Korean Cinema Gems: 10 Must-Watch Movies!
Written by Sanjay Kumar
Korean cinema has been taking the world by storm in recent years, with a surge of critically acclaimed and commercially successful films being released from the country. From historical dramas to thrillers, Korean movies have captivated audiences with their unique storytelling, stunning visuals, and outstanding performances. In this blog, we will take a look at the top 10 Korean movies of all time.
01 – Oldboy (2003) – 8.4/10 IMDb
- Release date: 21 November 2003 (South Korea)
- Director: Park Chan-wook
- Nominations: Cannes Grand Prix, MORE
- Adapted from: Old Boy
- Distributed by: Show East
- Budget: $3 million
Directed by Park Chan-wook, Oldboy is a psychological thriller that has been widely regarded as a masterpiece of Korean cinema. The film tells the story of Oh Dae-su, a man who is mysteriously imprisoned for 15 years and then released without any explanation. Determined to uncover the truth behind his captivity, he embarks on a mission of revenge that leads him down a dark and twisted path. Oldboy won the Grand Prix at the 2004 Cannes Film Festival and has since become a cult classic.
02 – Memories of Murder (2003) – 8.1/10 IMDb
- Release date: 25 April 2003 (South Korea)
- Director: Bong Joon-ho
- Screenplay: Bong Joon-ho, Sung Bo Shim
- Awards: Grand Bell Award for Best Actor, MORE
- Cinematography: Kim Hyeong-gu
- Distributed by: CJ Entertainment, StudioCanal UK
Based on the true story of South Korea’s first serial killer, Memories of Murder is a crime drama directed by Bong Joon-ho. The film follows two detectives as they investigate a series of brutal murders in a small rural town in the 1980s. As the body count rises and the investigation stalls, tensions rise among the investigators and the townspeople. Memories of Murder was a critical and commercial success in South Korea and has been praised for its suspenseful storytelling and strong performances.
03 – Parasite (2019) – 8.5/10 IMDb
- Release date: 30 May 2019 (South Korea)
- Director: Bong Joon-ho
- Awards: Academy Award for Best Picture, Palme d’Or, MORE
- Nominations: Academy Award for Best Picture, Palme d’Or, MORE
- Distributed by: CJ Entertainment, Camera Film
- Box office: $263.1 million
Directed by Bong Joon-ho, Parasite is a social satire that made history by becoming the first Korean film to win the Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival and the first non-English language film to win the Academy Award for Best Picture. The film tells the story of two families – one wealthy and one poor – whose lives become intertwined in unexpected ways. The Parasite has been praised for its incisive commentary on social class and its brilliant direction and performances.
04 – A Tale of Two Sisters (2003) – 7.1/10 IMDb
- Release date: 13 June 2003 (South Korea)
- Director: Kim Jee-woon
- Box office: $1 million
- Distributed by: Cineclick Asia; Big Blue Film
- Edited by: Ko Im-pyo
- Language: Korean
Directed by Kim Jee-woon, A Tale of Two Sisters is a horror film that has become a classic of the genre. The film tells the story of two sisters who return home from a psychiatric hospital to live with their father and stepmother in a remote countryside house. As they try to settle back into their old lives, they begin to experience strange and terrifying occurrences that suggest the house may be haunted. A Tale of Two Sisters has been praised for its atmospheric cinematography and its intricate plot.
05 – The Handmaiden (2016) – 8.1/10 IMDb
- Release date: 1 June 2016 (South Korea)
- Director: Park Chan-wook
- Adapted from: Fingersmith
- Distributed by: CJ Entertainment
- Box office: $38.6 million
Directed by Park Chan-wook, The Handmaiden is a period drama based on the novel Fingersmith by Sarah Waters. The film tells the story of a young Korean woman who is hired as a handmaiden to a Japanese heiress living in a secluded mansion. As the two women become closer, they begin to plan a scheme to swindle the heiress out of her fortune. The Handmaiden has been praised for its stunning visuals, its complex plot, and its strong performances.
06 – The Host (2006) – 7.1/10 IMDb
- Release date: 27 July 2006 (South Korea)
- Director: Bong Joon-ho
- Nominations: Baeksang Arts Award for Best Film, MORE
- Sequel: The Host 2
- Box office: 8.94 crores USD
- Distributed by: Showbox, Magnolia Pictures, Kadokawa Daiei Studio
Directed by Bong Joon-ho, The Host is a monster movie that blends horror and comedy. The film follows a family who must rescue their young daughter after she is abducted by a giant mutant creature that emerges from the Han River. The Host has been praised for its innovative monster design, its satirical commentary on bureaucracy and the media, and its strong performances.
07 – Joint Security Area (2000) – 7.7/10 IMDb
- Release date: 9 September 2000 (South Korea)
- Director: Park Chan-wook
- Screenplay: Park Chan-wook, Mu-yeong Lee, Kim Hyeon-Seok, Seong-san Jeong
- Distributed by: CJ Entertainment
- Based on: DMZ; by Park Sang-yeon
- Box office: $ 124 071
Directed by Park Chan-wook, Joint Security Area is a drama set in the demilitarized zone between North and South Korea. The film follows an investigation into a shooting incident that occurred at a border checkpoint, which leads to revelations about the relationships between the soldiers stationed there. Joint Security Area has been praised for its poignant portrayal of human connections that transcend national boundaries and its exploration of the tension and violence that arises from political conflict.
08 – Burning (2018) – 7.5/10 IMDb
- Release date: 17 May 2018 (South Korea)
- Director: Lee Chang-dong
- Cinematography: Hong Kyung-pyo
- Adapted from: Barn Burning
- Nominations: Palme d’Or, MORE
- Distributed by: CJ CGV, Camera Film, Twin Co. Ltd
Directed by Lee Chang-dong, Burning is a mystery drama based on a short story by Haruki Murakami. The film follows a young aspiring writer who becomes involved with a mysterious woman and her wealthy and enigmatic friend. As he becomes increasingly obsessed with unraveling the secrets of the wealthy man, he begins to question his own reality. Burning has been praised for its atmospheric tension, its complex themes of class and alienation, and its strong performances.
09 – Snowpiercer (2013) – 7.1/10 IMDb
- Release date: 1 August 2013 (South Korea)
- Director: Bong Joon-ho
- Adapted from: Snowpiercer
- Distributed by: CJ Entertainment, The Weinstein Company
- Box office: $86.8 million
- Cinematography: Hong Kyung-pyo
Directed by Bong Joon-ho, Snowpiercer is a science-fiction action thriller set on a train that travels around the world after a catastrophic event has left the earth frozen. The film follows a group of passengers from the tail section of the train who rebel against the oppressive social order that has been imposed upon them by the wealthy elite in the front of the train. Snowpiercer has been praised for its inventive world-building, its social commentary on class and revolution, and its strong performances.
10 – I Saw the Devil (2010) – 7.8/10 IMDb
- Release date: 12 August 2010 (South Korea)
- Director: Kim Jee-woon
- Screenplay: Park Hoon-jung
- Distributed by: Showbox, Magnolia Pictures, FineCut
- Budget: US$6 million
- Cinematography: Lee Mo-gae
Directed by Kim Jee-woon, I Saw the Devil is a revenge thriller that follows a secret agent who seeks revenge against a serial killer who murdered his fiancée. The film explores the psychological toll that revenge takes on both the avenger and the avenged as the two men engage in a cat-and-mouse game of violence and brutality. I Saw the Devil has been praised for its intense and graphic violence, its exploration of moral ambiguity, and its strong screenplay.
FAQ
01. What are the top 10 Korean movies of all time?
The top 10 Korean movies of all time are as follows:
- Oldboy (2003)
- Parasite (2019)
- Memories of Murder (2003)
- A Tale of Two Sisters (2003)
- The Host (2006)
- The Handmaiden (2016)
- Train to Busan (2016)
- Burning (2018)
- Joint Security Area (2000)
- Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter… and Spring (2003)
02. What is the Korean movie Oldboy about?
Oldboy is a 2003 South Korean neo-noir action thriller film directed by Park Chan-wook. The movie follows a man named Oh Dae-su who is kidnapped and held in a hotel room for 15 years without explanation. When he is suddenly released, he sets out to find the person responsible for his imprisonment and seek revenge.
03. What is the story of Parasite movie?
Parasite is a 2019 South Korean black comedy thriller film directed by Bong Joon-ho. The movie follows a poor family who schemes their way into the lives of a wealthy family, only to have their plan unravel in unexpected ways.
04. What is the story of Memories of Murder?
Memories of Murder is a 2003 South Korean crime-drama film directed by Bong Joon-ho. The movie is based on the true story of a serial killer who terrorized a small town in South Korea in the 1980s, and the police officers who try to catch him.
05. What is The Handmaiden Korean movie about?
The Handmaiden is a 2016 South Korean erotic psychological thriller film directed by Park Chan-wook. The movie follows a young woman who is hired as a handmaiden to a wealthy Japanese heiress, but the two women have secret motives of their own.
06. What is the story of Train to Busan?
Train to Busan is a 2016 South Korean zombie apocalypse action thriller film directed by Yeon Sang-ho. The movie follows a group of passengers on a train from Seoul to Busan who must fight for their survival as a zombie outbreak spreads throughout the country.
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