The 15 Best Korean Movies To Begin Your Journey Into Acclaimed International Cinema

2020's Best Picture winner, Parasite, might have been your first first foray into the world of Korean cinema. To be frank, you're not alone. A lot of people are just dipping their collective toe into the water. That's an issue when it comes to American cinema—we tend to miss a lot of what doesn't exist inside our bubble. A few revered films may hop the international boarders, but on the up and up, we don't take a lot of effort to veer out of mainstream American film culture and into anyone else's lane. But if you're looking to expand your international cinema experience, Korea is an incredible place to start.

In terms of countries offering a rich film history, Korea has to be near the top of that list. From sultry thrillers that define Korean cinema, like The Housemaid, all the way to Korean-American crossovers like this year's beloved, Minari, Korean film has a vibe all its own. Fun fact: The Korean Classic Film channel on YouTube has an expansive library of classic films, if you really want to go back.

So how do you take an entire country's library of films and decide which is the best for a newbie? Great question. What we've done below is take a smattering of classics, recent favorites, and staples that have helped define the genre as it operates today. Yes, Parasite is on the list, if you missed that phenom. But so is Chilsu and Mansu, which redefined the industry as Korea knows it. And then there's Oldboy, which... well. We'll let you figure that out on your own.

Jump in and get deep into the world of Korean film. And when you devour these handful of films, keep going.