One of themost anticipated theatrical releases of 2020was Sang-ho Yeon's zombie film Peninsula, the much-anticipated follow-up to the superb 2016hitTrain to Busanbut those aren't the only great South Koreanhorrormovies from recent years, zombie movies included.
RELATED: 10 Highest-Rated Zombie Movies Of The 2000s, According To IMDb
Updated on July 9th, 2021 by Mark Birrell: It may seem like afairlyniche topic to those who aren't in on the fun, but many film fans the world over are often looking for a definitive list of the best South Korean zombie movies. IMDb ranks some much more highly than others but, from anthology movie segments to whole epic features, there may be more examples of South Korean zombie movies than most fans may necessarily realize. But which ranks as the best of them all?
SCREENRANT VIDEO OF THE DAY
10/10 The Neighbor Zombie (2010) -4.8
● Available on AsianCrush
With an honorable mention given to the equally-rated American Zombie, this list kicks off the 2010 horror-comedy The Neighbor Zombie, a four-part anthology revolving around a violently infectious outbreak.
In 2010, a global pandemic ravages the globe, including the capital of Seoul, South Korea. When the government declares Martial Law in order to quarantine its citizens and trace the source of the outbreak, several heroic civilians set out to help hide and feed the inflicted while searching for a vaccine. Its charms are much more low-budget than the most famous examples of South Korean zombie movies, as evidenced by its score on IMDb, but it's worth mentioning for movie fans looking to get a full perspective on the genre's influence on Korean filmmaking.
9/10 Peninsula (2020) - 5.5
● Available on Hoopla, DirecTV, and Shudder
Despite massive interest from movie fans, Peninsulais rated far lower than its breakout predecessor,Train to Busan. Both films are directed by Sang-ho Yeon, but this sequel failed to live up to the standards set by the first film.In addition to its IMDb rating, the film currently holds a middling 53% rating on Rotten Tomatoes but does have a much higher audience score on the site.
Jung Seok (Dong-Won Gang) is an ex-soldier who accepts a mission to lead his squadron into the wastelands of the South Korean Peninsula to obtain a truck full of cash only to be greeted by hordes of themovie series' terrifying undead. Fans of the original will welcome the return of the zombie action but, as the Rotten Tomatoes critic consensus reads, they may be left wanting by the "disappointing sense of familiarity" throughout.
8/10 Horror Stories (2012) - 5.7
● Available on Tubi
Another quartet of terrifying vignettes, Horror Stories arguably saves the most frightening tale for the final entry. Following a home invasion story, an escaped convict story, and a cautionary parable about plastic surgery, the film ends with a mortifying zombie onslaught.
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Directed by Kok and Sun Kim, Ambulance on the Death Zone features a little girl who morphs into a mouth-foaming zombie after succumbing to an unknown infection. The little girl's mother and the paramedic she calls confront the little monster with harrowing results. Zombie fans will have a blast with the final segment, but the rest of the movie may not necessarily be to their tastes.
7/10 Doomsday Book (2012) - 5.9
● Available on Tubi, YouTube, and Pluto TV
A viral zombie pandemic is given a satiricaledge in one chapter of Doomsday Book, a three-part horror omnibus from directors Kim-Jee Woon and Pil-sung Yim.
In Yim's tale, A Brave New World, a nerdy scientist throws a contaminated apple in the garbage disposal, which in turn makes its way into the feeding trough for local cows. The beef becomes contaminated and eaten by a man at a barbecue, setting off an infectious chain of violent zombification. It's worth noting that popular Korean filmmakers such as Bong Joon-Hohave cameos in the film so it's a must-see for die-hard fans of modern Korean movies, not just zombie enthusiasts.
6/10 Seoul Station (2016) - 6.2
● Available on Tubi, Vudu, and Prime Video
Directed by Train to Busan's Sang-ho Yeon and released the same year, Seoul Station is an animated feature-length zombie moviethat serves as a prequel to the live-action horror hit.
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Set one day prior to the events depicted in Train to Busan, Seoul Station imagines downtown Seoul being overrun by legions of zombies. Much of the plot revolves around Suk-Gyu (Ryu Seung-Ryong), a father desperately searching for his missing daughter, Hye-Sun (Shim Eun-Kyung), prior to the zombie pandemic. It's an interesting chapter in the story of modern South Korean zombie movies that fans ofTrain to Busandefinitely need to check out and takes a refreshing approach to the set-up.
5/10 #Alive (2020) - 6.3
● Available on Netflix
Released in South Korea on June 24, 2020, Il Cho's action-packed zombie outing #Alivequickly started turning heads and winning hearts, with Netflix picking the movie up for global distribution quite quickly.
The story finds a densely populatedbuilding under siege from a vicious zombie incursion borne from an unknown virus and follows Oh Joon-Wo (Ah-In Yoo), a secluded gamer who must remain hunkered down in hisapartment and fend off droves of home-invading zombies. The very positive critics consensus on Rotten Tomatoes praises the acting, the horror, and the comedy, showing thatTrain to Busanwasn't a one-off.
4/10 Rampant (2018) - 6.3
● Available on Hoopla, Rakuten Viki, and Hi-YAH
In Sung-Hoon Kim'speriod-set zombiefilmRampant, dynastic Korea finds itself under a ruthless attack from an army of blood-thirsty ghouls. The story revolves around Lee Chung (Hun Bin), the Prince of Joseon who is kidnapped by the powerful Qing family with plans to appoint him the new Crown Prince. As Lee Chung spars with Kim Ja-Joon, the Joseon Minister of War, a relentless attack of gory "night demons" threatens to annihilate the entire region.
Though the movie wasn't as big a hit as its ambitious scale implied it would be, it remains an epic example of how South Korea has put its own unique spin on zombie fiction.
3/10 The Odd Family: Zombieon Sale (2019) - 6.5
● Available on Shudder
One of thebest zom-coms (zombie comedies) to come out of South Korea isThe Odd Family: Zombieon Sale (sometimes simply titled Zombie for Sale), directed by Lee Min-Jae, which adds a memorable degree of quirkiness into the mix.
RELATED:The 10 Funniest Horror-Comedies of the 2010s, Ranked
The Odd Familyrevolves around the Park family as their lives are upended when the elderly patriarch suffers a sudden zombie bite. When the family learns the zombie was created due to an illegal experiment conducted by a corrupt pharmaceutical company, the Park family attempts to use the experiments for their own financial gain. With a high rating from critics, it sits above most South Korean zombie movies to rest just under the real masterpieces of the genre.
2/10 The Wailing (2016) - 7.5
● Available on Tubi, Pluto TV, Crackle, Prime Video, and Fubo TV
While Hong-jin Na's masterful horror/thriller The Wailinghas a lot more going on in it than just zombie movie influences, there's no denying the terror conjured by the zombified, demonically-possessed ghouls in the film.
More in the vein of dark cop thrillers likeSe7enthan a zombie romp by George A. Romero, The Wailing tracks a series of supernatural occurrences that plague a small fishing townafter the arrival of a mysterious stranger. A viral illness begins to spread throughout the hamlet, thought to be a result of an evil spirit in the region. It's up to local police officer Jong-g00 (Do-wan Kwak) to solve the mysterywith the story's eye-watering mixture of strong cultural and genre elementsmaking for an unforgettably bold cocktail.The Wailingsits above not just most modern zombie movies, but most modern horror movies in general.
1/10 Train To Busan (2016) - 7.6
● Available on Tubi, Pluto TV, Crackle, Fubo TV, and Hulu
According to IMDb, the best zombiemoviefrom South KoreaisTrain to Busan, the runaway smash hit that inspiredPeninsula. In addition to its IMDb rating, the film currently holds a 94% Certified Fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a 72/100 Metascore.
The film follows a father desperately trying to protect his young daughter on the titular overrun train as a zombie outbreak unfolds. The distinct characters, emotional performances, and breakneck action made it an instant hit with movie fans across the world and earned it very high marks on IMDb and Rotten Tomatoes, where it currently sits with an impressive 94% Certified Fresh rating.
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FAQs
Which Korean movie has highest IMDB rating? ›
1. Decision to Leave (2022) A detective investigating a man's death in the mountains meets the dead man's mysterious wife in the course of his dogged sleuthing.
What is the number 1 Korean movie? ›A landmark in world cinema, Parasite is the highest-grossing Korean movie in several countries, the first non-English production to win a Best Picture Oscar and universally regarded as one of the best films of the 21st century.
What is Korean Best Movie? ›- Midnight (2021) CJ Entertainment. ...
- Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter ... ...
- Peppermint Candy (1999) ...
- Little Forest (2018) ...
- The Villainess (2017) ...
- The Good, The Bad, The Weird (2008) ...
- Right Now, Wrong Then (2015) ...
- Train to Busan (2016)
- 6/6 I Am Legend.
- 5/6 World War Z.
- 4/6 Shaun Of The Dead.
- 3/6 Train to Busan.
- 2/6 [REC]
- 1/6 28 Days later.
South Korean films are some of the most aesthetically pleasing, emotionally captivating and well-written films because you never know what you're going to get and that's what makes them so great. They are unpredictable, genre-bending and masterfully crafted.
How do you say movie in Korean? ›How to say "Movie" in Korean (영화)
Which is the highest grossing film in South Korea? ›| Rank | English title | Korean title |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Admiral: Roaring Currents | 명량 |
| 2 | Extreme Job | 극한직업 |
| 3 | Along With the Gods: The Two Worlds | 신과함께-죄와 벌 |
| 4 | Ode to My Father | 국제시장 |
- 6/10 Train to Busan (2016) — $98.5M.
- 5/10 Ode to My Father (2014) — $99M.
- 4/10 Along with the Gods: The Two Worlds (2017) — $109.4M.
- 3/10 Extreme Job (2019) — $120M.
- 2/10 The Admiral: Roaring Currents (2014) — $138.3M.
- 1/10 Parasite (2019) $263M.
- Little Women: Season 1. #1 this week. Watch now. ...
- Glitch: Season 1. #2 this week. ...
- Narco-Saints: Season 1. #3 this week. ...
- I am Solo: Part 9 - #4 this week. ...
- Flower of Evil: Season 1. #5 this week. ...
- The Good Detective: Season 2. #6 this week. ...
- Missing: The Other Side. #7 this week. ...
- A Clean Sweep. #8 this week.
- The King: Eternal Monarch.
- Rookie Historian Goo Hae-Ryung.
- Familiar Wife.
- A Korean Odyssey.
- Homemade Love Story.
- The K2.
- Something in the Rain.
- Start-Up.
Where can I watch Korean movies in India? ›
- Netflix is the favorite streaming platform for Korean drama fans.
- Apps like Amazon Prime Video, Viki, and MX Player, also have Korean content for your binge-watch.
- You can also watch dubbed Korean movies online on these apps.
- night of the living dead.
- Resident Evil.
- george a romero.
- zombies.
- movies.
- Army of the Dead.
- World War Z.
The 1988 film Dead Heat can arguably be shown to demonstrate intelligent zombies. In "Universal soldier" the soldier from vietnam war are ressurected they have memories and intelligent. In "Izombie" the main protagonist are a intelligent infected and the other infected are intelligent.
What movie has the fastest zombies? ›Nightmare City Is The First "Fast Zombie" Movie (Before 28 Days Later) 28 Days Later and Return Of The Living Dead have both been cited as the start of the fast zombie genre, but 1980's Nightmare City got there first.
Which Indian actor is famous in Korea? ›The most famous and popular Indian actor in Korea was Irrfan Khan. With his popular Hollywood films such as The Namesake and Slumdog Millionaire, Irrfan became very popular with the Korean audience.
Is Bollywood famous in Korea? ›But it is not just Indian cuisine that is being lapped up by the Koreans, Bollywood has become the other hot import from India. Although the majority of Koreans don't watch Bollywood movies as it is very different from Korea's mainstream movie industry.
What is Korean Hollywood called? ›Hallyuwood, a compound word combining the word Hallyu (Korean Wave) with wood from Hollywood, is the informal term popularly used to describe the Korean-language entertainment and film industry in South Korea.
How do you say see in Korean? ›How to Say "Long time no see" in Korean - YouTube
How do you write music in Korean? ›The first and most basic word for music to learn in Korean is 음악 (eumak).
What does Yeonghwa meaning? ›/yeonghwa/ cinema. uncountable noun. Cinema is the business and art of making movies.
Which Korean drama is trending now 2022? ›
- All of Us Are Dead. Image: Courtesy All of us are Dead/ Netflix. ...
- Ghost Doctor. Image: Courtesy Ghost Doctor/ Netflix. ...
- Business Proposal. Image: Courtesy Business Proposal/ Netflix. ...
- Juvenile Justice. ...
- Thirty-Nine. ...
- Twenty Five Twenty One. ...
- Tomorrow. ...
- Pachinko.
- Lee Min Ho. Lee Min Ho is also a highly well-known South Korean actor who has starred in T.V. ...
- Lee Jong Suk. Lee Jong Suk was born on September 14, 1989, in Yongin, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea. ...
- Kim Woo Bin. ...
- Kim Soo Hyun. ...
- Ji Chang Wook. ...
- Park Seo Joon. ...
- Lee Joon Gi. ...
- Park Bo Gum.
- The package.
- coffee prince.
- jugglers.
South Korea.
With 1.8 percent for The Last Jedi the trend has abated, but Korea is still a woefully under-performing territory for the Star Wars franchise.
Some name a filming of Chunhyang-Jeon (Korean: 춘향전) in 1921 (released in 1922) as the first Korean feature film. The traditional story, Chunhyang, was to become Korea's most-filmed story later. It was possibly the first Korean feature film, and was certainly the first Korean sound film, color film and widescreen film.
What is the highest grossing film in China? ›| Cinema of South Korea | |
|---|---|
| No. of screens | 2,492 (2015) |
| • Per capita | 5.3 per 100,000 (2015) |
| Main distributors | CJ E&M (21%) NEW (18%) Lotte (15%) |
| Produced feature films (2015) | |
| Title | Worldwide gross | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Pokémon: The Movie 2000 | $133,949,270 | 1999 |
| Dragon Ball Super: Broly | $122,747,755 | 2018 |
| Detective Conan: The Fist of Blue Sapphire | $115,570,314 | 2019 |
| Bayside Shakedown: The Movie | $115,000,000 | 1998 |
| Rank | Title | Tickets sold |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bienvenue chez les Ch'tis | 20,489,303 |
| 2 | The Intouchables | 19,490,688 |
| 3 | La Grande Vadrouille | 17,267,607 |
| 4 | Asterix & Obelix: Mission Cleopatra | 14,559,509 |
As for the countries tweeting the most about K-content in 2022, the leading country is South Korea.
Which Kdrama should I watch? ›
If you love mystery, thriller, and anything suspenseful, Cliffhanger is the best Kdrama to watch this 2022. It is about park rangers who work to rescue people on Mount Jiri. This Kdrama 2022 is written by screenwriter Kim Eun-hee, who also wrote Kingdom (2019), Signal (2016), and 3 Days (2014).
What is the number 1 Kdrama on Netflix? ›- Extracurricular. An intelligent high school student turns to a life of crime to ensure he can pay for college and escape his dead-end life. ...
- My Name. ...
- The King's Affection. ...
- Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha.
K-dramas have taken the world by storm. The romantic and dramatic plotlines are very interesting and the little dash of romance makes everything seem perfect. K-dramas have become a very popular medium of entertainment and binge-watching over long weekends with your partner or friends.
Where can I watch all Korean movies? ›Netflix is the most popular streaming service to watch Korean dramas and movies. But there are other apps like Prime Video and Viki where you can watch Korean content.
How many Korean dramas are there in Netflix India? ›How many Korean movies and series are there on Netflix? There are 238 Korean movies and series currently on Netflix.
Is there any Korean channel in India? ›2022 marks Zing's 25th year as a channel in the entertainment genre in India. It is one of the oldest channels in the genre. Other than Zing, there are other channels in India that also air Korean shows dubbed in regional languages. Airtel Korean TV offers its DTH and digital viewers K-dramas dubbed in Hindi.
Which app has all Kdrama? ›Viki Rakuten– Most in Use Kdrama App
Viki is the latest go-to app by users to watch Kdrama shows. You can Find 100+ Korean shows and the app also covers almost all-around Asia's trending shows. From Chinese to Taiwan, you can find everything in the Viki app.
Viu, a top app to watch Korean shows
Viu is yet another popular smartphone app to watch thousands of your favorite Korean shows. This Kdrama streaming app has a huge fanbase enjoying shows in many languages along with subtitles. Viu is a one-stop destination for those who love Korean dramas.
They are not nocturnal, they are arrhythmic! And insomniac. They never sleep! Remember how one becomes a zombie in the first place?
What does a zombie say? ›Mrh? - Easily the most common word for zombies to say. It carries a variety of meanings, but the most common of these is, by far, a request to be revived.
Is train to Busan The best zombie movies? ›
There is no doubt that Train to Busan is a near perfect zombie film. Here is why it may be the best in the sub-genre. The 2016 South Korean horror zombie flick has been hailed as not just one of the best zombie films of the 2010s, but one of the best zombie movies of all time.
Why are zombies popular? ›The reason zombie movies are so popular is a combination of low budgets, high returns, and suspenseful action. Zombie movies ticks of all the boxes when it comes to triggering our guilty human desires to experience our most basic instinctive fears (as categorized by Dr.
When was the first zombie movie? ›Instead, the distinction of being the first zombie movie is usually awarded to Victor Halperin's 1932 opus, White Zombie. Starring Bela Lugosi, this film defined the basic parameters of 'zombieness' which would be in place prior to Romero's appearance on the scene.
Who was the first zombie? ›...
George A. Romero (1968–1985)
| Zombie | |
|---|---|
| First appearance | Night of the Living Dead (1968) |
| Created by | George Romero |
| In-universe information | |
| Alias | "Romero zombie" |
Hyper Zombies: These zombies are "new borns" and they tend to sprint fast towards their prey, they're stronger and a bit faster than the common zombies.
Will zombies be fast or slow? ›Zombies were slow; they were either voodoo reincarnates or re-animated; speed was not a factor in their existence. You could count on zombies for slow-speed chases, brain eating, general nuisance - they were consistent. The great director, George Romero, essentially created the rules for the the Zombie Apocalypse.
Is train to Busan on Netflix? ›As a zombie outbreak sweeps the country, a dad and his daughter take a harrowing train journey in an attempt to reach the only city that's still safe. Watch all you want.
Is parasite worth watching? ›Critic Reviews for Parasite
I think it's a career peak for [Bong Joon-ho]. Watching that drama -- the bricks sort of build and then topple -- is so satisfying. [Bong Joon-ho]'s work is as playful as it is sincere and revelatory.
- AsianCrush.
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- Viki.
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- YouTube.
What age rating is Train to Busan? ›
great movie - no kids under 13/14 should watch this; very bloody and intense, and while it has little actual gore it is still very violent and scary.
What is the cause of zombies in Train to Busan? ›This mutagen was created by the Biotech company that resulted in the contamination of natural water and first infected the animals like the deer in the opening scene which reanimated after being ran over by a truck.
How do I change my Netflix region? ›The simplest way to change Netflix region is by using a Virtual Private Network (VPN). A VPN tunnels your internet traffic through an intermediary server located in a country of your choice. It can mask your real IP address and replace it with one from your chosen country, thus spoofing your current location.
Are 14 year olds allowed parasites? ›It is a fun movie that everyone should see! The film is fine for people at the age of 13 (I wouldn't let my 7 year old watch it though) and is something they should watch if they're excited to go from Harry Potter to something like this.
Is Parasite a horror? ›Parasite is a 1982 American science fiction horror film produced and directed by Charles Band.
Is Parasite R rated? ›Parasite | 2019 | R | – 5.6.
Where can I watch Korean movies in India? ›- Netflix is the favorite streaming platform for Korean drama fans.
- Apps like Amazon Prime Video, Viki, and MX Player, also have Korean content for your binge-watch.
- You can also watch dubbed Korean movies online on these apps.
- Dramacool. Dramacool is the best website to go to if you want to watch and download Korean dramas for free. ...
- Kissasian. Kissasian is an excellent resource for Asian dramas with English subtitles and dubbing. ...
- Soap2day. ...
- Solar Movies. ...
- Yes Movies. ...
- NewAsianTV. ...
- Hulu. ...
- Viki.
- Viki. Viki is one of the best websites to download Korean movies for free. ...
- Dramago. Another website to download K-Drama movies is dramago. ...
- Sojouppa. ...
- Dramacool9. ...
- Kingdrakor.com. ...
- Kshowsubindo.org. ...
- KissAsian.vg. ...
- Dramanice.
Our Favorite K-Dramas are Leaving Netflix in May 2022.
Which Korean drama is dubbed in Hindi on Netflix? ›
Love Alarm is one of the first Hindi-dubbed Korean dramas on Netflix to be confirmed as a Netflix original. In 2021, the series was ranked as the 6th most-watched K-dramas on the platform worldwide. Shin Min-a, Kim Seon-ho, and Lee Sang-Yi star in the 2021 South Korean television series Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha.
How many K-Dramas are on Netflix? ›According to the Hollywood Reporter, Netflix has spent $700 million on creating Korean content, including over 80 shows.