As films across genres compete for global attention, K-dramas are holding their own on worldwide charts. In particular, SBS’s Friday–Saturday drama Brave New World broke into double-digit ratings with episode 6. The buzz exploded even more after a kiss ending between stars Lim Ji-yeon and Heo Nam-jun teased the start of a full-on romance.
According to global OTT ranking aggregator FlixPatrol on the 25th, the No. 1 film is I Am Not an Easy Man. Released on the 22nd, the comedy follows an arrogant yet charming playboy who wakes up in a parallel world ruled by women — turning his life completely upside down.
No. 2 is the animated film Swapped, released on the 1st. When a tiny forest creature and a bold, imposing bird suddenly swap bodies, the unlikely duo is forced to team up for the adventure of a lifetime.
At No. 3 is the documentary film The Crash, which investigates a shocking case where a teen girl drove into a building, killing her boyfriend and his friend. What first looked like a tragic accident is meticulously reexamined as a possible murder.
On the TV side, K-dramas are making waves at No. 4 and No. 5. First, Netflix’s series The WONDERfools, released on the 15th, is holding strong at No. 4. The sci-fi comedy follows so-called neighborhood "losers" in 1999 who suddenly gain superpowers and scramble to protect the world from a villain threatening peace — a chaotic, laugh-out-loud superpowered adventure. In an interview on the 22nd, lead actor Park Eun-bin amped up excitement for a potential Season 2, saying, "It depends on viewers around the world."
Next, Brave New World, which premiered on the 8th, landed at No. 5. The series portrays a high-stakes, enemies-to-lovers romance between unknown actress Shin Seori (played by Lim Ji-yeon), who becomes a notorious "villain" after being possessed by the spirit of a legendary Joseon-era femme fatale, and chaebol Cha Se-gye (Heo Nam-jun), dubbed a capitalist monster. According to Nielsen Korea, episode 6, which aired on the 23rd, recorded a nationwide rating of 10.3%, marking the show’s first double-digit breakthrough. The episode closed with Shin Seori and Cha Se-gye confirming their feelings and sharing a kiss — a scene that sent viewers into a frenzy.