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Luck-Key

Luck-Key

A HIT MAN WAKES UP WITH AMNESIA TO A SWITCHED LIFE.

2016112 minMidcredits score: 78th percentile of all films
Director
Kae-Byeok Lee
Starring
Yoo Hai Jin, Lee Joon, Jo Yun-hie, Lim Ji-yeon

A reverse comedy that tells the story of a perfectionist assassin who falls and hits his head in a sauna, giving him amnesia. When a down-and-out actor switches locker keys with him, they switch lives until the hit-man, who soon becomes an action hero on TV, starts to remember things.

Where to watch

Where can I watch Luck-Key?

As of October 24, 2026, MovieCove does not list Luck-Key on any major US streaming service.

Your rating, lists and review

Highlights

What stands out about Luck-Key?

Luck-Key earns 5 badges, led by Standout acting and Laugh riot.

  • Reception
  • Craft and mood
  • Awards and box office

Reception

Is Luck-Key worth watching?

Luck-Key's Midcredits score is the 78th percentile of all films, from 9K ratings across 4 sources. 69% liked it (rated it 7 or higher out of 10).

Midcredits score

How well it was received

78th percentile

Better received than 78% of films

88th percentile among Action78th percentile among 2010s
Acclaim (how much people like it)76th
Approval (how many liked it)77th

69 /100

76th percentile of all films

88th percentile among Action75th percentile among 2010s

Rating distribution

A broad spread centered near 7.0 — solid but not unanimous.

69% liked it

77th percentile of all films

85th percentile among Action78th percentile among 2010s
69% rated it 7–1031% rated it 1–6

Awards

0 Oscars won · 0 Oscar noms · 3 wins / 3 noms overall

Reach

How many have seen it

83rd percentile

9K ratings across platforms

72nd percentile among Action84th percentile among 2010s
TMDB popularity, last 37 days to Oct 26Up 7% in 30 days

Box office

Opening weekend$114K
Domestic gross$467K
Worldwide gross$49M

78th percentile earner in its genre.

What reviewers say

Common ground

A lighthearted, identity-swap comedy driven by Yoo Hae-jin's performance and its playful spoof of Korean TV drama tropes.

Fans praised

  • Yoo Hae-jin's physical comedy and deadpan charm as the assassin
  • Lively lampoon of Korean drama clichés and acting-set antics
  • Warm, feel-good tone balancing comedy, romance, and action

Detractors panned

  • Silly, implausible plot logic (e.g., characters stay in the industry after faking death)
  • Occasional drag and uneven pacing in the Jae-sung subplot
  • Fairytale tone that abandons realism for convenience

What stands out

Acting85

Yoo Hae-jin's expressive face and seamless comedy-action blend

Humor80

Consistently funny with physical comedy and K-drama parody

Characters70

Well-drawn leads with depth; supporting roles feel slight

Emotional impact70

Genuinely touching moments; heartwarming without being saccharine

Dialogue70

Entertaining exchanges and running gags like the age joke

Plot and story60

Clever premise but requires heavy suspension of disbelief

Pacing60

Breezy overall but some scenes with Jae-sung drag

Originality55

Remake of Japanese film; adds Korean flavor but formulaic

Preferred by

No notable difference between any of the groups: each pair ranks it within 10 percentile points.

  • Women vs men 4 points apart
  • US vs non-US 4 points apart

Watch experience

What is Luck-Key like to watch?

Conclusions only — categories and positions, no plot detail.

Easy laugh: browse every movie of this kind

Watch this when you want something light that makes you laugh and does not take itself seriously.

It is gentle, takes its time and leaves you feeling good. Skip it when you want things to move fast.

ToneFeelDemandwhat the answer rests onexact position · filled zone: the category

What it asks of you

Patience.

What it feels like

Easy laugh.

Moods
JoyfulWarm
Heaviest: middle
Warm humor
Register
PlayfulWarm
Told as
Three-act: Setup, confrontation, resolution — the default Hollywood shape.
ToneThe film plays its comedic premise with sincerity, finding humor in the absurd situation without undercutting its emotional beats.
The rideThe film maintains a light, joyful tone with moments of warmth, and the emotional heart is strongest in the middle act as the romance develops.
StructureThe story unfolds in a linear fashion following the identity swap and its consequences.

How it leaves you

what you carry away

Feeling good.

Feel-goodFun
Why it leaves you this wayThe film leaves the viewer with a light, happy feeling and a sense of fun.
How it ends · evidence
Happy ending

Story archetype

where it sits among all films
Monster — 21% of films. A threat menaces the hero's world and must be defeated.Rags — 3% of films. A rise from lowliness to fortune, status, or recognition.Quest — 10% of films. A journey toward a defined objective, with companions and obstacles.Voyage — 4% of films. Into a strange world and back again, changed.Comedy — 11% of films. Confusion and cross-purposes resolved into harmony.Tragedy — 9% of films. A flaw or fixation drives the protagonist to ruin.Rebirth — 13% of films. A stalled or darkened life reopened and renewed.Mystery — 7% of films. A question drives the story — who did it, what happened, what is real — until it is answered.No archetype — 22% of filmsPredator — 6% of films. A creature or killer hunts the protagonists (Jaws, Alien).Tyrant — 6% of films. A human villain holds power over the hero's world (Die Hard).Invasion — 2% of films. An external force attacks the home or world (Independence Day).Oppressive state — 2% of films. A government, its agencies or a secret faction inside them is the monster (V for Vendetta).Corporate villainy — 1% of films. A company or its bosses are the monster (Erin Brockovich).Institutional injustice — 1% of films. A court, prison, police force, school or church is itself the enemy (Spotlight).Class system — under 1% of films. The gap between rich and poor, or a rigid hierarchy, is the monster (Parasite).Technology turns — under 1% of films. Technology people rely on becomes the threat (The Terminator).Inner demon — 1% of films. The monster is within — addiction, illness, a dark double.Underdog triumph — 2% of films. Rise through competition or contest (Rocky).Social ascent — under 1% of films. A climb in class or status (Pretty Woman).Fame and fortune — under 1% of films. An artistic or showbiz rise (A Star Is Born).Rise and fall — under 1% of films. Wealth or power gained, self lost (Scarface).Hidden worth revealed — under 1% of films. The protagonist's true value finally recognized.Treasure hunt — 1% of films. Retrieve an object of value (Raiders of the Lost Ark).Rescue — 4% of films. Retrieve or save a person (Saving Private Ryan).Mission — 5% of films. Accomplish or destroy a defined objective (Mission: Impossible).Journey home — under 1% of films. The goal is getting back (Finding Nemo).Pilgrimage — 1% of films. The journey itself transforms; the destination is symbolic.Portal fantasy — under 1% of films. Transported into another world (The Wizard of Oz).Fish out of water — 2% of films. Displaced into an unfamiliar social world (Elf).Survival ordeal — 1% of films. Trapped in a hostile environment, fighting back (Cast Away).Time displacement — under 1% of films. Unstuck in time (Back to the Future).Descent — 1% of films. A night-journey into an underworld or subculture (After Hours).Romantic comedy — 4% of films. Lovers kept apart by confusion, united at last.Comedy of errors — 3% of films. Mistaken identity or misunderstanding drives the plot.Farce — 2% of films. Escalating absurd chaos and coincidence (The Hangover).Buddy comedy — 1% of films. A mismatched pair forced together (Rush Hour).Comedy of manners — 1% of films. Social codes and class satirized (Clueless).Hubris — 1% of films. Pride or ambition invites the fall (There Will Be Blood).Obsession — 2% of films. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Corruption arc — 2% of films. Step-by-step moral decay (The Godfather).Doomed love — 2% of films. Love destroyed by circumstance (Brokeback Mountain).Crushed by fate — 3% of films. Destroyed by forces beyond the protagonist's control.Redemption — 3% of films. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Healing — 5% of films. Recovery from grief or trauma (Good Will Hunting).Liberation — 2% of films. Breaking free of a confining life (Room).Second chance — 2% of films. A stagnant life re-opened to love or purpose (Groundhog Day).Puzzle — 1% of films. A clue-by-clue puzzle you can try to solve before the reveal (Knives Out, Clue).Investigation — 5% of films. A long pursuit of the truth that may never be fully solved (Zodiac, Memories of Murder).Enigma — 2% of films. The mystery is what is real, or what is actually happening (Mulholland Drive).Comedy
Every story archetype, clockwise from the top
  • Monster 21%: Predator 6% · Tyrant 6% · Invasion 2% · Oppressive state 2% · Corporate villainy 1% · Institutional injustice 1% · Class system under 1% · Technology turns under 1% · Inner demon 1%
  • Rags 3%: Underdog triumph 2% · Social ascent under 1% · Fame and fortune under 1% · Rise and fall under 1% · Hidden worth revealed under 1%
  • Quest 10%: Treasure hunt 1% · Rescue 4% · Mission 5% · Journey home under 1% · Pilgrimage 1%
  • Voyage 4%: Portal fantasy under 1% · Fish out of water 2% · Survival ordeal 1% · Time displacement under 1% · Descent 1%
  • Comedy 11% (this title): Romantic comedy 4% · Comedy of errors 3% (this title) · Farce 2% · Buddy comedy 1% · Comedy of manners 1%
  • Tragedy 9%: Hubris 1% · Obsession 2% · Corruption arc 2% · Doomed love 2% · Crushed by fate 3%
  • Rebirth 13%: Redemption 3% · Healing 5% · Liberation 2% · Second chance 2%
  • Mystery 7%: Puzzle 1% · Investigation 5% · Enigma 2%
  • No archetype 22%

Comedy: Confusion and cross-purposes resolved into harmony. · Comedy of errors: Mistaken identity or misunderstanding drives the plot.

11% of films fit this archetype

Why this archetypeThe film revolves around mistaken identity when an actor switches locker keys with an amnesiac assassin, driving the plot through comedic chaos.

What it's about

7 groups · 53 themes
Bonds — 27% of filmsSelf — 22% of filmsPower — 7% of filmsMorality — 16% of filmsSurvival — 15% of filmsSociety — 9% of filmsIdeas — 5% of filmsRomantic love — 15% of filmsMarriage — 2% of filmsFamily bonds — 21% of filmsParenthood — 2% of filmsFriendship — 9% of filmsLoyalty — 4% of filmsIdentity — 14% of filmsComing of age — 5% of filmsAging — under 1% of filmsSelf-worth — 7% of filmsAmbition — 7% of filmsPurpose — 9% of filmsMemory — 3% of filmsObsession — 3% of films. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Power — 2% of filmsCorruption — 3% of filmsGreed — 3% of filmsClass — 3% of filmsOppression — 4% of filmsFreedom — 5% of filmsJustice — 13% of filmsDuty — 2% of filmsRevenge — 4% of filmsGuilt — 3% of filmsRedemption — 6% of films. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Forgiveness — 1% of filmsSacrifice — 4% of filmsBetrayal — 5% of filmsDeception — 9% of filmsSurvival — 17% of filmsWar — 1% of filmsViolence — 4% of filmsMortality — 2% of filmsGrief — 6% of filmsTrauma — 7% of filmsMental illness — 1% of filmsAddiction — 1% of filmsIllness and disability — under 1% of filmsCommunity — 14% of films. Consequences reach a town, institution or group.Isolation — 5% of filmsPrejudice — 3% of filmsDisplacement — 1% of filmsFaith — 3% of filmsTradition vs change — 2% of filmsFame — 3% of filmsLegacy — 4% of filmsFate — 1% of filmsFree will — under 1% of filmsTruth — 4% of filmsHope — 5% of filmsNature — 2% of filmsArt — 4% of filmsTechnology — 1% of filmsSelfIdentitySelf
Every theme, clockwise from the top
  • Bonds 27%: Romantic love 15% · Marriage 2% · Family bonds 21% · Parenthood 2% · Friendship 9% · Loyalty 4%
  • Self 22% (this title): Identity 14% (this title) · Coming of age 5% · Aging under 1% · Self-worth 7% · Ambition 7% · Purpose 9% · Memory 3% · Obsession 3%
  • Power 7%: Power 2% · Corruption 3% · Greed 3% · Class 3% · Oppression 4% · Freedom 5%
  • Morality 16%: Justice 13% · Duty 2% · Revenge 4% · Guilt 3% · Redemption 6% · Forgiveness 1% · Sacrifice 4% · Betrayal 5% · Deception 9%
  • Survival 15%: Survival 17% · War 1% · Violence 4% · Mortality 2% · Grief 6% · Trauma 7% · Mental illness 1% · Addiction 1% · Illness and disability under 1%
  • Society 9%: Community 14% (this title) · Isolation 5% · Prejudice 3% · Displacement 1% · Faith 3% · Tradition vs change 2% · Fame 3% · Legacy 4%
  • Ideas 5%: Fate 1% · Free will under 1% · Truth 4% · Hope 5% · Nature 2% · Art 4% · Technology 1%

Self

Identity · 14% of filmsCommunity · 14% of films: Consequences reach a town, institution or group.
Celebrates its theme: Affirms its theme — this is good and worth having.Intimate stakes: Consequences reach a person or a household.Dual lead
How it treats its themeThe film explores who the characters are when forced into each other's lives, and how the assassin finds a new community through Rina's family.
StanceThe film celebrates the idea of second chances and the absurdity of identity, finding warmth in its premise.

The world

ContemporaryUrbanDomesticRealistic
Orchestral modernSupportive music · original score · Jun-seok Bang
SettingSeoul, South Korea; the world of a hitman and a struggling actor.

Content guide

Is Luck-Key okay for kids?

As of October 2, 2026, Midcredits content scores put its violence at intense (67/100), sexual content at mild (33/100) and frightening material at intense (67/100). None has enough votes to rank yet.

Ratings in 3 other countries
  • Canada14A
  • JapanG
  • South Korea15
Overall
Moderate · 3 of 5 categories
not ranked
Violence & Gore
Intense
too few votes to rank (4 votes)
Sex & Nudity
Mild
too few votes to rank (5 votes)
Frightening / Intense
Intense
too few votes to rank (1 vote)

Too few votes to rank this title overall (10 votes across 3 categories; ranking needs 10 in at least three).

Source: Midcredits content scores, 0 (none) to 100 (severe) per category, with each standing ranked against other films that have them.

What content warnings does Luck-Key have?

Not screened for content warnings yet.

Cast and crew

Who is in Luck-Key?

Cast

Yoo Hai Jin
as Hyung-wook
Lee Joon
as Jae-sung
Jo Yun-hie
as Rina
Lim Ji-yeon
as Eun-ju
Go Joon
as Kwon Hee-rak
Jo Han-chul
as Il-seong
Cha Yup
as Assistant director
Sung Byoung-sook
as Rina's Mom
Lee Sung-wook
as Nam Myung-Jin
Jeong Hee-tae
as Kim Pil-gyoo

Crew

More like this

What are movies like Luck-Key?

Movies like Luck-Key include Confidential Assignment (2017) and Duplicate (1998), both action comedies.

Balanced: every group counts the same, and production only breaks ties.

Explore by

What else shares a premise, people or place with Luck-Key?

445 other films share the rarest tag below, follows: hitman. Each tag opens Browse with the films that share it.