A collection of the top 40 must see Korean romance titles in my opinion. Will be updated as I watch more movies. I listed them in order starting from the best. For a comprehensive Korean romance movie list, check out my compilation list:Korean Romance Movies.
Movie mood definitions:* Happy = light-hearted and most likely contains comedy* Sad = depressing and will most likely make you cry* Bittersweet = happy, but sad at the same time* Thought-provoking = emotionally neutral, but evokes thoughts about life and love
Updates:
July 23, 2018* Replaced Please Teach Me English with Be With You
May 2, 2017* Changed title: year from 2016 to 2017
May 30, 2016* Replaced My Girlfriend Is An Agent with The Beauty Inside
January 5, 2016* Changed title: year from 2015 to 2016
April 23, 2015* Replaced Daddy-Long-Legs with Man In Love
January 3, 2015* Changed title: year from 2014 to 2015
January 4, 2014* Added Romance types (genre of romance)* Changed title: year from 2013 to 2014; number of movies from 30 to 40
February 20, 2013* Added 'A love story between...' to movie descriptions
January 25, 2013* Changed title year to 2013
October 26, 2012* Replaced He Was Cool with Oasis* Replaced Please Teach Me English with Always
October 22, 2012* Replaced Art of Seduction with ...ing* Replaced Humming with Sad Movie
October 11, 2012*Added movie moods
October 8, 2012* Replaced 100 Days With Mr. Arrogant with Innocent Steps
October 5, 2012* Added Humming, Please Teach Me English, Art of Seduction, 100 Days with Mr. Arrogant* Added Architecture 101* Changed title: year from 2011 to 2012; number of movies from 25 to 30
October 1, 2012* Replaced Humming with Mr. Robin Kkosigi
Other Lists:
If you like:
Japanese Romance Movies check out Top 20 Japanese Romance Movies as of 2016
Asian action movies check out Top 30 Asian Action Movies from 2000-Present
Asian thriller/mystery films check out Top 30 East Asian Thriller/Mystery Films as of 2016
Asian horror movies check out Top 30 Asian Horror Films from 1995-Present
Aug 15, 2018 What's your favorite Korean movie from 2018? Let us know in the comment section below! ⬇️ Welcome to KREAM ORIGINAL Best of Best! Today's Topic is: 2018 FIRST HALF 10 MOST WATCH KOREAN MOVIE.
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1.A Moment to Remember(2004)
PG-13|117 min|Drama, Romance
A Korean love story about a young couple's enduring love, which is tested when 27 year old Sun-jin is diagnosed with a rare form of Alzheimer's disease.
Director:John H. Lee| Stars:Woo-sung Jung, Ye-jin Son, Jong-hak Baek, Seon-jin Lee
Votes:19,555
The best Korean romance movie ever! If you only watch one movie from this list, A Moment to Remember should be the one!
A love story between a construction worker and the head of construction site's daughter.
Movie mood: Bittersweet
Romance type: drama
2.My Girl and I(2005)
Not Rated|95 min|Drama, Romance
Beautiful student Su-Eun prevents her fellow student Su-Ho to drown in the ocean. Su-Ho however, does not know who saved him, until Su-Eun tells him after a while. The love between them ... See full summary »
Director:Yun-su Jeon| Stars:Tae-Hyun Cha, Hae-sook Kim, Yoon-Seok Kim, Jung-hee Moon
Votes:2,365
You can never let go of your one and only love.
A love story between an ordinary high school student and the prettiest girl at his school.
Movie mood: Sad
Romance type: drama
3.Marriage Is a Crazy Thing(2002)
103 min|Drama, Romance
Jun-young (Kam Woo-seong) is a man in his early thirties who has seen his friends and younger brother get married but has yet to open himself to a serious relationship. Rather he is happy ... See full summary »
Director:Ha Yoo| Stars:Woo-seong Kam, Jeong-hwa Eom, Won-Sang Park, So-Jeong Kang
Votes:907
A couple's battle on differing perspectives on life/sex, and real love. 18+.
A love story between an English literature professor and a woman he meets on a blind date.
Movie mood: Thought-provoking
Romance type: drama
4.Always(2011)
108 min|Action, Drama, Romance
A love story centered on ex-boxer Chul-min and a blind telemarketer Jung-hwa.
Director:Il-gon Song| Stars:Ji-seob So, Hyo-Joo Han, Shin-il Kang, Cheol-min Park
Votes:6,595
A love story between an ex-boxer and a blind telemarketer.
Movie mood: Happy
Romance type: drama, action
5.My Sassy Girl(2001)
Not Rated|123 min|Comedy, Drama, Romance
A young man sees a drunk, cute woman standing too close to the tracks at a metro station in Seoul and pulls her back. She ends up getting him into trouble repeatedly after that, starting on the train.
Director:Jae-young Kwak| Stars:Tae-Hyun Cha, Ji-hyun Jun, In-mun Kim, Wok-suk Song
Votes:42,368
A love story between an engineering student and a girl he meets on a train.
Movie mood: Happy
Romance type: comedy
6.Once in a Summer(2006)
121 min|Drama, Romance
Once in a Summer (Hangul) is a 2006 South Korean melodrama/romance film directed by Jo Keun-shik. The film stars Lee Byung-hun and Soo Ae. It won Best Film and Best Director (for Jo) at the 15th Chunsa Film Art Awards in 2007.
Director:Geun-shik Jo| Stars:Byung-Hun Lee, Soo Ae, Duk-moon Choi, Seok-yong Jeong
Votes:746
A love story between a city boy and pretty country girl.
Movie mood: Sad
Romance type: drama, war
7.Love Phobia(2006)
117 min|Romance
One sunny day, a young boy named Jo-kang meets a curious young girl dressed in a bright yellow raincoat. She tells everyone in school that she is an alien and whomever she touches will be ... See full summary »
Director:Ji-eun Kang| Stars:Seung-woo Cho, Hye-jeong Kang, Ju-yeon Byeon, Jin-young Jung
Votes:778
Pretty good movie about a boy in love with a girl who tells him many outrageous things to cover up for her true situation.
A love story between two childhood friends.
Movie mood: Sad
Romance type: comedy
8.Architecture 101(2012)
G|118 min|Drama, Romance
35-year-old architect Seung-Min receives a visit at his office from a woman. Seung-Min doesn't recognize the woman at first, but then realizes the woman is Seo-Yeon. Seo-Yeon is his first ... See full summary »
Director:Yong-Joo Lee| Stars:Tae-woong Eom, Ga-in Han, Je-hoon Lee, Suzy Bae
Votes:2,755
A love story between first loves.
Movie mood: Thought-provoking
Romance type: drama
9.My Little Bride(2004)
Not Rated|115 min|Comedy, Drama, Romance
A teenage girl tries to continue her normal social and school life, after her grandfather forces her into an arranged marriage with a man in his twenties.
Director:Ho-joon Kim| Stars:Rae-won Kim, Geun-young Moon, Sun-yeong Ahn, Bo-kyeong Kim
Votes:4,852
A movie about an arranged marriage between the grandchildren of two friends. The catch? The boy is a new teacher and the girl is a high school student at the same high school.
A love story between a student and her teacher.
Movie mood: Happy
Romance type: comedy
10.Hello, Schoolgirl(2008)
113 min|Comedy, Romance
Thirty-year-old Yun-woo bumps into a high school student in the elevator while on his way to work. His heart starts pounding at this teenager's boldness. At a subway station, KANG Sook ... See full summary »
Director:Jang-ha Ryu| Stars:Ji-tae Yu, Yeon-hee Lee, Jeong-an Chae, Kang In
Votes:1,021
A love story between a 30 year old man and a high school student, and a 22 year old man and a 29 year old woman.
Movie mood: Happy
Romance type: comedy, drama
11.The Classic(2003)
127 min|Drama, Romance
A college student finds a diary detailing a long-ago love triangle involving her mother, her future father, and his best friend.
Director:Jae-young Kwak| Stars:Ye-jin Son, In-sung Jo, Seung-woo Cho, Ki-woo Lee
Votes:7,182
A love story between a city girl and a country boy (past), and the city girl's daughter and a guy in the drama club (present).
Movie mood: Bittersweet
Romance type: drama
12.Sad Movie(2005)
Not Rated|108 min|Comedy, Drama, Romance
Several couples struggle with their relationships
Director:Jong-kwan Kwon| Stars:Woo-sung Jung, Soo-jung Lim, Tae-Hyun Cha, Jung-ah Yum
Votes:2,953
A love story between a firefighter and his girlfriend; a girl and her unemployed boyfriend; a mother and her son (motherly love); and a deaf girl working at a theme park and a guy she meets there.
Movie mood: Sad, obviously
Romance type: drama
13.Das Haus am Meer - Il Mare(2000)
6|105 min|Drama, Fantasy, Romance
Eun-joo moves out of her house 'Il Mare', leaving behind a Christmas card for the eventual new owner of the house in 1999. In it she asks him/her to forward any mail of hers to her new ... See full summary »
Director:Hyun-seung Lee| Stars:Jung-jae Lee, Ji-hyun Jun, Mu-saeng Kim, Seung-yeon Jo
Votes:7,459
A love story between two people that live in the same house during different time periods communicating via mailbox.
Movie mood: Happy
Romance type: drama, fantasy
14.Failan(2001)
Not Rated|115 min|Drama, Romance
Kangjae, a small time gangster receive a news that his wife Failan is dead. Failan, his wife who he never met.
Director:Hae-sung Song| Stars:Min-sik Choi, Cecilia Cheung, Dae-Hoon Jeong, Hyeong-jin Kong
Votes:5,124
A movie about falling in love with a person you've never met.
A love story between an obsolete gangster and an illegal Chinese immigrant he has never met.
Movie mood: Sad
Romance type: drama
15.More Than Blue(2009)
Not Rated|105 min|Drama, Romance
'K' loves Cream but has terminal cancer so he keeps his love for her secret and tries to find a mate for her before he dies so she will not be alone after he dies.
Director:Tae-Yeon Won| Stars:Sang-Woo Kwon, Bo-young Lee, Beom-su Lee, Jong-hak Choi
Votes:2,084
A love story between two orphans.
Movie mood: Bittersweet
Romance type: drama
16.Windstruck(2004)
16|123 min|Comedy, Crime, Drama
The heart-warming romance story between Kyungjin and Myungwoo. Even though he has passed away, he will be always with Kyungwoo forever.
Director:Jae-young Kwak| Stars:Ji-hyun Jun, Hyuk Jang, Su-ro Kim, Ki-woo Lee
Votes:6,408
A love story between a Physics teacher and a young female police officer.
Movie mood: Sad
Romance type: comedy, action
17.Lover's Concerto(2002)
Not Rated|106 min|Drama, Romance
Two girls confused between love and friendship leave their mutal friend Ji-Hwan unexpectedly. Years later, Ji-Hwan departs on a long journey to find his old friends as he confronts a ... See full summary »
Director:Han Lee| Stars:Tae-Hyun Cha, Ye-jin Son, Eun-ju Lee, Yong-woo Park
Votes:1,637
A love story between a boy and two girls.
Movie mood: Sad
Romance type: drama
18.A Millionaire's First Love(2006)
116 min|Comedy, Drama, Romance
Jae-Kyung (Hyun-Bin ) is a tough guy, who is a high school senior,If he turns 19 years means, he could be a millionaire by inheriting his deceased grandfather's wealth. Unfortunately his ... See full summary »
Director:Tae-gyun Kim| Stars:Hyun Bin, Yong-joon Cho, Do-hyeon Lee, Han-sol Lee
Votes:4,501
A love story between a rich boy and a country girl.
Movie mood: Sad
Romance type: drama
19....ing(2003)
104 min|Romance
Mi-na is a high school student living alone with her mother, dreams of having the perfect boyfriend. But can any man hope to live up to her image of the ideal partner?
Director:Eon-hie Lee| Stars:Soo-jung Lim, Rae-won Kim, Mi-sook Lee, In-mun Kim
Votes:2,005
A love story between a buoyant photographer and a girl with a chronic illness and a deformed hand.
Movie mood: Sad
Romance type: drama
20.Ditto(2000)
110 min|Drama, Romance, Sci-Fi
Two students, separated in time, are somehow able to talk to each other using amateur radio, one in 1979 and the other in 2000.
Director:Jeong-kwon Kim| Stars:Ji-tae Yu, Ha-neul Kim, Ji-won Ha, Sang-won Kim
Votes:1,727
Similar to Il Mare as they are both about love between two people from different time periods; however, Ditto has a twist.
A love story between a guy living in the year 2000 and a woman living in 1979 communicating through radio.
Movie mood: Bittersweet
Romance type: drama, fantasy
21.Innocent Steps(2005)
Not Rated|110 min|Comedy, Drama, Music
Former acclaimed dancer Na Young-sae (Park Keon-Hyeong) attempts to make a comeback after his opponent, Hyun-soo (Yoon Chan), purposely injures him at a dance competition. At the suggestion... See full summary »
Director:Young-hoon Park| Stars:Geun-young Moon, Keon-hyeong Park, Yu-mi Jeong, Gi-su Kim
Votes:1,368
A love story between a former renowned dancer and girl from China that knows nothing about dancing.
Movie mood: Bittersweet
Romance type: drama
22.Oasis(2002)
133 min|Drama, Romance
An irresponsible and childish ex-con befriends a girl with cerebral palsy and develops a progressively stronger bond with her.
Director:Chang-dong Lee| Stars:Kyung-gu Sol, So-Ri Moon, Nae-sang Ahn, Seung-wan Ryoo
Votes:6,871
A love story between moderately mentally disabled man just released from prison and a woman with severe cerebral palsy.
Movie mood: Thought-provoking
Romance type: drama
23.200 Pounds Beauty(2006)
Not Rated|120 min|Comedy, Drama, Music
A talented but obese girl, who ghost-sings for a not-so-talented pop star, undergoes extensive plastic surgery to become a slender beauty with a new identity.
Director:Yong-hwa Kim| Stars:Jin-mo Ju, Ah-jung Kim, Dong-il Sung, Hyun-sook Kim
Votes:6,472
There's more to love than looks...but looks certainly help.
A love story between an obese singer that undergoes plastic surgery and her company's director.
Movie mood: Happy
Romance type: comedy
24.Someone Special(2004)
107 min|Comedy, Romance
A struggling for love, Baseball players discovers he has terminal illness and meets a girl who has had a crush on him since times immemorial. The twists and turns of events bring them together.
Director:Jin Jang| Stars:Jae-yeong Jeong, Nayoung Lee, Jin Jang, Young-nam Jang
Votes:1,004
A love story between a baseball player and a girl who has loved him from afar.
Movie mood: Happy
Romance type: drama
25.Addicted(2002)
Not Rated|110 min|Drama, Horror, Mystery
2 Korean brothers live together with the older's wife. The 2 each have a car accident and end up in a coma. After a year the younger wakes up but behaves like and claims to be the older brother. Is he and will the wife accept it?
Director:Young-hoon Park| Stars:Byung-Hun Lee, Mi-yeon Lee, Eol Lee, Seon-yeong Park
Votes:1,186
More of a thriller than a romance, but it still has love as an underlying theme.
A love story between a man and his brother's wife.
Movie mood: Thought-provoking
Romance type: drama
26.Mr. Robin kkosigi(2006)
Not Rated|107 min|Romance
A Korean company analyst rear-ends an American man's car then discovers he's her new boss. Unlucky at love, she begins to take romance lessons from him in order to seduce him.
Director:Sang-woo Kim| Stars:Jeong-hwa Eom, Daniel Henney, Holly Karrol Clark, Joong-hyeon Bang
Votes:1,690
A love story between a woman and her new boss.
Movie mood: Happy
Romance type: comedy
27.3-Iron(2004)
R|88 min|Crime, Drama, Romance
A transient young man breaks into empty homes to partake of the vacationing residents' lives for a few days.
Director:Ki-duk Kim| Stars:Seung-Yun Lee, Hee Jae, Hyuk-ho Kwon, Jeong-ho Choi
Votes:45,048|Gross:$0.24M
The minimal dialogue in this movie may deter some.
A love story between a drifter and an abused housewife.
Movie mood: Thought-provoking
Romance type: drama
28.My Tutor Friend(2003)
110 min|Comedy, Romance
A man from a wealthy family who should be in his second year of college, is still finishing his highschool requirements. His family hire a tutor for him who is his own age but she comes from a poor background.
Director:Kyeong-hyeong Kim| Stars:Ha-neul Kim, Sang-Woo Kwon, Il-seob Baek, Yoo Gong
Votes:2,173
A love story between a rich, struggling male high school student and a poor female university student.
Movie mood: Happy
Romance type: comedy
29.Too Beautiful to Lie(2004)
115 min|Comedy, Romance
A professional lady con makes herself the pharmacist's fiancée overnight, and faces a disastrous blemish in her impeccable con-woman career.
Director:Hyeong-jun Bae| Stars:Ha-neul Kim, Dong-won Gang, Jae-ho Song, Kim Jee-Young
Votes:1,656
A love story between an ex-convict and a naive country boy.
Movie mood: Happy
Romance type: comedy
30.The Triangle - Als Ausweg bleibt nur der Tod(2006)
Not Rated|110 min|Drama, Romance
About a tragic love triangle story involving young painter Hye-young, Interpol detective Jeong Woo, and professional hitman Park Yi.
Director:Andrew Lau Wai-Keung| Stars:Ji-hyun Jun, Woo-sung Jung, Sung-Jae Lee, Sara Bernardo Aires
Votes:5,400
A love story between a painter and two guys: an Interpol detective and a hitman.
Movie mood: Sad
Romance type: drama
31.Christmas in August(1998)
Not Rated|97 min|Drama, Romance
Hahn Suk-Kyu suffers from a fatal disease. He meets Shim Eun-Ha and falls in love with her. What will be the fate of this love - will it be a tragic ending?
Director:Jin-ho Hur| Stars:Suk-kyu Han, Eun-ha Shim, Goo Shin, Ji-hye Oh
Votes:3,050
A love story between a male photographer and a female parking agent.
Movie mood: Bittersweet
Romance type: drama
32.A Werewolf Boy(2012)
Not Rated|122 min|Fantasy, Romance
Summoned by an unexpected phone call, an elderly woman visits the country cottage she lived in as a child. Memories of an orphan boy she knew 47 years ago come flooding back to her.
Director:Sung-hee Jo| Stars:Joong-Ki Song, Bo-Young Park, Yeong-ran Lee, Young-nam Jang
Votes:5,662|Gross:$0.34M
A love story between a country girl and a wild boy.
Movie mood: Thought-provoking
Romance type: drama, fantasy
33.Man in Love(2014)
Not Rated|120 min|Drama, Romance
Tae-Il lives a fast life as low level thug. He then learns that he has a terminal illness and not much time left to live. For the first time in his life falls in love. The woman's name is Ho-Jung.
Director:Dong-wook Han| Stars:Jung-min Hwang, Hye-jin Han, Il-woo Nam, Do-won Kwak
Votes:437
A love story between a gangster and the daughter of a man with a debt to pay.
Movie mood: Sad
Romance type: drama
34.Two Faces of My Girlfriend(2007)
117 min|Comedy, Drama, Romance
Naive and awkward Gu-chang is on his seventh year of college, constantly failing job interviews and living off of an allowance from his divorced sister. The almost 30-year-old virgin has ... See full summary »
Director:Seok-hoon Lee| Stars:Tae-gyu Bong, Sa Hee, Ryeowon Jung
Votes:486
A love story between a 30 year old virgin and a woman with a split personality.
Movie mood: Happy
Romance type: comedy
35.Humming(2008)
96 min|Romance
Jun-Seo (Lee Chun-Hee) and Mi-Yeon (Han Ji-Hye) have been dating for a long time. Jun-Seo grows tired of his girlfriend's unfailing love, and volunteers to do research work in Antartica. ... See full summary »
Director:Dae-yeong Park| Stars:Ji-hye Han, Soo-hyeon Kim, Cheon-hee Lee, Jeong-Hoon Lee
Votes:154
A love story between a bored boyfriend and an unwavering girlfriend
Movie mood: Sad
Romance type: drama
36.Postman to Heaven(2009)
107 min|Drama, Fantasy, Romance
Jaejoon, isn't your ordinary postman, he delivers letters to Heaven from those missing their loved ones.
Director:Hyung-min Lee| Stars:Jae-Joong Kim, Hyo-Joo Han
Votes:614
A love story between a grieving woman and a special man.
Movie mood: Happy
Romance type: drama
37.Miracle of Giving Fool(2008)
99 min|Comedy, Romance
A mentally challenged man trying to keep his mother's only wish alive at any cost while trying to reconcile with his first and only real crush.
Director:Jeong-kwon Kim| Stars:Tae-Hyun Cha, Ji-won Ha, Sulli Choi, Hyeong-gook Im
Votes:1,239
A love story between a pianist with stage fright and the village fool.
Movie mood: Sad
Romance type: drama, comedy
38.Maundy Thursday(2006)
120 min|Drama, Romance
A suicidal girl started to visit a convicted murderer awaiting execution every Thursday.
Director:Hae-sung Song| Stars:Nayoung Lee, Dong-won Gang, Yuh Jung Youn, Shin-il Kang
Votes:1,127
A love story between a university professor and a death row prisoner.
Movie mood: Sad
Romance type: drama
39.The Beauty Inside(2015)
Not Rated|127 min|Drama, Romance
A South Korean has a different person's body, changing every morning to a body 'borrowed' for a day - man, woman, old, child and sometimes a foreigner. 'He' works as furniture designer. He loves a girl. She loves him for the beauty inside.
Director:Jong-Yeol Baek| Stars:Hyo-Joo Han, Seo-Joon Park, Juri Ueno, Jin-wook Lee
Votes:4,045|Gross:$0.11M
A love story between a furniture shop employee and a man whose appearance changes after waking up.
Movie mood: Thought-provoking
Romance type: drama
40.Be with You(2018)
PG-13|132 min|Drama, Fantasy, Romance
Woo Jin takes care of his son Ji Ho alone after his wife Soo A passed away. Before she passed away, she promised she would be back on a rainy day one year later. One year later, Soo A appears again, but she does not remember anything.
Director:Jang-Hoon Lee| Stars:Ji-seob So, Ye-jin Son, Yoo-ram Bae, Hyeon-soo Kim
Votes:2,199
A love story between high school crushes.
Movie mood: Bittersweet
Romance type: drama
New Japanese movies in 2019 in Cinema & on VOD
Top movies up for release in 2019 in cinema and on VODWeathering With You
DIRECTOR: Makoto Shinkai
CAST: Kotaro Daigo, Nana Mori
Three years after the groundbreaking, international success of 'Your Name'. director/writer Makoto Shinkai returns with another fascinating, visually overwhelming modern fairytale. 'Weathering With You' tells the story of a boy who falls in love with a girl who can control the weather. Read more
Watch the trailer of Weathering With You
Netflix | Amazon | All Release dates
- South Korean movies 2019
Best Japanese movies on Netflix or DVD in 2019
2018, 2017 and the 2010's best rated Japanese movies out on DVD, Bluray or streaming on VOD (Netflix, Amazon Prime, Hulu & More).Shoplifters
DIRECTOR: Hirokazu Koreeda
CAST: Lily Franky, Sakura Andô, Mayu Matsuoka, Jyo Kairi
... Read more
Watch the trailer of Shoplifters
Stream Shoplifters via:
Netflix | Amazon | All Release datesThe Night I Swam
DIRECTOR: Kohei Igarashi, Damien Manivel
CAST: Chisato Kogawa, Keiki Kogawa, Takara Kogawa, Takashi Kogawa
A lovely, zen-like little film about a young boy in snowy Japan looking for his fisherman father. Read more
Watch the trailer of The Night I Swam
Stream The Night I Swam via: '
Netflix | Amazon | All Release datesVision
DIRECTOR: Naomi Kawase
CAST: Juliette Binoche, Masatoshi Nagase
A French journalist travels to Japan with a very special mission; she has to track a flower that only blossoms once every 997 year. Read more
Watch the trailer of Vision
Netflix | Amazon | All Release datesLaplace’s Witch
DIRECTOR: Takashi Miike
CAST: Shô Sakurai, Suzu Hirose, Sôta Fukushi, Rei Dan
A Mysterious young woman is connected to several murder crime scenes. Upon investigation things get very supernatural in this Japanese thriller. Read more
Watch the trailer of Laplace’s Witch
Netflix | Amazon | All Release datesHikari
DIRECTOR: Naomi Kawase
CAST: Masatoshi NagaseAyame Misaki
A young woman who works as a voice-over copywriter falls in love with a visually disabled photographer. Read more
Watch the trailer of Hikari
RELEASE DATE: May 27th, 2017
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Netflix | Amazon | All Release datesSurvival Family
DIRECTOR: Shinobu Yaguchi
CAST: Fumiyo KohinataEri FukatsuYuki Izumisawa
When electricity stops working in Tokyo, the whole city is about to collapse. Yoshiyuki Suzuki and his family have only one option; leave the city in order to survive. Read more
Watch the trailer of Survival Family
RATING: 75/100
RELEASE DATE: February 11th, 2017
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Netflix | Amazon | All Release datesLike Father, Like Son
DIRECTOR: Hirokazu Koreeda
CAST: Masaharu FukuyamaMachiko OnoYôko Maki
Director Koreeda is unparalleled in contemporary cinema when it comes to honestly portraying family life. In tone, he shifts from deeply tragic (Nobody Knows, 2004)) to light hearted (I Wish, 2011) but his significant style is always easy to recognize. Like Father, Like Son tells the gripping story of a businessman who finds out his son was swapped with another boy right after birth in the hospital. He is faced with a horrible dilemma; ‘adopt’ his true son or carrying on with the boy he raised as his own? Read more
Watch the trailer of Like Father, Like Son
RATING: 78/100
RELEASE DATE: September 29th, 2013
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Netflix | Amazon | All Release datesUmi yori mo mada fukaku (After the Storm)
DIRECTOR: Hirokazu Koreeda
CAST: Hiroshi AbeYôko MakiSatomi Kobayashi
It's amazing how Japanese helmer Koreeda keeps up this pace. After The Storm is yet another beautiful, patient little gem. The films tells the gripping tale of once famous writer trying to connect with his estranged and reluctant son during a stormy summers night.Read more
Watch the trailer of Umi yori mo mada fukaku (After the Storm)
RATING: 76/100
RELEASE DATE: May 21st, 2016
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Netflix | Amazon | All Release datesThe Kirishima Thing
DIRECTOR: Daihachi Yoshida
CAST: Ryûnosuke Kamiki,Ai HashimotoSuzuka Ohgo
The Kirishima Thing is a very nice film to watch, and also at the same time a film only Japanese people seem to able to make. The film itself is not that different, but there’s something about the atmosphere that’s really strange here and makes this one of the best films set in high school I’ve seen. It opens very mysterious with a lot of scenes getting repeated from a couple of different viewpoints, as the film keeps following other characters in the same time period. The great opening of this film creates a feel reminiscent of Gus van Sant’s masterpiece Elephant (2003). If you saw Elephant, don’t be scared. I didn’t spoil anything, as The Kirishima Thing tells a whole different story. The film is an interesting depiction of hierarchies in high school, the roles adolescents are forced into and what happens when a leading figure stops accepting his. Read more
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RATING: 74/100
RELEASE DATE: August 11th, 2012
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Netflix | Amazon | All Release datesWhy Don’t You Play in Hell?
DIRECTOR: Sion Sono
CAST: Jun KunimuraFumi NikaidouShin'ichi Tsutsumi
The best Japanese film of these past two years is directed by probably the most playful filmmaker in Japan, called Shion Sono (Suicide Circle (2001), Love Exposure (2008), Cold Fish (2010)). After a couple of rather disappointing films (Guilty of Romance (2011) and The Land of Hope (2012) were both not that special), Sono came back with, in my opinion, his best film up-to-date (I admit I haven’t seen all of his films, but I’m getting there). It’s just so much fun to watch this. As usual with the greatest of Sono’s films there’s so much happening, you cannot possibly keep track. You just have to go along for the ride and never try to look back or even take a pause to get some breath, there’s just no time. Read more
Watch the trailer of Why Don’t You Play in Hell?
RATING: 72/100
RELEASE DATE: November 7th, 2014
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Netflix | Amazon | All Release datesThe Drudgery Train
DIRECTOR: Nobuhiro Yamashita
CAST: Mirai MoriyamaKengo KôraAtsuko Maeda
Probably the most conventional Japanese film in this list. So for people who are not that comfortable with both extremes of Japanese cinema, often defined as a cinema of on the one hand very crazy ‘fucked up’ films and on the other hand very contemplative and slow films wherein “nothing ever seems to happen”, The Drudgery Train should be a good recommendation. It’s a nice japanese drama with a cool main character and some good dialogue. Actually, there’s not much to complain about this film. So if you’re kind of bored with all the European or American faces you see all the time, you should try this one. Read more
Watch the trailer of The Drudgery Train
RATING: 69/100
RELEASE DATE: July 14th, 2012
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Netflix | Amazon | All Release datesStill The Water
DIRECTOR: Naomi Kawase
CAST: Nijirô MurakamiJun YoshinagaMiyuki Matsuda
Naomi Kawase’s Still the Water was met with mixed results at Cannes last year, which actually only made us more curious. Kawase’s herself stated that this film is her ‘masterpiece’. Kawase’s films balance at the edge of soulful contemplation and kitschy esotericism. Still the Water, a patiently told story about a blossoming love between to troubled teenagers at a remote Japanese island is both, but nonetheless a satisfying viewing experience altogether. Read more
Watch the trailer of Still The Water
RATING: 68/100
RELEASE DATE: April 18th, 2015
Netflix | Amazon | All Release datesLesson of the Evil
DIRECTOR: Takashi Miike
CAST: Takayuki YamadaShôta SometaniFumi Nikaidou
Famous Japanese director Takashi Miike (Audition (1999), Visitor Q (2001), Ichi The Killer (2001)) is perhaps the most prolific film director in the world. Being a filmmaker since 1991, the guy has already directed more than 70 films (on the other hand, you could count his screenwriting credits on one hand). And he’s still keeping himself busy, only in 2012 and 2013, Takashi Miike already directed no less than 5 films. But unfortunately, only Lesson of the Evil was actually worth something. For Love’s sake (2012) definitely had its moments, but overall it was way too kitschy for my taste. Ace Attorney (2012), a film adaptation of the video game of the same name, was way too childish, and Shield of Straw (2013) (incomprehensibly nominated for the Palme d’Or at Cannes last year) was nothing more than a dumb action movie with a very weak and ridiculous story. His latest, The Mole Song: Undercover Agent Reiji (2013), I haven’t seen yet, but sure will, as I think of Miike as one of the most interesting film directors out there. Although I’m not the greatest fan of his work. Lesson of the Evil is one of his most fun films I’ve seen, as it is one hell of a morally twisted movie. You start out thinking it’s very sweet and gentle, as it follows a good-natured teacher in high school. But later on, you notice the character of the teacher is not as kind as you initially thought, and the movie itself gradually begins to get more like its title suggested in the first place. Read more
Watch the trailer of Lesson of the Evil
RATING: 67/100
RELEASE DATE: June 26th, 2013
Netflix | Amazon | All Release datesOutrage Beyond
DIRECTOR: Takeshi Kitano
CAST: Toshiyuki NishidaTomokazu MiuraTakeshi Kitano
Takeshi Kitano is, in my opinion, perhaps the greatest Japanese director of the last 20 years. His films like Sonatine (1993), Fireworks (1997) and Kikujiro (1999) are simply masterpieces. It is true, however, that Outrage (2010) and its sequel Outrage Beyond are nothing compared to his work in the 90s. Still, these two yakuza films are great pieces of entertainment. With its tight editing, sophisticated cinematography and its unpretentious and simple plot, you’re in for two quite nice films. And there’s even a third Outrage film on the way (Not that I’m really looking forward to a second sequel, but still). Just like Outrage, Outrage Beyond is mainly about people killing each other off until there’s almost no one left standing. All yakuza’s seem a bit paranoid and because of this the film’s portrayal of yakuza life feels a bit sad. It’s that melancholic feel to it that makes it better than your average kind of gangster movie and at the same time makes you remember you’re watching a Takeshi Kitano film. Read more
Watch the trailer of Outrage Beyond
RATING: 67/100
RELEASE DATE: September 22nd, 2013
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(Films not in the list, but still worth the mention: Miss Zombie (2013) by Hiroyuki Tanaka, Helter Skelter (2012) by Mika Ninagawa and I’m Flash (2012) by Toshiaki Toyoda.)