Curiosity in Korean cinema has undoubtedly grown from its cult roots that noticed outstanding creators like Bong Joon-ho and Park Chan-wook turning into international starlings and favorites amongst many critics and cinephiles. Movies similar to Parasite have introduced South Korean films to the forefront of many individuals’s watch lists, with an enormous number of new and outdated gems to be found.

Fortunately, Prime Video has an enormous catalog with many common films, together with a splendidly various number of Korean movies positive to please any filmgoer. That will help you type by way of the various selections, we’ll have a look at the most effective Korean films on Prime Video you may watch now.

Up to date on Apr. sixteenth, 2023, by Adam Symchuk: This text has been up to date with extra content material to maintain the dialogue contemporary and related with much more data and new entries.

21 No Tears for the Lifeless (2014)

When a hitman by chance kills somewhat lady, he’s consumed by guilt and desires to stroll away from the lifetime of crime. However earlier than he’s allowed to stop, he’s despatched on one final mission: to kill the lady’s mom. A movie with a charged conscience and supercharged motion sequences, No Tears for the Lifeless is cool and brooding in equal measure.

A Compelling Thriller

Proper from the grim and bloody cinematography to the psychologically layered performances, No Tears for the Lifeless ticks all of the packing containers for a bonafide motion movie that’s entertaining in addition to engrossing. Whereas the narrative is perhaps a tad bit acquainted and predictable, the movie’s execution and performances greater than make up for that, making it a staple viewing for followers of the action-thriller style.

20 The Flu (2013)

The Flu is a catastrophe film written and directed by Kim Sung-su with the help of Lee Yeong-jong for the screenplay. The film stars Jang Hyuk, Soo Ae, and Park Min-ha. The story begins when a few brothers discover a container stuffed with immigrants who’ve died from an unknown sickness. They carry the only survivor, however they take the illness with them, which begins to unfold like wildfire. Quickly, the KCDC will get concerned in making an attempt to include a devastating outbreak that’s killing folks in a matter of hours, simply 20 minutes away from Seoul.

Edge-of-Your-Seat Rigidity

This movie may very effectively be the Korean model of the American movie Contagion, regardless that the occasions of this movie painting a fictional sickness far more invasive and deadly than the one depicted in that story. The state of affairs grows in peril exponentially as extra folks get sick and extra authorities officers become involved. Luck appears to alter on the final minute when somebody with autoimmune properties of their bloodstream seems, and the federal government can synthesize a vaccine from their antibodies.

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18 Tips on how to Steal a Canine (2014)

Based mostly on Barbara O’Connor’s novel of the identical identify, Tips on how to Steal a Canine revolves round Ji-so, a poor younger lady who steals rich folks’s canines and returns them after they provide her a reward. Regardless of having a cute and quirky premise, the movie provides loads of insights into the category divide.

Surprisingly Thematically Wealthy

It additionally feedback on why individuals are compelled to do what they do. In that mild, Tips on how to Steal a Canine is an lovable mixture of childlike innocence and the functioning of the actual world, that’s executed in a way that’s easy, candy, and heartwarming.

17 A Taxi Driver (2017)

Heavy on emotion and storytelling, this critically acclaimed South Korean drama takes the turbulent 1980 protests and fabricates a story that’s half reality and half fiction. It follows a hapless widowed father and taxi driver whom a international journalist hires to journey to Gwangju. What appeared like the chance of a lifetime turns into his most horrible mistake as he will get unintentionally embroiled within the scholar rebellion and army protests.

A Humanistic Method to Unrest

A Taxi Driver is a character-driven film as a result of it focuses extra on compassion over hatred. Directed by Jang Hoon, the film’s core lies in neorealism. It talks in regards to the urgency that the state was experiencing in the intervening time by taking pictures probably the most mundane particulars and making bizarre women and men heroes who should be remembered.

16 Me and Me (2020)

Me and Me tells the haunting story of Soo-hyuk, an elementary college instructor who harbors a jarring secret about his spouse, Yi-young. When one of many college students’ fathers discovers this secret, he spreads the information to the village folks, who model Yi-young as a risk to their well-being and demand that she ought to be locked in a cage each night time. After a fateful flip of occasions, each Soo-hyuk and Yi-young are burned alive. Quickly after, a detective named Hyeong-goo arrives to resolve the case, solely to uncover unimaginable particulars.

Deep, Darkish, and Disturbing

A thriller that makes you query desires and actuality, Me and Me impressed followers effectively earlier than it dropped onto Prime Video. Jeong Jin-yeong’s directorial masterpiece embraces surrealism by crafting a moody and mysterious fable about destiny, id, and free will.

15 Midnight (2021)

A kind of thrillers with a twist that might have suffered if not for strong path from Oh-Seung Kwon and an outstanding solid. Midnight stars Wi Ha-joon (of Squid Recreation fame) as obsessive killer Do-shik, who targets a deaf girl, Kim Kyung-mi, performed by Jin Ki-joo. Your complete movie is a long-run cat-and-mouse sport with Kyung-mi always combating off the decided killer.

Every thing You Need From a Thriller

The idea, although nothing unique and with some predictable twists, is splendidly constructed and high-octane. It’s a kind of films that goes by quick as one scene flows into the opposite with such depth. Followers of crime thrillers will undoubtedly get pleasure from this one and be cheering by way of Kyung-mi by way of its twists and turns.

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14 Zombie for Sale (2019)

Zombie for Sale

Launch Date

February 13, 2019

Director

Gerry Purple Wilson

Forged

Se-ah Jang , Jae-yeong Jeong , Ga-ram Jung , Nam-gil Kim , Soo-kyung Lee , Ji-won Uhm

Runtime

112

When a pharmaceutical firm by chance produces a zombie, the Park household finds it and decides to coach it to show a revenue. Regardless that a enterprise based mostly round zombie bites looks as if a dead-on-arrival plan, the household forges ahead by way of a collection of misfortunes befalling their enterprise.

A Pleasant Mix of Zombie Tropes and Humor

In some ways, the zombie craze has come and gone, with a number of standout mash-ups of the style nonetheless inflicting a stir among the many drained tropes and repetition that has made the style largely stagnant. Whereas Zombie for Sale has flown below the radar, this 2020 Korean comedy is an uproarious watch from begin to end. Backed by a powerful solid, this horror-comedy gem is price trying out on Prime.

13 Sizzling Blooded (2022)

The port city of Kuam has managed to remain comparatively peaceable regardless of the assorted gangs that stake declare to the assorted areas. This adjustments when Park Hee-soo (Jung Woo) separates from his gang to start out his personal enterprise, resulting in a full-scale warfare between the totally different factions.

Effervescent Political Rigidity

Those that like advanced gang and crime thrillers will benefit from the intricacies of Sizzling Blooded, which manages to pack in loads of characters and twists. Whereas the manufacturing does tread acquainted floor within the crime style, the cool sharpness of the visible path, explosive motion sequences, and powerful script exploring the ins and outs of gang politics make the movie a standout.

12 The Home of Us (2019)

A woman from a troubled household makes buddies with two youthful women at her college. By means of these friendships, she tries to seek out stability whereas scuffling with the rising expectations of youth to succeed and the difficulties that come up from a turbulent household life.

An Earnest Coming-of-Age Story

The Home of Us is an intimate portrayal of the battle of youth, a movie that may be equally tragic in addition to poignant and interesting. Furthermore, director Ga-eun Yoon’s filmography reveals a deep consideration for her topics, with the venture feeling totally honest and reasonable. The Home of Us might show more difficult for informal moviegoers, however those that love meticulously crafted cinema will admire what the movie accomplishes.

11 The Handmaiden (2016)

The Handmaiden

Launch Date

June 1, 2016

Forged

Min-hie Kim , Tae Ri Kim , Jung-woo Ha , Jin-woong Jo , Hae-suk Kim , So-ri Moon

Runtime

145

Throughout Japan’s ’30s occupation of Korea, a girl is employed as a handmaid to a Japanese heiress who lives a secluded life with an overbearing uncle. Nonetheless, the maid carries a secret, and she or he has come to rip-off the household out of their cash. Nonetheless, as a relationship grows between the handmaiden and the Japanese heiress, her needs start to compromise her purpose.

An All-Time Nice LGBTQ+ Movie

This Amazon Prime Unique from acclaimed director Park Chan-wook, The Handmaiden, is a steamy drama that is a perfect look ahead to {couples}. Furthermore, the path, cinematography, and regarded tempo make the movie a visible deal with. With strong performances, beautiful vogue, refined humor, and a darkish edge, The Handmaiden is a splendidly rounded, mature movie that may stick in your thoughts lengthy after it is over.

10 The Killer (2022)

The story revolves round Bang Ui-gang (Jang Hyuk), a semi-retired mob murderer hoping to start out a brand new and peaceable life along with his spouse. Nonetheless, when Ui-gang is tasked to take care of a pal’s daughter whereas she is away, the teenage lady finds herself in bother, and the retired murderer finds himself combating again in opposition to an unlawful prostitution ring with some very prosperous clientele that wishes him useless.

Completely Styled Motion

The Killer definitely noticed some early hype, going so far as to be billed because the Korean equal of John Wick by some. Whereas the film is definitely not that, it’s a enjoyable experiment in excessive motion and magnificence, whizzing by at a quick tempo that may maintain viewers on edge. Excessive cinema? Actually not, however this one is enjoyable, fashionable, and polished in a approach that makes for an entertaining watch.

9 Please Do not Save Me (2020)

Burdened by the loss of life of her father and a mom bearing the burden of a giant debt left behind, Seon Yu’s begin at a brand new college provides to the trauma as her unhappiness and issues are evident to employees and fellow college students. This will get the eye of a younger prankster Jeong Guk, who strives to make his classmate smile and carry her despair.

An Introspective Romance

Very like The Home of Us, Yeon-Kyung Jeong’s Please Do not Save Me fantastically captures the experiences of youth dealing with range of their lives. As well as, the honest strategy that goals for realism makes the film a mirrored image on the trials folks can face as an alternative of a cry-fest.

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8 Second Life (2019)

After beginning a small deceive impress her classmates, Solar-hee turns into embarrassed after her finest pal reveals the reality. In an act of revenge, she claims that Solar-hee is a thief, which causes her to be bullied to the purpose the place she decides to take her personal life. Solar-hee flees Seoul and tries to start out life anew to honor her departed pal.

A Somber Cautionary Story

Second Life is a kind of movies that mindfully explores the ability of phrases and the way easy errors can evolve into one thing extra drastic than the unique intent. This Korean indie movie is, understandably, troublesome to strategy, and coping with the loss of life of kids might immediately flip viewers off. This is probably not the feel-good film for an off-the-cuff night, however those that admire difficult narratives will discover some magnificence amongst the tragic components and a well-constructed drama that may resonate for a very long time.

7 The Final Princess (2016)

Mixing drama and motion, The Final Princess relies on the life of Princess Deokhye (Son Ye-jin), who was born into Korea’s final royal household because the youngest and solely daughter of the final king. The film follows the troublesome lifetime of the princess who was put ready to deal, and be used, with the interval’s politics, typically at the price of her happiness.

A Effectively-Produced Interval Drama

If you’ll take a look at one historic movie on this record, The Final Princess is your best option. This closely emotional watch takes place throughout a pivotal transition in Korean society. Furthermore, the prolific Son Ye-jin offers top-of-the-line performances of her whole profession.

6 Prepare to Busan (2016)

Prepare to Busan

Launch Date

July 20, 2016

Director

Sang-ho Yeon

Forged

Yoo Gong , Yu-mi Jeong , Dong-seok Ma , Su-an Kim , Eui-sung Kim , Woo-sik Choi

Runtime

118

Few current films have performed zombie horror higher than Yeon Sang-ho’s Prepare to Busan. Beginning with a Seok-woo and his daughter boarding a practice to see his spouse on the daughter’s birthday, the film picks up tempo when the information of a zombie virus breaking out throughout Korea reaches them. Protected from the surface world, passengers on the rushing practice should stick collectively. However when one of many contaminated will get on, the chaos and interpersonal battle that arises are unimaginable.

A Legendary Entry Within the Zombie Canon

Below Sang-ho’s path, the movie stays sharp all through. With heart-pounding motion scenes and suspense that pulls you to the sting of your seat, Prepare to Busan creates a mass enchantment. Past all of the gore, the movie additionally faucets into the emotional aspect of the characters’ journeys and makes you empathize with them.

5 New World (2013)

Having spent eight years undercover in South Korea’s largest company crime syndicate, Lee Ja-Sung, begins to face problems with balancing his loyalty to the drive along with his rising energy within the group. The loss of life of the principle chief causes an influence vacuum that threatens Ja-sung’s place as each a police officer and a outstanding determine within the unlawful operation.

An Electrical Motion-Thriller

With a powerful solid (Lee Jung-jae, Choi Min-sik, Hwang Jung-min), intense drama, and well-executed motion sequences, New World exemplifies the most effective Korean thrillers you’ll encounter when diving into the choice on Prime. Trendy and engrossing from the start, a number of twists all through will maintain viewers glued to the display screen.

4 Gonjiam: Haunted Asylum (2018)

The crew behind a horror internet collection enterprise into an notorious haunted deserted asylum in a dwell broadcast to spice up their rankings. The crew of seven begins to discover; they slowly attempt to evoke a sinister stress that begins messing with their broadcast and finally threatening their lives.

Not simply top-of-the-line Korean Horror films of all time, Gonjiam: Haunted Asylum stands out in the discovered footage style, splendidly using the sub-genre to craft unforgettable scares. Nonetheless, the film maintains the aptitude for drama that South Korean movies are identified for. It’s simply as simple to get misplaced within the characters’ struggles for fame, strained relationships, and jovial friendships as within the unnerving situation. The ending is totally unnerving and filled with nice bounce scares and a foreboding ambiance.

3 Bluebeard (2017)

A troubled colonoscopy specialist, Dr. Seung-hoon, finally ends up being drawn right into a homicide case when a affected person, his landlord, below aesthetic, mumbles troubling phrases about physique components and disposing of them. Initially brushing these phrases off, when a headless, limbless torso washes up within the thawing Han River, the physician turns into weary of his landlord’s household and begins to analyze.

A Gripping Character Examine

From the director of the well-received The Uninvited, Soo-youn Lee’s Bluebeard weaves an engrossing homicide thriller. Whereas not as closely stylized and considerably of a gradual burn in comparison with different thrillers on this record, the script right here is sensible and leans closely right into a psychological character research of Dr. Seung-hoon, with an impressive efficiency from Cho Jin-woong. These in search of a extra introverted and thought-provoking thriller would do finest to take a look at Bluebeard.

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2 The Villainess (2017)

Murderer Sook-hee should battle for her freedom after being captured by a South Korean intelligence company and compelled into ten years of servitude in trade for her launch. Nonetheless, the delivery of her daughter throughout her time with the company offers her a distinct perspective on life, and the reminiscences of her previous, her fixed name to violence, and her needs all start to weigh on her conscience.

Effectively-Choreographed Struggle Scenes

The Vilainess pulls no punches and opens with an exhilarating battle scene that may catch the viewers’s consideration. Kim Okay-bin as Sook-hee establishes herself as the proper motion hero. The non-linear strategy to storytelling additionally permits the film to stay persistently entertaining, leaping between flashbacks and explosive battle scenes. The remainder of the weather endure barely on this strategy, however Kim Okay-bin’s efficiency and the variety of punches thrown will make The Villainess a deal with for followers of the style.