# Unstoppable (성난황소) (2018 film)
**Unstoppable** (성난황소, *Seongnan Hwangso*, literally "Angry Bull") is a 2018 South Korean crime action film directed and written by Kim Min-ho, starring Don Lee ([Ma Dong-seok](https://www.edgepedia.org/ma-dong-seok)), Song Ji-hyo, and Kim Sung-oh[1](https://www.filmmakers.co.kr/movies/en/20184481). It was released in South Korea on November 22, 2018[1](https://www.filmmakers.co.kr/movies/en/20184481). The film follows Dong-chul, a retired gangster who returns to violence when his wife is kidnapped[2](https://www.wellgousa.com/films/unstoppable).
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Korean title / meaning | 성난황소 (Seongnan Hwangso), "angry bull"; the hero's old fighting nickname is Hwangso[3](https://www.ondemandkorea.com/player/vod/unstoppable-2) |
| Director and writer | Kim Min-ho[1](https://www.filmmakers.co.kr/movies/en/20184481) |
| Starring | Don Lee (Ma Dong-seok), Song Ji-hyo, Kim Sung-oh, Kim Min-jae, Park Ji-hwan[1](https://www.filmmakers.co.kr/movies/en/20184481) • [4](https://qr.netflix.com/kr/title/81044647) |
| Release | November 22, 2018, South Korea[1](https://www.filmmakers.co.kr/movies/en/20184481) |
| Running time | 115 minutes (some platforms list 116)[5](https://host.cine21.com/movie/info/?movie_id=52727) • [6](https://www.justwatch.com/us/movie/unstoppable-2018) |
| Production / distribution | PLUSMEDIA ENTERTAINMENT and B.A. Entertainment; distributed by Showbox Corp[1](https://www.filmmakers.co.kr/movies/en/20184481) |
| Korean admissions | 1,593,213 cumulative[5](https://host.cine21.com/movie/info/?movie_id=52727) |
| Rating | 15+ in South Korea; Not Rated in the US release[1](https://www.filmmakers.co.kr/movies/en/20184481) • [2](https://www.wellgousa.com/films/unstoppable) |
## Spoilers
### Plot
Dong-chul (Ma Dong-seok) once was a famous fighter known by the nickname Hwangso, or Bull, but he gave up his criminal life to be with his wife Ji-soo ([Song Ji-hyo](https://www.edgepedia.org/song-ji-hyo)) and now works honestly in dried-fish distribution at a fish market[3](https://www.ondemandkorea.com/player/vod/unstoppable-2). The couple lives happily despite financial difficulty; on their wedding anniversary Dong-chul confesses that he invested a large sum in what he believed was a good business opportunity, and an angry Ji-soo heads home ahead of him[3](https://www.ondemandkorea.com/player/vod/unstoppable-2).
When Dong-chul reaches home, the house is wrecked and Ji-soo is gone. He reports to the police, but her whereabouts remain unknown[7](https://www.coupangplay.com/content/2825b678-4e54-4787-b941-abb99c5f0536). The kidnapper is Ki-tae (Kim Sung-oh), a notorious human trafficker who deals in illegal lending and trafficking and had noticed Ji-soo after a roadside quarrel with the couple while driving[3](https://www.ondemandkorea.com/player/vod/unstoppable-2) • [5](https://host.cine21.com/movie/info/?movie_id=52727). In an unusual twist, Ki-tae calls Dong-chul and offers to pay him a large sum of money for having kidnapped his wife; Dong-chul refuses the money and, his dormant fury awakened, sets out to get Ji-soo back[4](https://qr.netflix.com/kr/title/81044647) • [3](https://www.ondemandkorea.com/player/vod/unstoppable-2).
He is helped by his junior Chunsik (Park Ji-hwan) and Bear Park (Kim Min-jae), the owner of a debt-collection agency, as he raids Ki-tae's organization one target at a time[3](https://www.ondemandkorea.com/player/vod/unstoppable-2).
## Production
**A Ma Dong-seok vehicle.** The film was developed around its lead actor. Director Kim Min-ho said he revised the scenario for five years until it was a story that could not work without Ma Dong-seok[8](https://koreafilm.co.kr/movie/unstoppable/unstoppable_4.htm). Ma Dong-seok's own film planning company, Team Gorilla (팀코릴라), participated in the production, and he was involved from planning through producing and starring[9](https://news.nate.com/view/20181124n07546) • [10](https://www.starnewskorea.com/movie/2018/10/26/2018102608383507175). He is credited as a producer alongside Jang Jae-ho, Jang Won-seok, and others[1](https://www.filmmakers.co.kr/movies/en/20184481).
The action was designed by martial arts director Heo Myung-haeng, who had long worked with Ma Dong-seok on films including *Train to Busan* and *[The Outlaws](https://www.edgepedia.org/the-outlaws-2017-film)* (2017)[11](https://host.cine21.com/news/view/?idx=4&mag_id=91687). Ma said Heo created fist-fighting sequences tailored specifically to him, and that because Dong-chul charges at a single mission, rescuing his wife, the film contains many sequences in which he uses his fists regardless of circumstances[11](https://host.cine21.com/news/view/?idx=4&mag_id=91687). Several crew members from *The Outlaws* also returned, including costume and makeup chief Nam Ji-soo and editor Kim Sun-min[5](https://host.cine21.com/movie/info/?movie_id=52727).
**Locations.** The art team searched nationwide for a suitable site for Ki-tae's hideout, the film's climactic action space, and converted a long-closed motel through extensive renovation[5](https://host.cine21.com/movie/info/?movie_id=52727). A gambling den was built as a set to showcase Ma's fist action, and an elevated roadway was chosen for the car-chase sequence[5](https://host.cine21.com/movie/info/?movie_id=52727).
## Release and box office
*Unstoppable* opened in South Korea on November 22, 2018 on 1,008 screens[1](https://www.filmmakers.co.kr/movies/en/20184481) • [12](https://welcon.kocca.kr/cmm/fms/crawling/2018%EB%85%84%2011%EC%9B%94%20%ED%95%9C%EA%B5%AD%EC%98%81%ED%99%94%EC%82%B0%EC%97%85%EA%B2%B0%EC%82%B0%EB%B3%B4%EA%B3%A0%EC%84%9C_%EB%AF%B8%EB%A6%AC%EB%B3%B4%EA%B8%B0?atchFileId=FILE_ed480e0d-de75-4c2b-a2b7-ff352580e845&fileSn=1). The Korean Film Council's November 2018 monthly report recorded revenue of 10,676,638,462 won and 1,282,227 admissions for the film that month[12](https://welcon.kocca.kr/cmm/fms/crawling/2018%EB%85%84%2011%EC%9B%94%20%ED%95%9C%EA%B5%AD%EC%98%81%ED%99%94%EC%82%B0%EC%97%85%EA%B2%B0%EC%82%B0%EB%B3%B4%EA%B3%A0%EC%84%9C_%EB%AF%B8%EB%A6%AC%EB%B3%B4%EA%B8%B0?atchFileId=FILE_ed480e0d-de75-4c2b-a2b7-ff352580e845&fileSn=1), and Cine21 lists cumulative admissions of 1,593,213[5](https://host.cine21.com/movie/info/?movie_id=52727).
The film passed its break-even point, and its video-on-demand service began on December 12, 2018, less than three weeks after release, on IPTV platforms and mobile and online stores[13](https://www.tenasia.co.kr/article/2018121285354). Trade press noted that it was the highest-grossing Ma Dong-seok lead vehicle since *The Outlaws*[13](https://www.tenasia.co.kr/article/2018121285354).
Its release was unusual in that two Ma Dong-seok starring vehicles opened two weeks apart that November: *The Neighbors* on November 7 and *Unstoppable* on November 22[10](https://www.starnewskorea.com/movie/2018/10/26/2018102608383507175).
## Reception
On IMDb the film holds a rating of 6.6 from about 7,300 votes, and the [JustWatch](https://www.edgepedia.org/justwatch) aggregate score shown for the film is 79 percent[6](https://www.justwatch.com/us/movie/unstoppable-2018). Cine21's four contributing critics gave scores of 4 to 5 out of 5, averaging 4.50, and its registered users averaged 6.75[5](https://host.cine21.com/movie/info/?movie_id=52727).
Korean reviews centered on Ma Dong-seok's established screen persona. A Maeil Business column called the film the peak of the "Ma Dong-seok-style" movie while faulting its predictable plot development[14](https://www.mk.co.kr/news/columnists/8573105). Cine21's review described the pleasure of watching Ma dispatch the kidnapper's gang single-handedly, with his familiar "spicy fist flavor"[5](https://host.cine21.com/movie/info/?movie_id=52727). Kim Sung-oh's villain, a kidnapper who smilingly offers money to his victim's family, was noted as a point of difference from earlier Ma Dong-seok films[9](https://news.nate.com/view/20181124n07546).
## Home media and streaming
In the United States the film is available under the title *Unstoppable* on subscription and ad-supported services including Amazon Prime Video, Hi-YAH, The Roku Channel, Pluto TV, Tubi TV, and Plex, with a runtime listed as 116 minutes and a TV-14 rating[6](https://www.justwatch.com/us/movie/unstoppable-2018). Well Go USA's release page lists a US date of November 30, 2018 and a 116-minute runtime[2](https://www.wellgousa.com/films/unstoppable). Netflix lists the film in Korea as a 15+ action title with Korean audio and English and Korean subtitles[4](https://qr.netflix.com/kr/title/81044647).
## References
1. [Unstoppable (성난황소), Filmmakers film database](https://www.filmmakers.co.kr/movies/en/20184481)
2. [Unstoppable – Official Movie Site, Well Go USA](https://www.wellgousa.com/films/unstoppable)
3. [성난 황소, OnDemandKorea](https://www.ondemandkorea.com/player/vod/unstoppable-2)
4. [성난황소, Netflix](https://qr.netflix.com/kr/title/81044647)
5. [성난황소 (Unstoppable), Cine21](https://host.cine21.com/movie/info/?movie_id=52727)
6. [Unstoppable streaming: where to watch movie online?, JustWatch](https://www.justwatch.com/us/movie/unstoppable-2018)
7. [성난황소, Coupang Play](https://www.coupangplay.com/content/2825b678-4e54-4787-b941-abb99c5f0536)
8. [한번 성나면 무섭게 돌변하는 '동철'… [성난황소], Korea Film](https://koreafilm.co.kr/movie/unstoppable/unstoppable_4.htm)
9. ['성난황소'에 마동석뿐? 박지환·김민재 콤비 주목, Nate News](https://news.nate.com/view/20181124n07546)
10. [마동석 주연 영화 '동네사람들' '성난황소' 11월 2편 개봉, Star News](https://www.starnewskorea.com/movie/2018/10/26/2018102608383507175)
11. [<성난황소> 마동석 – 달릴 수 있을 때까지 달린다, Cine21 Magazine](https://host.cine21.com/news/view/?idx=4&mag_id=91687)
12. [2018년 11월 한국영화산업 결산보고서, Korean Film Council / KOCCA](https://welcon.kocca.kr/cmm/fms/crawling/2018%EB%85%84%2011%EC%9B%94%20%ED%95%9C%EA%B5%AD%EC%98%81%ED%99%94%EC%82%B0%EC%97%85%EA%B2%B0%EC%82%B0%EB%B3%B4%EA%B3%A0%EC%84%9C_%EB%AF%B8%EB%A6%AC%EB%B3%B4%EA%B8%B0?atchFileId=FILE_ed480e0d-de75-4c2b-a2b7-ff352580e845&fileSn=1)
13. [손익분기점 넘은 '성난황소', 오늘(12일) VOD 서비스 시작, Ten Asia](https://www.tenasia.co.kr/article/2018121285354)
14. [[무비클릭] 성난황소 – 마동석 표 영화의 '정점'…뻔한 전개는 '오점', Maeil Business](https://www.mk.co.kr/news/columnists/8573105)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Films and standalone screen works › Individual films by title and year › Action and adventure films (individual works) › Action thrillers, 2010s › Crime and vigilante thrillers*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 18, 2026; Oct 3, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Sep 18, 2026; Oct 3, 2026; Oct 25, 2026; Nov 1, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
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