Everyone enjoys a good laugh and most of us are fans of good action sequences with thrilling car chases and meticulously choreographed fight scenes. There is something irresistibly charming about watching good-looking people masterfully deliver comedic and actual punches with a nonchalant charisma. A good action-comedy combines the thrill of breathtaking action with a right blend of lighthearted comedy to not let the serious tones of the movie overpower it. Korean action comedies do that splendidly and, in a style, unique to Korean cinema. Here are our recommendations for 5 Korean Action-comedies you should definitely check out
The Spy: Undercover Operation (2013)
You can’t go wrong with a Spy comedy.
Showcasing a star-studded cast including Sol Kyung-gu, Moon So-ri, Daniel Henney, and Go Chang-Seok, Directed by Lee Seung-Joon, The Spy: Undercover Operation is simply a laugh riot. A true action-comedy with the right blend of slapstick comedy and well-choreographed action sequences.
Chul-Soo is a secret agent who is very good at his job but equally bad at his marriage. His wife, who has no idea about her husband’s real identity, is charmed by a rival spy in an attempt to distract Chul-Soo and sabotage a mission concerning national security. What ensues after is utter chaos in which Chul-Soo tries to save his country and his marriage.
The movie was a commercial success generating US$22.5 million on the box office with a production budget of US$8.9 million.
Interesting fact: Sol Kyung-Gu and Moon So-Ri previously starred together in the 2002 film "Oasis".
Midnight Runners (2017)
Who doesn’t like a good buddy cop movie?
Directed by Kim Joo-Hwan (Jason Kim), and starring Park Seo-Joon, and Kang Ha-Neul , Midnight Runners is a story of two undertraining cops who witness a crime during a night out. The film then follows their struggle as they then run against the clock to solve the crime and save the victims. While the premise of the film sounds grim, the movie is actually filled with light-hearted moments that will make you laugh out loud. The chemistry of the two leads, Park Seo-Joon and Kang Ha-Neul is fabulous. Their banter and silly antics will make you smile and laugh throughout the movie and their commitment to achieving their goal will warm your heart. The character development of both leads is a treat to watch. The film deals with some delicate issues with the required sensitivity.
Released on August 9, 2017, Midnight Runners was an immediate success at the box office obtaining 2nd place on box office on its opening day. It was also the 6th highest-grossing domestic film of 2017.
Interesting fact: Midnight Runners was Park Seo-Joon’s first leading role in a feature film. The actor is known for his leading roles in K-drama like what is wrong with secretary Kim, Fight for my way, and Hwarang.
The Thieves (2012):
Is there really no honor among thieves?
The Thieves, a 2012 Korean Action Comedy, is the perfect heist movie. The film is directed by Choi Dong-Hoon and boasts a star-studded cast of Kim Yun-Seok, Kim Hye-Soo, Lee Jung-Jae, Kim Soo-Hyun, Jun Ji-Hyun, Kim Hae-Sook, Angelica Lee, Simon Yam, and Oh Dal-Su.
Two groups of professional thieves are invited by a heist mastermind to steal a $20 million diamond from a casino. In a team where betrayal is second nature, can you trust anyone? Anything more will be bordering a spoiler so I highly suggest you check it out and find out for yourself.
The Thieves was a massive blockbuster on the box office, recording the second-highest single-day opening of all time in Korea. With over 12.9 million ticket sales, it is the sixth highest-grossing film in Korean film history.
Interesting fact: Kim Soo-Hyun had publicly promised he would give a piggyback ride to 10th million viewer. The Thieves reached 10 million ticket sales on its 22nd day of release and Kim Soo-Hyun fulfilled his promise and carried around the lucky fan on his back at the movie premiere.
Veteran 2015
Can an honest policeman win against the whole system?
Veteran is a police thriller-comedy where one ordinary policeman fights for justice against a corrupt system and a billionaire corporate princeling running a crime syndicate. Veteran is written and directed by Ryoo Seung-wan and features Jung-min Hwang and Ah-in Yoo in the major roles.
While the film starts on a lighter note, it progressively gets a bit darker and serious. If you are looking for an action-comedy movie which is heavy on the action and thrill then Veteran is the choice for you. It’s a non-stop adrenaline rush and will keep you on edge till the end.
Veteran is the 5th highest-grossing South Korean film. Made with a production budget of US$5.1 million, it earned US$92 million on Box Office.
Interesting fact: Dong-Seok Ma (Train to Busan) made an unplanned cameo in the movie. The actor came to the set to watch the shooting and volunteered to make a short appearance.
Extreme Job (2019)
Who’s hungry for justice..and some fried chicken?
Extreme Job features the acting talents of Ryu Seung Ryong, Lee Ha-Nee, Jin Seon Kyu, Lee Dong Hwi, and Gong Myung and is directed by Lee Byeong-Heon. The story revolves around a five-person narcotics team, led by Detective Squad Chief Go, who are terrible at their jobs. A stakeout mission is their only chance to score a big fish and restore their reputation in their department. Things, however, take an unexpected turn when the chicken restaurant they were hiding at becomes surprisingly popular. The movie follows their struggle to keep their cover by running the fried chicken business and trying to complete their mission and catch the criminals.
Extreme Job is the highest-grossing domestic South Korean movie ( as of March 2021). The film dominated the charts for four weeks straight after its release on Jan 23, 2019. It also surpassed the 10 million ticket sales milestone in only 15 days. Made with a production budget of US $5.8 million, the film did a business of 120 million USD.
Interesting fact: In May 2019 it was announced that Kevin Hart will be producing and starring in the remake of the movie Extreme Job, joining hands with Universal Pictures and CJ Entertainment.
So which one these action-comedies you plan to watch first? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.