Alienoid: Return to the Future
Ancient Taoists pursue a divine sword across time and space in a kaleidoscopic Korean science-fiction fantasy adventure.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Breakneck
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Dense
- Violence
- Moderate
- propulsive
- witty
- whimsical
- action movie night
- fantasy marathon
What critics said
Critics broadly found the sequel energetic and visually impressive, praising its ambition and entertainment value while finding its time-travel plotting confusing and incoherent.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
The film combines ancient Taoists, a divine sword, time-space travel, and alien elements within a Korean fantasy framework.
Ancient Taoists and other characters pursue intersecting objectives through time and space, with the narrative shifting among plot elements and characters.
Critical discussion highlights the film's vibrant cinematography, impressive special effects, action, hilarity, drama, and mixture of fantasy and science fiction.
The central plot follows ancient Taoists traveling through time and space to obtain a divine sword.
Films like Alienoid: Return to the Future, and why
Everything Everywhere All at Once
shares high-energy time travel, science fiction fantasy, elaborate mythology, and comic action
The Host
shares Korean genre blending, rapid tonal shifts, folklore-inflected fantasy, and ensemble action
Detective Dee and the Mystery of the Phantom Flame
shares martial arts adventure, supernatural world-building, and visually extravagant fantasy action
Movie Details
- Director
- Choi Dong-hoon
- Release Date
- 2024-01-10
- Runtime
- 122 min
- Rating
- 6.7 / 10 (873)
Cast
- Ryu Jun-yeol
- Kim Tae-ri
- Kim Woo-bin
- Lee Hanee
- Yum Jung-ah
- Jo Woo-jin
- Kim Eui-sung
- Jin Sun-kyu
- Shin Jung-keun
- Yoon Kyung-ho
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Philo, Fandor Amazon Channel, Rakuten Viki, Hi-YAH, Midnight Pulp Amazon Channel, Hi-YAH Amazon Channel
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- 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: Return to the Future about?
- Ancient Taoists pursue a divine sword across time and space in a kaleidoscopic Korean science-fiction fantasy adventure.
- What is Alienoid: Return to the Future like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Alienoid: Return to the Future as breakneck, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as dense.
- Is Alienoid: Return to the Future violent?
- Somewhat. Ember rates the violence in Alienoid: Return to the Future as moderate.
- What did critics think of Alienoid: Return to the Future?
- Critics broadly found the sequel energetic and visually impressive, praising its ambition and entertainment value while finding its time-travel plotting confusing and incoherent.
- Which films are like Alienoid: Return to the Future?
- Films with a similar feel include Everything Everywhere All at Once, The Host, and Detective Dee and the Mystery of the Phantom Flame.
- How long is Alienoid: Return to the Future?
- Alienoid: Return to the Future runs 122 minutes.
- Where can I watch Alienoid: Return to the Future?
- In United States, Alienoid: Return to the Future streams on Philo, Fandor Amazon Channel, Rakuten Viki, Hi-YAH, Midnight Pulp Amazon Channel, Hi-YAH Amazon Channel.
