Park Chan-wook

One of the most startling cinematic talents to emerge in the New Korean Wave of the late 1990s, Park Chan-wook turned heads with his zeitgeist-defining dark revenge thriller Oldboy (2002). Searingly violent and shot with unabashed brio and cynicism, that film singlehandedly put South Korean movies on the global map. Park is one of the key touchstones in the rise of Korean culture over the past 25 years, alongside milestones like "Gangnam Style", Parasite, BLACKPINK, BTS, Squid Game, and KPop Demon Hunters. Along with his compatriot Bong Joon-ho (Parasite), Park has redefined the modern-day blockbuster. He is truly your favorite director’s favorite director—Quentin Tarantino counts Park as one of his favorite filmmakers, and Spike Lee was such a fan of Oldboy that he made his own version in 2013. Hollywood A-listers such as Nicole Kidman, Florence Pugh, and Robert Downey Jr. have worked with Park and attested to his talents and singular vision. His next film will reportedly feature Matthew McConaughey, Austin Butler, and Pedro Pascal.