2026 promises to be a year of transformation for the Korean film industry, with renowned directors unveiling their new works that are set to capture the public’s imagination. From high-budget blockbusters to intense dramas and action-packed thrillers, these films are poised to dominate both theaters and streaming platforms. Here are some of the most anticipated Korean films slated for release in 2026:
HEARTMAN (Directed by Choi Won Sub)
Release Date: January 14th, 2026
Key Cast: Kwon Sang Woo, Moon Chae Won, Park Ji Hwan and more
Details: A comedy about a woman with a secret past who is reunited with her former lover. Directed by Choi Won Sub, this film is expected to draw audiences with its comedic and heartwarming story.
Distributor: Lotte Entertainment
Project Y (Directed by Lee Hwan)
Release Date: January 21st, 2026
Key Cast: Han So Hee, Jeon Jong Seo and more
Details: A neo-noir crime film about two friends in Seoul’s Gangnam underworld who plan to steal 8 billion won ($5.5 million) worth of gold bars to escape their harsh reality, leading to a gritty heist filled with betrayal, action, and high-stakes drama as they fight to survive and reclaim their futures.
Distributor: Plus M Entertainment
The King’s Warden (Directed by Jang Hang Jun)
Release Date: February 4th, 2026
Key Cast: Yoo Jae Jin, Park Ji Hoon, Yoo Ji Tae and more
Details: A Joseon-era Korean film about a village chief, Heung Do, who seeks prosperity by hosting an exiled nobleman, only to discover his guest is the deposed young King Danjong, leading to an unlikely bond as the chief becomes the king’s reluctant protector amidst political danger.
Distributor: Showbox
HUMINT (Directed by Ryoo Seung Wan)
Release Date: February 11th, 2026
Key Cast: Jo In Sung, Park Jung Min, Park Hae Joon, Shin Se Kyung and more
Details: Ryoo Seung San delivers a spy thriller set in Russia’s Vladivostok. Expect high-octane action with a gripping drama about spies, with Ryoo’s signature action style leading the way.
Distributor: NEW
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Heaven: To the Land of Happiness (Directed by Im Sang Soo)
Release Date: Early 2026
Key Cast: Choi Min Sik, Park Hae Il, Youn Yuh Jung and more
Details: This film, which was selected for the 73rd Cannes Official Selection, follows a fugitive and a young man who embark on an unintended journey. With a star-studded cast, it’s a highly anticipated release.
Distributor: Lotte Entertainment
Reawaken Man (Directed by Baek Jong Yul)
Release Date: Early 2026
Key Cast: Koo Kyo Hwan, Shin Seung Ho, Kang Ki Young and more
Details: Based on a webtoon, this film centers on a man who discovers that he resurrects 72 hours after his death. As he is chased by mysterious figures, the film combines mystery and action.
Distributor: Lotte Entertainment
Night Fever (Directed by Kim Pan Su)
Release Date: 2026
Key Cast: Woo Do Hwan, Jang Dong Gun, Hyeri, and Park Sung Hoon and more
Details: A hardboiled action film that depicts the hottest 24 hours of their lives, as they throw themselves into survival in the never-cooling city of Bangkok.
Distributor: Plus M Entertainment
Pavane: For A Dead Princess (Directed by Lee Jong Pil)
Release Date: 2026
Key Cast: Go Ah Sung, Byun Yo Han, Moon Sang Min and more
Details:A melodrama about three people who couldn’t even love themselves, but find the light in each other, facing life and love together.
Distributor: Plus M Entertainment
Tazza: The Song of Beelzebub (Directed by Choi Kook Hee)
Release Date: 2026
Key Cast: Byun Yo Han, Roh Jae Won, Moon Ji Hoon and more
Details: A story of desire, rivalry, and revenge between two best friends who have been inseparable since high school.
Distributor: CJ ENM
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Salmokji (Directed by Lee Sang Min)
Release Date: 2026
Key Cast: Kim Hye Yoon, Lee Jong Won and more
Details: Salmokji (literal title) follows a filming crew who set out to update a road view with footage of a mysterious shape, only to encounter something dark and deep in the waters of a reservoir, leading to a series of chilling events.
Distributor: Showbox
Colony (Directed by Yeon Sang Ho)
Release Date: 2026
Key Cast: Jun Ji Hyun, Koo Kyo Hwan, Ji Chang Wook, Shin Hyun Been and more
Details: This high-budget zombie thriller, with nearly 200 billion won ($138 million) in production costs, marks Jun Ji Hyun’s long-awaited return to the big screen after 11 years. The film follows the outbreak of a virus in a confined space, where infected individuals evolve unpredictably.
Distributor: Showbox
Dora (Directed by July Jung)
Release Date: 2026
Key Cast: Kim Do Yeon, Ando Sakura and more
Details: Dora (literal title) tells the story of a girl with physical and mental scars who meets another woman. The film is anticipated to receive an invitation to the prestigious Cannes Film Festival.
Distributor: TBD
Hope (Directed by Na Hong Jin)
Release Date: July 2026
Key Cast: Michael Fassbender, Alicia Vikander, Hwang Jung Min, Jo In Sung, Jeong Ho Yeon and more
Details: Na Hong Jin’s first film in 10 years, following The Wailing (2016), Hope is a sci-fi thriller about an alien encounter in a secluded port village near the DMZ. With a record-breaking production budget of 550 billion won ($380 million), this film features Hollywood stars and is expected to be a major international success.
Distributor: Plus M Entertainment
Possible Love (Directed by Lee Chang Dong)
Release Date: 2026
Key Cast: Sul Kyung Gu, Jeon Do Yeon, Jo In Sung, Cho Yeo Jeong and more
Details: Lee Chang Dong returns after an 8-year hiatus with this much-anticipated drama, funded by Netflix. The film explores the intertwined lives of two couples, offering a complex mix of emotional depth and cinematic beauty.
Distributor: Netflix
Tristes Tropiques (Directed by Park Hoon Jung)
Release Date: 2026
Key Cast: Kim Myung Min, Lee Shin Young, Park Yu Rim and more
Details: Set in the tropical rainforest, this film follows a killer who raises children to become assassins. With intense action and suspense, it promises a gripping narrative of survival and danger.
Distributor: Mindmark
Assassins (Directed by Heo Jin Ho)
Release Date: 2026
Key Cast: Yoo Hae Jin, Park Hae Il, Lee Min Ho and more
Details: Based on a true story about a political assassination, Assassins (literal translation) dives deep into the web of conspiracy and betrayal. Expect a tense, high-stakes drama.
Distributor: TBD
Ode to My Father 2 (Directed by Yoon Je Kyun)
Release Date: 2026
Key Cast: Lee Sung Min, Kang Ha Neul and more
Details: The sequel to the 2014 blockbuster Ode to My Father explores Korean modern history through the lives of a miner and his son. With a production budget of 17 billion won ($11 million), it’s expected to be the biggest movie of the year.
Distributor: CJ ENM
Seeking the King (Directed by Won Sinyeon)
Release Date: 2026
Key Cast: Koo Kyo Hwan, Seohyun, Eric Roberts, Yoo Jae Myung and more
Details: Set in the 1980s near the DMZ, this sci-fi film follows villagers encountering a mysterious creature. With over three years in post-production, it promises an eerie, otherworldly experience.
Distributor: WYSIWYG
Starlight Falls (Directed by Choi Guk Hee)
Release Date: 2026
Key Cast: Esom, Ong Seong Wu, Shim Eun Kyung and more
Details: A poignant melodrama that intertwines the past and present of a man and two women. Starlight Falls (literal translation) promises an emotional journey of love, loss, and redemption.
Distributor: TBD
Cattle Run (Directed by Kim Ji Hyun)
Release Date: Late 2026
Key Cast: Ryu Seung Ryong, Park Hae Joon and more
Details: This film tells the story of two brothers who haven’t spoken to each other for 30 years. Based on the Icelandic film Rams (2016), it explores themes of estrangement and reconciliation.
Distributor: Lotte Entertainment
The Journey to Gyeongju (Directed by Kim Mi Jo)
Release Date: Late 2026
Key Cast: Lee Jung Eun, Gong Hyo Jin, Park So Dam and more
Details: A mother sets out to seek revenge for the death of her youngest daughter, traveling to Gyeongju with her three other daughters. Directed by Kim Mi Jo, the film is expected to be an emotional journey.
Distributor: Lotte Entertainment
Wild Sing (Directed by Son Jae Gon)
Release Date: Late 2026
Key Cast: Kang Dong Won, Um Tae Goo, Park Ji Hyun and more
Details: Wild Sing revolves around a popular 3-member mixed group that reunites after a scandal. Directed by Son Jae Gon, it’s expected to bring a mix of humor and heartfelt moments.
Distributor: Lotte Entertainment
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Movies also releasing in 2026 are Mission: Cross 2 and Husbands on Netflix, Yeon Sang Ho’s Paradise Lost (literal title), Showbox’s White Blast and CJ ENM’s Project 30.
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