When Bong Joon-ho’s Parasite made history by becoming the first non-English language film to win the Academy Award for Best Picture in 2020, it opened many viewers’ eyes to the incredible world of South Korean cinema. Parasite‘s dark humor, biting social commentary, and unpredictable plot twists captivated audiences around the globe. If you couldn’t get enough of the genre-bending thriller, here are 20 more phenomenal movies, primarily from South Korea, that share similar themes and tones to Parasite.
1. Memories of Murder (2003)
Directed by none other than Bong Joon-ho himself, Memories of Murder is loosely based on Korea’s first serial murders which took place between 1986 and 1991. In a small Korean province, two detectives struggle to catch the culprit behind the rape and murder of multiple women. The film masterfully blends dark comedy with a gripping crime drama, keeping you on the edge of your seat.
2. Oldboy (2003)
Park Chan-wook’s Oldboy is a neo-noir action thriller that follows a man imprisoned for 15 years without any explanation. When he is suddenly released, he embarks on a twisted path of vengeance to uncover the reason behind his captivity. Known for its brutal violence, shocking plot twists, and a notorious octopus-eating scene, Oldboy is a wild, unforgettable ride.
3. The Handmaiden (2016)
Inspired by the novel Fingersmith by Sarah Waters, Park Chan-wook’s erotic psychological thriller The Handmaiden is set in 1930s colonial Korea and Japan. A young Korean pickpocket is hired by a con man to become a Japanese heiress’s maid and help him seduce and swindle her out of her inheritance. However, unexpected feelings and hidden agendas complicate their scheme. The film is a visually stunning, sensual, and suspenseful tale of love, betrayal, and revenge.
4. Burning (2018)
Based on a short story by Haruki Murakami, Lee Chang-dong’s slow-burn psychological thriller Burning centers on an aimless young man who reconnects with a former classmate. She asks him to watch her cat while she’s on a trip to Africa, but when she returns with a mysterious wealthy man, an unsettling love triangle forms. As the story unfolds, the film explores themes of class, obsession, and the blurred lines between reality and imagination.
5. The Host (2006)
Another gem from Bong Joon-ho, The Host is a monster movie with a twist. When a giant mutant creature emerges from Seoul’s Han River and starts attacking people, a dysfunctional family must band together to rescue their youngest member who has been taken by the monster. The film seamlessly combines horror, humor, and social satire to create a thrilling and emotionally resonant experience.
6. Mother (2009)
Bong Joon-ho’s Mother is a gripping mystery drama about a mother’s unwavering love and determination to prove her intellectually disabled son’s innocence when he is accused of murder. As she delves deeper into the investigation, shocking secrets are revealed that challenge her faith in her son. The film showcases a powerhouse performance by actress Kim Hye-ja and keeps you guessing until the very end.
7. I Saw the Devil (2010)
Kim Jee-woon’s brutal revenge thriller I Saw the Devil follows a secret agent who embarks on a violent quest for vengeance after his fiancée is murdered by a psychopathic serial killer. The film is an intense, gory, and psychologically disturbing exploration of the depths of human evil and the consequences of seeking retribution.
8. The Chaser (2008)
The Chaser is a gritty crime thriller about a detective-turned-pimp who realizes two of his girls have gone missing. As he frantically searches for them, he uncovers a series of gruesome murders and a deranged killer. The film is a heart-pounding, suspenseful ride with stellar performances and a gut-punch ending.
9. A Tale of Two Sisters (2003)
Inspired by a Korean folktale, Kim Jee-woon’s psychological horror A Tale of Two Sisters follows two sisters who return home after a stay in a mental hospital. As they deal with their cruel stepmother and the trauma of their mother’s death, strange and terrifying events begin to occur in their house. The film is a chilling, atmospheric, and beautifully shot ghost story with a shocking twist.
10. The Wailing (2016)
Na Hong-jin’s The Wailing is a supernatural horror thriller set in a small Korean village where a mysterious illness is causing people to commit brutal murders. A bumbling police officer investigates the strange events, which may be linked to the arrival of a Japanese stranger. The film is a complex, unsettling, and occasionally darkly humorous exploration of faith, xenophobia, and the nature of evil.
11. Snowpiercer (2013)
Bong Joon-ho’s English-language debut Snowpiercer is a dystopian sci-fi action film set on a perpetually moving train that carries the last remnants of humanity after an attempt to stop global warming plunges the world into a new ice age. The train is divided by class, with the wealthy elite in the front and the impoverished masses in the tail. When a rebellion brews, the film becomes a thrilling, thought-provoking allegory for class warfare and social inequality.
12. The Man from Nowhere (2010)
The Man from Nowhere is an action thriller about a mysterious and withdrawn pawnshop owner who embarks on a violent mission to save the little girl next door when she is kidnapped by a vicious drug gang. With incredible fight scenes and a compelling emotional core, the film is a gripping and satisfying revenge story.
13. New World (2013)
Park Hoon-jung’s New World is a crime drama set in the world of Korean organized crime. When the head of the largest crime syndicate is killed in an accident, an undercover cop rises through the ranks as rival factions vie for power. The film is a tense, gritty, and morally ambiguous exploration of loyalty, betrayal, and the blurred lines between law and lawlessness.
14. The Vengeance Trilogy (Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance, Oldboy, Lady Vengeance)
Park Chan-wook’s iconic Vengeance Trilogy consists of three thematically connected but standalone films that explore the consequences and moral complexities of seeking revenge. Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance (2002) follows a deaf man who kidnaps a wealthy businessman’s daughter to pay for his sister’s kidney transplant. Oldboy (2003) centers on a man imprisoned for 15 years who seeks to uncover the reason for his captivity and exact revenge. Lady Vengeance (2005) tells the story of a woman who seeks retribution against the man who framed her for kidnapping and murder. Each film is a masterful, stylish, and provocative examination of the destructive nature of vengeance.
15. Train to Busan (2016)
Yeon Sang-ho’s Train to Busan is a zombie horror thriller that takes place on a high-speed train from Seoul to Busan as a zombie apocalypse breaks out across South Korea. A father and his young daughter must fight for survival as the infection spreads among the passengers. The film is a pulse-pounding, emotionally gripping, and socially conscious take on the zombie genre.
16. The Yellow Sea (2010)
Na Hong-jin’s The Yellow Sea is a crime thriller about a ethnic Korean living in China who is hired by a local gangster to carry out a hit in South Korea. When the job goes wrong, he finds himself on the run from the police and the mob in a foreign land. The film is a gritty, brutal, and relentlessly paced tale of survival and desperation.
17. Joint Security Area (2000)
Park Chan-wook’s Joint Security Area is a military mystery drama set in the DMZ between North and South Korea. When two North Korean soldiers are killed in the JSA, a neutral Swiss-Korean investigator is brought in to uncover the truth. As she interviews the survivors, conflicting accounts and hidden agendas come to light. The film is a tense, emotionally charged exploration of the human cost of the Korean divide.
18. The Housemaid (2010)
Im Sang-soo’s erotic thriller The Housemaid is a remake of the 1960 Korean classic of the same name. When a young woman is hired as a housemaid for a wealthy family, she becomes entangled in a web of desire, jealousy, and betrayal with the man of the house. The film is a stylish, sensual, and suspenseful tale of class, power, and the consequences of giving in to temptation.
19. Bedevilled (2010)
Jang Cheol-soo’s Bedevilled is a psychological thriller about a woman who escapes to a remote island to visit her childhood friend after a traumatic event. She discovers that her friend is being abused by her husband and the other villagers, and decides to take matters into her own hands. The film is a tense, emotionally raw, and ultimately cathartic exploration of female rage and empowerment.
20. The Handphone (2009)
Kim Han-min’s The Handphone is a supernatural horror film about a journalist who investigates a series of mysterious deaths linked to a cursed mobile phone. As she delves deeper into the case, she becomes the next target of the malevolent force. The film is a chilling, atmospheric, and technophobic ghost story that taps into our fears about the dark side of our increasingly connected world.
These 20 films showcase the incredible range and depth of South Korean cinema, from pulse-pounding thrillers to emotionally resonant dramas to thought-provoking social commentaries. Each one shares some of the key elements that made Parasite such a global phenomenon: masterful storytelling, complex characters, dark humor, and a willingness to tackle difficult themes and social issues. Whether you’re a die-hard fan of Parasite or simply looking to expand your cinematic horizons, these movies are sure to leave a lasting impression. So grab some popcorn, settle in, and prepare to be thrilled, moved, and provoked by some of the best that South Korean cinema has to offer.
