AMP's The 40 Best Korean Movies of the Decade (2011-2020)

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Created by Chilton.

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What started as the Korean New Wave in the late 90s really flourished in the 2000s. The 2010s, however, is where we saw what we can call the “new” golden age for Korean cinema, where several new-name directors made their mark, established filmmakers cemented their names in world cinema, actors became stars, blockbuster cinema raked in big money and independent cinema also thrived. Thanks to the success of films like “The Handmaiden” and “Train to Busan” on a global level, a new audience started having a much keener interest in films from the country, while the unprecedented, historic success of “Parasite” at the end only went on to bookend the truly spectacular decade that the 2010s was for South Korean cinema.

In an effort to winnow some of the best Korean movies of the decade (2011-2020), we came up with 40 we felt were the ones that truly stand out in terms of quality, impact and sheer entertainment they offered. The order of this list could be different of course and the number much bigger, but our effort was towards presenting great films and not cataloguing all of them, always with a focus on diversity in style, themes and filmmakers.

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  1. 1 new

    Gisaengchung

    2019 — a.k.a. Parasite, in 22 top lists
    Check
  2. 9 new

    Busanhaeng

    2016 — a.k.a. Train to Busan, in 4 top lists Check
  3. 3 new

    Ah-ga-ssi

    2016 — a.k.a. The Handmaiden, in 13 top lists Check
  4. 5 new

    Gokseong

    2016 — a.k.a. The Wailing, in 2 top lists Check
  5. 6 new

    Pieta

    2012, in 3 top lists Check
  6. 2 new

    Beoning

    2018 — a.k.a. Burning, in 8 top lists
    Check
  7. 16 new

    Moebiuseu

    2013 — a.k.a. Moebius, in 0 top lists Check
  8. 10 new

    Ji-geum-eun-mat-go-geu-ddae-neun-teul-li-da

    2015 — a.k.a. Right Now, Wrong Then, in 6 top lists Check
  9. 17 new

    Dwae-ji-ui wang

    2011 — a.k.a. The King of Pigs, in 1 top list Check
  10. 39 new

    Dohee-ya

    2014 — a.k.a. A Girl at My Door, in 1 top list Check
  11. 20 new

    Sinsegye

    2013 — a.k.a. New World, in 1 top list Check
  12. 4 new

    Bi-mil-eun eobs-da

    2016 — a.k.a. The Truth Beneath, in 0 top lists Check
  13. 7 new

    Gwang-hae, wang-i doin nam-ja

    2012 — a.k.a. Masquerade, in 0 top lists Check
  14. 13 new

    Han Gong-ju

    2013, in 1 top list Check
  15. 35 new

    Nae-bu-ja-deul

    2015 — a.k.a. Inside Men, in 0 top lists Check
  16. 33 new

    Pasookkoon

    2011 — a.k.a. Bleak Night, in 0 top lists Check
  17. 40 new

    Sado

    2015 — a.k.a. The Throne, in 0 top lists Check
  18. 26 new

    Taeksi woonjunsa

    2017 — a.k.a. A Taxi Driver, in 1 top list
    Check
  19. 8 new

    Asura

    2016 — a.k.a. Asura: The City of Madness, in 0 top lists Check
  20. 19 new

    Beolsae

    2018 — a.k.a. House of Hummingbird, in 2 top lists
    Check
  21. 21 new

    Beterang

    2015 — a.k.a. Veteran, in 0 top lists Check
  22. 22 new

    Bujaeui gieok

    2018, in 0 top lists
    Check
  23. 15 new

    Chansil-ineun bogdo manhji

    2019 — a.k.a. Lucky Chan-sil, in 0 top lists
    Check
  24. 18 new

    Clean Up

    2018, in 0 top lists
    Check
  25. 27 new

    Fanfare

    2019, in 0 top lists
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  26. 24 new

    Geukhanjikeob

    2019 — a.k.a. Extreme Job, in 0 top lists
    Check
  27. 14 new

    Jipuragirado jabgo sipeun jibseungdeul

    2020 — a.k.a. Beasts Clawing at Straws, in 0 top lists
    Check
  28. 31 new

    Joi manheun sonyeo

    2017 — a.k.a. After My Death, in 0 top lists
    Check
  29. 23 new

    Jug-yeo-ju-neun Yeo-ja

    2016 — a.k.a. The Bacchus Lady, in 0 top lists Check
  30. 28 new

    Last Child

    2017, in 0 top lists
    Check
  31. 38 new

    Liteul poreseuteu

    2018 — a.k.a. Little Forest, in 1 top list
    Check
  32. 25 new

    Madame B., histoire d'une Nord-Coréenne

    2016 — a.k.a. Mrs.B., a North Korean Woman, in 0 top lists
    Check
  33. 12 new

    Merry Christmas Mr. Mo

    2016, in 0 top lists
    Check
  34. 29 new

    Move the Grave

    2019, in 0 top lists
    Check
  35. 30 new

    Na-wa-bom-nal-eui-yak-sok

    2018 — a.k.a. I Have a Date with Spring, in 0 top lists
    Check
  36. 36 new

    Nam-mae-wui yeo-reum-bam

    2019 — a.k.a. Moving On, in 0 top lists
    Check
  37. 11 new

    Namsan ui bujangdeul

    2020 — a.k.a. The Man Standing Next, in 0 top lists
    Check
  38. 32 new

    Park Yeol

    2017 — a.k.a. Anarchist from Colony, in 0 top lists
    Check
  39. 34 new

    Sogongnyeo

    2017 — a.k.a. Microhabitat, in 1 top list
    Check
  40. 37 new

    Yi-se-sang-e eop-neun

    2019 — a.k.a. Not in This World, in 0 top lists
    Check
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Last updated on Apr 26, 2021 by Chilton; source