Always Lalisa: a documentary about a star stepping outside the group

Always Lalisa, listed in French as Always Lalisa de Sue Kim (II), is a feature-length documentary musical scheduled to arrive in French cinemas on 12 October 2026. Directed by Sue Kim (II) and starring Lalisa Manobal as herself, the film runs 1 hour 42 minutes and is classified as a long-métrage documentary with musical elements. Its subject is LISA, the Thai singer and dancer who became one of the most famous performers in the world as a member of Blackpink, and its central question is what happens when a globally recognized pop star steps away from the group that helped define her public identity. The synopsis says the film follows LISA during a pivotal year spent away from Blackpink, as the group pauses its activities and she begins what it calls the true first chapter of her solo career. The documentary presents that period as a search for identity outside Blackpink rather than a simple tour diary or a conventional celebrity profile.

Key facts at a glance

• Title: Always Lalisa, also listed as Always Lalisa de Sue Kim (II)
• Director: Sue Kim (II)
• Subject and cast: Lalisa Manobal, credited as Self
• Release date in France: 12 October 2026, in theaters
• Runtime: 1 hour 42 minutes
• Genre: Documentary, musical
• Production nationality: U.S.A.
• French distributor: Pathé Live
• Year of production: 2026
• Languages: English, Korean, and Thai
• Color: Color
• Visa number: 2026005470
• Audience score: 3.6 out of 5 from five ratings, with three written spectator reviews
• Trailer: A 30-second VO STFR trailer with 2,308 views
• French box office: 0 admissions listed at the time of the page data
• DVD, Blu-ray, and VOD: No dates announced

The solo chapter and the identity question

The film's premise is unusually direct for a music documentary. Blackpink became a global K-pop phenomenon after debuting under YG Entertainment in 2016, with members Jisoo, Jennie, Rosé, and LISA building a fandom that spans Korea, Asia, the United States, Europe, and beyond. When a group reaches that level, solo activity is not merely a side project; it becomes a test of whether an artist can carry a public identity without the visual and musical framework of the group. Always Lalisa is positioned around that test. The synopsis does not promise a victory lap. It promises a year of transition, with the group on pause and LISA facing the question of who she is when the Blackpink banner is not the main frame.

That question has commercial and emotional dimensions. Commercially, a solo career must translate group fame into individual ticket sales, streaming numbers, brand deals, and media attention. Emotionally, it can mean navigating fans who associate the artist with a group, critics who compare every solo move with the group's output, and a Korean pop industry that often treats group identity as a long-term brand.

Source: AlloCiné News