Number One (2026 film)
| Number One | |
|---|---|
Theatrical release poster | |
| Hangul | 넘버원 |
| RR | Neombeo won |
| MR | Nŏmbŏ wŏn |
| Directed by | Kim Tae-yong |
| Screenplay by | Kim Tae-yong |
| Based on | The Number of Times You Can Eat Your Mother's Cooking is 328 by Sora Uwano |
| Starring | |
| Edited by | Yang Dong-yeop |
| Music by | Kim Hae-won |
Production companies |
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| Distributed by | By4M Studio |
Release date |
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Running time | 105 minutes |
| Country | South Korea |
| Language | Korean |
| Box office | US$1.8 million[1] |
Number One (Korean: 넘버원) is a 2026 South Korean fantasy film written and directed by Kim Tae-yong. Based on the novel The Number of Times You Can Eat Your Mother's Cooking is 328 by Sora Uwano, it stars Choi Woo-shik, Jang Hye-jin, and Gong Seung-yeon. Distributed by By4M Studio, the film was released in South Korea on February 11, 2026.[2]
Synopsis
Every time he eats the food his mother cooks, Ha-min begins to see mysterious numbers floating before his eyes. With each bite of his mother's cooking, the number decreases by one. When he realizes that the number reaching zero means his mother, Eun-sil, will die, Ha-min's once ordinary life is turned upside down in an instant. To protect his mother, Ha-min starts avoiding her home-cooked meals, making all kinds of excuses.
Cast
- Choi Woo-shik as Ha-min
- Jang Hye-jin as Eun-sil
- Gong Seung-yeon as Ryeo-eun
- Yoo Jae-myung as Ha-min's father
- Jang Yeon-woo as Ha-jun
- Yang Kyung-won as Chang-seok
- Kim Young-min as Doctor
Production
The film marks the reunion of director Kim Tae-yong and Choi Woo-shik, who previously collaborated on the 2014 film Set Me Free. Jang Hye-jin, who earlier portrayed Choi's mother in the 2019 film Parasite, co-stars as Eun-sil.[3][4]
Release
The film was released theatrically on February 11, 2026, on 647 screens.[5][6]
Reception
Moon Ki-hoon of The Korea Herald described Number One as a "painfully safe" family drama that squanders the promise of its fantasy premise and Choi Woo-shik's performance, criticizing it as overly sentimental and conventional.[7] Woo Jae-yeon of Yonhap News described the film as a quiet and unpretentious fantasy drama that approaches themes of death and family with warmth, praising its emotionally resonant performances and focus on the value of everyday moments.[8]
References
- ^ "KOFIC, KOBIS (Korean Box Office Information System) The Box office: Korean films of 2026". KOFIC. Retrieved March 2, 2026.
- ^ Jeong Yu-jin (December 22, 2025). '기생충' 최우식·장혜진 현실 母子 재회…'넘버원', 2026년 2월 개봉 ["Parasite" stars Choi Woo-shik and Jang Hye-jin reunite in a real-life mother-son relationship… "Number One" to be released in February 2026]. news1 (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved February 27, 2026.
- ^ Baek Byung-yeul (January 29, 2026). "'Number One' captures precious value of life, family". The Korea Times. Retrieved February 27, 2026.
- ^ Min Kyung-hoon (January 29, 2026). "Kim Tae-yong and Choi Woo-shik Reunite in 'Number One'". The Chosun Ilbo. Retrieved February 27, 2026.
- ^ Daniela Gonzalez Perez (January 29, 2026). "Actors Choi Woo-shik, Jang Hye-jin on reuniting after 'Parasite' in upcoming film 'Number One' — in pictures". Korea JoongAng Daily. Retrieved February 27, 2026.
- ^ "Daily Box Office". KOBIS (in Korean). Retrieved February 27, 2026.
- ^ Moon Ki-hoon (February 2, 2026). "'Number One' squanders Choi Woo-shik's homecoming". The Korea Herald. Retrieved February 27, 2026.
- ^ Woo Jae-yeon (February 3, 2026). "(Movie Review) 'Number One' counts down life's most ordinary moments". Yonhap News Agency. Retrieved February 27, 2026.
External links
- Number One at HanCinema
- Number One at IMDb