International Cinema
Sci-fi thriller
The Host (2007): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Plot
The Host is a 2007 sci-fi thriller directed by Joon-ho Bong, starring Kang-ho Song, Hae-il Park and Hie-bong Byeon. It runs 1 hour 59 minutes and earned $89.4 million worldwide. Critics gave it 85 on Metacritic.
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- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 59m (119 min)
- Director
- Joon-ho Bong
- Original language
-
English - Studio
- Magnolia Pictures
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
The story
What Is The Host About?
The premise of The Host without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
A London banker's life takes a dark turn when he uncovers a clandestine world of conspiracies and hidden agendas. Thrust into a desperate fight for survival, he must navigate a web of shadowy figures and confront unsettling truths. As he delves deeper into the mystery, he risks being consumed by the dangerous forces he has awakened.
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Cast & crew
The Host Cast
Kang-ho Song leads the cast, with Hae-il Park and Hie-bong Byeon. Directed by Joon-ho Bong.
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Director Joon-ho Bong
From the director
More from Joon-ho Bong
More films directed by Joon-ho Bong, best-rated first: Parasite, Memories of Murder, Okja and Mother.
Ratings
The Host Reviews & Ratings
Critics gave The Host 85 on Metacritic.
-
Metacritic 85 Metascore
User score 7.2
See on Metacritic
Plot
The Host Plot Summary
What happens in The Host from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 14 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
In a near-future Earth, parasitic aliens known as Souls have invaded the planet, implanting themselves into the bodies of humanity and suppressing the host’s consciousness. The original person’s memories remain accessible to the Soul, and occupied hosts are identified by a distinctive silver ring in their eyes. The human resistance has been driven underground, and the Souls have effectively taken control of most of Earth.
A human named Melanie Stryder is captured and merged with a Soul called Wanderer. The Seeker, another Soul, orders Wanderer to extract Melanie’s memories to locate a hidden group of humans who have not yet been assimilated. Yet Melanie’s consciousness is not fully erased; inside Wanderer, the two minds carry on an ongoing conversation and even form a tentative friendship.
Full summary
The whole story of The Host, scene by scene
Box office
The Host Box Office
The Host grossed $89.4 million worldwide. $2.2 million came from the US and Canada and $87.2 million (98%) from the rest of the world.
Worldwide gross
$89.4M
- US & Canada
- $2.2M
- International
- $87.2M
US & Canada 2%
Rest of the world 98%
Videos
The Host Trailers & Videos
4 videos: 3 trailers and 1 featurette.
- Trailer Trailer
- Trailer Official Australian Trailer
- Featurette Mark Kermode reviews Bong Joon-ho's The Host
Quiz
How Well Do You Know The Host?
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
What is the name of the parasitic alien species that take over human hosts?
Cars
Cars in The Host
14 cars on screen, including the 1983 Ford Econoline and the 2005 Hyundai Sonata.
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1983 Ford Econoline Minor role -
2005 Hyundai Sonata Minor role -
1989 Kia Wide Bongo Minor role -
1995 SsangYong Istana Minor role
Details
The Host Also Known As
31 alternative titles, including “Gwoemul” and “グエムル-漢江の怪物-”.
- Also known as
-
- Gwoemul
- グエムル-漢江の怪物-
- Вторжение динозавра
- المضيف
- O Hospedeiro
- 韓流怪嚇
- Thủy Quái
- 汉江怪物
- Yaratık
- The Host - A Criatura
- The Host: Salaisuus pinnan alta
- The Host: Potwór
+19 more Show fewer
- A gazdatest
- 괴물
- グエムル -漢江の怪物-
- میزبان
- המארח
- Ο Επισκέπτης
- L’hoste
- Вторгнення динозавра
- 駭人怪物
- Чудовището
- Mutant
- El Huésped
- L'hôte
- Quái Vật Sông Hàn
- อสูรนรกกลายพันธุ์
- Domaćin, სტუმარი
- Gazda
- المُضيف المرعب
- Isand
Seen The Host?
From the blog
Articles About The Host
Our article about The Host: “The Rise of Multilingual Films in Global Cinema”.
FAQ
The Host FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Runtime
Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings and post-credit scenes of The Host, each answered in a sentence.
How long is The Host?
The Host runs 1 hour 59 minutes (119 minutes).
When was The Host released?
The Host was released on March 9, 2007.
Who directed The Host?
The Host was directed by Joon-ho Bong.
More films by Joon-ho Bong Who is in the cast of The Host?
The Host stars Kang-ho Song, Hae-il Park and Hie-bong Byeon.
How much did The Host make at the box office?
The Host grossed $89.4 million worldwide ($2.2 million domestic, $87.2 million international).
How is The Host rated?
The Host has 85 on Metacritic.
Does The Host have a post-credit scene?
No. The Host has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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