Skip to main content

The Villainess

Directed by Jung Byung-gil · 2017 ·

Short answer

Is The Villainess worth watching?

Yes. The Villainess (2017) earns a 69% Celluloid Score. That puts it in our Recommended tier. Critics (79%) were notably more enthusiastic than audiences (62%). See the 4 inputs.

69%
Celluloid Score Recommended

4-input transparent breakdown

79% Editorial Rating
62% Audience snapshot · excluded
66 Metascore
★★★☆☆ Letterboxd 3.3
6.5 IMDb /10
0
Watch Trailer
Released
Runtime
2h 9m
Age rating
18 (UK) · R 18+ (Australia) · 18A (Canada) · 19 (South Korea) · R15+ (Japan)
Cast
Kim Ok-vin , Shin Ha-kyun , Sung Joon , Kim Seo-hyung , Cho Eun-ji , Lee Seung-joo , Jung Hae-kyun , Park Cheol-min
Streaming
Prime Video
Language
Korean

Also known as 악녀 La Villana A Vilã 悪女 AKUJO 恶女 惡女 Ak-Nyeo L'assassina - The Villainess

Where to watch

  • Prime Video

Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube, Fandango at Home

Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube, Fandango at Home

Where to watch The Villainess by country

Country Streaming on
India Prime Video, Vi Movies & TV
Indonesia Viu, Catchplay
Japan Prime Video, Hulu, U-NEXT
Malaysia Viu
Philippines Viu
South Korea Netflix
United States Prime Video

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

Why this score?

  • Celluloid's editorial rating is positive (79/100).
  • General viewers mostly liked it (62%).
  • Metascore is generally favorable (66/100).
  • Celluloid Score 69% combines 4 rating inputs; audience sentiment is shown separately. Consult the source notes for verification dates where recorded.

Best for

  • Critics' darlings — stronger with reviewers than general viewers

Not ideal for

  • Viewers who only watch top-tier, 90%+ rated films

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 Villainess worth watching?

Yes — The Villainess earns a 69% Celluloid Score. That puts it in our Recommended tier. It suits critics' darlings — stronger with reviewers than general viewers, but viewers who only watch top-tier, 90%+ rated films may want to skip it. Read our full review (3.5/5).

Celluloid verdict

The opening first-person corridor assault is worth the ticket on its own; the melodrama that follows is a different, weaker film.

, Founder & Editor

Critics (79%) were notably more enthusiastic than audiences (62%).

What is The Villainess about?

Honed from childhood into a merciless killing machine by a criminal organization, assassin Sook-hee is recruited with the promise of freedom after ten years of service. However, secrets from her past destroy everything she’s worked for and now she embarks on a roaring rampage of revenge.

Watch the Trailer

Critic Reviews

Short review 4 min read English The Villainess

The Villainess (2017) Review: Dazzling Fights, Tangled Plot

The Villainess is Jung Byung-gil's Korean assassin thriller, with a jaw-dropping first-person opening and a messier revenge melodrama built around Kim Ok-vin.

Yes, for action fans. The fight scenes are some of the most inventive of the decade, even if the convoluted melodrama between them drags.

The Villainess stills

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

The Villainess production still 1
The Villainess production still 2
The Villainess production still 3
The Villainess production still 4
The Villainess production still 5
The Villainess 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 Villainess: frequently asked questions

Is The Villainess worth watching?

Yes. The Villainess (2017) has a Celluloid Score of 69%, 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 Villainess?

In the United States, The Villainess streams on Prime Video with a subscription, and you can rent it from Amazon Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube or buy it from Amazon Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube. Elsewhere: Prime Video, Vi Movies & TV in India; Viu, Catchplay in Indonesia; Prime Video, Hulu, U-NEXT in Japan; Viu in Malaysia. Availability changes; the where-to-watch table on this page is refreshed from TMDB.

How long is The Villainess?

The Villainess runs 2 hours 9 minutes (129 minutes).

What is The Villainess rated?

The Villainess is rated 18 in the UK, R 18+ in Australia, 18A in Canada, 19 in South Korea and R15+ in Japan. These are the official classifications as recorded on TMDB; check your local classification board for content advice.

Who stars in The Villainess?

The Villainess is directed by Jung Byung-gil and stars Kim Ok-vin, Shin Ha-kyun, Sung Joon, Kim Seo-hyung, Cho Eun-ji.

What is the Metascore for The Villainess?

Metacritic's Metascore for The Villainess is 66 out of 100. It is one of the inputs to the Celluloid Score.

More Like This

Ranked by genre overlap and Celluloid Score. More movies like The Villainess →