Netflix to release 4 Korean movies in bid for 2026 successNetflix 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 The first release arrives Feb. 20 with "Pavane," a youth romance about three emotionally withdrawn individuals drifting through their own silences, until chance encounters pull them into a delicate orbit of connection and mutual healing.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 prevJan 27, 2026By Hankookilbo
Sam Raimi explores workplace power dynamics in survival thriller 'Send Help'Director Sam Raimi returns to his genre-bending roots with "Send Help," a survival thriller that sees workplace hierarchies flipped on their head when a plane crash strands an overworked employee and her demanding boss on a remote island. "I hope that the film has an effect on the audience, not knowing who to identify, who's safe to follow," the director said during an online press conference, Monday. "Is it this woman who seems like our protagonist or is it this man who at first seems like our antagonist, but later we are attracted to? I love the switching back and forth of the audience identification." Starring Rachel McAdams as Linda and Dylan O’Brien as her boss Bradley, the film explores shifting power dynamics, psychological tension and moral ambiguity in a hostile environment. Raimi, known for films ranging from the cult classic "The Evil Dead" to the blockbuster "Spider-Man" trilogy and "Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness," returns to his horror roots for this project. He explained that the genre provides a unique sense of catharsis for viewers. "I think people like facJan 26, 2026By Baek Byung-yeul
'Welcome to Wonder World' screening invites children to learn English naturally"Welcome to Wonder World" promises to be more than a kids' movie. Premiering at CGV Yeongdeungpo Thursday morning, the project combines singing, dancing and call-and-response, giving young audiences the chance to learn English, burn some energy and help the characters in the film solve problems. A fantasy film, "Welcome to Wonder World" is deliberately structured to help children remember songs, dances and phrases by teaching without being didactic. It promises to be an interactive, meaningful and fun day out for both parents and kids. The brainchild of a team with members from five different countries, "Welcome to Wonder World" already has the seal of approval from Park Hyun-young, a linguistic education expert known as "Supermom." Park lauded the movie for helping lower kids' hesitancy when a new language, saying that after engaging with the piece, "English becomes something they do, not something they're told to learn." This will be especially true of the two screenings this Thursday and Friday, where audiences can meet the actors in person as the movie's characters. They can take phoJan 26, 2026By Rory Kelly
'Once We Were Us' tops weekend box office for 3rd weekThe romance drama "Once We Were Us" remained atop the weekend box-office chart, data from the Korean Film Council showed Monday. The film, released Dec. 31, attracted 254,298 moviegoers from Friday to Sunday, surpassing the 2 million mark in cumulative audience and bringing box-office revenue to 19.5 billion won ($13.3 million). Starring Koo Kyo-hwan and Moon Ga-young, "Once We Were Us" is a Korean remake of the 2018 Chinese hit film "Us and Them," which stars Jing Boran and Zhou Dongyu. The film, directed by Kim Do-young, who garnered acclaim for her feature debut, "Kim Ji-young, Born 1982," follows a young couple, Eun-ho (Koo) and Jung-won (Moon), as they reflect on their relationship and missed chances in their 20s. It became the first Korean romance title to draw more than 2 million admissions since the 2019 hit "Crazy Romance." The runner-up was "Choir of God," a film about North Korea, facing international sanctions, seeking $200 million in aid by creating its first fake praise troupe. Also released Dec. 31, the film drew 155,282 viewers over the weekend, pushing its cumulative audieJan 26, 2026By Yonhap
Review‘King’s Warden’ humanizes exiled Joseon kingDirector Jang Hang-jun is returning to the big screen with "The King’s Warden," a historical film that reimagines one of the most somber chapters of the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910). While most Koreans are well aware of the tragic fate of King Danjong (1441-57), who was forced into exile after a three-year reign and eventually assassinated, this film focuses on the undocumented blank spaces of his life in the mountains. The movie is set in 1457 in a remote village where the deposed king (Park Ji-hoon) is sent to live in isolation. There, he meets Eom Heung-do (Yoo Hae-jin), a village leader who initially welcomes the royal exile to help boost his town’s reputation. "The King’s Warden" focuses on the growing friendship between the fallen king and the villagers who protect him. The director explained that he consulted historians to ensure accuracy while using his imagination to fill the gaps in the records, focusing on how the young king may have opened his heart to the people and how they, in turn, might have protected him. "I asked professors how much of the record remains and which tJan 22, 2026By Baek Byung-yeul
Korean film industry pins hopes on star-studded titles in 2026The Korean film industry is looking to 2026 for a potential resurgence as it attempts to break free from a prolonged slump in ticket sales. While the total number of commercial films being released remains at around 20 titles — down significantly from the pre-pandemic average of roughly 40 per year — the industry is betting big on high-profile projects led by top-tier stars and famous directors to bring audiences back to the theaters. Actor Zo In-sung is set to dominate screens this year, appearing in three of the most anticipated films including “Humint,” “Hope” and award-winning director Lee Chang-dong’s Netflix title “Possible Love.” Zo is joined by veteran actors like Choi Min-sik, Sul Kyung-gu, Jeon Do-yeon and Yoo Hae-jin. Bringing ‘Hope’ to Korean cinema? The summer season will be headlined by “Hope,” which marks the long-awaited return of director Na Hong-jin, known for hits such as “The Chaser” (2008), “The Yellow Sea” (2010) and “The Wailing” (2016). “Hope” is a science fiction thriller set in a remote village near Korea’s DemilitarizedJan 20, 2026By Baek Byung-yeul
Japanese anime returns to rescue struggling Korean cinemaThe Korean film industry has turned to the proven savior of Japanese animation since the start of the year to offset the prolonged slump of domestic productions. The box office in 2025 remained largely stagnant. Among domestic movies, the webtoon-based film “My Daughter Is a Zombie” managed to surpass the 5-million-viewer mark, and only three Korean titles managed to squeeze into the top 10 annual box office rankings. To combat declining ticket sales and a lack of blockbuster movies, movie distributors have launched aggressive re-release strategies. By bringing back beloved Japanese classics and modern hits that have strong fandoms, movie theaters aim to ensure a steady influx of niche but loyal audiences. “Recently, the theater-going experience has shifted toward fandom consumption,” an official in the film marketing industry here said on condition of anonymity. "With animated features like ‘Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba — The Movie: The Infinity Castle’ and ‘Zootopia 2’ dominating the box office in 2025, theatres are prioritizing content that can guarantee physical aJan 19, 2026By Baek Byung-yeul
Chung Ji-young's 'My Name' invited to Berlin film fest"My Name," the latest film from director Chung Ji-young, has been invited to screen at the Berlin International Film Festival, the film's production studios said Friday, Starring Yeom Hye-ran of the hit Netflix series "When Life Gives You Tangerines," the mystery drama is set to receive its world premiere in the Forum section, a strand focusing on socially engaged and adventurous cinema, Let's Films and Aura Pictures said. Jang Jae-hyun's supernatural thriller "Exhuma" was also invited to the same category in 2024. The festival described "My Name" as a work that delicately illuminates the trauma left by a tragic history across generations and underscores the importance of breaking a long silence, according to the studios. Set against the backdrop of the 1948 people's uprising on Jeju Island, the film follows an 18-year-old boy who wants to cast off a name that does not suit him and his mother, who must protect that name at all costs, as they trace a 50-year-old promise hidden behind it. Yeom plays the mother, who has raised her son alone and confronts the truth buried in her lost memorieJan 16, 2026By Yonhap
Hong Sang-soo's new work invited to Berlin film fest's Panorama section"The Day She Returns," Hong Sang-soo's latest project, has been invited to screen at the Berlin International Film Festival, the film's distributor said Thursday. The film, Hong's 34th feature, is set to screen in the Panorama section, a category that showcases independent and art house films addressing contemporary social issues and new cinematic trends, according to Finecut. The movie follows an actress (Song Sun-mi), who, after a break from acting following marriage, returns to work and enrolls in acting classes. The festival praised the film for delicately observing human emotions and compassion with a touch of humor. "Master director Hong Sang-soo offers a subtle reflection on the acting profession itself," the festival said on its website. The invitation marks the Korean auteur's seventh consecutive year at the prestigious event, starting in 2020 with "The Woman Who Ran." The 65-year-old director has so far won five awards at the festival, starting with "On the Beach at Night Alone" in 2017, which earned its lead actress, Kim Min-hee, the Silver Bear for Best Actress. In 2024, Hong rJan 15, 2026By Yonhap
Trailer for late Kim Sae-ron’s final film ‘Everyday We Are’ sparks bittersweet emotionsThe final on-screen performance by the late Kim Sae-ron has been revealed in a new trailer, sparking an emotional response from fans and moviegoers across Korea. A teaser for the youth romance film “Everyday We Are” was released this week, marking Kim’s final completed project before her death on Feb. 16, 2025. Starring Kim opposite rising actor Lee Chae-min, the film centers on the awkward, fragile emotions of first love at age 17 — a theme that now carries a bittersweet weight for viewers. The story begins with Ho-soo (Lee Chae-min) suddenly confessing his feelings to his longtime childhood friend Yeo-ul (Kim Sae-ron) just before their middle-school graduation. Shocked, Yeo-ul drops the hot dog she is eating and starts avoiding him, creating an uneasy tension as the two enter high school. Although Yeo-ul keeps telling herself that she only sees Ho-soo as a friend, she begins to feel her heart race whenever she looks at him. Their fragile balance is disrupted when it becomes known that Yeo-ul has feelings for Ho-jae (Ryu Eui-hyun), a senior on the basketball team, turning theirJan 15, 2026By Xportsnews
