Alienoid
A Korean time-travel spectacle links an alien prisoner in 2022 to Taoist sword seekers at the end of the Goryeo dynasty.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Dense
- Violence
- Moderate
- irreverent
- kinetic
- eccentric
- spectacle night
- korean cinema night
What critics said
Critics broadly recognized the film's ambitious genre fusion, production scale, and cast performances while finding its lore, characters, rhythm, and narrative overstuffed or confusing.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
The film intercuts alien imprisonment in 2022 with Taoist wizards and sword seekers at the end of the Goryeo dynasty.
The 2022 alien-prisoner storyline and the Goryeo-era quest for the divine sword are connected through a time portal.
Alien prisoners, spaceships, and time technology coexist with Taoist wizards, magical veils, and a legendary divine sword.
Critics specifically noted the film's vast worldview, complicated character relationships, and potentially confusing lore.
Films like Alienoid, and why
Jeon Woo-chi: The Taoist Wizard
korean fantasy action with taoist magic, comic energy, and time-bending mythology
The Wandering Earth
genre-blending science fiction spectacle combining historical settings, elaborate lore, and kinetic action
Back to the Future Part II
time travel adventure with intersecting historical and futuristic storylines and playful blockbuster sensibility
Detective Dee and the Mystery of the Phantom Flame
stylized asian fantasy action centered on legendary weapons, supernatural powers, and dense mythology
Movie Details
- Director
- Choi Dong-hoon
- Release Date
- 2022-07-20
- Runtime
- 142 min
- Rating
- 6.9 / 10 (599)
Cast
- Ryu Jun-yeol
- Kim Woo-bin
- Kim Tae-ri
- So Ji-sub
- Yum Jung-ah
- Jo Woo-jin
- Kim Eui-sung
- Lee Hanee
- Shin Jung-keun
- Lee Si-hoon
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Philo, Fandor Amazon Channel, Hi-YAH, Midnight Pulp Amazon Channel, Hi-YAH Amazon Channel
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Plex
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Alienoid about?
- A Korean time-travel spectacle links an alien prisoner in 2022 to Taoist sword seekers at the end of the Goryeo dynasty.
- What is Alienoid like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Alienoid as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as dense.
- Is Alienoid violent?
- Somewhat. Ember rates the violence in Alienoid as moderate.
- What did critics think of Alienoid?
- Critics broadly recognized the film's ambitious genre fusion, production scale, and cast performances while finding its lore, characters, rhythm, and narrative overstuffed or confusing.
- Which films are like Alienoid?
- Films with a similar feel include Jeon Woo-chi: The Taoist Wizard, The Wandering Earth, Back to the Future Part II, and Detective Dee and the Mystery of the Phantom Flame.
- How long is Alienoid?
- Alienoid runs 142 minutes.
- Where can I watch Alienoid?
- In United States, Alienoid streams on Philo, Fandor Amazon Channel, Hi-YAH, Midnight Pulp Amazon Channel, Hi-YAH Amazon Channel.
