South Korea has produced some of the greatest movies of all time. Although the country is mainly known for its romance and drama films, it has also made influential films in other genres, especially thrillers.
Prime Video offers a diverse selection of great Korean thrillers, including works from some of the most respected directors. But with such a long list of films available, it can be hard to find the best ones. Don’t worry, we have made it easy for you!
Here are some must-watch films available on Prime Video that promise an action-packed and gripping movie experience.
The Man From Nowhere (2010)
Lee Jeong-beom’s The Man From Nowhere is a dark action-thriller with Won Bin and Kim Sae-ron playing the lead roles. The film is about a mysterious man with a hidden past who goes on a violent rampage to save his young neighbor after she gets kidnapped.
Won Bin plays the role of a quiet pawnshop owner with a mysterious past, who becomes friends with a young girl, played by Kim Sae-ron. But when she gets kidnapped, he goes on a violent mission to rescue her.
The Man From Nowhere stands out as one of the most iconic Korean films of the 2010s. The movie was a huge hit in South Korea and became the top-grossing film of 2010. It was praised for its intense action scenes and emotional story. The film also won several big awards, like the Baeksang Arts Award for Best Film and seven Korean Film Awards. It went on to inspire several later movies, most notably John Wick.
Flu (2013)
Directed by Kim Sung-su, Flu is a medical disaster film starring Jang Hyuk, Soo Ae and Park Min-ha in the lead roles. The story is about the outbreak of a deadly strain of H5N1, killing people within 36 hours and turning the Bundang district in Seongnam, which has a population of nearly half a million people, into a zone of chaos and fear.
The story begins with two brothers who discover a shipping container full of dead illegal immigrants who died from an unknown illness. They help the sole survivor, but unknowingly spread the virus, which starts infecting other people quickly. The Korean health department (KCDC) quickly steps in to control the crisis near Seoul, which is only 20 minutes away.
Often compared to the American film Contagion, The Flu is seen as Korea’s take on the viral outbreak thriller. However, the virus in this movie is much deadlier and spreads much faster. The movie is packed with suspense and drama, and the story keeps you hooked as the outbreak worsens and panic takes over the city. With strong performances and intense scenes, The Flu is a gripping movie that keeps you on the edge of your seat throughout.
No Tears for the Dead (2014)
Starring Jang Dong-gun and Kim Min-hee in the lead roles, No Tears for the Dead is an action film directed by Lee Jeong-beom. It is about a professional hitman who accidentally kills a little girl and is guilty. He wants to leave his violent life, but before quitting, he is given one last job, which is to kill the girl’s mother.
Although it is a dark and intense film, it is entertaining and a must-watch action thriller. Even though the story feels somewhat predictable, the way it is shown and the performances by the actors will keep you hooked.
Assassination (2015)
Choi Dong-hoon’s Assassination is a period spy action thriller with Jun Ji-hyun, Lee Jung-jae and Ha Jung-woo playing the lead roles. Set in 1930s Seoul and Shanghai, the story follows a group of Korean resistance fighters during the Japanese occupation with a mission to kill a high-ranking Japanese officer. But a spy in their group puts their whole plan in danger.
Assassination was a box office hit and became the highest-grossing Korean film of 2015 and one of the most successful Korean films ever. With great production, powerful performances and well-made action scenes, the film stands out as a thrilling and engaging watch.
Train to Busan (2016)
Yeon Sang-ho’s Train to Busan is an action horror film with Gong Yoo, Jung Yu-mi, Ma Dong-seok and others playing the lead roles. It is about a sudden zombie outbreak in South Korea that puts passengers on a KTX train from Seoul to Busan in danger.
It all begins when Seok-woo and his daughter catch a train to visit her mother for the girl’s birthday. Initially, everything seems normal until an infected person gets on board, leading to complete chaos, fear and rising tension among the passengers.
It is considered one of the best zombie films to date. The movie has thrilling action scenes and suspense that keep you engaged throughout.
Midnight (2021)
Starring Jin Ki-joo, Wi Ha-joon, Gil Hae-yeon, Park Hoon and Kim Hye-yoon in the lead roles, Midnight is a psychological thriller directed by Kwon Oh-seung. The story is about a deaf woman trying to escape a deadly and psychopathic killer in a gripping thriller filled with suspense and danger.
In the movie, Kyeong-mi plays the role of a deaf woman who is a sign language counselor at the sign language call center. The story takes a dark turn when she becomes the target of a serial killer, Do-shik, played by Wi Ha-joon, after witnessing him kill someone.
Although the plot and concept aren’t new and have predictable twists, the strong direction and powerful performances make it worth watching. The fast-paced scenes keep the tension high throughout. If you enjoy watching crime thrillers, then you must not miss this.
Christmas Carol (2022)
Based on Joo Won-Kyu’s novel, Christmas Carol is a revenge thriller directed by Kim Sung-Su. The film stars Park Jin-young, Kim Young-min, Kim Dong-hwi and Heo Dong-won in the lead roles. Park Jin-young plays the role of identical twin brothers, one of whom is found dead on Christmas morning. While the death is ruled as an accident, the surviving brother refuses to believe so and decides to take revenge.
Christmas Carol is a powerful revenge story that received positive reviews. The film is dark and emotional and explores serious topics like child abuse within the system. Park Jin-young was praised for his powerful performance and even bagged Best New Actor awards at the Baeksang Arts Awards and Korean Association of Film Critics Awards in 2023.
