Peninsula (2020): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Plot
Peninsula is a 2020 horror thriller directed by Yeon Sang-ho, starring Gang Dong-won as Han Jung-seok, Lee Jung-hyun and Kim Do-yoon. It runs 1 hour 55 minutes and earned $42.7 million worldwide on a $16 million budget. Its Echo Score is 45/100.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 55m (115 min)
- Director
- Yeon Sang-ho
- Original language
-
Korean
- Studio
- Next Entertainment World
- Budget
- $16M
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is Peninsula About?
The premise of Peninsula without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
Escape the apocalypse. A soldier and his team battle hordes of post-apocalyptic zombies in the wastelands of the Korean Peninsula.
Peninsula Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- zombie apocalypse
- sequel
- zombie
- soldier
- boat
- second part
- post apocalypse
- south korea
- shudder
- truck
- money
- army
+38 more Show fewer
- car chase
- night vision
- satellite phone
- toy car
- wild dog
- hong kong
- south korean
- korean
- south korean horror
- south korean woman
- south korean in hong kong
- lorry
- single mother
- racing
- desolate landscape
- desolation
- gun
- jarhead
- bag of money
- united nations
- united nations blue helmet
- uncle
- battery
- inhumanity
- horde
- refugee
- night
- flare
- zombie attack
- radio controlled toy
- radio controlled
- mother daughter relationship
- death
- grindhouse film
- numbered sequel
- sister sister relationship
- held at gunpoint
- psychotronic film
Peninsula Cast & Characters
Gang Dong-won leads the cast as Han Jung-seok, with Lee Jung-hyun as Min-jung and Kim Do-yoon as Chul-min. Directed by Yeon Sang-ho; 41 actors are credited in all.
- Director Yeon Sang-ho
- Gang Dong-won as Han Jung-seok
- Lee Jung-hyun as Min-jung
- Kim Do-yoon as Chul-min
- Moon Woo-jin as Dong-hwan
Also Starring in Peninsula
· 37 more- Geoffrey Giuliano Hong Kong Boss
- Cha Si-won Hong Kong Man
- Kim Min-jae Sergeant Hwang
- Yoon Young-kyun Sergeant first class 6
- Park Sung-hyun Sergeant Hwang's Soldier
- Lee Re Joon-yi
- Lee Ye-won Yu-jin
- Koo Kyo-hwan Captain Seo
- Kwon Hae-hyo Kim Noh-in
- Jang So-yeon Jung-seok's Sister
- Kim Se-dong Public Official
- John D. Michaels Evacuation Boat Captain
- Yoon Yeong-gyun Soldier
- Kim Tae-jun Min-jung's Husband
- Joey Albright U.S. Army
- Jeon Ah-hee Zombie
Show all 41 cast members Show fewer cast members
- Choi Jeong-hyun 631 Soldier
- Lee Se-rang North Korean Anchor
- Kim Kyu-baek Kim Yi-byung
- Kim Yeong-jo 631 Soldier
- Bella Rahim Major Jane
- Hwang Yeon-hui Taxi Woman
- Christopher Gordon UN Soldier
- Pierce Conran Reporter
- Han Sung-soo Zombie
- Lee Seung-jin First Lieutenant
- Kim Woo-hyun Sergeant Hwang's Soldier
- Park Jong-beom Mechanic
- Jeong Seung-uk Soldier of Unit 631
- Han Hyeon-jik Zombie
- Bae Seong-min 631 Soldier
- Ko Dong-hyoung Crazy Driver
- Heo Seung Soldier
- So Yun-ho Soldier of Unit 631
- Milan-Devi LaBrey TV Show Host
- Ahn Hyun-bin Soldier
- Nam Sang Woo Zombie
More from Yeon Sang-ho
More films directed by Yeon Sang-ho: The King of Pigs and The Hell (Two Kinds of Life).
Peninsula Reviews & Ratings
Our Echo Score gives it 45/100, strongest in rewatch factor (55) and weakest in character & emotion (35).
Peninsula Echo Score Breakdown
Peninsula delivers a high‑octane, genre‑blending experience that emphasizes action over the emotional resonance of its predecessor. Reviewers note the film’s reliance on extensive CGI and rapid pacing, which often undermines visual coherence and polish. While the set pieces are occasionally effective on a large screen, the overall craftsmanship feels uneven and derivative. Consequently, the movie offers limited artistic depth, positioning it as a middling addition to the franchise.
Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.
- Art & Craft 45
In terms of art and craft, the film prioritizes spectacle over refined execution. Critics highlight the overuse of low‑budget CGI, which detracts from immersion, and note choppy editing that hampers narrative flow. Although the destroyed‑city set design appears impressive on a big screen, the overall visual polish remains inconsistent and frequently dated.
- Character & Emotion 35
When evaluating character and emotion, reviewers consistently observe shallow development and limited chemistry among the ensemble. The protagonist’s motivations are barely explored, and supporting roles lack distinct arcs, resulting in minimal audience empathy. Even occasional strong performances cannot compensate for the overall deficit in nuanced, emotionally resonant portrayals.
- Story & Flow 40
The story receives criticism for its simplistic plot, frequent holes, and uneven pacing. Reviewers note that the narrative leans heavily on action set‑pieces, sacrificing logical cohesion and thematic depth. While the basic premise—recovering valuables in a quarantined zone—provides a framework, execution remains disjointed and fails to sustain engagement.
- Sensory Experience 50
From a sensory perspective, the film offers bursts of kinetic energy and a soundtrack that matches its fast‑paced action. However, the pervasive use of cheap CGI and inconsistent sound design often distracts viewers, limiting immersion. The visual style oscillates between impressive widescreen vistas and subpar digital effects, resulting in an uneven sensory experience.
- Rewatch Factor 55
Regarding rewatch value, opinions are divided. Some viewers find the nonstop action and occasional set‑piece thrills enjoyable enough for repeat viewings, especially in a theater setting. Conversely, many cite the thin narrative and weak character ties as reasons to avoid a second watch. Overall, the film provides limited incentive for frequent revisits.
Peninsula Plot Summary
What happens in Peninsula from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 12 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
Han Jung-seok, Gang Dong-won leads a tense evacuation as a zombie outbreak sweeps South Korea, forcing international help and a quarantine that locks down the peninsula in Busan. He drives his sister, Min-jung, her husband, Chul-min Kim Do-yoon, and their young son, Dong-hwan Moon Woo-jin, toward a waiting ship. The group encounters a distressed couple with a young daughter begging for a ride, but Jung-seok refuses after spotting the husband’s bleeding wound. Onboard, an infected passenger turns and bites several people, including Dong-hwan. Min-jung is bitten while staying behind with her son; Jung-seok seals the cabin to contain the outbreak, preventing Chul-min from entering as armed soldiers intervene.
Full summary
The whole story of Peninsula, scene by scene
Peninsula Box Office & Budget
Peninsula grossed $42.7 million worldwide on a $16 million budget, 2.7 times what it cost. $1.2 million came from the US and Canada and $41.5 million (97%) from the rest of the world.
Worldwide gross
$42.7M
2.7× its budget
- US & Canada
- $1.2M
- International
- $41.5M
- Budget
- $16M
Peninsula Trailers & Videos
2 videos: 1 trailer and 1 teaser.
- Teaser TRAIN TO BUSAN PRESENTS: PENINSULA (2020) Official Teaser | Zombie Action Movie
How Well Do You Know Peninsula?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
Who leads the tense evacuation at the beginning of the film as a zombie outbreak sweeps South Korea?
Seen Peninsula?
Movies Like Peninsula
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Badland Hunters, Train to Busan and Typhoon.
Peninsula FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Runtime
Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, post-credit scenes and language of Peninsula, each answered in a sentence.
How long is Peninsula?
Peninsula runs 1 hour 55 minutes (115 minutes).
When was Peninsula released?
Peninsula was released on July 15, 2020.
Who directed Peninsula?
Peninsula was directed by Yeon Sang-ho.
More films by Yeon Sang-ho Who is in the cast of Peninsula?
Peninsula stars Gang Dong-won as Han Jung-seok, Lee Jung-hyun as Min-jung and Kim Do-yoon as Chul-min, among 41 credited actors.
How much did Peninsula make at the box office?
Peninsula grossed $42.7 million worldwide ($1.2 million domestic, $41.5 million international) on a budget of $16 million.
Does Peninsula have a post-credit scene?
No. Peninsula has no extra scene during or after the credits.
What language is Peninsula in?
The original language of Peninsula is Korean.
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