# The Host (2006) — Celluloid fact sheet

Source: https://celluloidscore.com/movies/the-host-2006/
Last reviewed: 2026-08-31

| Field | Value |
|-------|-------|
| Celluloid Score | 81% |
| Editorial Rating | 93/100 |
| Audience Snapshot | 73% (excluded from composite) |
| Metascore | 85/100 |
| Letterboxd | 3.8/5 |
| IMDb | 7.1/10 |
| Director | Bong Joon Ho |
| Genres | Horror, Sci-Fi |
| Runtime | 119 min |
| Festival premiere | Busan 2006 (Korean Cinema Today) |
| Major awards | 4 wins, 1 nominations |

## Quick answer

The Host (2006) earns a 81% Celluloid Score — Recommended. Bong's monster movie is funny, angry, and politically sharp beneath its creature-feature surface. Critics and audiences diverge (93% critic vs 73% audience). Metascore 85/100. Directed by Bong Joon Ho.

## Celluloid verdict

Bong's monster movie is funny, angry, and politically sharp beneath its creature-feature surface.

## Synopsis

A dysfunctional family battles a mutant creature from the Han River after it abducts a young girl in a satire of government failure.

## Cast

Song Kang-ho, Byun Hee-bong, Park Hae-il

## Accolades

Premiered at Busan 2006, where it won the Korean Cinema Today.
- Won Best Film — Asian Film Awards 2007
- Won Best Actor (Song Kang-ho) — Asian Film Awards 2007
- Won Best Visual Effects — Asian Film Awards 2007
- Nominated for Best Film — Blue Dragon Film Awards 2006
- Won Best Director — Blue Dragon Film Awards 2006

## Where to watch

Global: Prime Video
the United States: Prime Video
South Korea: Netflix, Disney+, Wavve, TVING

## Critic reviews on Celluloid: 1

## Common questions

**Is The Host worth watching?**
The Host holds a 81% Celluloid Score. Bong's monster movie is funny, angry, and politically sharp beneath its creature-feature surface.

**What is The Host about?**
A dysfunctional family battles a mutant creature from the Han River after it abducts a young girl in a satire of government failure.

**Who directed The Host?**
The Host (2006) was directed by Bong Joon Ho.

**What is the Celluloid Score of The Host?**
81% — calculated from available Celluloid editorial (93/100), Metascore (85/100), Letterboxd (3.8/5), and IMDb (7.1/10) inputs. Audience sentiment is excluded.

**What awards did The Host win?**
The Host won Best Film (Asian Film Awards 2007), Best Actor (Song Kang-ho) (Asian Film Awards 2007), Best Visual Effects (Asian Film Awards 2007), Best Director (Blue Dragon Film Awards 2006), with 1 further nomination.

**Where can I watch The Host?**
The Host is streaming on Prime Video; on Prime Video in the United States; on Netflix, Disney+, Wavve, TVING in South Korea. Availability varies by region.

---
Reviewed and scored by Celluloid · Editor: Kaiser Khan (https://celluloidscore.com/author/kaiser-khan/)

Markdown mirror: https://celluloidscore.com/movies/the-host-2006.md