(Not to be confused with John Wick Spin-Off Ballerina) Netflix’s latest Korean action thriller Ballerina starring Kim Ji-hoon, Jun Jong-seo, Park Yu-rim, and more is directed by Lee Chung Hyun. Ballerina chronicles a former bodyguard Okju who left her stressful profession for a calmer life. Unfortunately, destiny has some other plans for Okju. She needs to scratch some old wounds and go back to a lethal world to fullfill the dying request of her best friend. If the action and suspense of Netflix’s Ballerina impressed you, then you must watch these top 5 South Korean action thriller drama films.
Unstoppable (2018)
The 2018 film Unstoppable stars Ma Dong-seok as Dong-Chul. Dong is a reformed thug turned flourishing entrepreneur who lives a peaceful life with his wife Ji-soo (Song Ji-Hyo). Their lives turn upside down when Ji-soo gets taken by an unknown organization. Dong-Chul leaves no stone unturned to save his wife. Okju in Ballerina was on her quest to take revenge for her best friend Minhee’s murder. In Kim Min-ho’s Unstoppable, Dong-Chul is on a risky mission drawing on his former skills.
The Villainess (2017)
The Villainess follows the story of Kim Ok-bin’s Sook-hee, a trained assassin burdened by history. Molded and brought up in a merciless environment, Sook-hee embarks on a journey of revenge. Her path takes an unexpected turn when a secret government organization offers her a chance at liberation in exchange for her lethal expertise. Sook-hee and Okju both main characters are fueled by a longing for retribution because of their traumatic pasts.
Miss Baek (2018)
Like Ballerina, Miss Baek deals with abuse, and drug trafficking, and displays the viewers a separate kind of emotion. Miss Baek focuses on Han Ji-min’s character Baek Sang-ah, a former convict and survivor of abuse. Baek intervenes to protect a young girl named Ji-eun from an abusive household. Though Baek is dealing with her traumas, she is resolute to safeguard this young girl.
Assassination (2015)
Assassination unfolded in the 1930s during the Japanese occupation of Korea. Dong-hoon Choi’s film follows a brave group of fighters committed to killing Japanese officials. Former freedom activist and adept sniper Ahn Ok-yun (Jun Ji-Hyun) leads the team. They not only fight their targets but also also loyalty, betrayal, and threat of exposure. The group must navigate a perilous landscape to achieve their goal and pave the way for Korea’s freedom. Both Ballerina and Assassination inspire the journey of strong women and their struggles of past and present.
The Man From Nowhere (2010)
Jeong-Beom Lee’s The Man from Nowhere focuses on Won Bin’s character Cha Tae-sik. He is a reserved pawnshop owner riddled with mystery because of his past. When Kim Sae-Ron’s character So-mi, a young girl and Tae-sik’s only friend gets kidnapped, he sets on a deadly mission to rescue her. He confronts a drug trafficking ring and unveils his skills. Ballerina and The Man from Nowhere both feature protagonists with a sordid history and are driven by deep emotional connection.
If you have any questions regarding Ballerina and other K-drama thrillers, feel free to ask in the comments below. For more content, stay tuned. As usual, like, subscribe, and share our articles as we are trying to build a community of people High On Cinema!
