Hollywood is the gold standard in the film industry. The size & scope of America’s premier moviemaking enterprise eclipses the competition. In 2019, Hollywood films generated $42.5 billion globally, compared to just $1.62 billion for South Korean movies.
Therein lies a great paradox – South Korean films are superbly crafted with expert screenplays and scintillating acting performances. But unfortunately, it’s easy to overlook exceptional films when they don’t have the advertising budget to market them to global audiences.
Today, we pay tribute to the masterclass of South Korean filmmakers, directors, producers, screenwriters, and actors. Five films, in particular, have captivated the public’s attention and drawn critical praise across the board. Each of these three films is available on the popular Korean movies app Viki on Android or iOS devices.
Spiritwalker 2021
A young girl, Soo Min, discovers she has the ability to astral project – to leave her body and explore the spirit world. She meets a kind-hearted shaman who takes her under his wing and helps her understand her abilities. But when an evil spirit kidnaps Soo Min’s sister, she must find the courage to save her.
Directed by Lee Sang Ho, Spiritwalker is a heartwarming story of family, love, and self-discovery with just the right amount of suspense and horror. The film stars Kim Sae Ron as Soo Min and Park Hee Soon as the shaman.
Train to Busan 2016
A zombie apocalypse threatens the passengers on a high-speed train from Seoul to Busan. A stern father must protect his estranged daughter from hordes of flesh-eating zombies while navigating an increasingly dangerous situation.
Train to Busan is directed by Yeon Sang Ho and stars Gong Yoo as Seok Woo, Kim Su An as Seong Kyung, Ma Dong Seok as Sang Hwa, Choi Woo Shik as Young Gook, and Jung Yu Mi as Suk Yi. The film was a commercial and critical success, grossing over $200 million worldwide against its $8 million budget.
Escape from Mogadishu 2021
Based on true events, this action thriller follows a group of journalists who become trapped in war-torn Mogadishu during the Somali Civil War in 1991. With little hope of escape, they must band together and use their wits to survive against all odds.
Escape from Mogadishu is directed by Abdulaziz Ahmed Abdullahi “Codka Shilin” starring Aliya Smith as Kate Peyton, Barkhad Abdi as Mohamed Farah Cassim, Abdulahi Hassan “Fanah” As Salaad Gabeyre Kadiye, Abdulkadir Hassan “Idaajaa” Ahmed Adan.
The Man From Nowhere 2010
The Man From Nowhere is a 2010 South Korean action thriller film starring Bin Won and written and directed by Lee Jeong-beom. The film follows the story of a former special agent turned pawnshop keeper whose world is turned upside down when he sets out to save a young girl who criminals have kidnaped. The film was a commercial and critical success, grossing over $80 million at the box office and becoming the highest-grossing Korean film of 2010.
The Roundup 2022
Legendary American/Korean actor Ma Dong Seok stars in this blistering action film – The Roundup. This box office phenomenon has already racked up a rating of 7.1/10 from 2800 reviewers on IMDb, and it boasts the tagline – The Beast Cop Is Back.
American filmgoers may not be familiar with the hard-hitting prowess of the show’s head honcho. Ma Dong-Seok starred in the Train to Busan, among many others.
This film delivers on expectations, and with a runtime of one hour 46 minutes, it has grossed $101 million worldwide. No doubt about it, The Roundup is one of the best cop action thrillers out there.
Summary
Something is captivating about Korean films – the respect for authority within the rank-and-file of the police force and government is notable. But of course, there is always the renegade cop or bureaucrat taking matters into their own hands to right the wrongs.
While Hollywood sparkles in the limelight, South Korean films are basking in the glow of their magnificence. The special effects of big-budget Korean movies go toe to toe with the best of DreamWorks, Pixar, and Lucasfilm. These five films have captivated the audience’s attention in a big way, and there are plenty more where they came from!
