The story of A Business Proposal unfolds with a premise that's as old as romantic comedy itself
A Business Proposal follows Sari, a food analyst who's short on cash and willing to make a deal. She agrees to go on a blind date — not for love, but for the paycheck. There's a catch, though, and it's a big one: her date turns out to be Utama, her boss. Not just any boss. The handsome, irritating kind who makes her life difficult at work and apparently can't be avoided on her own time either. What starts as an awkward setup becomes the kind of entanglement that romantic comedies thrive on, where professional boundaries blur and unexpected chemistry threatens to upend everything.
The film, produced by Falcon Pictures and running 117 minutes, sits squarely in the drama-comedy-romance space — a genre blend that works best when the script doesn't overexplain itself. Here, the central tension is simple: Can two people who clash in the boardroom actually connect in a more intimate setting? It's a question that's been asked a thousand times before, but the execution is what matters.
Behind the making of A Business Proposal lies a foundation built on an existing story
A Business Proposal draws inspiration from a South Korean romantic comedy television series of the same name, which aired on SBS TV in early 2022 and became available on Netflix in select regions. That original series, based on the web novel by HaeHwa and directed by Park Seon-ho, starred Ahn Hyo-seop and Kim Se-jeong in the lead roles. The story's bones are strong enough to warrant adaptation, and this 2025 film version attempts to bring that same charm to a wider audience across streaming platforms.
Produced by Falcon Pictures, the film had to condense what worked in a 12-episode television run into a two-hour theatrical experience. That's no small task — television allows for breathing room, for subplots to develop, for side characters to earn their moments. A film doesn't have that luxury. The production team had to make choices about what to keep, what to cut, and what to emphasize. Whether those choices landed successfully is another question entirely, one that the IMDb rating of 2.7/10 suggests viewers found wanting. That's a striking disconnect from the source material's reception, which raises questions about whether something was lost in translation — literally or figuratively — or if the adaptation simply didn't capture what made the original work.
Cast pedigree and production values can only carry a film so far. Without strong writing and direction that understands the tone it's going for, even a solid premise can stumble. The film's runtime of 117 minutes suggests ambition; it's long enough to develop character and conflict without dragging. Yet the critical reception suggests the execution didn't match the potential.
What makes A Business Proposal challenging is the gap between concept and delivery
The core appeal of any boss-employee romance is the power dynamic and the tension it creates. When Sari realizes she's been set up with Utama, there's immediate comedy in the situation. But comedy requires timing, character specificity, and a willingness to let awkwardness breathe. What's striking is how often romantic comedies fail not because the idea is tired, but because they don't trust their own premise enough to sit in the discomfort.
The performances carry weight here — the chemistry between leads can make or break this kind of story. If Sari comes across as a real person with genuine financial desperation (not just a plot device), and if Utama's arrogance masks something more vulnerable underneath, then audiences might forgive the familiar beats. But the IMDb score suggests that didn't happen, or didn't happen consistently enough. Maybe the dialogue felt wooden. Maybe the emotional beats landed flat. Maybe the film tried too hard to be funny and forgot to be honest about what these characters actually want from each other.
I keep coming back to the fact that the source material worked. The Korean series found an audience. So the question isn't whether the story is viable — it's whether this particular film understood what made it work in the first place. That's a harder problem to solve than just adapting plot points.
Where to stream A Business Proposal online depends on your subscription mix
A Business Proposal is currently available across major OTT services, which means you've got options depending on what you're already subscribed to. Rather than hunting through multiple apps, Movie OTT tracks current streaming availability in real time, so you can find exactly where the film is playing right now without the guesswork. The "Where to Watch" widget at the top of this page shows you every platform currently carrying the title, updated regularly as licensing agreements shift. It's worth checking there first before you start your search — saves time and keeps you from signing up for a free trial you don't need.
Frequently asked questions
Q: Is A Business Proposal based on a true story?
No, it's based on a South Korean web novel and television series of the same name. The original series aired on SBS TV in 2022 and became popular on Netflix in select regions.
Q: Who directed A Business Proposal?
The film was produced by Falcon Pictures. The original Korean television series was directed by Park Seon-ho and written by Han Seol-hee and Hong Bo-hee.
Q: How long is A Business Proposal?
The film runs 117 minutes, giving it enough time to develop both the central romance and the workplace dynamics that drive the story.
Q: What's the IMDb rating for A Business Proposal?
The film currently holds a 2.7/10 rating on IMDb, which reflects a significant gap between the premise's potential and how audiences responded to the execution.
Q: Where can I watch A Business Proposal right now?
The film is available on major OTT services. Check the "Where to Watch" widget on this page or visit Movie OTT's streaming tracker to see which platforms have it available in your region.
Final thoughts on A Business Proposal
A Business Proposal arrives with a solid premise and the weight of a successful source material behind it. Yet the 2.7/10 IMDb rating suggests the film didn't connect with viewers the way the original series did. That doesn't mean it's unwatchable — it means the adaptation faced challenges in translation. If you're drawn to workplace romance, blind-date mishaps, or just want to see what went wrong with a promising concept, it's worth a look. But don't go in expecting the magic of the Korean original.
