Melo Movie (2025)

Some dramas just hit different, and this one? Totally one of them

I seriously can’t picture anyone else playing Ko Gyeom other than Choi Wooshik. He fits the role so naturally, it’s like it was made just for him.

What makes this drama stand out is how it tells the story. It’s not just about waiting for the final cut of Mubee’s melo movie—it’s about the whole process. The struggles, the little moments, the character dynamics—everything feels so real and personal. It doesn’t try too hard to hit you with heavy emotions all at once, but instead, it slowly builds up this warmth that just sticks with you.

Honestly, I never expected Choi Wooshik and Park Boyoung to be in the same project, but their chemistry? Way stronger than I thought. Their scenes together feel so natural, not forced at all, and it just makes their relationship in the drama even more believable. Every interaction hits the right emotional notes—subtle but leaves an impact.

On top of that, this drama is a visual treat. The cinematography and color grading? Chef’s kiss. Every scene looks so soft, warm, and aesthetic, like something straight out of a painting. But it’s not just pretty for the sake of it—it actually enhances the emotions in every moment.

Also, the rewatch value is insane. The more you watch, the more details you pick up, and it just makes the experience even better. For me personally, this is 100% a comfort drama—the kind I’d go back to anytime I need something heartwarming and nostalgic.

If you’re into dramas with solid character development, natural chemistry, gorgeous visuals, and a story that lingers, this one needs to be on your watchlist.

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just like a melo-movie ?

This feels like I'm watching a melodrama. Also, this one is really "real life-coded." The characters aren't perfect, but they are happy with who they are.
The music — it's wonderful! Everything becomes so much more meaningful with the OSTs, and that's just perfect.
It's a bit dramatic with the side couple, but in the end, I think they're happy with the way things turned out.
Everyone is so full of youth and life. They sometimes fall, but they learn how to stand up again.
And main couple: They are hard at the beginning but then I really like that cute couple!!

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How to Know When to Let Go

"But the world outside of movies was always harsh and burdensome. There were no well-crafted plots or heartwarming lines. Life was just lonely and desolate." Ko Gyeom

Humans would rather hide in a pretend world than face the true reality of living. This series follows four characters as they work their way out of the blinders they placed on themselves in order to please others, but really....to hide from the hard truths of their lives and themselves . The two main leads, Ko Gyeom and Mu Bi are adults still dealing with the loss of their parents at a young age. For Mu Bi it was the loss of her father, whom she felt never loved her or wanted to be with her. For Ko Gyeom it was an over dependence on his older brother who gave up everything to raise Gyeon when they lost their parents. Kim Jae Wook plays the loving, protective, yet depressed brother so well. He is the fifth character in the story that cannot find a way to move on and forward past the harshness life has dealt him. After his brother's death, Gyeon realizes how much his brother sacrificed for him, how little he knew about him especially his unhappiness, and how his own selfish dependence kept the both of them living in an endless loop of pretending life was like the movies. This leads to Gyeon working on a movie set where he meets Mu Bi, who like her father, made movies her career. An attraction between the two begins, but as fast as it sparks, it gets interrupted. They disappear from each other's lives for 5 years, then suddenly find they are living across the street from each other. The rest of the story is how the two get together and also how they work out their individual pain that loss and guilt has left them with.

There is a secondary couple whose storyline is one of the best I've seen in a drama series. Their story is how young love fails to grow which leads to breaking up. Five years later, they come back into each other's lives to work on a project together. One has moved on, one is stuck in the past, but they are both mourning the loss of the great love they once had. Lee Jun Young and Jeon So Nee are excellent in these roles. The writing and the acting really came together on this one, and dare I say, these supporting actors and their storyline eclipsed the leads. I really think this was one of the best parts of this series.

All in all, this series has an important message. As humans we become lost if we stay too much in the past, especially if we are caught up in guilt and anger. We have to allow ourselves to take time to heal, and then we need to bravely step back into our lives again and into the future. A message beautifully told with Melo Movie.

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MEH!

First of all, the cinematography is excellent. The locations, colors, and other elements are eye-catching.
The first couple is okay. In the beginning, they seem very childish, as if they don't have any problems. But then, they start to grow up together, sharing their feelings and problems. The female lead has anger issues, but she also learns to understand herself. The male lead's brother also has a lot of problems. He portrays the character's emotions very well. We all know that Kim Jae Wook is an incredibly talented actor. And the new talent, Cha Woo Min… he's not a bully this time! I think he should expand his range because he truly has talent. He's so sweet—when you watch him in this drama, it feels like watching your younger brother. At first, I thought he was the bad guy, but I was wrong.
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And now... the problem one...
The second couple. OMG. What is wrong with you guys? What are your problems? You were teenagers. You didn't talk about yourself with each other. You were just lovebirds. But you should grow up people. You don't want to find solutions. Just blame each other and never talk about the real problems. I kept waiting for them to talk and solve their problem but no. I want to see their relationship as adults. Talking to each other, solving problems and, finding the middle way.
I thought Si Jun's family did something for their break up. Maybe they thought that if they broke up, Si Jun would come back home and quit music. But no... they are bad okay but not this theory.
They still love each other, so there's no need to act like Romeo and Juliet. I don't like it.
I can understand their break up. They need to find their way. Especially Ju A really needed this. Because she looks like she has a child. They need to grow up. But in the end of the story, I feel they didn't grow up. They just ignore everything. Their feeling, their problems and each other. Why Ju A went and find him for movie. She acts like has a pure heart but I can’t feel her. If you don’t want to start this guy again why go and find him. Music is not enough answer.
Some people might disagree with me, but please don’t be angry with me. I’m just addicted to happy endings.

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Great acting and casting with a mix of slice-of-life and melo vibes

Subjective Gut Rating: 8.25

When the title of the drama is “Melo Movie”, I was expecting it to have a melodramatic vibe. But that’s not the case here. This drama is more of a slice-of-life with a hint of romantic comedy, instead of a true melodrama. The melo comes towards the end, I guess starting at episode 8.


Cast/Acting
“Melo Movie” features an excellent and likable cast. Choi Woo Shik gives off an adorable vibe just like in “Our Beloved Summer”, though his character is a lot more outgoing here. Nonetheless, adorable! Park Bo Young is Park Bo Young, she never disappoints and she’s more mature and can act way better than just as a typical rom-com queen. Lee Jung Young is as handsome and sexy as ever. I am quite surprised that he pulls off the more emotional scenes. I don’t know Jeon So Nee but she acts well enough for me to not like her character very much, and that said something about her acting. Big bro Kim Jae Wook, despite the ugly long hair, exudes that mature and melo vibe.

Romance (Ko Gyeom + Kim Mu Bi)
A lot happened in the first episode. Some might find that too fast, but it actually sucked me in to want to learn more about their story. Their interactions on the set are slowly revealed throughout the first half of the drama. I think they are cute and have great chemistry. They are actually two lonely souls, but tackles their loneliness in two different ways. I do feel that Ko Gyeom didn’t do enough groveling before getting back on Mu Bi’s good graces. I might have wanted him to pursue her longer and suffer a little more. But in the end, I enjoyed their stories and how they slowly open up to each other.

Romance (Hong Si Jun + Son Ju A)
As I was watching their story unfold, I actually am rooting for them to not be together in the end. I am NOT saying this is their ending, but that’s how I felt as I got to know their stories. We actually don’t know their true relationship until the last few episodes. As with how I feel with Ko Gyeom, I did not like how Ju A barged into Si Jun’s life again as if nothing happened between them. Despite knowing her feelings for Si Jun back then, I still found her selfish.

Supporting Cast
I like the supporting cast and their relationship with the main characters. I love the fun friendship between Director Ma and Ko Gyeom. I love the sibling-like friendship between Mu Bi and Jeong Hu. I love the little bromance between Ko Gyeom and Jeong Hu. I love the friendship and employer-employee relationship between Video store owner and Si Jun. And I especially love the brotherhood between Ko Gyeom and Ko Jun.

Pacing
As mentioned, the first episode sucked me in with a lot of info to set the stage for the rest of the drama. For a slice-of-life, I think the pacing is pretty good and not super slow (I expected it to be slower). But I can’t say I didn’t lose a little focus in the middle of the drama. For a binge-watcher, the middle is when it seems slightly slower. I actually fell asleep watching ep 8 but it’s definitely not the fault of the drama but me. I re-watched ep 8 and it became my favorite episode of the drama. It’s the most emotional episode.
Different Perspectives
Throughout the drama, we’re able to hear monologues of the main characters, sharing their inner thoughts and their side of the story. I actually quite enjoy hearing both Ko Gyeom and Mu Bi’s perspectives back-and-forth within the same episode. But my biggest criticisms are that sometimes the monologue happens when there are dialogs going on. There’s not enough pause, thus I feel like I miss a word or two here and there.


Many compared “Melo Movie” and “Our Beloved Summer”. They are two very different dramas with a different feel. “Melo Movie” has more of a melo vibe, and “Our Beloved Summer” is more slice-of-life. If I compared the two, I like “Our Beloved Summer” more even though I am not a big fan of slice-of-life. I was more touched by the storytelling, character growth and second-chance romance. Despite loving episode 8, I am more emotionally invested in “Our Beloved Summer”.

Would I still recommend “Melo Movie”? Yes, I would especially if you are fans of the actors. It was still a very nice watch but the vibe changes throughout the drama. It could be a good or bad thing, depending on your taste.


Completed: 3/9/2025 - Review #552

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A drama that doesn't make it till end

I've started this drama watching thought that this would be a great as the casting is also good but it doesn't up to the expectation at start it was fun I was enjoying but after the accident of his brother ko- jun the drama was not that much entertaining until they met again the whole story was also so boring first two met then they left then they met again after 5 years same goes for 2 leads they met dated then broke up I think that it was just talking time to complete a full 10 episode drama it should be wrapped up in a movie of two hours maximum I also hate that background music as it was so depressing even at good moments they had that bgm the only scene I like after that was last scene when Kim mubee film was flopped but it's sound track was hit 😂

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Melo Movie — The Kind of Slow-Paced Drama You Need Once in a While

I really didn’t know what to expect with Melo Movie. I only knew it had the same screenwriter as Our Beloved Summer, which I started but had to put on hold because I was juggling so many other C-dramas at the time.

I decided to stick out with Melo Movie mainly because my sisters recommended it—and I adore the cast. To my surprise, this series turned out to be something completely unexpected.

For some background: I’ve actually been moving away from K-dramas for a while. I grew up with them in the '90s, but over the years, as they gained popularity overseas, the hype kind of dulled my love for them. I slowly returned to C-dramas, which is what I originally grew up with. K-dramas was an accident that landed in my lap without me knowing because most of them were dubbed in another Asian language. This is why, every now and then, I’ll watch a series here and there, but they don’t have all my love and attention.

Why am I sharing all this? Because Melo Movie gave me that nostalgia—like a warm throwback to the '90s and my love for both movies and dramas.

From the very start, the story captivated me. And honestly, that’s been rare with recent K-dramas. I loved that the main couple had a shared passion I could actually relate to—I simply love movies. I grew up on VHS tapes, watching everything from Stephen Chow to Love Actually. Some of the episode titles in this drama even referenced older films. You can’t help but fall in love with the director and the screenwriting because they are people who love movies just as much as I do.

Things I loved:

• The details. I’m by no means a critic or someone who studied film, but I’ve picked up things over time just from watching so many dramas and movies. The small, subtle details made this series fun to watch. I’ve been rushing through a lot of shows lately, so to my surprise, Melo Movie made me slow down—especially for a K-drama.

• The lighting. The visuals made the emotional moments so much more meaningful. I keep thinking about that kiss under the lamppost—a classic '90s scene—or the candlelight moment when she comforted him after his brother’s death. There was also a scene with flickering lights throughout the dark house, it felt like scattered thoughts, like a visual representation of a mind trying to piece everything together.

• Everything was a movie to him. Every encounter, every setback—it all played out like a scene. His optimism and love for movies made his character so endearing.

• Mubee’s complexity. I loved that she wasn’t just “the angry girl.” Yes, she had anger, but it was rooted in real, logical reasons. I also adored the portrayal of her younger self—fighting neighbor bullies, lying about being an orphan. Her character felt fully fleshed out. I’ve always been a fan of Park Bo Young, and I’m glad she’s stepped away from just rom-coms and fantasy into more grounded, slice-of-life roles.

• The older brother. I’ve followed Kim Jae Wook since the early 2000s, so seeing him here added an extra layer of enjoyment. His character brought depth and pushed the protagonist’s growth in a meaningful way.

Things I struggled with:

While many people loved the second lead couple, I personally had a harder time connecting with their story. It started off strong but eventually felt redundant. He clearly wasn’t over the breakup, and she only stepped away because she was burned out—classic young love where you give everything and lose yourself in the process.

By the time she came back, it felt like she had a hidden agenda—like she wanted to help him succeed and still loved him but was not planning on getting back together.
Honestly, the last two episodes were kind of a blur for me, mostly because the second couple’s storyline took center stage, and it just didn’t hold my attention the same way.

To conclude, Melo Movie wasn’t just a slow-paced love story—it was a love letter to film, to memory, and to that quiet kind of connection that doesn’t need grand gestures to feel meaningful. It reminded me of why I used to love K-dramas in the first place. The subtle emotions, the attention to detail, and the quiet moments that linger—those were all here, and they hit just right.

It’s not a perfect series, and there were parts I struggled with, especially the second couple’s arc toward the end. But even with that, the story stuck with me. I didn’t rush through this one. I let it sit. And maybe that’s the kind of drama Melo Movie is—something you don’t binge, but something you feel.

If you’ve ever loved movies or miss the kind of storytelling that feels personal and a little nostalgic, this might be the drama to pull you in too.

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The forest is very dangerous when you miss the trees

You know some shows are a challenge to watch. Maybe the script is badly written or it is poorly made. Bad acting and/or confused direction can be a deal breaker as well. Melo Movie is none of the above, yet it is still not an easy watch. I'm sure it will test the patience of some viewers.

Our leads are all flawed and they don't wear their emotions on their sleeves. Sure, they are talented individuals but lives mostly mundane lives. They are opaque to their acquaintances. They suffer in silence as they drifting through their days.

Even though our protagonist's backstories are distinct, they share something in common. They have an unhealthy focus on details and they are very introspective. They have a narrow field of vision as if they have blinkers on. They might be in a loving relationship, but they would interpret everything from their own perspective and give scant consideration to others feelings and circumstances. This should ring alarm bells and it is ultimately (self)destructive. This brought on bouts of misplaced anger, melancholia and festering emotional wounds.

For us, this translates to a languid pace. Nothing is clean cut and it took a long time for each character to come to terms with their personal issues and, trust me, there are plenty. This means lots of pensive stares and slow panning shots in solitude. Meaningful, yes, but I can also understand why this show will not work for everyone. It is a good show, but it doesn’t have many hooks. It is as if the drama throws down the gauntlet. Do you have the patience?

Expositions comes late in the piece and can feel verbose. I have no doubt some viewers will bemoan the fact that they saw it coming from a mile away. In that sense, the show is its own worst enemy.

Putting all that aside, there are some wonderful performances. PBY as the FL is solid as ever. KJW as Ko Jun is wonderful but the biggest surprise is LJY as Si-jun. I would consider this his breakout role. While he is technically the second lead to CWS, he outshines him. I just don’t feel CWS brought his A-game. For me, Si-jun feels raw and real while Gyeom is a bit flat and floaty. He needs Moo Bi to drag him screaming and kicking back to the here and now. Thank the drama gods for the swoon worthy moments. That kept me going when I start to weaver.

Am I defending the indefensible? Maybe . . I hope not! Truth be told, the show does make it hard to get into if you just want a casual watch. 2 eps in and you might still be wondering what is this all about. So rather than dragging this out, I will just say this, hang in there. Be patient. FF the slow bits if it helps but don’t give up too soon. It does get better.

BTW, the OST is lovely, and production value is solid. Peace.

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Terribly Painful to Watch

There is only one episode that is decent in this show and that is episode 7. The rest of this drama was so difficult to watch it took me 2 months to get through it. And even after putting it on 1.5x speed, I kept falling asleep in the final episode until I couldn't be bothered to rewind.

The biggest flaw is that we really don't have any character to root for. I had an intense dislike for both the male leads. The female lead characters were also meh. The older brother was the only decent character and I could feel connected to him and his story but we don't get to explore much of him. Nothing exciting happens. The dialogues are not something that resonate with you. There is no comedy to relieve the tension. The romance is very toned down. I wasn't feeling the chemistry between the leads at all.

The cinematography and OST are the only decent aspects of the series but not enough to make you watch. I am usually generous with my ratings but I struggled to not drop this. I really kept hoping it will get better but it never did. It just wasn't my cup of tea.

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Good cast, good show

i watched this with my friend so my review of this show might seem a bit biased since i enjoyed it very much. maybe because i was with my friend watching it or maybe because the show was really enjoyable to watch.

regardless i do remember starting the show and immediately getting hooked on it. every character that was introduced was fun, interesting and had a good plotline.

the only character i didn’t really like was sijun because he was the biggest debby downer of the show and he remained that way till the end. no character development seemed to have happened with him except for the ex plot. which also seemed a bit icky in my opinion but they did show a very realistic part of life.

i genuinely thought they would get back together but as much as i lowkey rooted for them in the end, im glad they didn’t end up together. it was realistic and both of them didn’t fit each other anymore. it made sense.

now onto the main characters, i really have no complaints there. the pairing seemed so random (actors wise), i only saw wooshik in one romcom kdrama which was our beloved summer and i throughly enjoyed that , but this was amazing too. wooshiks comedy timing is incredible and he never failed to land a joke.

boyoung is amazing as always of course, she’s the queen of romcom shows ! i loved her performance. she does ‘empty’ type characters so well, well enough to keep you interested and to not just see them as a boring character whose personality was only being nonchalant all the time.

it was a lovely show that showed both grievance and acceptance of our loved ones passing away. the show handles it with humor and melancholy, both balanced just enough.

i really enjoyed this show. it was funny, romantic, sad and it showed real things from real life. actors were amazing, and that one scene between the main characters where they were in the middle of the street during a sunset, what a beautiful scene…i still remember it. the colours, the background, the kiss. everything was beautiful.

not much to complain about. its worth the check out.

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maybe not a masterpiece, but a good time

8.5-8.75/10

loved kim mubee and kogyeom 🥹❤️ another kdrama couple whose relationship and dynamics felt real and is mature. Jun is my favourite character no doubt, and Ep7 was the best episode too. Cried, laughed, and overall had a good time. the OST is great and adds to the whole vibe, and ironically enough I think i might have loved the OST tracks a bit more than the drama itself haha.

any drama or film that refers to movie lovers, part of the industry, and gives ode to the classical films - that teaches me more and have a discourse with fellow movie lovers is an instant tick for me

some of the credited scenes helped me discover certain old hollywood classics and have a talk about with my cousins on it - so that's a win for me!

the romance between the main characters was really my taste, and good, the one between the secondary couple being less so.

I started the drama for the second couple at first, expecting to Iove them but unfortunately didn't like them at all 🥲 and it's not the "unhappy" ending, i did like the realistic aspect of it, but their whole arc, or lack of it, felt contrived and rather used in an attempt send a message by the writer. so that was disappointing.

it's a good watch. i knew it won't enter my top 10 the moment i started it or somewhere around the half way mark - but it's still a good time. maybe a top15/20 contender fosho.

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Melo Movie: A K-Drama That Stumbles, Then Soars!

Let me be upfront: I almost gave up on Melo Movie during episode one. It was such a letdown that I genuinely questioned why I pressed play. BUT—I’m so glad I kept going, because what came after was an unexpectedly heartfelt, witty, and beautifully layered romantic drama that ended up surprising me in all the right ways.

Netflix’s 2025 Korean drama Melo Movie feels like a love letter to film lovers and messy humans alike. At the center of it all is Gyeom, a sharp-tongued film critic who doesn’t sugarcoat a thing (bless him), and MooBi, a down-on-her-luck director whose career (after a successful 1st film) is hanging by a thread. Their relationship is chaotic, passionate, and painfully relatable at times.

There’s something so satisfying about watching two people who are equally flawed but determined to grow—both professionally and emotionally. And when they clash? Whew. Sparks fly. The chemistry between the leads had me glued to the screen, and it only got better with each episode.

Now, let’s talk structure. The first episode felt like it belonged to a completely different show—slow, flat, and oddly disconnected. But by episode 2, the series found its groove. And by episode 7? I was clutching my heart. That one episode alone made the whole ride worth it.

What really hooked me was the show’s balance: it’s not just about romance. It’s about career struggles, creative burnout, vulnerability, and learning when to let go. Plus, the script is peppered with clever meta moments that film nerds (hi, me) will love.

Was it perfect? No. The subplot with the secondary couple was… well, unnecessary. It honestly felt like filler, and I didn’t miss a single thing when I started fast-forwarding through their scenes.

But overall? Melo Movie gave me way more than I expected. It made me laugh, reflect, and root hard for two people trying to find their voice—through all the noise and pain.

Final Thoughts:
⭐ Skip episode 1. Trust me.
⭐ Stay for the feels, film references, and Kum’s savage one-liners.
⭐ Worth watching if you love messy love stories with substance and soul.

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