Top 10 Highest Grossing Korean Movies Of All Time
The worldwide success of Korean cinema has given us a new kind of cinematic complexity. Also, given the success of cult films like Parasite, Extreme Job, and others, it's natural to wonder which Korean films are the highest grossing films of all time. That's why today we've compiled a short list of the top 10 highest-grossing Korean films of all time. We assure you that all the movies in the list below should be on your radar if you enjoy watching the best Korean movies.
These films, with their out-of-the-box plots and deep characters, managed to gain international attention and spark a renaissance in Korean cinema. And so, what are you waiting for? Read on to find out which movies like "Train to Busan" and "The Admiral: Roaring Currents" made the top 10 highest-grossing Korean movies list.
1. Parasite (2019) - Gross: $263.1M
- Release year: 2019
- Genre: drama, thriller
- Cast: Song Kang Ho, Lee Sun Gyun, Jo Yeo Jung, Choi Woo Shik
- Directed by: Bong Joon Ho
- Duration: 132 minutes
- Movie rating: R rated
- OTT platforms: Amazon Instant Video, Vudu
- Total gross: $263.1 million
- IMDb rating: 8.5/10
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With awards such as Best Picture, Best Director, Best Original Screenplay and Best International Film at the 92nd Academy Awards, Parasite is one of the highest-grossing foreign films of all time. Directed by Bong Joon Ho, the cast includes Song Kang Ho, Lee Sun Gyun, Jo Yeo Jung, and Choi Woo Shik. The plot of the film focuses on the concepts of class discrimination and greed. Watch the movie to see how a financially vulnerable family develops a symbiotic relationship with the wealthy Park family. The film grossed $263.1 million at the box office.
2. The Admiral: Roaring Currents (2014) - Gross: $138.3 million
- Release year: 2014
- Genre: action, drama, history
- Cast: Choi Min Sik, Seung Ryu, Cho Jin Woon, Kim Myung Gun
- Directed by: Han Min Kim
- Duration: 128 minutes
- OTT platforms: Netflix.
- Total gross: $138.3 million
- IMDb rating: 7.1/10
Another top-grossing Korean film that we recommend you watch is The Admiral: Roaring Currents. This 2014 film was directed by Han Min Kim. and offers the best story of action and drama. It stars Choi Min Sik, Seung Ryu Ryu, Jo Jin Woon and Kim Myung Gun. The film is based on a story in which the protagonist faces difficult challenges in order to protect his nation. The film is available to stream on Netflix and grossed approximately $138.3 million in box office terms.
3. Extreme Job (2019) - Gross: $120 million
- Release year: 2019
- Genre: action, comedy, crime
- Cast: Seung Ryu, Lee Honey, Jin Sung Kyu, Dong Hwi Lee
- Directed by: Byung Hong Lee
- Duration: 111 minutes
- OTT platforms: Peacock TV, Amazon Prime Video
- Total amount: $120 million.
- IMDb rating: 7/10
With a total gross of $120 million, "Extreme Job" should be another film on the list of highest-grossing Korean films. Directed by Byung Hong Lee, this film stars Korean stars such as Seung Ryong Ryu, Lee Honey, Jin Sung Kyu, and Dong Hwi Lee. The film is available to stream on Amazon Prime Video and is a story in which an undercover operation takes an unexpected cinematic turn.
4 With the Gods: Both Worlds (2017) - Total: $109.4 million
- Release year: 2017
- Genre: Action, Adventure, Drama
- Cast: Ha Jung Woo, Tae Hyun Cha, Joo Ji Hoon, Hyang Gi Kim
- Directed by: Yong Hwa Kim
- Duration: 139 minutes
- OTT Platforms: Hoopla, Rakuten Wiki
- Total revenue: $109.4 million
- IMDb rating: 7.2/10
“With the Gods: The Two Worlds” is another popular Korean drama that grossed a total of $109.4 million. This 2017 drama was directed by Yong Hwa Kim and stars Ha Jung Woo, Tae Hyun Cha, Joo Ji Hoon, and Hyang Gi Kim. We highly recommend watching this action-adventure drama about a firefighter going to the afterlife after a heroic death.
5. Rodeo (2022) - Completely raw: $101.1 million
- Release year: 2022
- Genre: action, crime, thriller
- Cast: Ma Dong Seok, Sukku Son, Gwi Hwa Choi, Ji Hwan Park
- Directed by: Sun Yong Lee
- Duration: 106 minutes
- OTT platforms: Amazon Prime Video
- Total gross: $101.1 million
- IMDb rating: 7/10
Available to stream on Amazon Prime Video, Roundup is another popular Korean movie with Korean stars like Ma Dong Seok, Sukku Son, Gwi Hwa Choi, Ji Hwan Park, and more. The crime thriller is one of the best Korean films of all time. This is the story of Ma Seok-do who visits a foreign country and learns about various murders and crimes.
6. Ode to My Father (2014) - Gross: $99.3 million
- Release year: 2014
- Genre: Drama, War
- Cast: Hwang Jung Min, Yunjin Kim, Dal Soo Oh, Jin Young Jung
- Directed by J.K. Yun
- Duration: 126 minutes
- OTT platforms: Tubi
- Total gross: $99.3 million
- IMDb rating: 7.8/10
With a total gross of $99.3 million, Ode to My Father is another war drama that tells the story of the Korean War. The 2014 film tells the story of a boy who vows to take care of his family. Directed by J. K. Young, this film showcases the best of Hwang Jong Min, Yunjin Kim, Dal Soo Oh, and Jin Young Jung, among others.
7. Train to Busan (2016) - Gross: $98.5 million
- Release year: 2016
- Genre: action, horror, thriller
- Cast: Gong Yoo, Jung Yoo Mi, Ma Dong Seok, Soo Ahn Kim
- Directed by: Sang Ho Young
- Duration: 118 minutes
- OTT platforms: Amazon Prime Video
- Total gross profit: $98.5 million
- IMDb rating: 7.6/10
Released in 2016, Train to Busan is one of the highest-grossing Korean films and not to be missed. This action-packed thriller offers the best of a zombie virus escape story set in South Korea. Watch the film on Amazon Prime Video to see passengers fight for their lives on the train from Seoul to Busan. Directed by Sang Ho Young, this film stars Korean stars such as Gong Yoo, Jung Yu Mi, Ma Dong Suk, and Su An Kim.
8. With the Gods: The Last 49 Days (2018) - Gross earnings: $92.5 million
- Release year: 2018
- Genre: Action, Adventure, Drama
- Cast: Ha Jung Woo, Joo Ji Hoon, Hyang Gi Kim, Ma Dong Suk
- Directed by: Yong Hwa Kim
- Duration: 142 minutes
- OTT platforms: Netflix.
- Total income: $92.5 million
- IMDb rating: 7.1/10
With the Gods: The Last 49 Days is a 2018 action-adventure film directed by Yong-hwa Kim. Korean popular films contain staged stories an afterlife where the guardian helps the protagonist overcome his trials. The story takes a turn when a Korean movie follows an ancient guardian on Earth. Watch the movie on Netflix to see stars like Ha Jung Woo, Joo Ji Hoon, Hyang Gi Kim, and Ma Dong Seok.
9. Veterans (2015) - Total: $92 million
- Release year: 2015
- Genre: action, comedy, crime
- Cast: Hwang Jung Min, Yoo Ah In, Hae Jin Yoo, Dal Soo Oh
- Directed by: Seung Wang Ryu
- Duration: 123 minutes
- OTT platforms: Netflix.
- Total income: $92 million
- IMDb rating: 7/10
Another movie we highly recommend is The Veteran directed by Seung Wan Ryu. Released in 2015, an action movie with elements of comedy and crime. This highly acclaimed film stars top Korean actors such as Hwang Jong Min, Yoo Ah In, Hae Jin Yoo, and Dal Soo Oh. The plot of this film tells the story of a virtuous police officer who fights for justice. In terms of box office receipts, the film grossed approximately $92 million in total .
10 Murder (2015) - Total: $90.9 million
- Release year: 2015
- Genre: Action, Drama, Thriller
- Starring: Jung Ji Hyun, Lee Jong Jae, Ha Jung Woo, Dal Soo Oh.
- Directed by: Dong Hong Choi
- Duration: 140 minutes
- OTT platforms: Netflix.
- Total gross: $90.9 million
- IMDb rating: 7.2/10
The 2015 action movie The Assassination is another iconic Korean movie that you can't miss. This highly successful and box office hit movie features the best including Jung Ji Hyun, Lee Jong Jae, Ha Jung Woo, and Dal Soo Oh, among others. Watch director Dong Hong Choi's thriller on Netflix for a brilliant story set in 1933.
Not only have all the Korean films listed above earned huge box office receipts, they have received high praise and love from fans all over the world. In fact, these fan-favorite films are the backbone of Korean cinema. We highly recommend bookmarking this page the next time you search for the highest grossing Korean movies of all time.
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