15 Korean Movies That Give That Some ‘Squid Game’ Vibe: Here’s What To Watch Next

‘Squid Game’ took the world by storm. The series followed people in serious debt competing in deadly children’s games for a massive cash prize. Its thrilling plot offered a sharp critique of society, exploring themes of economic struggle and human desperation. The show’s global success has left many viewers searching for other Korean productions that deliver a similar, intense experience.

If you were captivated by the high-stakes tension and social commentary of ‘Squid Game’, there are numerous Korean films that will likely appeal to you. These movies often feature gripping, life-or-death scenarios, complex characters, and a critical look at societal issues. From survival thrillers to dark tales of revenge, this list offers a variety of films that will keep you on the edge of your seat.

Parasite (2019)

This film follows the Kim family, who live in a cramped semi-basement apartment and struggle to make ends meet. They slowly infiltrate the lives of the wealthy Park family by posing as highly qualified workers. As they become more entangled with the Parks, their scheme begins to unravel in unexpected and disastrous ways.

Like ‘Squid Game’, ‘Parasite’ is a powerful commentary on class inequality and the desperation that comes from poverty. The film brilliantly uses dark comedy and suspense to build a story that is both entertaining and thought-provoking. It highlights the vast divide between the rich and the poor, leading to a shocking and violent climax.

Train to Busan (2016)

A fast-paced thriller, ‘Train to Busan’ follows a workaholic father and his estranged daughter on a high-speed train from Seoul to Busan. Their journey turns into a nightmare when a zombie apocalypse breaks out across the country, and the infection spreads among the passengers. The survivors must band together and fight for their lives in the confined space of the train.

The film shares the survival and desperation elements of ‘Squid Game’. The characters are ordinary people from different walks of life forced into an extreme situation where they must make difficult choices to survive. It explores themes of sacrifice, selfishness, and what it means to be human in the face of chaos.

The Host (2006)

From the director of ‘Parasite’, this film centers on a dysfunctional family who must come together when a horrifying monster emerges from Seoul’s Han River and kidnaps the youngest daughter. The family’s attempts to rescue her are met with government incompetence and public panic, forcing them to rely on their own limited resources.

‘The Host’ combines elements of a monster movie with social satire and family drama. It critiques the government’s response to a crisis and features a protagonist who is considered a failure by society, much like many characters in ‘Squid Game’. The story is driven by the family’s desperate struggle against overwhelming odds.

Oldboy (2003)

‘Oldboy’ tells the story of Oh Dae-su, a man who is kidnapped and imprisoned in a hotel-like room for 15 years without knowing why. Suddenly released, he is given a new set of clothes, money, and a phone, and is challenged to find his captor and uncover the reason for his long confinement. His quest for vengeance leads him down a dark path of violence and shocking discoveries.

This film is a brutal revenge thriller that explores themes of suffering and the destructive nature of vengeance. While it doesn’t involve a game for money, it shares ‘Squid Game’s’ sense of a powerless individual being manipulated by a rich and mysterious figure for his own amusement. The intense psychological torment and violent action will resonate with fans of the series.

I Saw the Devil (2010)

This film is a dark and violent revenge thriller. It follows a top secret agent whose fiancée is brutally murdered by a psychopathic serial killer. Instead of simply bringing the killer to justice, the agent decides to hunt him down and inflict the same amount of pain and fear that his victims suffered. This leads to a relentless and horrifying cat-and-mouse game between the two men.

‘I Saw the Devil’ is about how far a person will go when pushed to the absolute limit. It blurs the line between hero and villain, as the protagonist becomes a monster himself in his quest for revenge. The movie’s intensity and exploration of the dark side of human nature make it a compelling watch for those who appreciated the grim atmosphere of ‘Squid Game’.

The Man from Nowhere (2010)

The story centers on a quiet pawnshop owner with a violent past who lives a solitary life. His only friend is a little girl who lives next door. When the girl and her mother are kidnapped by a dangerous drug and organ trafficking ring, he unleashes his formidable skills to save them.

This film features a protagonist who is an outcast from society and is willing to do whatever it takes to protect the one person he cares about. It combines emotional depth with expertly choreographed action sequences. The theme of a lone, desperate individual fighting against a powerful and corrupt organization is similar to the core conflict in ‘Squid Game’.

The Terror Live (2013)

An ambitious but demoted news anchor receives a threatening phone call during his live radio show. The caller claims he will blow up a major bridge in Seoul, and moments later, the bridge explodes. Seeing this as his chance to reclaim his career, the anchor begins a live, televised negotiation with the terrorist, which takes place almost entirely in the broadcast booth.

This film is a tense, real-time thriller that critiques the media and the government. It creates a feeling of claustrophobia and high stakes, as the protagonist must manage a dangerous situation while being broadcast to the entire nation. The pressure and moral compromises faced by the anchor are reminiscent of the choices forced upon the contestants in ‘Squid Game’.

#Alive (2020)

A young man is trapped alone in his apartment when a zombie outbreak rapidly spreads through his city. With no way to communicate with the outside world and dwindling supplies, he must find a way to survive as the infected swarm his apartment building. He later discovers another survivor in the building across from him, and they work together to stay alive.

Much like ‘Squid Game’, this movie focuses on the theme of survival in isolation. It captures the feeling of hopelessness and the psychological toll of being cut off from society in a life-threatening situation. The story highlights the human will to live and the importance of connection in the face of despair.

Time to Hunt (2020)

In a dystopian near-future South Korea, a group of friends plans a heist to escape their miserable lives and seek a better future on a new continent. After successfully robbing a gambling house, they find themselves being pursued by a relentless and brutal killer. The hunter becomes the hunted as they fight to survive.

This film delivers a constant sense of dread and suspense. It explores themes of economic hardship and desperation driving people to extreme measures, which is a central idea in ‘Squid Game’. The relentless pursuit by an unstoppable antagonist creates a high-stakes, action-packed survival story.

The Call (2020)

Two women living in the same house but 20 years apart are connected by an old cordless phone. They initially form a friendship, and the woman from the past makes a change that drastically improves the life of the woman in the present. However, when the woman from the past becomes a serial killer, the present-day woman finds her own life and past are in grave danger.

‘The Call’ is a psychological thriller that involves high stakes and the manipulation of fate. The idea that one person’s actions can completely upend another’s reality, often with deadly consequences, echoes the power dynamic between the game’s organizers and participants in ‘Squid Game’. The film is full of suspense and shocking twists.

Flu (2013)

A deadly and highly contagious strain of the H5N1 virus enters South Korea through a shipping container of illegal immigrants, leading to a massive outbreak in a suburban city. The government quickly quarantines the entire city, leading to chaos, fear, and a desperate struggle for survival among the trapped residents. The story follows a firefighter and a doctor as they try to find a cure and save the doctor’s daughter.

This film depicts a large-scale survival scenario where society breaks down under pressure. It explores how people react in a crisis, showing both the best and worst of humanity. Like ‘Squid Game’, it places ordinary people in an extreme situation where the odds are stacked against them and they must fight for their lives.

A Hard Day (2014)

On his way to his mother’s funeral, a corrupt detective accidentally hits and kills a man in a car accident. To cover it up, he hides the body in his mother’s coffin. Soon after, he is taunted by a mysterious witness who begins to blackmail him, leading to a tense and unpredictable game of cat and mouse.

While more of a crime thriller, ‘A Hard Day’ delivers the same kind of intense pressure and escalating stakes found in ‘Squid Game’. The protagonist is a flawed character who finds himself in an increasingly desperate situation with no easy way out. The film is known for its dark humor and relentless pace.

Forgotten (2017)

A young man’s life is turned upside down when his older brother is kidnapped and returns 19 days later with no memory of what happened. The younger brother starts to notice strange inconsistencies in his family and begins to suspect that things are not as they seem, leading him to uncover a dark and shocking truth.

This mystery thriller is built on psychological suspense and a sense of paranoia. The protagonist is trapped in a situation he doesn’t understand, controlled by forces he can’t see, much like the players in ‘Squid Game’. The film keeps the audience guessing with numerous twists and turns until its dramatic conclusion.

Asura: The City of Madness (2016)

A corrupt detective finds himself caught between a powerful, corrupt mayor and a ruthless prosecutor, both of whom want him to do their dirty work. As he is pulled deeper into a world of violence and betrayal, he must fight for his own survival in a city where everyone is a villain.

This film presents a dark and cynical view of society, where power and greed corrupt everyone. It shares ‘Squid Game’s’ theme of people being forced into brutal conflicts for the benefit of the powerful. The movie is relentlessly violent and bleak, showcasing a world where morality is a luxury.

High Society (2018)

A respected economics professor and his ambitious wife, a curator at an art gallery, are determined to join the ranks of the ultra-wealthy. They are presented with opportunities that could make their dreams a reality, but they soon find themselves entangled in the corrupt and dirty dealings of the elite, forcing them to make compromises that test their morals.

This film explores themes of greed and the corrupting influence of wealth, which are central to the critique in ‘Squid Game’. It examines how the desire for upward social mobility can lead people to abandon their principles. The movie provides a look into the dark side of ambition and the lengths people will go to achieve a higher status.