkpatrick

2017

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 36 Critic Reviews

See All

USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 319 Ratings

See All

7.4

VOTE NOW

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

7.4	Your Score
7.4	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 319 Ratings

Would you like to write a review?

There is a 75 character minimum for reviews. If your review contains spoilers, please check the Spoiler box. Please do not use ALL CAPS. There is no linking or other HTML allowed. Your review may be edited for content. 0/5000

Check box if your review contains spoilers

Movie Details & Credits

Netflix | Release Date: June 28, 2017 | TV-MA

Starring: Colm Hill, Giancarlo Esposito, Jake Gyllenhaal, Jose Carias, Kathryn Kirkpatrick, Michael Mitton, Seo-Hyeon Ahn, Sheena Kamal, Tilda Swinton

Summary: For 10 idyllic years, young Mija (An Seo Hyun) has been caretaker and constant companion to Okja — a massive animal and an even bigger friend — at her home in the mountains of South Korea. But that changes when the family-owned multinational conglomerate Mirando Corporation takes Okja for themselves and transports her to New York, whereFor 10 idyllic years, young Mija (An Seo Hyun) has been caretaker and constant companion to Okja — a massive animal and an even bigger friend — at her home in the mountains of South Korea. But that changes when the family-owned multinational conglomerate Mirando Corporation takes Okja for themselves and transports her to New York, where image obsessed and self-promoting CEO Lucy Mirando (Tilda Swinton) has big plans for Mija’s dearest friend. With no particular plan but single-minded in intent, Mija sets out on a rescue mission, but her already daunting journey quickly becomes more complicated when she crosses paths with disparate groups of capitalists, demonstrators and consumers, each battling to control the fate of Okja… while all Mija wants to do is bring her friend home. [Netflix]… Expand

Director: Joon-ho Bong

Genre(s): Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi, Drama

Rating: TV-MA

Runtime: 120 min

See All Details and Credits

Watch Now

Stream On

Metascore

Positive:

Mixed:

Negative:

Critic Reviews

100

A.O. Scott

Jun 27, 2017

The picture, which never stops moving, is dense with information and feeling. Barbs of satire pop up and are washed away on streams of strong emotion. It’s all marvelously preposterous and yet, at the same time, something important is at stake. Read full review

100

The Guardian Peter Bradshaw

May 19, 2017

The pure energy and likability of this film make it such a pleasure. Read full review

Ty Burr

Jun 28, 2017

No one, but no one, makes movies like Bong, a South Korean master who combines baroque concepts, epic visuals, international casts, and a sense of humor that can make you laugh out loud in the middle of the darkest doings. Read full review

Chris Nashawaty

Jun 27, 2017

Okja in it. It’s the antithesis of cookie-cutter, made-by-committee filmmaking. Prepare to be amazed, grossed out, provoked, punchdrunk, and tickled. Read full review

Matt Donato

Jun 26, 2017

Okja is a wild, tender tale of wonderment and friendship, delightful but still with smacks of vile consumerism darkness. Read full review

Brian Truitt

Jun 27, 2017

Though ultimately gratifying, the ambitious Okja struggles throughout with its pinballing tonal structure, beginning as a family-friendly adventure then shifting to screwball farce and later to an emotional drama involving animal cruelty and slaughterhouse horror. Read full review

Stephanie Zacharek

May 22, 2017

Okja takes the worst impulses of Walt Disney, Wes Anderson, Tim Burton and Michael Moore and rolls them into one movie. Read full review

SEE ALL 36 REVIEWS

Write a Review

User Reviews

maxleresistant

Jun 30, 2017

I didn't expect anything from Okja, mainly because I didn't like Snowpiercer and Netflix doesn't have a great track record when it comes to movies.

But I watched it with an open mind, and it is simply a great movie. Behind the simple story of a little girl and her pig, there is a reallyI didn't expect anything from Okja, mainly because I didn't like Snowpiercer and Netflix doesn't have a great track record when it comes to movies.

But I watched it with an open mind, and it is simply a great movie. Behind the simple story of a little girl and her pig, there is a really complex movie with colorful, interesting, flawed and yet very relatable characters.

When you see the relationship between Okja and the little girl, other movies like Totoro and Pete's Dragon will come to mind, it's the old tale of the friendship between the animal/mystical creature and a kid. Full of innocence, beauty, and wonder. But the twist here is that this animal is being bred to be eaten.

I'm not a vegan, and I am still not a vegan after watching this movie. But reducing this movie to "eating meat is murder" would be completely stupid and plain wrong, I would remind people that we see the the girl eating fish and a grand father making chicken stew.

Okja is not a real animal, it's an imaginary creature made of CGIs. This is not a documentary about cows going to the slaughterhouse.

But this "Super-pig" that is Okja, is the catalyst for a lot of questions that we have today about our food. The movie is more about making people think about what is in our plates, how it got there, and where do you draw the line between an intelligent animal like a dog and a animal that is just food like a fish. About the tone of the movie, it successfully shows a harsh reality, but under the light of an excentric imagination. It's a movie where you laugh, cry, hate and think.

And to me, it is all the marks of a great movie. I would add that some scenes are really not suitable for children though. This is more PG-13.… Expand

15 of 20 users found this helpful155

memesha

Jul 12, 2017

Causes viewers to reflect upon their very own lifestyle, all the while taking them on a rollercoaster of comedy, suspense, conflict and love. Totally worth watching.

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

JorgeLestre

Jun 29, 2017

'Okja' is as funny as it is dramatic and that balance works just fine for the movie. Also the message is just as important as we advance full throttle to a similar future.

6 of 10 users found this helpful64

reviewfrom19842

Jul 15, 2017

Okja is weird movie but in a good way .

0 of 2 users found this helpful02

Voodoo123

Jul 17, 2022

Well shot sentimental effects strong movie about a giant genetically enhanced livestock product that connects to a young girl. While not wholly original, it's well shot with excellent direction throughout. Bong Joon ho's trademark humour keeps things light considering some of the heavierWell shot sentimental effects strong movie about a giant genetically enhanced livestock product that connects to a young girl. While not wholly original, it's well shot with excellent direction throughout. Bong Joon ho's trademark humour keeps things light considering some of the heavier concepts at play.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Jess_Hill

Jul 1, 2017

This is a film which truly embodies a quintessential leftist ideology wrapped up in a ham fisted storyline that beats you over the head with its agenda relentlessly; the messaging so painfully flogged that it constantly throws you out of the film with the sheer ludicrousness of what you'reThis is a film which truly embodies a quintessential leftist ideology wrapped up in a ham fisted storyline that beats you over the head with its agenda relentlessly; the messaging so painfully flogged that it constantly throws you out of the film with the sheer ludicrousness of what you're seeing and the manner in which it is delivered. The tone oscillates wildly, the creature design is great but poorly rendered, it's too long, and for god's sake don't show this to children. There were some delightful moments in the first act, but the jarring script quickly shatters the illusion that this might be a whimsical cinematic journey. I don't know who this is for, and it feels like a sadly lost opportunity as the reliance on one dimensional caricature and a complete lack of subtlety utterly undercut what could have been an interesting and unique film. The phenomenal cast are done a disservice by the incongruence of the tone and message; Scooby-dooesque hijinks and childlike moments are interlaced with brutal cruelty and violence, but rather than providing a counterpoint or foil, this undermines what should have been an important and powerful message as the film becomes a poor parody rather than the commentary it seeks to be. 4.57/10.… Expand

7 of 18 users found this helpful711

marco34la

Jun 29, 2017

this was an UNWATCHABLE piece of garbage. unless you're pretentious, and have time to waste... do yourself a favor and skip this one. wow wow wow. there's not getting those 2 hours back~

5 of 45 users found this helpful540

SEE ALL 54 REVIEWS

78	#78 Most Discussed Movie of 2017
66	#66 Most Shared Movie of 2017