Korean Action Movies (M18+)
Gritty, Korean action cinema that's actually worth watching. There are a lot of "action" movies but PG13 just doesn't carry the weight and seriousness of a story.
Excluding movies like Carter which is just an action porno with no real story. Leaning towards action but with at least some semblance of a story.
Korean action is not quite yet on the level of the older Chinese movies with Wu Jing or Donnie Yen at the helm. But they are all you've got in 2020s and beyond, with Chinese directors going in a direction away from R21 level violence.
It's almost there. Give it a year or 2, and you'll never miss action cinema from any other country. The Koreans have it on lock.
Excluding movies like Carter which is just an action porno with no real story. Leaning towards action but with at least some semblance of a story.
Korean action is not quite yet on the level of the older Chinese movies with Wu Jing or Donnie Yen at the helm. But they are all you've got in 2020s and beyond, with Chinese directors going in a direction away from R21 level violence.
It's almost there. Give it a year or 2, and you'll never miss action cinema from any other country. The Koreans have it on lock.
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- DirectorKim Jee-woonStarsLee Byung-hunChoi Min-sikJeon Gook-hwanA secret agent exacts revenge on a serial killer through a series of captures and releases.This movie is the flagbearer for Korean violence and storytelling. There is no better violent movie on this list. Only Asura comes close as a favorite of mine.
- DirectorKim Sung-suStarsJung Woo-sungHwang Jung-minJu Ji-hoonA shady cop finds himself in over his head when he gets caught between Internal Affairs and the city's corrupt mayor.One of my favorites on this list. This movie is balls to the wall crazy.
- DirectorSang-yoon LimIm Sang YoonStarsSo Ji-seobLee Mi-yeonKwak Do-wonWhen a change of heart moves a well-trained hitman to tender his resignation to his employers, no good comes of it for anyone.Great action sequences. Story slows down towards the end.
- DirectorLee Jeong-beomStarsJang Dong-gunKim Min-heeBrian TeeA hit man traumatized from accidentally killing a young girl during a job is given the mission to eliminate her mother, and begins the ultimate fight to save her life.This show deserves all its clips on youtube. Main character is an all-around badass without seeming untouchable. And you feel that real sense of dread and danger as this secret agent tears through people.
- DirectorHa YooStarsZo In-sungChun Ho-jinMin Nam-koongA small time thug collecting debts for the local triad is torn between his criminal aspirations and his devotion to family.All around good.
- DirectorKim Hong SunStarsSeo In-GukJang Dong-yoonJung So-minFollows dangerous criminals on a cargo ship who are transported from the Philippines to South Korea, as they unleash a sinister force after an escape attempt leads to a riot.This movie is freaking insane. Story is alright, like a 6. Violence is a 10. You have to see this.
- DirectorKwang-Hyun ParkStarsJi Chang-wookShim Eun-kyungAhn Jae-hongAfter Kwon, an exceptional gamer, is wrongly framed for murder, he along with his allies decides to find the real culprit and prove his innocence.This isn't a perfect show by any means but i LOVE it. It really is nothing like anything else on this list. Plays out almost like a video game. Unrealistic but super well shot action scenes. All time favorite regardless of language.
- DirectorChung-Hyun LeeStarsJeon Jong-seoKim Ji-hoonPark Yu-rimGrieving the loss of a best friend she couldn't protect, an ex-bodyguard sets out to fulfill her dear friend's last wish: sweet revenge.This is a HYPED movie but damn is it good. With Marvels being the worst thing to happen to women heroines, this is a film you want to watch to give you hope in strong female leads in action cinema.
Very good. Not "just good" for a woman main character movie, but GOOD for an action movie, period. - DirectorLee An-kyuStarsKim Hye-suLee Sun-kyunLee Hee-joonA story of a woman who fights against the ruthless world of man's society, to protect her only son.Action sequences are gritty and believable. This is how you do a great female protagonist. I'd recommend this over any Western "female first" action movie.
- DirectorJung Byung-gilStarsKim Ok-binShin Ha-kyunSung JunA female assassin leaves a trail of bodies behind her as she seeks revenge.Story takes a back seat to the action but STILL great. Action sequences come close to the heavyweight Chinese/HK movies from Donnie Yen. Almost Raid 2 level. Masterpiece in action.
- DirectorHun JangStarsSo Ji-seobKo Chang-seokJang Hie-jinA gangster who wants to be an actor; an actor more gangster than anything. Here their paths and lives begin to cross.Great 2000s styled action movie. They don't do storytelling like this anymore.
- DirectorPark Hoon-jungStarsJang Dong-gunKim Myung-minLee Jong-sukThe son of a high-ranking North Korean official is suspected of committing serial murders around the world, and is chased by South Korea, North Korea and Interpol.This is messed up. More thriller but the scenes are quite extreme. Worth watching. More violent than action.
- DirectorLee Hae-youngStarsRyu Jun-yeolPark Hae-joonCho Jin-woongA police detective determined to catch the unseen boss of Asia's biggest drug cartel joins hands with a revenge-thirsty member of the gang.This movie is great. Tarnished by a complete disaster of a sequel however. :(
- DirectorWon-Chan HongStarsHwang Jung-minLee Jung-jaePark Jeong-minAn assassin goes to Thailand in order to solve a kidnapping case linked to him, and finds himself chased by a man whose sibling he killed.Two phenomenal actors. Yet the story and action scenes fail to shine despite these heavyweights on board.
- DirectorHae-sung SongStarsJu Jin-moSong Seung-heonKim Kang-wooArms trafficker Hyuk and Young-chun are practically brothers and nothing can separate them. When the two managed to escape from North Korea, they left behind Hyuk's younger brother Chul. Hyuk can never shake off the guilt as his family was punished for his treason and his mother died in prison. Three years later, Chul finally makes his way to South Korea and join the police force. Hyuk tries to earn the trust and love of his younger brother, but abandonment and betrayal are hard things to forget. Things come to a head when Young-chun pulls Hyuk into doing one last gig for the gang. It happens to be the case that Officer Chul is in charge of. The three brothers meet again one final time.
- DirectorLee Byeong-heonStarsRyu Seung-ryongLee HaneeJin Seon-kyuA police undercover operation takes a delicious, unexpected turn.Buddy cop show. Fun! Light hearted, great for kids
- DirectorPark Hoon-jungStarsKim Da-miJo Min-sooChoi Woo-sikA high school student with amnesia tries to uncover what has happened to her. All leading her into deeper troubles ultimately revealing a darkness she could not have imagined.Just like Believer 2, The Witch Part 1 is the only thing worth watching. More super-heroed style of violence.
- DirectorJoon-Hwan JangStarsKim Yoon-seokYeo Jin-gooCho Jin-woongA boy with five fathers who is attached to the criminal underworld. A sinister past is about to be revealed as he is forced to join the killing spree.Story is weird. Action is great.
- DirectorWon-sub ChoiStarsKwon Ban-sukPark Doo-shikLee Ji-wonWhile heavily drunk, an unsuccessful comic book writer draws a comic about his life as a former NIS hitman, and runs into trouble when it gets posted online.Similar to Extreme Job. Buddy cop type show, but with a secret agent slant. Fun and good for family. I liked it a lot despite it not having my usual taste for violence.
- DirectorJai-hong JuhnStarsYoon KyesangKim Gyu-riKim Jong-sooA young man crosses over North and South Korea to deliver the pain and longings of separated families.
- DirectorLee Won-taeStarsMa Dong-seokJeon Bae-sooKim Mu-yeolA crime boss teams up with a cop to track down a serial killer.Classic Ma Dong Seok. Good show.
- DirectorKyu-maan LeeStarsCho Jin-woongChoi Woo-sikPark Hee-soonParasite's Woo-sik Choi stars as one of the two cops with different methods teaming up to investigate a case that turns the police force upside down.
- DirectorHong-soo ParkStarsChoi Seung-hyunHan YeriYun Je-munThe son of a North Korean spy decides to follow in his father's footsteps to protect his little sister.Good. Not great.
- DirectorSeong-Tae LeeStarsLucy BaikJung Da-EunMa Dong-seok4 runaways trying to survive and make ends meet struggle day by day. Enter Ma Dong-Seok. He tried to help but they took advantage of the wrong guy. So it's the classic mistake of wrong guy at the wrong time.
- DirectorKim Sung-hoonStarsHyun BinYoo Hae-jinKim Ju-hyukWhen a crime organization from North Korea crosses borders and enters South Korean soil, a South Korean detective must cooperate with a North Korean detective to investigate their whereabouts.Passable.