The People Upstairs (2025 film)

The People Upstairs
Theatrical release poster
Hangul
윗집 사람들
RRWitjip saramdeul
MRWitchip saramdŭl
Directed byHa Jung-woo
Screenplay by
  • Ha Jung-woo
  • Lee Cha-yeon
  • Seon Seung-yeon
Based onThe People Upstairs
by Cesc Gay
Produced by
  • Lee Han-dae
  • Kim Young-hoon
Starring
CinematographySo Jeong-o
Edited by
Music byDalpalan
Production
companies
Distributed byBy4M Studio
Release dates
  • September 18, 2025 (2025-09-18) (BIFF)
  • December 3, 2025 (2025-12-03) (South Korea)
Running time
107 minutes
CountrySouth Korea
LanguageKorean
Box officeUS$3 million[1]

The People Upstairs (Korean: 윗집 사람들) is a 2025 South Korean comedy-drama film directed by Ha Jung-woo, starring himself with Gong Hyo-jin, Kim Dong-wook, and Lee Hanee. The film follows two married couples who meet due to noise complaints between apartments and the confusion that ensues as they have dinner together.[2] The film is an adaptation of Cesc Gay's 2020 film of the same name, which itself was based on his play Los vecinos de arriba.[3] It had its world premiere at the 30th Busan International Film Festival on September 18, 2025,[4] and was released on December 3, 2025 in South Korea.

Premise

The story depicts the events that unfold as the couple living downstairs, Jeong-ah and Hyun-soo, are disturbed by the noisy life of the couple living upstairs, Mr. Kim and Soo-kyung, and secrets begin to unravel when they end up having dinner together.

Cast

Production

On December 12, 2024 it was confirmed that Ha Jung-woo and Lee Hanee would be the lead couple of the film. Gong Hyo-jin and Kim Dong-wook also joined the cast as the other couple.[5]

Principal photography began on January 7, 2025.[6] and ended on February 8, 2025.[7]

Release

The People Upstairs had its world premiere in the 'Korean Cinema Today - Special Premiere' section at the 30th Busan International Film Festival on September 18, 2025.[8]

It will have its International Premiere in Special Gala of the 10th London East Asian Film Festival on October 24, 2025. It is also selected in the Competition strand along with other seven films.[9][10]

On September 8, releasing poster and trailer the release date of the film was announced as December 3, 2025 in South Korea.[11]

Reception

Box office

The film was released on December 3, 2025 on 752 screens.[1] It opened at the 3rd place, recording 25,425 viewers on its opening day at the Korean box office.[12]

As of December 18, 2025, the film has grossed US$3,031,368 from 464,987 admissions.[13][1]

Critical response

James Marsh of South China Morning Post at the Busan International Film Festival rated the film with 3 stars and, praised the film as a "cheeky comedy of manners" that unfolds entirely within a single apartment, giving it the feel of a stage play. He commended director Ha Jung-woo for maintaining a "breezy pace and lighthearted tone," and noted Ha's own performance as the uninhibited "Pikachu" Kim as one of the film's highlights. He observed that albeit the film explores themes of sexual openness and challenges conservative views, it remains "at its heart a wholesome film that reinforces monogamy and traditional family values." He emphasized that the risqué elements are conveyed through exaggerated sounds and fast-paced dialogue, with "nothing even vaguely considered erotic appearing on screen." Marsh described this as Ha's most accomplished directorial effort to date, showcasing improved technical skill and confidence while retaining his strength as a performer. Concluding his review Marsh felt the film "could have gone further," still he acknowledged its success in generating "plenty of big laughs at the expense of the prudish and closed-minded."[3]

References

  1. ^ a b c "Box office at KOFIC, KOBIS (Korean Box Office Information System) Box office: Daily". KOFIC. Retrieved December 19, 2025.
  2. ^ Kim Ji-ho (December 12, 2024). "하정우, 이하늬와 부부 호흡…'윗집 사람들', 연출까지 한다" [Ha Jung-woo and Lee Ha-nui to star as a married couple in "The People Upstairs" and even direct.]. Dispatch News (in Korean). Retrieved August 18, 2025.
  3. ^ a b Marsh, James (September 23, 2025). "Review | Busan 2025: The People Upstairs movie review – Ha Jung-woo excels in cheeky sex comedy". South China Morning Post. Retrieved October 3, 2025.
  4. ^ Lee Min-kyung (August 18, 2025). "하정우 신작 '윗집 사람들', 부산영화제서 최초 공개" [Ha Jung-woo's new film "The People Upstairs" premieres at the Busan International Film Festival]. Munhwa Ilbo (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved August 18, 2025.
  5. ^ Da-gyeom Lee (August 11, 2025). "하정우·이하늬 부부된다...영화 '윗집 사람들' 출연 확정" [Ha Jung-woo and Lee Ha-nui are set to become a married couple... Confirmed to star in the film "The People Upstairs."]. Maeil Business Newspaper (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved August 18, 2025.
  6. ^ Yeon Hwi-seon (December 12, 2024). "하정우 감독 '윗집 사람들', 공효진X김동욱X이하늬 절침 드림팀 짰다 [종합](공식)" [Director Ha Jung-woo's 'The People Upstairs' Forms a Dream Team of Gong Hyo-jin, Kim Dong-wook, and Lee Ha-nui [Comprehensive] (Official)]. OSEN (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved August 18, 2025.
  7. ^ Yeon Hwi-seon (February 8, 2025). "하정우, 네 번째 감독 작품 '윗집 사람들' 촬영 종료 "5주 동안 해를 못 봤다" [★SHOT!]" [Ha Jung-woo completes filming for his fourth directorial project, "The People Upstairs," saying, "I haven't seen the sun in five weeks." [★SHOT!]]. OSEN (in Korean). Chosun biz. Retrieved August 18, 2025.
  8. ^ Kim Hye-kyung (August 18, 2025). "제30회 BIFF, '한국영화의 오늘' 선정작 5편 영화제서 최초 공개" [The 30th BIFF will premiere five films selected for its "Korean Cinema Today" program]. CBS No Cut News (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved August 18, 2025.
  9. ^ "Special Gala 2025". London East Asian Film Festival. October 21, 2025. Retrieved October 21, 2025.
  10. ^ Lee Seon-pil (October 21, 2025). "제10회 런던아시아영화제... 하정우 '윗집 사람들' 등 런던 관객과 직접 만난다" [The 10th London Asian Film Festival... Ha Jung-woo's "The People Upstairs" and other films will meet London audiences in person]. OhMyNews (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved October 21, 2025.
  11. ^ Cho Ji-young (September 8, 2025). "하정우 4번째 연출작 '윗집 사람들'..BIFF 공개 후 12월 개봉 확정[공식]" [Ha Jung-woo's fourth directorial film, "The People Upstairs," confirmed for release in December after screening at BIFF [Official]]. Sports Chosun (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved September 8, 2025.
  12. ^ Choi Jae-wook (December 4, 2025). "'윗집 사람들', 개봉 첫날 한국영화 흥행 1위 등극! 흥행 다크호스로 떠오르나" ["The People Upstairs" tops the Korean box office charts on its opening day! Will it emerge as a dark horse?]. Eyes ize (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved December 4, 2025.
  13. ^ "KOFIC, KOBIS (Korean Box Office Information System) The Box office: Korean films of 2025". KOFIC. Retrieved December 19, 2025.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 unless otherwise noted. Additional terms may apply for the media files.