5 Best Movies to Watch From AStory

1. Signal, 2016

From the mastermind behind Netflix's Kingdom, Kim Eun-Hee's Signal is an exhilarating series that seamlessly weaves together gripping crime thriller elements with an intriguing touch of supernatural. With its unique premise of a mysterious walkie-talkie that connects the past and the present, the show follows a team of detectives from different eras as they collaborate to solve cold cases and unravel the secrets behind unsolved crimes. The superb writing and exceptional performances by the cast, including Lee Je-hoon, Kim Hye-soo, and Cho Jin-Woong, have made Signal a major hit among K-Drama fans.

Genre: Crime, Mystery, Sci-Fi & Fantasy

Actor: Cho Jin-woong, Choi Woo-ri, Hae-Kyun Jung, Hye-su Kim, Hyun-sung Jang, Im Hwa-young, Jang Hyun-sung, Je-hoon Lee, Jeong Hae-gyoon, Jin-woong Cho, Jin-woong Jo, Jung Hae-kyun, Jung Han-bi, Kang Chan-hee, Kim Hye-soo, Kim Hye-su, Kim Ki-chun, Kim Min-gue, Kim Won-hae, Lee Dong-ha, Lee Je-hoon, Lee Sang-yeob, Lee Si-a, Lee Yoo-jun, Lee Yu-jun, Park Si-eun, Seo Eun-ah, Son Hyeon-ju, Son Hyun-joo, Won-hae Kim

Director: Kim Won-suk

Rating: N/A

2. Kingdom, 2020

16th century Korea—the small kingdom is governed by a royal family, but the sudden death of the king causes a power struggle among the elite, which in turn opens the window for either genuine change or further corrupt rule. At the heart of this is Crown Prince Lee Chang (Ju Ji-hoon), who conspires with the rebel scholars to bring his corrupt rivals down.

This all sounds familiar, if not a bit trite, but before you can start to pin it down, Kingdom quickly morphs into something more than just a period drama. The introduction of fantasy, terror, and neverending gore elevates Kingdom into a multi-genre feat—an impressive blend of political intrigue and pure zombie horror that never fails to keep you at the edge of your seat.

Genre: Action & Adventure, Drama, Fantasy, Horror, Mystery, Thriller

Actor: Bae Doona, Heo Joon-ho, Heo Jun-ho, Jeon Seok-ho, Ju Ji-hoon, Jun Kaname, Jun Suk-ho, Jung Suk-won, Kanata Hongo, Kanna Hashimoto, Kento Yamazaki, Kim Hye-jun, Kim Jong-soo, Kim Sang-ho, Kim Sung-kyu, Kim Tae-hoon, Kim Tae-hun, Park Byung-eun, Ryu Seung-ryong

Director: Kim Seong-hun, Shinsuke Sato

Rating: R

3. Queenmaker, 2023

Full of twists and turns, Queenmaker is a corporate turned political K-drama where a corporate fixer plays campaign chess against her former employers and retail conglomerate the Eunsung Group. Centered on her and the earnest human rights lawyer she’s trying to get elected, the show has Do-hee mentoring Kyung-sook in the art of PR, this time for the good. Even as the show reuses the genre’s classic tropes, the series’ plot points are entertaining, with each new twist naturally occurring as each side tries to dig dirt on the other and use it for political clout. It’s one of the most intriguing K-dramas we’ve seen this year.

Genre: Drama

Actor: Hyun Bong-sik, Jin Kyung, Kim Hee-ae, Kim Sae-byuk, Lee Kyung-young, Moon So-ri, Ok Ja-yeon, Ryu Soo-young, Seo Yi-sook

Rating: TV-MA

4. Extraordinary Attorney Woo, 2022

Despite their rising popularity, K-dramas have sustained a reputation for being, at times, too sentimental for their own good. Extraordinary Attorney Woo is not exempt from that tendency, but when it does shoot for schmaltz, it makes sure to aim right at your heart. Thanks to clever twists and moving performances across the board, Extraordinary Attorney Woo is an excellently emotional series. Every romantic encounter will make you swoon, every courtroom scene will have you cheer, and every ending will leave you in tears.

Moreover, it’s not a show that simply happens to be about lawyers. It is a law procedural that deals with each new case with the utmost care. It’s smart and educational, with the proceedings and resolutions blending seamlessly into the characters’ own arcs.

There’s something for everyone in this series, and it’s sure to be an easy favorite for one reason or another.

Genre: Comedy, Drama

Actor: Baek Ji-won, Ha Yoon-kyung, Im Sung-jae, Jeon Bae-soo, Jin Kyung, Joo Hyun-young, Joo Jong-hyuk, Kang Ki-young, Kang Tae-oh, Park Eun-bin

Director: Yoo In-sik

Rating: TV-14

5. 100 Days My Prince, 2018

A delightful blend of romance, humor, and intrigue (as expected of many historical K-Dramas), this series takes us on a whimsical journey as Crown Prince Lee Yul, suffering from amnesia, is convinced to wed the headstrong Hong Sim due to his own decree. The drama plays into the comedic potential of his lost memory as he maintains his air of nobility—rendering him useless at daily chores and acts of labour to everyone's dismay. As the effects of political secrets and conspiracies affect the poor of the kingdom, Yul begins to use his intelligence, martial arts skills, and literacy to help people learn and protect themselves. Doh Kyung-soo and Nam Ji-Hyun beautifully perform a fun enemies-to-lovers dynamic of a foolish prince and a justice-oriented woman. 100 Days My Prince delivers ornate kingdoms, cherry blossom-filled sets, and secret coups, all in a comfortable watch.

Genre: Comedy, Drama, Mystery

Actor: Ahn Suk-hwan, Cho Han-cheul, Cho Seong-ha, Do Ji-han, Doh Kyung-soo, Han So-hee, Heo Jung-eun, Heo Jung-min, Ji Min-hyuk, Jo Han-chul, Jo Hyun-sik, Jung Hae-kyun, Jung Ji-hoon, Kim Jae-young, Kim Ki-doo, Kim Seon-ho, Lee Jun-hyeok, Lee Min-ji, Nam Ji-hyun, Oh Yeon-ah

Director: Lee Jong-jae

Rating: N/A