The Host (2006)

Kernel Score: 77% · 3,060 ratings · Rated R

Genres: Horror, Drama, Science Fiction

Released: 2006-07-27

Runtime: 120 minutes

Is The Host worth watching?

Worth watching. Bong Joon Ho's monster movie is a family drama first, as a hopeless family tries to rescue a girl taken by a river creature. It's funny, scary and sad, with a few odd tonal swerves.

Watch it if you

  • like inventive monster movies
  • enjoy Bong Joon Ho's genre mix

Skip it if you

  • want a straight horror film
  • dislike subtitles

Best for: Movie night

Fresh Kernels verdict, AI-assisted from our scores, audience reviews and the official rating.

Where to watch The Host

US availability, updated 2026-10-23.

Overview

A teenage girl is captured by a giant mutated squid-like creature that appears from Seoul's Han River after toxic waste was dumped in it, prompting her family into a frantic search for her.

The Host parents' guide: ages 11+

Parents need to know that The Host is an R-rated Korean monster horror film in which a family searches for a daughter captured by a mutated creature from pollution.

  • Violence & scariness: Strong — R-rated monster horror with a mutated creature attacking people, though the tone is often darkly comedic rather than purely terrifying.

Fresh Kernels AI-assessed from the official R rating, publicly documented content. A guide for families, not an official rating.

Movies like The Host

If you liked The Host, these are the movies we'd watch next.

  • Memories of Murder (2003) — 89%: Bong's moody, brilliant crime story
  • Parasite (2019) — 91%: Bong's sharp, dark class-war drama
  • Okja (2017) — 81%: Bong's odd creature adventure with real heart
  • Mother (2009) — 86%: Bong's tense story of a mother's devotion
  • The Mist (2007) — 77%: Creature horror with bleak human tension
  • A Quiet Place (2018) — 83%: Tense creature story built around family

Director

Bong Joon Ho

Cast

The Host FAQ

Is The Host worth watching?

Worth watching. Bong Joon Ho's monster movie is a family drama first, as a hopeless family tries to rescue a girl taken by a river creature. It's funny, scary and sad, with a few odd tonal swerves.

Where can I watch The Host?

In the US you can stream The Host on Prime Video and Peacock, watch it free with ads on Kanopy, Philo, Fandango at Home, YouTube Free and Xumo Play and rent it from Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play and YouTube.

Is The Host OK for kids?

The Host is rated R. Fresh Kernels suggests ages 11+. Parents need to know that The Host is an R-rated Korean monster horror film in which a family searches for a daughter captured by a mutated creature from pollution.

What movies are like The Host?

If you liked The Host, try Memories of Murder, Parasite, Okja and Mother.