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Luck Key

Luck-Key is a 2016 South Korean directed by Lee Gae-byok, starring in dual lead roles as a hapless aspiring and a professional whose lives intersect through a mix-up at a public bathhouse. It is a of the 2012 Key of Life. The plot centers on the assassin, who suffers after slipping on soap and losing his locker key, allowing the down-on-his-luck actor to assume his affluent identity and lifestyle, including entanglements and dangerous obligations. Co-starring as a key and in a lead, the film blends humor, mistaken identities, and thriller elements. Released on October 13, 2016, by , Luck-Key achieved commercial success in , grossing 57 billion KRW (approximately $50 million USD) at the and topping charts during its opening weekend. Critically, it received praise for 's versatile performance and the film's witty script by Jang Yoon-mi, earning a nomination for for at the . The movie's title, a play on "lucky key," reflects the serendipitous key swap that drives the narrative, highlighting themes of fortune, deception, and self-discovery. Available on streaming platforms like and Disney+, it has gained international recognition for its engaging mix of genres and cultural specificity.

Film overview

Plot

The film is a remake of the 2012 Japanese film Key of Life. Hyung-wook, a meticulous contract killer renowned for his flawless execution of assignments, visits a public bathhouse to clean up after a recent job. There, he slips on a bar of soap, strikes his head, and falls unconscious. At the same bathhouse, Jae-sung, a down-on-his-luck grappling with debt, eviction threats, and repeated audition failures, witnesses the incident and impulsively swaps their locker keys, seizing the opportunity to escape his dire circumstances. Jae-sung discovers that Hyung-wook's locker contains a luxury watch, keys to a high-end , and access to a lavish condominium stocked with cash, weapons, and confidential files related to assassination contracts. Hyung-wook awakens in with complete , his only clue to his identity being the items from Jae-sung's locker: unpaid bills and headshots bearing the name "Yoon Jae-sung." A compassionate named Ri-na assists him in navigating his supposed life, helping him relocate to Jae-sung's rundown apartment and secure a job as a line cook at a modest . Despite his loss, Hyung-wook's ingrained assassin precision shines through in mundane tasks, such as expertly slicing , which impresses his employers. Motivated by financial necessity, he auditions for roles, where his innate prowess and physical discipline allow him to excel in sequences, propelling him from obscurity to success in acting. As he immerses himself in this new world, subtle interactions with Ri-na foster a budding romance, revealing his underlying capacity for emotional connection beyond his former solitary existence. Meanwhile, Jae-sung revels in Hyung-wook's affluent lifestyle, indulging in , designer clothes, and the perks of assumed . He soon receives a new contract from Hyung-wook's shadowy employer: to eliminate a woman named Eun-joo. However, upon encountering her—a kind-hearted, independent professional—Jae-sung develops genuine feelings and abandons the mission, instead protecting her from the ensuing threats. His opportunistic nature evolves into sincere affection, complicating his impersonation as he grapples with the moral weight of the assassin's world. During a high-stakes action scene on set, Hyung-wook experiences fragmented memory flashbacks, gradually piecing together his true past as a . The narrative builds to pivotal twists when Jae-sung uncovers files revealing that Hyung-wook's "successful" assassinations were elaborate deceptions: rather than killing targets, he staged their deaths using drugs and simulated accidents to shield them from corrupt clients who sought their elimination for ulterior motives, driven by a hidden sense of . This revelation humanizes Hyung-wook, transforming his perfectionism from cold efficiency to a protective . Confrontations arise as the swapped men cross paths, with Jae-sung's boss pursuing loose ends and the events drawing their lives further together. In the climax, Hyung-wook and Jae-sung collaborate to thwart a real threat to Eun-joo, leveraging their complementary skills—Hyung-wook's expertise and Jae-sung's quick thinking. The resolution sees them forging new identities to evade pursuit: Hyung-wook embraces a legitimate career, his disciplined background fueling continued success, while Jae-sung finds fulfillment in romance with Eun-joo.

Cast

The film stars as Choi Hyung-wook, an elite assassin who suffers and inadvertently thrives in the life of a struggling after a mix-up at a bathhouse. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6175078/fullcredits/ portrays Yoon Jae-sung, the down-on-his-luck who seizes the opportunity to assume the assassin's identity and luxurious lifestyle. https://www.themoviedb.org/movie/421928/cast?language=en-US Key supporting roles include as Song Eun-joo, a reserved woman who becomes entangled as a witness and romantic interest. https://asianwiki.com/Luck-Key Jo Yoon-hee plays Ri-na, a dedicated who assists the amnesiac Hyung-wook and develops a romantic connection with him. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6175078/fullcredits/ Go Joon appears as Kwon Hee-rak, Jae-sung's loyal but exasperated best friend who provides comic relief and support amid the identity chaos. https://mydramalist.com/15110-luck-key/cast The ensemble features notable supporting performances such as as Il-sung, the ruthless overseeing Hyung-wook's assignments. https://www.themoviedb.org/movie/421928/cast?language=en-US Cha Soon-hyeong as Choi Moon-seok, a key figure in the criminal underworld. https://asianwiki.com/Luck-Key Additional roles include Kim Min-sang as the demanding movie director who pushes Jae-sung's career boundaries, Sung Byoung-sook as Ri-na's mother, and bit parts like as Min-seok (a colleague), Choi One as the subway director, and as actress Kang Yoo-na. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6175078/fullcredits/ https://mydramalist.com/15110-luck-key/cast

Production

Development

Luck-Key originated as a of the 2012 Japanese comedy film , directed by Kenji Uchida, which centers on an assassin and an actor swapping identities after an accident in a public bathhouse. The , scripted by Jang Yoon-mi, incorporated cultural adjustments to suit local audiences, notably shifting the key incident to a public rather than a traditional bathhouse. This change reflected everyday settings like facilities, enhancing relatability in the identity-swap premise. Director Lee Gae-byok, whose background includes directing the romantic comedy The Beast and the Beauty in 2005, was selected to helm the project, bringing his experience in blending humor with character-driven narratives to the action-comedy genre. The film was produced by Yong Film, a company founded in August 2012 by producer Syd Lim, known for supporting mid-tier commercial Korean films. During script refinement, Syd Lim recommended for the lead role of the assassin Hyung-wook, leveraging the actor's burgeoning stardom after his breakout performance in the 2015 action film . This casting decision aligned with the character's need for a performer capable of portraying both comedic awkwardness and physical intensity, solidifying the vision before began.

Filming

Principal photography for Luck-Key began in early 2016 in Seoul and surrounding areas, with production wrapping before summer to allow time for post-production ahead of its October release. The film's 112-minute runtime was achieved through efficient scheduling that balanced the demands of action sequences and comedic timing. Key filming locations included real public bathhouses for the pivotal sauna scenes, where safety modifications were implemented to accommodate the slip-and-fall accident that drives the plot. Urban areas of Seoul served as backdrops for chase sequences and everyday life depictions, capturing the city's bustling atmosphere, while studio sets were constructed for interiors such as the TV show studio and apartment scenes to control lighting and sound. Production faced challenges in coordinating the action-comedy stunts, particularly the elaborate slip-and-fall opening sequence, which required precise to blend physical humor with . The team opted for practical effects in fight scenes to maintain authenticity, minimizing usage to keep the tone grounded and relatable. In , editor focused on quick cuts to heighten the humor, ensuring rhythmic pacing in the identity swap moments. emphasized comedic timing, with layered audio cues amplifying the awkwardness and elements in key exchanges.

Release

Theatrical release

Luck-Key was released theatrically in on October 13, 2016, distributed by , with a wide rollout across 1,234 screens nationwide. Prior to its domestic premiere, distribution rights were pre-sold to nine countries, including , the , , , , , the , , and . The film saw limited theatrical releases in the and on October 21, 2016, while in it launched digitally on August 19, 2017. Following its theatrical run, Luck-Key became available for streaming on in select regions starting September 30, 2017. Marketing for the film featured trailers that emphasized its blend of and elements, along with posters showcasing the dual lead actors and . The film received a 15 rating from the for content involving violence and language, with a confirmed of 112 minutes.

Box office

Luck-Key achieved significant commercial success in its home market of , where it drew 6,975,291 admissions and grossed $38,660,595 over its theatrical run. The film opened on October 13, 2016, selling 1 million tickets within its first three days and reaching 2.02 million admissions by the fifth day, generating $14.7 million in that initial period. Its opening weekend earned $12.1 million, followed by a strong second weekend of $10.9 million from 1.46 million additional admissions, allowing it to maintain the top spot for multiple weeks before a gradual decline. Internationally, Luck-Key had limited but positive earnings, with $466,505 in North America, $52,642 in Australia, and smaller amounts in markets like New Zealand and the United Kingdom, contributing to a worldwide total of approximately $48.9 million. In the context of 2016 South Korean cinema, Luck-Key ranked sixth among domestic films by gross earnings, trailing blockbusters like Train to Busan but performing solidly as a comedy compared to the previous year's hit Veteran, which amassed over $92 million and 13.4 million admissions.

Reception

Critical reception

Luck-Key received generally positive reviews from critics, who praised its blend of comedy and action while noting some narrative shortcomings. On , the film holds a 79% approval rating based on 11 reviews, with an average score of 6.5/10. users rated it 6.9/10 from over 3,500 votes. In , Cine21 critics gave it an average score of 5 out of 10, based on four reviews. Critics frequently highlighted Yoo Hae-jin's standout performance in the of the assassin Hyung-wook and the struggling actor Jae-sung, noting his ability to seamlessly blend comedic timing with physical action. The film's of the Japanese was commended for infusing the identity-swap with Korean-specific humor, including elements that enhanced its cultural localization and broad appeal. Director Lee Gae-byok's handling of the thriller tension alongside laugh-out-loud moments was seen as a key strength, creating an entertaining balance that kept audiences engaged. Some reviewers pointed out flaws in the later acts, where the plot became predictable and overly reliant on contrived twists. Female characters, such as the love interest Eun-joo, were criticized for being underdeveloped and serving primarily as devices rather than fully realized figures. Comparisons to the original Key of Life often noted that while Luck-Key amplified the comedy, it sometimes sacrificed deeper dramatic nuance for added , resulting in a lighter but less layered execution. Thematically, the film explores the interplay between and through the protagonists' swapped lives, highlighting disparities and the possibility of personal via unexpected opportunities. Reviews from the Korean Film Council and international outlets emphasized how this localization of the premise critiques everyday struggles in Korean society, using humor to underscore themes of and .

Audience reception

Upon its release, Luck-Key garnered strong praise from general audiences in , evidenced by its high user ratings on major platforms. On Movie, it achieved an average score of 8.76 out of 10 from thousands of viewer reviews, with the rating peaking at 8.90 during the opening week, indicating widespread enthusiasm among domestic viewers. Internationally, the film holds an audience score of 79% on based on over 160 verified ratings, and a 6.9 out of 10 on from more than 3,400 users, reflecting solid appreciation for its comedic elements abroad. Positive word-of-mouth played a key role in the film's sustained popularity, driving attendance beyond the opening weekend and even on slower weekdays like Mondays, where it attracted over 250,000 viewers. News outlets highlighted this organic buzz as a major factor in its success, alongside the film's clean humor that appealed without relying on crude elements, fostering repeat viewings among fans who enjoyed its lighthearted take on identity swaps and triumphs. The movie's appeal extended to a broad demographic, particularly viewers aged 20 to 40 who connected with its relatable themes of personal reinvention, contributing to its cultural resonance in 2016 Korean cinema. Its availability on global streaming services like Netflix has cultivated an international fanbase, with discussions centering on memorable comedic scenes and the leads' chemistry.

Awards and nominations

Wins

At the 12th University Film Festival of Korea held in 2017, actor Yoo Hae-jin won the Best Actor award for his role as Hyung-wook in Luck Key. This accolade recognized his dynamic performance, which combined sharp comedic timing with intense action sequences in portraying the amnesiac assassin navigating a swapped identity. The win underscored the film's appeal within university and emerging cinema communities, enhancing its profile beyond commercial success. At the 7th SACF Artists of the Year Awards in 2017, Yoo Hae-jin won the Artistic Impression in Motion Pictures Award for his role in Luck Key. No additional awards were won by the film or its contributors in subsequent years.

Nominations

Luck-Key received several nominations during the 2016-2017 South Korean film awards season, primarily recognizing lead Yoo Hae-jin's in the of the assassin Hyung-wook and the struggling Jae-sung. These accolades underscored the film's blend of and , which resonated with audiences and critics alike, positioning it as a standout commercial success of 2016. At the in 2017, was nominated for Best Actor for his work in Luck-Key, competing against notable performers such as Song Kang-ho in The Age of Shadows, Kwak Do-won in The Wailing, and in . Additionally, he earned a nomination for Most Popular Actor (Film) at the same ceremony, highlighting his widespread appeal amid competitors including for Master and for The King. Yoo Hae-jin also received a nomination at the 22nd Chunsa Film Art Awards in 2017 for Luck-Key, where he vied against strong contenders in a field that celebrated the year's top dramatic and comedic performances. No other major nominations for technical categories such as editing or music were reported for the film during this period.

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