Netflix to release 4 Korean movies in bid for 2026 success
Director Lee Chang-dong’s upcoming film "Possible Love" has been confirmed for release on Netflix. Courtesy of Netflix.
Jeon Do-yeon and Cho Yeo-jeong lead star-driven Netflix push for Korean film comeback
Netflix is set to release four Korean films in 2026, rolling out one title per quarter in a streamlined slate that signals a shift in strategy.
The platform ended last year on a disappointing note, after a run of releases that generated early attention but struggled to sustain critical momentum.
Now, Netflix is recalibrating its Korean film output — seeking a more deliberate balance between mainstream appeal and auteur-driven credibility, with the aim of translating local hits more effectively for a global streaming audience.
The four titles slated for sequential release in Netflix’s 2026 content road map are "Pavane," "Husbands in Action," "Cross 2" and "Possible Love."
While modest in number, the lineup appears carefully curated to deliver mainstream entertainment tailored to Netflix’s global platform.
The first release arrives Feb. 20 with "Pavane," a youth romance about three emotionally withdrawn individuals drifting through their own silences, until chance encounters pull them into a delicate orbit of connection and mutual healing.
The film is directed by Lee Jong-pil, who previously helmed "Samjin Company English Class" (2020) and "Escape" (2024), which skillfully depicted youth navigating a harsh society across a range of genres.
The cast — led by recognized industry names Go Ah-sung, Byun Yo-han and Moon Sang-min — is expected to deliver the bittersweet emotional textures of young adulthood.
The comedy action film "Husbands in Action" is set for release in the second quarter. The story follows two men — a woman’s ex-husband and her current husband — who become unexpectedly entangled in a rescue mission after she is kidnapped by a criminal gang.
Park Gyu-tae, who proved his comic timing and directorial command with "6/45," helms the film, while a broad ensemble cast including Jin Seon-kyu, Gong Myung, Kim Ji-seok, Yoon Kyung-ho, Kang Han-na, Lee Da-hee and Jeon So-min rounds out the project.
Four Korean films are set to be released on Netflix this year. Courtesy of Netflix
In the third quarter, Netflix will unveil "Cross 2," the sequel to the action-comedy "Cross."
The story unfolds after Korea’s cultural assets are stolen by an unidentified organization, prompting Kang-moo and Mi-seon, a married couple, to embark on a high-stakes mission to prevent the assets from being smuggled out of the country.
A lineup of prominent actors — including Hwang Jung-min, Yum Jung-ah, Jung Man-sik, Yoon Kyung-ho, Cha In-pyo and Kim Gook-hee — comes together to drive the film’s comedic energy.
Perhaps the most high-profile title is "Possible Love," scheduled for release in the final quarter. The film is directed by none other than Lee Chang-dong, marking his return eight years after "Burning."
The cast is heavily stacked with prominent names, including Sul Kyung-gu, Jeon Do-yeon, Zo In-sung and Cho Yeo-jeong.
The story centers on two couples living at opposite ends of the social and emotional spectrum, and follows how their worlds begin to fracture as they encounter one another.
Differences in values and perspectives — along with meticulously observed emotional clashes — are explored in depth.
For Netflix, this slate is an attempt to reverse the lukewarm assessments of recent original Korean films. Often, upon release, they initially climb viewership rankings on the strength of the platform, only to fail to sustain that momentum.
Subpar narrative coherence and execution were among the criticisms most commonly and repeatedly pointed out in recent releases, despite the diversity of genres and premises.
Changes in 2026 indicate Netflix’s determination to shift course. Genres have been diversified, and big, credentialed names have been deployed in both casting and directing.
Whether Netflix can finally escape its long slump in movie production will be a key point to watch throughout the year.
This article from the Hankook Ilbo, the sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by a generative AI system and edited by The Korea Times.