345 Essential Films from Asia
345 titles
- 301
The Witch: Part 1. The SubversionMovie · 2018 · 126m · Action, Mystery, Science FictionJa-yoon, a high school student, experiences memory loss stemming from a childhood trauma. As she investigates the past, she's drawn into a criminal underworld, embarking on a journey that unearths long-buried secrets.IMDb 7.2TMDB 7.9 - 302
My 11th MotherMovie · 2007 · 104mA disillusioned young boy forms a connection with his father's new girlfriend, and starts to believe this relationship might last.IMDb 6.6TMDB 7.0 - 303
Heart BlackenedMovie · 2017 · 125m · Crime, Thriller, DramaA father desperately tries to prove his daughter's innocence in the murder of her fiancée. As evidence mounts against her, he decides to take the law into his own hands, determined to save her and evade the justice system.IMDb 6.6TMDB 7.0 - 304
Seven Years of NightMovie · 2018 · 123mIn a quiet lakeside town, this suspenseful thriller follows a carefully planned revenge plot spanning seven years, triggered by the accidental death of a young girl.IMDb 5.8TMDB 5.8 - 305
EscapeMovie · 2024 · 96m · Action, Drama, ThrillerFollowing ten years of service and being celebrated as a hero, a North Korean sergeant makes a daring and dangerous attempt to defect to the South, seeking the chance to choose his own future.IMDb 6.4TMDB 7.3 - 306
Jo Pil-ho: The Dawning RageMovie · 2019 · 127m · Action, Crime, DramaA disgraced police officer, pursued by an unrelenting internal affairs investigator, is forced to team up with a rebellious teenager to expose a dangerous plot.IMDb 6.4TMDB 6.1 - 307
Doomsday BookMovie · 2012 · 113m · Science Fiction, Fantasy, DramaA virus devastates Seoul, turning the city into a zombie-infested ruin in 'A Brave New World'. In 'The Heavenly Creature', a robot achieves enlightenment while working at a temple, but its creators view this as a danger to humanity. Finally, in 'Happy Birthday', a young girl orders a billiard ball online for her father, just as a meteor approaches Earth, prompting widespread panic and a rush to underground shelters.IMDb 5.8TMDB 6.1 - 308
Coin Locker GirlMovie · 2015 · 110m · Drama, ThrillerAbandoned in a subway coin locker, a baby girl is sold to Mother, a cold and ambitious loan shark and crime boss who controls an organ-harvesting operation in Incheon’s Chinatown. The girl, named Il-Young, grows into Mother's trusted enforcer, trained to take over her empire. But as Il-Young's loyalty weakens, a violent conflict erupts between them, triggering a brutal and devastating fight for power.IMDb 6.7TMDB 7.0 - 309
Bleeding SteelMovie · 2017 · 109m · Science Fiction, Action, AdventureJackie Chan plays a seasoned special agent tasked with safeguarding a young woman from a dangerous criminal organization. As he protects her, he experiences a profound sense of familiarity, as if they share a past life together.IMDb 5.2TMDB 5.9 - 310
1987: When the Day ComesMovie · 2017 · 129m · Drama, History, ThrillerIn January 1987, a 22-year-old college student dies while being interrogated by the police. Director Park orders the body to be cremated to conceal evidence. Public Prosecutor Choi objects and demands an autopsy. The police claim the death was accidental, caused by shock. However, the autopsy reveals torture as the cause of death. A journalist named Yoon reports the death resulted from asphyxiation during torture. Director Park tries to bury the truth by closing the case and arresting detectives, including Inspector Cho. While imprisoned, Inspector Cho tells a prison guard, Han Byung-yong, the truth, and Han undertakes a risky mission to pass the information to an opposition politician through his niece, Yeon-hee.IMDb 7.7TMDB 8.1 - 311
Illang: The Wolf BrigadeMovie · 2018 · 138m · Science Fiction, Action, ThrillerIn 2029, a specialized police unit battles a terrorist organization seeking to prevent a national reunification, all while facing a hidden threat.IMDb 6.0TMDB 6.3 - 312
Deja VuMovie · 2018 · 87mAfter a car accident involving her fiancé, Woojin, Jimin is haunted by terrifying visions of the deceased girl. Overwhelmed by the hallucinations, she confesses the truth to the police, only to discover the accident never happened.IMDb 4.3TMDB 5.2 - 313
The MimicMovie · 2017 · 100m · Horror, ThrillerA mother searching for her missing child discovers a lost girl in the woods and brings her home. But as the girl stays, the mother starts to question whether she is truly human.IMDb 5.6TMDB 6.3 - 314
The VillainessMovie · 2017 · 129m · Action, Crime, DramaSook-hee was trained from a young age to be a deadly assassin by a criminal group. After a decade of service, she's offered freedom. But hidden truths from her past shatter her carefully constructed life, leading her to unleash a furious quest for revenge.IMDb 6.6TMDB 6.9 - 315
Bring Me HomeMovie · 2019 · 108m · Drama, Thriller, MysterySix years after her son disappeared, Jung-yeon gets a lead: he's been seen in a fishing village. But local police obstruct her investigation, determined to hide a secret possibly connected to his disappearance.IMDb 6.4TMDB 6.7 - 316
Hwayi: A Monster BoyMovie · 2013 · 125m · Action, Thriller, CrimeKidnapped as a child and raised by his captors, a teenage boy is now compelled to participate in their criminal activities.IMDb 7.0TMDB 7.4 - 317
Tai-Chi MasterMovie · 1993 · 96m · Action, Comedy, DramaThis is a story about two boys who grew up together at a Shaolin Temple, like brothers. A false accusation drives them apart, leading them to take different sides in a civil war. One fights for the rebels, the other defends the government. As the conflict intensifies and loyalties shift, they are forced to confront each other in a final battle. This showdown tests their martial skills and the strength of their friendship. Can these brothers find their way back to each other, or will their past wounds destroy their bond?IMDb 7.2TMDB 7.2 - 318
RevengerMovie · 2018 · 102m · Action, Crime, ThrillerDriven by revenge for his family's murder, a former detective goes undercover on a secluded island prison housing dangerous inmates on death row.IMDb 5.7TMDB 5.5 - 319
Attack on TitanMovie · 2015 · 98m · Horror, Action, Science FictionA century ago, colossal beings known as Titans unexpectedly arrived on Earth. This event plunged humanity into crisis, threatening the very survival of civilization. To protect themselves, humans constructed a massive wall. For 100 years, life within the walls was peaceful, but the wall has now been breached.IMDb 5.0TMDB 6.1 - 320
Deliver Us from EvilMovie · 2020 · 108m · Crime, Action, DramaA former hitman is drawn back into violence when a young girl is abducted by human traffickers. He becomes her only hope, using his skills and weapons to fight back against the gangs who took her.IMDb 6.8TMDB 6.9 - 321
The Gangster, the Cop, the DevilMovie · 2019 · 110m · Crime, Action, ThrillerFollowing a near-fatal attack by a sadistic serial killer, crime boss Jang Dong-su is left deeply humiliated. Driven to find the killer known as K, he reluctantly partners with Jung Tae-seok, a dedicated and honest detective who frequently interferes with his criminal activities. While Jang Dong-su wants K eliminated, Jung Tae-seok aims to bring him to justice. They agree on a deal: whoever captures K first gets to decide his destiny. The hunt commences, increasingly confusing the boundaries between crime and law.IMDb 7.0TMDB 7.8 - 322
Me and MeMovie · 2020 · 105mIn a quiet South Korean village, a cynical police officer investigates the unusual deaths of two people and is forced to confront a reality far beyond his understanding.IMDb 5.9TMDB 6.1 - 323
The BoysMovie · 2023 · 124mIn 1999, a robbery-murder at a small supermarket in Samnye, Jeonbuk province, quickly leads police to three neighborhood boys. They are wrongly accused of murder and imprisoned without understanding the situation. The following year, Detective Hwang Joon-cheol is appointed head of Crime Investigation and learns of the true culprits. He reinvestigates to clear the boys' names, but interference from the original detective, Choi Woo-sung, causes his demotion. Sixteen years later, the sole witness – the victim's daughter, Yoon Mi-sook – and the boys return to Hwang, seeking justice.IMDb 6.6TMDB 6.6 - 324
MetamorphosisMovie · 2019 · 113m · Horror, ThrillerA malevolent spirit that can mimic appearances enters a family, targeting one son and putting him in peril. His brother must fight to rescue him.IMDb 5.9TMDB 7.1 - 325
Door LockMovie · 2018 · 102m · Thriller, Crime, MysteryKyung-min lives alone in a small apartment. She discovers signs of a break-in, and a puzzling murder case starts to emerge.IMDb 6.4TMDB 7.4 - 326
Secretly, GreatlyMovie · 2013 · 124m · Action, Drama, ComedyFor years, three highly trained North Korean spies have lived undercover, convinced their fabricated identities are their true selves. Their world shatters when they receive a direct order: eliminate each other, or face execution by a ruthless special forces unit.IMDb 6.8TMDB 7.0 - 327
Scarlet InnocenceMovie · 2014 · 111m · Thriller, Drama, RomanceA university professor slowly losing his sight becomes captivated by an intense, consuming love in this contemporary retelling of a traditional Korean story.IMDb 5.9TMDB 6.1 - 328
6/45Movie · 2022 · 113mA humorous incident occurs when soldiers from North and South Korea unexpectedly meet over a 5.7 billion won lottery ticket carried by the wind across the military border.IMDb 7.0TMDB 6.8 - 329
The Legend of Drunken MasterMovie · 1994 · 102m · Action, ComedyDuring a period of significant social change, Wong Fei-Hong becomes involved in a complex conflict between opposing groups. Returning home with his father after shopping, he witnesses a growing dispute between foreign powers attempting to remove China's historical artifacts and those determined to protect them.
Wong Fei-Hong must use his distinctive Drunken Boxing, a fluid and unpredictable martial art, to safeguard the nation’s valuable cultural treasures. At the same time, he struggles with his father's disapproval, making his fight for justice more difficult.
The film explores themes of national pride, tradition, and family relationships through a compelling story about the strength of people facing hardship. Featuring impressive action and well-developed characters, it follows an exciting journey examining the challenges of maintaining cultural identity while adapting to change.IMDb 7.5TMDB 7.4 - 330
Enemies In-LawMovie · 2015 · 119mChul-soo comes from a family of renowned thieves. He falls for Young-hee, who is a police officer from a family with a strong law enforcement background. Hoping to gain her parents' approval, Chul-soo takes the police officer exam. However, both families actively try to stop their relationship.IMDb 5.9TMDB 6.2 - 331
Confession of MurderMovie · 2012 · 119m · Action, ThrillerFifteen years after vanishing, a serial killer resurfaces with a book confessing to his murders. The detective who couldn't stop him before is now tasked with protecting him. The victims' families plot revenge. Amidst intense media attention, a masked figure known as "J" emerges, claiming responsibility for the crimes.IMDb 7.0TMDB 7.1 - 332
A Bold FamilyMovie · 2005 · 102mAfter a father who fled North Korea leaves a will stipulating his hidden fortune be donated to a unified Korea if the peninsula unites, his family devises a plan to convince him unification has occurred before he dies. Their elaborate scheme, however, faces unexpected challenges.IMDb 6.0TMDB 5.7 - 333
Along with the Gods: The Last 49 DaysMovie · 2018 · 141m · Action, Adventure, FantasyJa-hong, a spirit who has died, and his three protectors are nearing the end of their journey before being reborn. But as they face their final challenges, the protectors confront the painful reality of their past lives on Earth, a thousand years ago.IMDb 7.1TMDB 8.0 - 334
200 Pounds BeautyMovie · 2006 · 116m · Drama, Comedy, RomanceHanna, a plus-size lip-sync performer who provides backing vocals for pop star Ammy, harbors a secret affection for Han Sang-jun. After Ammy publicly embarrasses Hanna while Han is watching, Hanna resolves to have cosmetic surgery.IMDb 6.7TMDB 6.8 - 335
Kill BoksoonMovie · 2023 · 137m · Action, Drama, ThrillerBy day, she's a highly skilled assassin. By night, she's a single mother raising a teenage daughter. Taking lives comes naturally to her; raising a child, not so much.IMDb 6.6TMDB 6.9 - 336
Flying Swords of Dragon GateMovie · 2011 · 125m · Action, Adventure, DramaThree years after the Dragon Inn was destroyed in a desert fire, along with its owner Jade, a new group of bandits has taken control. By day they run the inn, but by night they search for treasure. Legend says the inn hides a lost city buried beneath the desert, and its riches are only revealed during a massive storm that occurs every 60 years. The gang uses the inn as a cover for their treasure hunt.IMDb 5.9TMDB 6.2 - 337
RV: Resurrected VictimsMovie · 2017 · 91mA prosecutor becomes the prime suspect in his mother's murder when she returns from the dead seeking revenge against her killer – a phenomenon known as Resurrected Victims.IMDb 5.6TMDB 5.6 - 338
MaggieMovie · 2019 · 88mA couple's intimate moment is accidentally captured on an X-ray. Believing she and her boyfriend are the subjects of the compromising image, nurse Yoon-young goes to resign the next day, only to discover that the hospital is deserted except for the head doctor.IMDb 6.1TMDB 7.6 - 339
On Your Wedding DayMovie · 2018 · 110m · Romance, DramaA man and the woman he loves keep getting pulled apart by fate. Throughout their lives, they experience repeated separations caused by circumstances beyond their control.IMDb 7.1TMDB 7.5 - 340
Drunken MasterMovie · 1978 · 111m · Action, ComedyA troublemaking youth faces strict discipline after a latest escapade. As punishment, he's assigned to train with an unlikely mentor: a disheveled old beggar. Though rough around the edges, the old man is a master of the ancient Drunken Fist martial art. Through challenging trials and lessons, the boy learns to master this unique fighting style, forging a surprising connection with his stern instructor. This story explores discipline, mentorship, and finding oneself, blending humor and exciting martial arts action.IMDb 7.4TMDB 7.4 - 341
The WildMovie · 2023 · 106mFormer boxer Woo-chul, released from prison after a controversial match where his opponent died, wants to start a new life as an upstanding citizen. His friend Do-shik, however, is determined to climb the social ladder at any cost. As they pursue their separate goals, they find themselves compelled to scheme and betray each other.IMDb 5.5TMDB 5.1 - 342
MidnightMovie · 2021 · 103m · Thriller, CrimeAfter witnessing a horrific murder, a deaf woman becomes the target of a relentless serial killer who stalks her through the streets of South Korea.IMDb 6.5TMDB 7.2 - 343
The SwindlersMovie · 2017 · 117m · Crime, Action, ThrillerA team of con artists joins forces to track down a notorious swindler believed to be dead, each harboring their own secrets and schemes.IMDb 6.6TMDB 6.7 - 344
Little ForestMovie · 2018 · 103m · DramaA young woman leaves the city for her rural hometown. She seeks a life away from the city's intensity, striving for self-sufficiency as she reconnects with the natural world.IMDb 7.3TMDB 7.6 - 345
Like for LikesMovie · 2016 · 120mA demanding TV drama writer and a Korean star who constantly clash; a reserved landlady and a curious chef tenant who develop a bond; a brilliant but inexperienced composer secretly admires a disorganized producer. Their lives become intertwined, raising the question: will romance blossom?IMDb 6.4TMDB 7.3
