Korean monster film ‘D-War’ roars back after nearly two decades onto Netflix's global top 10
The 2007 Korean monster film has entered Netflix’s global top 10, climbing charts across Europe after its release in select countries.
A scene from comedian and director Shim Hyung-rae's 2007 film "D-War"
JOONGANG ILBO
Comedian and film director Shim Hyung-rae's 2007 film “D-War” is enjoying an unexpected resurgence overseas after becoming available on Netflix in select countries on Friday.
“D-War” climbed to No. 6 on Netflix's global movie chart on Monday, according to FlixPatrol, a website that tracks rankings on global streaming platforms. As of Wednesday, the film ranked No. 9, remaining in the global top 10.
The film has also climbed near the top of Netflix charts in individual countries. “D-War” rose as high as No. 2 on Netflix's movie rankings in major European countries including France, Germany and Italy and entered the charts in 20 countries.
The unexpected rise of the 19-year-old film on Netflix's global charts has drawn attention to what may be driving its renewed popularity.
U.S. entertainment outlet ScreenRant pointed to the film's entertainment value, particularly its giant monsters and dragons, in analyzing its popularity on Netflix. The explanation, however, was ScreenRant's analysis and not an official assessment from Netflix.
The monster film centers on an Imugi, a serpent-like creature from Korean legend, battling in downtown Los Angeles over a mystical orb known as a yeouiju. The film drew attention at the time for its extensive computer-generated imagery and large-scale monster battles, which were unusual for a Korean production. It was also a box-office hit in Korea, drawing 7.85 million moviegoers.
The film, however, also faced harsh criticism over its weak screenplay, direction and dialogue. Its marketing as a Korean attempt to take on Hollywood blockbusters also fueled debate over whether support for the film was driven by patriotism and nationalism.
Shim is a first-generation Korean comedian who later became a filmmaker. He debuted in 1982 and gained widespread popularity for his character Young-gu, a bumbling but lovable figure who became one of his signature roles.
He kicked off his career as a filmmaker in 1993 with "Young-gu and Princess Zzu Zzu," in which he also starred as his signature character, Young-gu. His latest film was "The Last Godfather," which premiered in 2010.
BY HYEON YE-SEUL [kim.jiye@joongang.co.kr]
This article was originally written in Korean and translated by a bilingual reporter with the help of generative AI tools. It was then edited by a native English-speaking editor. All AI-assisted translations are reviewed and refined by our newsroom.
