movies i watched in 2026
in 2026, i’m stepping out of my comfort zone and taking my watchlist beyond what i usually stick to. i love korean cinema, but this year i want to dive into thai, chinese, hong kong, and cinema from other parts of asia i haven’t discovered yet. this list is basically my little film diary new cultures, new perspectives, and hopefully a few movies that completely change me along the way.
-
![Good Morning]()
1. Good Morning
Japanese Movie - 1959
-
![Infernal Affairs]()
2. Infernal Affairs
Hong Kong Movie - 2002
-
![Flat Girls]()
3. Flat Girls
Thai Movie - 2025
-
![Sound of Silence]()
4. Sound of Silence
Chinese Movie - 2025
-
![Riverside Mukoritta]()
5. Riverside Mukoritta
Japanese Movie - 2022
-
![In Our Prime]()
6. In Our Prime
Korean Movie - 2022
-
![Tunnel]()
7. Tunnel
Korean Movie - 2016
-
![A Hard Day]()
8. A Hard Day
Korean Movie - 2014
-
![The Little Girl Who Conquered Time]()
9. The Little Girl Who Conquered Time
Japanese Movie - 1983
-
![My Daughter Is a Zombie]()
10. My Daughter Is a Zombie
Korean Movie - 2025
-
![Shutter]()
11. Shutter
Thai Movie - 2004
-
![Typhoon Club]()
12. Typhoon Club
Japanese Movie - 1985
-
![The Outlaws]()
13. The Outlaws
Korean Movie - 2017
-
![House of the Disappeared]()
14. House of the Disappeared
Korean Movie - 2017
-
![Confessions]()
15. Confessions
Japanese Movie - 2010
-
![Okay! Madam]()
16. Okay! Madam
Korean Movie - 2020
-
![Han Gong Ju]()
17. Han Gong Ju
Korean Movie - 2014
-
![Death Whisperer 2]()
18. Death Whisperer 2
Thai Movie - 2024
-
![Ashfall]()
19. Ashfall
Korean Movie - 2019
-
![The Roundup]()
20. The Roundup
Korean Movie - 2022
-
![Along with the Gods: The Two Worlds]()
21. Along with the Gods: The Two Worlds
Korean Movie - 2017
-
![The Mimic]()
22. The Mimic
Korean Movie - 2017
-
![Lost in the Stars]()
23. Lost in the Stars
Chinese Movie - 2022
-
![My Boss, My Hero]()
24. My Boss, My Hero
Korean Movie - 2001
Very silly and over the top, but pretty entertaining.
-
![Living in Two Worlds]()
25. Living in Two Worlds
Japanese Movie - 2024
A beautiful and sensitive film about identity and belonging.
-
![Noise]()
26. Noise
Korean Movie - 2024
Unfortunately this one really didn’t work for me. I found it messy and hard to stay interested.
-
![Black Night Parade]()
27. Black Night Parade
Japanese Movie - 2022
Fun concept, but it didn’t fully work for me.
-
![Like a Virgin]()
28. Like a Virgin
Korean Movie - 2006
Unique, heartfelt, and surprisingly emotional. Really liked this one.
-
![The Ugly]()
29. The Ugly
Korean Movie - 2025
Interesting story with some strong moments, even if it’s not perfect.
-
![Asura: The City of Madness]()
30. Asura: The City of Madness
Korean Movie - 2016
-
![Boomerang Family]()
31. Boomerang Family
Korean Movie - 2013
-
![The Moon]()
32. The Moon
Korean Movie - 2023
-
![Babanbabanban Vampire]()
33. Babanbabanban Vampire
Japanese Movie - 2025
-
![Take Me Home]()
34. Take Me Home
Thai Movie - 2016
-
![Ring]()
35. Ring
Japanese Movie - 1998
-
![Homestay]()
36. Homestay
Thai Movie - 2018
-
![Kokuho]()
37. Kokuho
Japanese Movie - 2025
-
![Shall We Dance?]()
38. Shall We Dance?
Japanese Movie - 1996
-
![Sumo Do, Sumo Don't]()
39. Sumo Do, Sumo Don't
Japanese Movie - 1992
-
![Rob B Hood]()
40. Rob B Hood
Hong Kong Movie - 2006
-
![Creation of the Gods Ⅰ: Kingdom of Storms]()
41. Creation of the Gods Ⅰ: Kingdom of Storms
Chinese Movie - 2023
-
![Humint]()
42. Humint
Korean Movie - 2026
-
![The Shadow's Edge]()
43. The Shadow's Edge
Chinese Movie - 2025
-
![Creation of the Gods II: Demon Force]()
44. Creation of the Gods II: Demon Force
Chinese Movie - 2025
-
![Prison on Fire 1]()
45. Prison on Fire 1
Hong Kong Movie - 1987
