20. Okja
Okja is a science-fiction and drama film that was launched in 2017. Directed by Bong Joon-ho, the story is about a little girl (young Mija) and her big animal friend Okja, which is a superpig. One day, her pig is taken by multinational conglomerate Mirando Corporation and shipped to New York. Mija, without a defined plan, she embarks on a journey to save her dear big friend.
19. Bahubali 2: The Conclusion
Bahubali 2: The Conclusion is a continuation Indian movie released in 2017 after the Bahubali: The beginning (2015). Directed by S.S. Rajamouli, it is a historical fiction movie that revolves around the fictional kingdom of Mahishmati. After defeating the Kalakeyas, Bahubali was named the future king of the kingdom and Bhallaladeva, the commander-in-chief. Bahubali falls in love with Devasena, princess of the Kuntala Kingdom. But, Sivagami causes a rift between Bahubali and Bhallaladeva when he asks the latter to ask Devasena to marry him.
18. Confidential Assignment
Confidential Assignment is a comedy and drama North Korean movie released in 2017 and directed by Kim Sung-hoon. It is about Hyun Bin (Korean detective) and his partner Yoo Hae-jin (South Korean), who are in quest to bring down a crime lord, Kim Joo-hyuk. Kim Joo-hyuk is hiding out in the south and Hyun has come to look for him.
17. Hindi Medium
Hindi Medium is a 2017 Indian comedy-drama directed by Saket Chaudhary. Raj is a successful business man who sells bridal wears in downtown Delhi. Despite his riches, his wife (Mita) does not see him well-fit for the high society she yearns for because they attended a Hindi medium government school. Mita wants her daughter to have a rather different life from theirs with the high society people. She requests her husband to enroll their daughter in one of the top five schools in Delhi.
16. The Handmaiden
The handmaiden is a 2016 South Korean erotic-thriller movie directed by Park Chan-wook. It is based on the novel Fingersmith in a Korea setup, under the Japanese Colonial Rule. A Korean man, Count Fujiwara, plans on marrying the mysterious Japanese Lady Hireko. He hires a pickpocket, Sook-hee, to become the maid to the Lady Hireko so that he can seduce and swindle her of the inheritance she has.
15. The Mermaid
The Mermaid is a 2016 Chinese fantasy, romantic and comedy movie directed by Stephen Chow. It tells the story of Deng Chao, a playboy businessman who falls in love with a mermaid (Shan). The mermaid has been trained to disguise itself and hide among humans. She is meant to seduce Deng Chao then murder him. However, things take a turn when the two fall in love and Shan saves Chao from the merpeople who want to kill him.
14. The Great Wall
The Great Wall is a 2016 chinese film directed by Zhang Yimou. The movie is about a monster that attacks some European mercenaries, who are in search of the secret of the gunpowder. They are exposed to harsh bandits known for killing, and a murderous monster. They hid away from the bandits in a cage, but then, they were attacked by the monster. On their second day, as they walked along the great wall, they get arrested by a secretive military Chinese sect led by General Shao.
13. Fan
Fan is an Indian thriller film that was released in 2016 and directed by Maneesh Sharma. It is about a man (Guarav) who develops a bizarre obsession to a movie star (Aryan) whom he closely resembles. Both roles are played by Shah Rukh Khan. He embarks on a journey to meet his look-alike superstar. However, things do not go well as Aaryan gets Guarav after beating up one of his fellow actors. After his release, Guarav gets rid of all memorabilia he had of Aaryan and decides to seek revenge.
12. The Last Princess
The Last Princess is a South Korean bibliography-drama movie directed by Hur Jin-ho and released in 2016. It is based on the best-selling novel by Kwon Bi-young about a princess (Deokhye) who was forced to live in Japan when she was only 13 years old. It is based on the princesses’ life story, her will and attempt to get back home to Korea.
11. Sultan
Sultan is an Indian romantic sports drama that was released in 2016. Directed by Ali Abbas Zafar, it revolves around the life of a wrestling champion (Sultan Ali Khan). His wrestling capabilities were driven by a state level female wrestler (Aarfa Hussain) who would only marry a wrestler as good as she was. Determined to win her love, he trained until he won a state level wrestling tournament. He won Aarfa’s love after the win and the two conquered the wrestling world.
10. The Wailing
The Wailing is a South Korean horror movie directed by Na Hong-jin and released in 2016. It is about mysterious deaths from a rare disease that starts happening after a strange man arrives in the village. Jong-goo is a police officer who investigates the happenings and meets a young woman (Moo-myeong). The lady, is the possible suspect for all the unfolding events as she herself is odd and mysterious.
9. Alice: The Boy From Wonderland
Alice: The Boy From Wonderland is a 2015 South Korean romance, mystery and horror movie directed by Huh Eun-hee. It revolves around the life of a girl (Hye-Joong) who experiences dreadful nightmares since she was 4 years old. She seeks advice from a shaman who tells her to go back to her family villa (Wonderland) and find what is missing. In her quest, she meets a boy (Hwan) Soo-Ryun and a white rabbit. She has fifteen days to find what is missing and her nightmares will be over.
8. Mr. Six
Mr. Six is a 2015 Chinese crime-drama film directed by Guan Hu. It is about a 50-year old street punk who has been running the Beijing streets for many years as the neighborhood Kingpin. His son, Xiaobo is in deep trouble with a drag-racing street gang leader and his father attempts to help. However, he does not succeed and both of them end up being in more trouble.
7. Singham Returns
Singham Returns is a 2014 action movie directed by Rohit Shetty. It is a follow-up of the film Singham, launched in 2011. Bijarao Singham is the name of the lead role player who is transferred to Mumbia. After finding out that one of his friends died in a tragic incident, he plans on finding the truth behind his death.
6. Night Flight
Night Flight is a 2014 film directed by Leesong Hee-il. It is a drama based on three teenage boys who fall apart after joining high school. Yong-joo and Ki-taek are still friends, but one of the boys, Ki-woong, becomes estranged from his two best friends. He gains fame in the school and starts hanging out with the school’s powerful and mighty gang (Sung-jin’s gang). Yong-joo develops feelings for Ki-woong and when Ki-taek finds out, he too joins the Sung-jin’s gang.
5. U Ri Sunhi
U Ri Sunhi, also referred to as Our Sunhi is a 2013 romance-drama movie directed by Hong Sang-soo. It is about a lady (Sunhi), a graduate from film school, who wants to pursue further studies in America. She goes back to her school to request a recommendation from her professor. At first, he is hesitant, but decides to write the letter anyway. He writes it and warns Sunhi he will write with an honest view, so she can choose to use the recommendation letter or not.
4. I Saw The Devil
I Saw The Devil is a 2010 South Korean action-thriller movie directed by Kim Jee-woon. It is a revenge story that is fueled by the murder of the fiancé of an NIS agent who goes by the name Kim Soo-hyun. The murderer, Kyung Chul, is a taxi driver, who finds the agent’s fiancé stranded with a punctured tire. He pulls over and instead of helping, he kills her and scatters her body parts.
3. Twilight Gangsters
Twilight is yet another South Korean comedy-crime movie released in 2010. It is directed by Kang Hyo-jin. Three grandmothers save up for a holiday vacation in Hawaii but their dreams are cut short when a crook steals their savings from the bank. In seeking revenge, they go after the gang robbers and find one of them. Unfortunately, he was tricked by the rest and has no money. The three determined grandmothers ask the robber, Joon-suk to train them how to rob. They become bank robbers and they find funds to sponsor their vacation.
2. Ju-On: The Grudge
Ju-On: The Grudge is a 2002 horror movie about a vengeful spirit that kills one person after the other. it is a Japanese movie directed by Takashi Shimizu. It starts off when Takeo murders his wife (Kayako) for having an affair with another man. He then kills their cat as well as their son. This prompts a curse in their home and the ghost of Kayako kills Takeo. From then on, anyone who enters in that house suffers from the curse and dies a horrible death.
1. Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon
Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon is a 2000 film featured in Taiwan, Hong Kong, and America. It is an action-drama film directed by Ang Lee with a setup of the 19th Century Qing Dynasty. It is based on the Wuxia book series “Crane Iron Pentalogy” by Wang Dulu. The story is about a sword, Green Destiny, owned by a warrior known as Chow Yun-Fat. It gets stolen as his lover (Michelle Yeoh) takes it to safety, and the hunt is on to find it.
—-A. Licia