Sul Kyung-gu Schemes to Land a Hijacked Plane: Good News Review

This Good News review starts with a simple promise: a 1970s hijacking story told as a farce rather than a white-knuckle thriller. Director Byun Sung-hyun mixes tension and absurd humour in an action comedy that keeps surprising you. It is a lively, if sometimes baggy, ride.

Good News Review: The Story So Far (No Spoilers)

The Good News plot begins when hijackers seize a Japanese airliner and demand to be flown to Pyongyang. Authorities in South Korea face a political and practical mess. Then a mysterious figure, credited only as Nobody, steps in with a scheme to steer the plane to Seoul instead.

The tagline, "The greatest lie (n)ever landed," tells you a lot about the film's tone. Deception sits at the heart of the plan, and the movie enjoys every bluff along the way. Byun co-wrote the script with Lee Jin-seong, and the setup moves quickly without much throat-clearing.

The film runs 136 minutes and is rated R. It is a Korean-language production, with Japanese characters woven into the story. Its release date was 5 September 2025.

What Works in Good News

The premise is the film's best asset. A cat-and-mouse game played between a cockpit, a control tower and a room full of nervous officials gives the film plenty of comic and dramatic fuel. Byun keeps shifting the tone, so a tense moment can turn silly in a heartbeat.

• Tone control: the jokes grow out of the pressure rather than interrupting it.

• Period flavour: the 1970s setting adds an air of improvisation, where bluffing matters more than technology.

• Momentum: scenes escalate steadily, which suits a story built on one big lie.

Fans of the action movie reviews on this site will find enough set-piece energy to satisfy. Comedy lovers can browse more comedy movie reviews for similar picks.

Good News Cast and Performances

The Good News cast is led by Sul Kyung-gu as the enigmatic Nobody. He plays the role with a dry, knowing calm that anchors the chaos around him. Hong Kyung plays Seo Go-myung, and Ryoo Seung-bum appears as Park Sang-hyeon.

On the Japanese side, Takayuki Yamada plays Shinichi Ishida, with Kippei Shiina as Kubo and Kim Seung-oh as Maeda. The ensemble gives the story a broad, busy texture. Everyone seems to understand the heightened tone, and nobody winks too hard at the camera.

A Lead Who Sells the Bluff

Sul's performance matters most because the plot depends on us believing a man can talk his way through anything. He makes that easy to buy. His scenes with the authorities are some of the funniest in the film.

Where Good News Stumbles

At 136 minutes, the film is long for a farce. Some stretches repeat the same rhythm of scheme, complication and fix, and the energy dips in the middle. A tighter edit would have sharpened the jokes.

The mix of satire, thriller beats and slapstick can also feel uneven. A few gags land softly, and some supporting characters get less to do than their actors deserve. Those looking for a pure, serious hijack thriller may find the comic detours distracting.

Is Good News Worth Watching?

Yes, Good News is worth watching if you enjoy inventive, offbeat Korean cinema. The premise is fresh, the lead performance is confident, and Byun Sung-hyun keeps the film unpredictable. Its flaws are mostly about length and consistency, not ambition.

Audience reception has been positive, with a 7/10 score on TMDB from 106 votes. That matches our view: a smart, entertaining caper that stops short of greatness. You can read more about the production on IMDb, though check your local listings for where to watch Good News.

If you like the film's crossover of crime and humour, our crime movie reviews offer more to try.

Who Will Enjoy Good News

• Viewers who like Korean action comedies that blend satire with suspense.

• Fans of Sul Kyung-gu or director Byun Sung-hyun.

• Anyone who enjoys period capers built on bluffs, lies and improvisation.