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Entertainment • Film

Okja

Okja is a 2017 science fiction action-adventure film directed by Bong Joon Ho and written with Jon Ronson from Bong’s story.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 27, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Okja is a 2017 science fiction action-adventure film directed by Bong Joon Ho and written with Jon Ronson from Bong’s story. It follows a South Korean girl, Mija, who tries to rescue her genetically modified super pig, Okja, after a meat-industry corporation takes the animal to the United States. The film combines adventure, satire, and themes of animal rights and corporate power.

Plot

Okja follows Mija’s journey from rural South Korea to the United States after Mirando Corporation removes her beloved animal companion. The narrative becomes a rescue story that also satirizes food production, media spectacle, and corporate ethics.

Cast and characters

Ahn Seo-hyun plays Mija, while Tilda Swinton plays Lucy Mirando. Jake Gyllenhaal, Paul Dano, and Steven Yeun also appear in major supporting roles.

Production and release

Bong Joon Ho directed the film and co-wrote it with Jon Ronson. Okja was released by Netflix in 2017 and had a limited theatrical release in some markets.

Themes

The film is widely identified with animal rights, environmental concerns, and criticism of industrial agriculture. It also uses dark comedy and satire to examine how corporations frame public narratives.

Key facts

  • The film centres on Mija, a girl who has raised Okja, a genetically modified “super pig,” for ten years.
  • A corporation called Mirando takes Okja to the United States, prompting Mija’s rescue mission.
  • The story includes the Animal Liberation Front and criticism of industrial meat production.
  • Okja is a Netflix original film and was released in 2017.
  • The film is often discussed for its animal-rights themes and satirical portrayal of corporate greed.
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Canadian context

Okja is relevant to Canadian readers as a Netflix film from internationally prominent Korean filmmaker Bong Joon Ho and as a widely discussed example of streaming-era cinema and animal-rights storytelling.

Frequently asked questions

What is Okja about?
It is about a girl named Mija who raises a genetically modified super pig, Okja, and then tries to rescue her when a corporation takes the animal away for commercial slaughter.
Who is in the Okja cast?
The main cast includes Ahn Seo-hyun, Tilda Swinton, Jake Gyllenhaal, Paul Dano, and Steven Yeun.
Is Okja on Netflix?
Yes. Okja is a Netflix original film and was released on the platform in 2017.
What does the Okja ending mean?
The ending is generally read as bittersweet: Mija saves Okja from slaughter, but the film leaves the corporation’s wider abuses and the moral cost of meat production unresolved.
What is the review consensus for Okja?
Reviews commonly praise its emotional core, visual invention, and social satire, while some critics note tonal shifts between heartfelt drama and broader satire.
How does Okja relate to animal rights?
The film is widely interpreted as an animal-rights story because it criticizes industrial meat production and centres the suffering and commodification of a sentient animal.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Okja
    Supports: Basic film identification, release year, director, screenplay, and premise.
  2. Netflix — https://www.netflix.com/title/80091936
    Supports: Netflix release status, synopsis, and principal cast.
  3. Rotten Tomatoes — https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/okja
    Supports: Film synopsis and broad critical framing.
  4. RogerEbert.com — https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/okja-2017
    Supports: Review perspective, themes, and critical interpretation.
  5. BBC News — https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-40337161
    Supports: Netflix release context and film description.
  6. Common Sense Media — https://www.commonsensemedia.org/movie-reviews/okja
    Supports: Cast listing.
  7. Nonhuman Rights Project — https://www.nonhumanrights.org/blog/film-review-netflix-okja/
    Supports: Animal-rights interpretation and thematic discussion.