He’s one of the most accomplished and consistent filmmakers working today, and yet Park Chan-wook is not necessarily a household name. Sure, devout film buffs are crazy about the South Korean director, but anyone averse to reading subtitles has likely never even given him a chance.
Chan-wook is a master of stylish camerawork, loves a plot twist, and has a sharp sense of humour. Indeed, if you’re a fan of Bong Joon-ho’s work, you’re sure to love what his compatriot has cooked up, too.
So, if you’re ready to dive into Korean cinema, this list of Park Chan-wook’s best movies will provide the perfect tour guide. Or, for hardened veterans of the Asian cinema scene, now is your chance to compare notes and see if your tastes align with ours.
10. Sympathy for Mr Vengeance (2002)
The first of Chan-wook’s Vengeance trilogy is sadly his weakest, but it’s worth noting that this is still a worthy watch and the kind of film that most filmmakers would kill to have in their portfolio. Indeed, if you’re a fan of movies like Good Time or Caught Stealing, you’ll love the chaotic, anxiety-inducing nature of Sympathy for Mr Vengeance.
It’s a story of a desperate man and his lover who go to extreme lengths to fund a kidney transplant for his sister, but as things unravel around them, the violence ramps up. You may recognise Song Kang-ho here, who was also in Parasite, among many other brilliant Korean movies, and he plays an especially dark role in Sympathy for Mr Vengeance. The only issue is that this film is pretty hard to track down, so you may have to buy it rather than finding it on any streaming service.
9. Lady Vengeance (2005)
There’s very little to separate the previous entry and Lady Vengeance in my opinion, but the latter gets bonus points for just how brutal it is. Extreme violence is a common theme in Chan-wook’s work, and yet this 2005 effort is right up there as one of his most graphic and visceral.
This tale of wrongful imprisonment and bloodthirsty revenge benefits from being slightly more concise than its predecessor; anything that can be wrapped up in under two hours is always a treat. It’s also far more accessible – it’s a very visual story rather than being especially complex and dialogue-heavy. Plus, you can actually watch Lady Vengeance on BFI Player, so there’s no excuse not to at least give it a go.
8. I’m a Cyborg, But That’s OK (2006)
Once Park Chan-wook had completed his Vengeance trilogy, he moved on to something far more surrealist and abstract with I’m a Cyborg, But That’s OK. This story takes place in a mental institution, and it’s easy to compare it to the likes of One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest for the way it tackles the idea of forming bonds between two patients in that specific environment. However, with the lead character, Young-goon, believing she is actually a cyborg, there’s more of a scientific spin on this one.
Entangled in this tale is an unorthodox love story that adds another layer to proceedings, pushing it closer to the territory of films like The Lobster or Her – it’s certainly not a bad thing to be in that ballpark, that’s for sure. Now, time for the bad news: I’m a Cyborg, But That’s OK is extremely rare to find in the UK. In fact, it’s not on any platforms at all. I’m lucky that my friend has a copy on Blu-ray; hopefully, your buddies can come through for you, too.
7. Stoker (2013)
If you are really, really reluctant to read subtitles, then I have the perfect solution for you. Chan-wook got the chance to make an English-language movie back in 2013, and he assembled quite the cast, too. Nicole Kidman, Mia Wasikowska, and Matthew Goode star in Stoker, while the likes of Alden Ehrenreich, Dermot Mulroney, and Jacki Weaver also appear.
You’ll benefit from watching this twisted family drama without knowing too much about what’s to come, but Chan-wook throws in horror elements and a thrilling mystery at the heart of it all to keep the audience on its toes. Plus, Stoker has one of the greatest, most creative scene transitions you’re likely to find (a Chan-wook trademark, that is). You can even watch Stoker on Disney+, so what are you waiting for?
6. Thirst (2009)
Speaking of horror, how about a Korean vampire film? Song Kang-ho stars again here, and Thirst offers up a really interesting and fresh take on a tried and tested subgenre. There’s none of that Hollywood gloss with this film – and I mean that as a compliment – and there’s no reliance on horror clichés at all.
As always with Chan-wook, the camerawork and general direction in Thirst are absolutely exquisite, and he certainly gets the best out of his cast, too. I will admit, this film is just a little bit longer than it really needs to be, and the way it jumps around tonally is a tad jarring. But, for anyone who loves vampire movies, this is an absolute must-watch.
5. No Other Choice (2025)
Chan-wook’s latest release, No Other Choice, is actually very much akin to Parasite, though it tackles the idea of class hierarchy and capitalism more from the approach of frustration with the modern, technologically-advanced world rather than disillusionment with greed and ignorance of the upper class. No Other Choice is laced with black comedy, has a very compelling performance from Lee Byung-hun driving it forward, and when it goes to dark places, it truly thrives. The only thing is, I wish it embraced its wild side a little more often and with more vigour.
I would say No Other Choice is arguably the most mainstream and relatable story Chan-wook has ever taken on. It’s essentially a tale about how far one man will go to succeed and to have purpose in life; fans of Nightcrawler or Black Swan will certainly relish the thematic elements at play here.
4. Joint Security Area (2000)
I think, of all Chan-wook’s movies, Joint Security Area is the one that surprised me the most. Yes, there are films at the top of this list that shocked me in terms of their story, but this is a film I really didn’t expect all that much from. On the surface, it’s just a story about an investigation into the death of two soldiers, but with a Rashomon-style approach and conflicting accounts of the incident, proceedings soon take twists and turns that leave you second-guessing everything.
Joint Security Area (also referred to as simply JSA) is incredibly crafted and so meticulously put together that it’s easy to forget just how early this came in Chan-wook’s career. For a sophomore effort, this is pretty mind-blowing, to be honest. You can stream JSA on Arrow Video or rent it on Apple TV. Truth be told, I might be joining you if you do choose to watch this, as it’s one I am very eager to rewatch and see how the clues play out now that I know the endgame.
3. Decision to Leave (2022)
Much like No Other Choice, Chan-wook’s other more recent work on Decision to Leave has been far more tuned into Hollywood styles, and it does feel like he is – whether consciously or not – catering for viewers who are looking to take their first dips into the foreign language market. Indeed, if you’re keen on detective movies like Prisoners or Christopher Nolan’s Insomnia, you’ll love what Chan-wook is going for here.
The real beauty of Decision to Leave, however, is the erotically charged, forbidden romance that develops between the lead characters. This film feels like a wonderful homage to noir stories of old, while also possessing the technical and stylistic features – those Chan-wook transitions are on point once again – to make this one of the most visually-absorbing and beautiful thrillers of the 21st century. It’s on MUBI now, so dive on in.
2. The Handmaiden (2016)
Almost all of Park Chan-wook’s work is good. A lot of it is great. But it’s here that we draw the line and take things up a notch. The Handmaiden is utter perfection. This 1930s period piece takes us back to a time when Japan ruled Korea, which lays the foundations for a sprawling, epic tale of deceit and a dangerous love that spirals out of control. It’s absolutely enthralling stuff, even just as a mazy crime thriller, but with highly erotic romance elements and plot twists aplenty, The Handmaiden becomes one of the best, most intriguing movies of the past decade.
My partner and I watched this together, and I think it’s safe to say that our minds were well and truly blown. Interestingly, she doesn’t really watch international films, but she was delighted she made an exception for The Handmaiden, which plays like a crossover between Burning and Portrait of a Lady on Fire. It’s free to watch with a Curzon subscription right now.
1. Oldboy (2003)
I have very rarely had an experience quite like the first time I watched Oldboy. I had heard this was a brilliant film and to expect shocking twists and turns. My expectations were high, naturally, but Oldboy smashed those and left my jaw on the floor. Again, I’ll not be spoiling any of the plot here, but just know it’s one of the most shocking stories in all of cinema. This Chan-wook masterpiece is bold, bizarre, and absolutely brutal at times, but it’s all so much fun.
If you’ve ever enjoyed one of those slick corridor fight scenes you see in superhero movies these days, you have Park Chan-wook to thank for that. Oldboy has the definitive combat sequence. It’s a movie that pushes the boundaries of storytelling, with Chan-wook excelling in both style and substance to craft a revenge tale that delivers a hammer blow to the senses. Please, if you think you can just watch the Spike Lee version of Oldboy and get the gist, don’t do this to yourself: watch the original, and revel in the madness. For me, this is the best foreign language movie ever made – so get on NOW Cinema and try it for yourself.
