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RomanceThriller Busan 2016 · Korean Cinema Today

The Handmaiden

Directed by Park Chan-wook · 2016 ·

Short answer

Is The Handmaiden worth watching?

Yes. The Handmaiden (2016) earns an 87% Celluloid Score. That puts it in our Recommended tier. Critics and audiences are closely aligned on this one. See the 4 inputs.

87%
Celluloid Score Recommended

4-input transparent breakdown

95% Editorial Rating
92% Audience snapshot · excluded
84 Metascore
★★★★☆ Letterboxd 4.3
8.1 IMDb /10
0
Watch Trailer
Released
Runtime
2h 25m
Age rating
R (US) · 18 (UK) · R 18+ (Australia) · R21 (Singapore) · 19 (South Korea)
Cast
Kim Min-hee , Kim Tae-ri , Ha Jung-woo
Streaming
Prime Video
Language
Korean

Also known as 아가씨 La doncella Mademoiselle Die Taschendiebin A Criada お嬢さん 小姐 下女的誘惑

🏆 7 award wins · 1 nomination — Won Film Not in the English Language, BAFTA 2018

Where to watch

  • Prime Video

Rent: Fandango at Home

Where to watch The Handmaiden by country

Country Streaming on
Japan U-NEXT
South Korea Netflix, TVING
United Kingdom MUBI, BFI Player
United States Prime Video

Subscription availability, refreshed from TMDB. Rental and purchase options may differ.

Why this score?

  • Celluloid's editorial rating is exceptional (95/100).
  • Audiences widely enjoyed it (92%).
  • Metascore signals universal acclaim (84/100).
  • Letterboxd diarists rate it highly (4.3/5).
  • IMDb users score it 8.1/10.

Best for

  • Viewers who want a well-regarded romance, thriller pick

Not ideal for

    Scores reflect data indexed at build time. Component sources are shown on this page; Celluloid Score is our composite, not a third-party trademark. Scoring policy

    Streaming availability, artwork and title metadata courtesy of TMDB. This product uses the TMDB API but is not endorsed or certified by TMDB.

    Is The Handmaiden worth watching?

    Yes — The Handmaiden earns an 87% Celluloid Score. That puts it in our Recommended tier. It suits viewers who want a well-regarded romance, thriller pick. Read our full review (4.5/5).

    Celluloid verdict

    Park Chan-wook's erotic thriller is sumptuous, twisty, and brilliantly performed by its entire ensemble.

    , Founder & Editor

    Critics and audiences are closely aligned on this one.

    What is The Handmaiden about?

    A pickpocket posing as a handmaiden to a Japanese heiress plots a con that becomes a labyrinth of desire, betrayal, and liberation.

    Watch the Trailer

    Critic Reviews

    Short review 4 min read English The Handmaiden

    The Handmaiden (2016) Review: A Con Wrapped in Silk

    The Handmaiden is Park Chan-wook's lavish erotic thriller about a pickpocket, an heiress and a swindle, relocated from Victorian England to colonial-era Korea.

    Yes. It is a sumptuous, witty and twisty thriller-romance for adult viewers who enjoy clever plotting; its explicit sex and violence will not suit everyone.

    Kaiser Khan Founder & Editor

    The Handmaiden stills

    Official production imagery supplied through TMDB, kept with the movie instead of split into a thin gallery page.

    The Handmaiden production still 1
    The Handmaiden production still 2
    The Handmaiden production still 3
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    The Handmaiden production still 5
    The Handmaiden production still 6

    Images courtesy of TMDB. TMDB does not endorse or certify Celluloid.

    Reader takes

    No reader takes published yet. Send yours and we may publish it after editing.

    The Handmaiden: frequently asked questions

    Is The Handmaiden worth watching?

    Yes. The Handmaiden (2016) has a Celluloid Score of 87%, averaged from the available Celluloid editorial, Metascore, Letterboxd and IMDb ratings. That puts it in our Recommended tier. Audience sentiment is shown separately and does not change the score.

    Where can I watch The Handmaiden?

    In the United States, The Handmaiden streams on Prime Video with a subscription, and you can rent it from Fandango at Home. Elsewhere: U-NEXT in Japan; Netflix, TVING in South Korea; MUBI, BFI Player in the United Kingdom. Availability changes; the where-to-watch table on this page is refreshed from TMDB.

    How long is The Handmaiden?

    The Handmaiden runs 2 hours 25 minutes (145 minutes).

    What is The Handmaiden rated?

    The Handmaiden is rated R in the United States, 18 in the UK, R 18+ in Australia, R21 in Singapore and 19 in South Korea. These are the official classifications as recorded on TMDB; check your local classification board for content advice.

    Who stars in The Handmaiden?

    The Handmaiden is directed by Park Chan-wook and stars Kim Min-hee, Kim Tae-ri, Ha Jung-woo.

    What is the Metascore for The Handmaiden?

    Metacritic's Metascore for The Handmaiden is 84 out of 100. It is one of the inputs to the Celluloid Score.

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