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The Handmaiden
CAST & DIRECTOR
Directed by Park Chan-wook. With Kim Min-hee, Kim Tae-ri, Ha Jung-woo.
8.2/10
MOVIHERO RATINGWHAT IT'S ABOUT
1930s Korea, in the period of Japanese occupation, a new girl, Sook-hee, is hired as a handmaiden to a Japanese heiress, Hideko, who lives a secluded life on a large countryside estate with her domineering Uncle Kouzuki. But the maid has a secret. She is a pickpocket recruited by a swindler posing as a Japanese Count to help him seduce the Lady to steal her fortune.
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8.2/10
MOVIHERO RATINGYOUR WATCHLIST1930s Korea, in the period of Japanese occupation, a new girl, Sook-hee, is hired as a handmaiden to a Japanese heiress, Hideko, who lives a secluded life on a large c…
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RELEASE SNAPSHOT
Release snapshot for The Handmaiden.
MoviHero lists June 1, 2016 as the release date for The Handmaiden. Park Chan-wook is the listed director. The listed cast includes Kim Min-hee as Lady Hideko, Kim Tae-ri as Sook-hee, Ha Jung-woo as Count Fujiwara, Cho Jin-woong as Uncle Kouzuki. A trailer and 5 stills are available on this page.
Release dateJune 1, 2016
GenresDrama · Thriller · Romance
Runtime2h 25m
DirectorPark Chan-wook
CastKim Min-hee as Lady Hideko, Kim Tae-ri as Sook-hee, Ha Jung-woo as Count Fujiwara, Cho Jin-woong as Uncle Kouzuki
TrailerAvailable on this page
Images5 stills
BEFORE YOU PRESS PLAY
Is The Handmaiden right for tonight?
Pacing, attention and emotional impact are estimates from the current MoviHero Watch Profile, not verified scene-by-scene reviews.
How much time should I set aside?
The Handmaiden runs 2h 25m. Allow extra time for breaks.
Is it slow or fast?
The current MoviHero pacing estimate is 5/10: a middle-ground pace.
Is it a good choice when I am tired?
The attention estimate is 8/10. Consider saving this for a night when you can concentrate.
How emotionally intense is it?
The emotional-impact estimate is 8/10, suggesting a stronger emotional experience. This does not tell you whether the ending is happy or sad.
CHANGE ONE THING
Like this, but...
These share a listed genre with The Handmaiden. Profile differences are estimates, not a guarantee of the same story or mood.
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65 minutes shorter (1h 20m). Shared genre: romance, drama.
But less emotionally intenseWarm Blooded Animals2026 · 12mEstimated emotional impact: 5/10 versus 8/10. Shared genre: romance, drama.
But less demandingLove and DDR at Blacktown Mall2026 · 10mEstimated attention required: 5/10 versus 8/10. Shared genre: romance, drama.
MOVIE RATING
MoviHero Rating
MoviHero Rating: 8.2/10 from 4,573 votes. Updated Nov 4, 2026.
Rating data supplied by TMDB, shown on a 10-point scale. MoviHero audience ratings are calculated separately from scores submitted here.
MOVIHERO AUDIENCE RATING
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WHAT WATCHING IT FEELS LIKE
Watch Profile
Seven estimates of the viewing experience, based on the stored Watch Profile. These are separate from the movie rating and are not verified scene-by-scene assessments.
Pacing5/10
Emotional Impact8/10
Mind-Bending2/10
Scary2/10
Violence4/10
Rewatchability6/10
Attention Required8/10
VIEWER REVIEWS
What viewers say about The Handmaiden
Selected viewer reactions, in their own words. These excerpts reflect individual opinions, not an overall verdict.
Viewer reaction
“In the circle of romance, deceive and defraud.”
Viewer reaction
“Talk about the best laid plans! This is a cracking, sexy, thriller set in Korea during the Japanese occupation of the 1930s. It centres around…”
Viewer reaction
“The Handmaiden, adapted from Sarah Waters' Fingersmith, masterfully transposes the 19th-century London setting to 1930s Japanese-occupied Korea, creating a rich and visually stunning historical backdrop.”
Selected review excerpts supplied by TMDB. Opinions belong to their original authors.
A CLOSER LOOK
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CAST & CREW
The people who make it land.
CHARACTERS IN THIS MOVIE
Follow the character.
Reviewed MoviHero character guides connected to this movie.
otherUncle KouzukiUncle Kouzuki appears in The Handmaiden (2016).Open character guide otherCount FujiwaraCount Fujiwara appears in The Handmaiden (2016).Open character guide otherLady HidekoLady Hideko appears in The Handmaiden (2016).Open character guide otherMs. SasakiMs. Sasaki appears in The Handmaiden (2016).Open character guide otherSook-heeSook-hee appears in The Handmaiden (2016).Open character guide
SIMILAR GENRES & STORY THEMES
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MOVIHERO ESTIMATEWomen as Lovers
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MOVIHERO ESTIMATEHide
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