Korean movies a new threat to Hollywood?

Hollywood used to be the cinematic universe. Then came Parasite. The 2019 masterpiece by Bong Joon-ho was not only a winner of the Best Picture but also a breaker of the notion that the world cinema can play the Hollywood game better than the latter.

Now, with Squid Game and The Roundup and Decision to Leave, the Korean storytelling is accomplishing something Hollywood has been unable to do: to shock audiences. So, are Korean movies a threat? Yes, in a sense--and it is just the sort of competition that Hollywood should have.

Korean filmmakers have perfected a formula art, emotion and shock value. They can easily cross genres, unlike in the United States where American studios are known to be safe with sequels, superheroes, and spin-off. Where Hollywood wagers its choice on franchises, Korea wagers on originality. What is more fascinating though is the reason why these movies are being felt all over the world.

Korean film is not afraid of a moral and social question. Their accounts seem true whether it be inequality, family or corruption. The emotions are more powerful as far as they are based on fact rather than computer generated images. The audience worldwide is aware that authenticity is what they miss and they are starving.

Nevertheless, it is not a zero-sum game after all. The larger the audiences receive the Korean stories, the more Hollywood listens. Both films and films productions (Minari, The Last Airbender reboot, etc.) are becoming more influenced by Korean actors, filmmakers, and aesthetics.

What was originally a rivalry is becoming cooperation. So it is not the death of Hollywood per se, that is Korean cinema, it is the wake-up call that Hollywood needed. It is not domination that is at stake, but it is creativity. And Seoul appears to be leading in that race.