If Parasite or Train to Busan pulled you toward Korean film, 2025 gave you plenty of reasons to keep going. It was a year of crowd-pleasing hits, a horror revival, and veteran directors swinging big. Here are the standout Korean movies of 2025 — what they are, why they mattered, and where a newcomer should actually start.
What happened in Korean film in 2025
A few titles genuinely broke through this year:
- My Daughter is a Zombie — an emotional comedy-horror that became one of the summer’s biggest hits and, reportedly, the first Korean film since 2022 to cross 5 million admissions domestically, later picking up Blue Dragon Film Award nominations.
- Dark Nuns — a religious horror led by Song Hye-kyo and Jeon Yeo-bin, reported as the highest-grossing Korean horror film in three years.
- Yadang: The Snitch — a crime drama that drew around 3.4 million admissions, one of the year’s strong performers.
- The Ugly — a mystery from Yeon Sang-ho (director of Train to Busan), starring Park Jeong-min.
- Good News — a political comedy based on a real 1970 incident, widely praised on the festival circuit.
Veteran auteurs Bong Joon-ho and Park Chan-wook also returned with new films in 2025, keeping Korean cinema firmly in the global conversation. (Figures and standings above are as reported by outlets tracking the Korean box office; see sources below.)
Jae’s take: why 2025 felt like a “range” year
Here’s how I read it. What struck me about 2025 wasn’t one giant blockbuster — it was the range. A zombie tear-jerker, a genuinely scary nun horror, a slick crime thriller, a political comedy pulled from history. That’s Korean film at its best: the same industry that makes prestige awards contenders also makes the big, emotional crowd-pleaser your whole family cries at. For a newcomer, that variety is the gift. You don’t have to “get into art films” to enjoy Korean cinema — there’s an on-ramp for whatever mood you’re in.
Where a beginner should start
If you’re new, don’t start with the most intense or the most acclaimed just because a list says so. Match the film to your taste:
- Want feelings? The crowd-pleasing emotional hits (like the year’s zombie comedy) are the gentlest entry.
- Want a scare? The horror revival gives you polished, mainstream frights.
- Want prestige? The festival darlings and auteur films are there when you’re ready — but they’re not a required starting point.
And remember: Korean films often run darker or more bittersweet than Hollywood equivalents. That’s a feature, not a warning.
🙋 Speaking from experience
I learned this the hard way with dramas, and it applies doubly to film: when I first tried to “get serious” about Korean cinema, I jumped straight to the heavy, celebrated stuff because I thought that’s what you were supposed to watch — and I bounced right off, feeling like I wasn’t smart enough for it. What actually hooked me was starting with the fun, emotional, popcorn side and working up. So if 2025’s line-up feels intimidating, ignore the “best film of the year” pressure. Start with the one that sounds fun, let yourself cry at the zombie movie, and follow your own taste from there. Nobody’s grading you.
FAQ
What were the best Korean movies of 2025? Standouts included My Daughter is a Zombie (a big summer hit), Dark Nuns (a horror success), Yadang: The Snitch (crime), The Ugly (from the Train to Busan director), and the acclaimed political comedy Good News.
Which 2025 Korean movie should a beginner watch first? Start with a crowd-pleaser that matches your mood — the emotional hits are the gentlest on-ramp. Save the heaviest, most acclaimed films for when you’re ready; they’re not required starting points.
Did Bong Joon-ho and Park Chan-wook release films in 2025? Yes — both veteran directors returned with new films in 2025, keeping Korean cinema prominent globally.
Are Korean movies darker than Hollywood films? Often, yes. Korean cinema tends to embrace bittersweet or darker endings and moral complexity, which is part of its distinct appeal.
New to Korean screens overall? Try how to start watching K-dramas, get oriented with K-drama genres explained, and meet Korean actors worth knowing. More in the K-Drama section. Sources: the list of South Korean films of 2025 (Wikipedia) and box-office coverage.
About the author — Jae is a Seoul-based writer at K-Culture Log, helping newcomers enjoy Korean culture without gatekeeping — explaining not just what Koreans do, but why.