WATCH ON AMAZON RELATED: 20 Best Feel-Good Films on Netflix to Soothe Your Soul 6 Oldboy (2003) Perhaps one of the most well-known Korean films of all time, this dark and visceral vengeance movie from Park Chan-wook — one of Korea's most highly-acclaimed directors — follows a man who sets out on a revenge mission after inexplicably being imprisoned for 15 years. Warning: This one's definitely not for the faint-of-heart! WATCH ON AMAZON 7 The Handmaiden (2016) Another masterful film from director Park Chan-wook is this erotic psychological thriller film inspired by the 2002 novel Fingersmith by Sarah Waters. Set in 1930's colonial Korea and Japan, the film follows the riveting story of a Japanese heiress and her Korean handmaiden — who's actually involved in an elaborate plot with a con-man to seduce the wealthy woman from her inheritance. WATCH ON AMAZON 8 A Taxi Driver (2017) Parasite 's Song Kang-ho stars in yet another great and critically-acclaimed film, this time about a cab driver from Seoul who unintentionally becomes involved in the Gwangju Uprising, a historical event that took place in South Korea in 1980.
(Plus, it's based on a real-life true story, which makes it an even more compelling watch. ) WATCH ON AMAZON 9 Forgotten (2017) For those who can't resist an intense psychological thriller, Forgotten is a must-watch that follows a young man trying to uncover the truth behind the sudden return of his abducted brother. The film delivers edge-of-your-seat mystery together with suspenseful horror moments — and truly some mind-bending plot twists you'll never see coming. WATCH ON NETFLIX RELATED: The 23 Best Psychological Thriller Books to Scare Yourself Silly 11 Poetry (2010) For fans of melancholic and emotionally stirring films, Lee Chang-dong's Poetry delivers a poignant story about an elderly woman who takes up a poetry class after being diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. Family, memory, and mortality are all themes that this movie explores beautifully ( which means you'll definitely want to grab a box of tissues for this one). WATCH ON AMAZON 12 Okja (2017) This adventure-drama Netflix film (which features both Korean and English) about a young girl and her giant mutant pig is another gem from Bong Joon Ho — and even has a star cast that includes American actors like Tilda Swinton and Jake Gyllenhaal.
Centered around a Korean girl determined to save her beloved pet from being taken away by a powerful corporation, Okja is equal parts a whimsical fable and a dark, compelling satire. WATCH ON NETFLIX 13 I Saw The Devil (2010) You can't fully explore Korean cinema without delving into their truly fantastic horror films — especially with this highly visceral and shockingly violent horror-thriller flick from 2010, which follows a secret agent who sets out to find a psychopathic serial killer after his wife is brutally murdered. You probably won't want to watch this one at night! WATCH ON AMAZON 14 Secret Sunshine (2007) From the same director who brought Burning and Poetry to the screen (Lee Chang-dong), Secret Sunshine delivers a quietly riveting and heart-wrenching drama about a widowed mother who undergoes a tragedy after moving to a new town. Parasite 's Song Kang-ho also stars in this tearjerker film, which explores grief, faith, and personal loss. WATCH ON AMAZON Hannah Jeon Editorial Fellow Hannah is an editorial fellow at Good Housekeeping, where she loves to cover home, health, entertainment, and other lifestyle content.
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WATCH ON AMAZON 3 Burning (2018) Based on the short story Barn Burning by Japanese author Haruki Murakami, this critically-acclaimed psychological mystery drama from famous Korean director Lee Chang-dong tells the quietly haunting story of a young man who faces a mysterious secret after his childhood friend returns from a trip — but brings along a man with a strange hobby (played by the The Walking Dead' s Steven Yeun). WATCH ON AMAZON 4 The Host (2006) If you loved Parasite, The Host is another masterpiece from director Bong Joon Ho that you'll definitely need to watch (especially as it also stars Parasite's leading man Song Kang-ho). This thrilling flick presents a truly gripping storyline — featuring a terrifying sea creature — to deliver what's widely considered one of the greatest monster movies to date. WATCH ON AMAZON 5 Extreme Job (2019) What happens when a team of narcotics detectives goes undercover in a fried chicken joint to stake out an organized crime gang? That's exactly the quirky premise of this recent cop comedy hit, which delights audiences with the perfect balance of exciting action together with feel-good comedy.