After watching Squid Game season 2, audiences may be craving even more horrific stories, and luckily, Netflix has several great movies to check out. Among Netflix’s vast catalog of movies and shows, Squid Game is one of the most unique entries. The South Korean show centers on a series of deadly children’s games, where the poor and vulnerable compete for a life-changing amount of money. In season 2, audiences got to see even more bloody games, alongside Gi-hun’s newfound mission to take down the Front Man. Yet, the end of Squid Game season 2 may leave viewers wanting more.
Because of Squid Game’s distinct premise, it may feel impossible to find another movie or show that evokes the same feelings. Though there are countless K-dramas to watch, many of them lack the dark edge of Squid Game. Similarly, American thrillers are incredibly easy to find, yet few have the intense trials that are at the core of Squid Game. Fortunately, there are some strong follow-ups to Squid Game that are currently streaming on Netflix. These projects are intense, grim, and will hopefully have audiences just as captivated as they were by Squid Game season 2.
5
Circle (2015)
Strangers Must Vote For Who Lives & Who Dies
Circle is a psychological thriller film directed by Aaron Hann and Mario Miscione. Set in a mysterious chamber, the story revolves around a group of 50 strangers who must decide who among them deserves to survive while facing harsh ethical dilemmas. As tensions rise and alliances form, each individual must confront their morality in a high-stakes game of life and death.
- Release Date
-
October 16, 2015
- Runtime
-
87 Minutes
- Cast
-
Michael Nardelli
, Carter Jenkins
, Lawrence Kao
, Allegra Masters
, Julie Benz - Director
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Aaron Hann
, Mario Miscione - Writers
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Aaron Hann
, Mario Miscione
Though not a critical darling, a perfect follow-up to Squid Game is the 2015 sci-fi horror film, Circle. In this movie, 50 strangers wake up in a mysterious room where they are arranged in two circles around a looming black dome. The people quickly realize that if they move from their positions, the dome will kill them. Yet, even more terrifying is the fact that each person is able to vote on who they think should die next. Every two minutes, another individual must die, forcing the strangers to become allies or enemies.
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Circle has a rather disappointing 57% on Rotten Tomatoes, but audiences should not let that deter them. In terms of plot, Circle may be the closest viewers can get to Squid Game. The movie showcases the same scenario of strangers either supporting each other, or throwing each other under the bus, proving how far humans will go for survival. As a result, Circle will not only thrill audiences, but will also make them think about their own morals and how they judge others in real life.
4
The Watchers (2024)
A Young Woman Is Held Captive By Supernatural Entities
Based on A.M. Shine’s novel, The Watchers follows Mina, a twenty-eight-year-old artist stranded in the middle of a forest in Ireland. Her momentary relief when she finds shelter is shattered when she discovers other strangers in the same predicament – but they’re stalked each night by unseen creatures.
- Release Date
-
June 7, 2024
- Runtime
-
102 minutes
- Cast
-
Dakota Fanning
, Georgina Campbell
, Olwen Fouéré
, Siobhan Hewlett
, John Lynch - Director
-
Ishana Shyamalan
- Writers
-
Ishana Shyamalan
, A.M. Shine
A movie that was recently added to Netflix that could make for a good watch after Squid Game is The Watchers. This 2024 movie follows Mina, a young woman who finds herself lost in the forest. Soon enough, she meets another woman who urges her to find shelter in a mysterious bunker to avoid the violent entities in the woods. However, Mina quickly discovers that she is stuck in this safe space for good, and all the while, is being surveyed by creatures known simply as the Watchers.
Although The Watchers has a more supernatural tilt, it still includes some solid parallels to Squid Game. The most obvious connection between the two is that Mina is being watched just as Gi-hun and his fellow players are being watched. The distinct relationship between Squid Game’s players and guards comes to light in this horror movie. Plus, the film is the directorial debut of Ishana Night Shyamalan, giving it a notable eerieness that feels similar to the Korean series.
3
Don’t Move (2024)
A Woman Must Escape Her Killer Before Becoming Paralyzed
A grieving woman must escape a serial killer in the remote forests of Big Sur after being injected with a paralytic agent. With only 20 minutes before her body shuts down, she embarks on a desperate race against time, battling fear and her fading physical strength in this tense survival horror thriller.
- Release Date
-
October 25, 2024
- Runtime
-
92 Minutes
- Cast
-
Kelsey Asbille
, Finn Wittrock
, Daniel Francis
, Moray Treadwell
, Denis Kostadinov
, Kate Nichols
, Skye Little Wing Dimov Saw
, Dylan Beam - Director
-
Brian Netto
, Adam Schindler - Writers
-
T.J. Cimfel
, David White
Part of what makes Squid Game so special is that it puts its characters into nearly impossible situations. This leaves viewers at the edge of their seats, desperate to know what happens next. Another horror movie that has the same effect is 2024’s Don’t Move. In this film, a young woman is injected with a paralytic agent by a killer, and must run and hide before time runs out, and she is unable to move any longer.
|
Every Game Played In Squid Game Season 2 |
|---|
|
Ddakji |
|
Bread and Lottery |
|
Jokenpô |
|
Russian Roulette |
|
Red Light, Green Light |
|
Six-Legged Pentathlon |
|
Mingle |
|
Special Round (Lights Out) |
Don’t Move may not have any children’s games, but the protagonist certainly has a massive task to overcome. Just like Squid Game’s contestants, she must race against the clock in order to save herself from a horrifying death. In this way, those who love Squid Game will almost certainly feel the same heart-pounding dread that they felt during the Six-Legged Pentathlon or the Mingle Game.
2
#Alive (2020)
A Young Man Is Stuck In His Apartment During The Apocalypse
Alive is a South Korean horror-thriller film directed by Il Cho. The narrative follows a video game live streamer, portrayed by Yoo Ah-in, who is trapped in his apartment as a zombie apocalypse unfolds outside. Isolated and cut off from communication, he must use his wits to survive the growing threat. The film also stars Park Shin-hye and explores themes of survival and human resilience.
- Release Date
-
September 8, 2020
- Runtime
-
98 Minutes
- Cast
-
Yoo Ah-in
, Park Shin-Hye
, Jeon Bae-soo
, Hyun-Wook Lee - Director
-
Il Cho
- Writers
-
Il Cho
, Jo Il Hyung
, Chuck Mccue
, Matt Naylor
, Jimmy Olsson
, Jules Vincent
It would be wrong to create a list of movies to watch after Squid Game and not include another Korean horror project. One perfect film to add to your watchlist is #Alive. The movie follows a video game live streamer who locks himself in his apartment when a horrifying virus plagues his city, turning everyone around him into zombies. However, just as all hope seems to be lost, the protagonist discovers that another survivor was hiding in plain sight all along.
A zombie apocalypse may feel quite different from the dystopic world of Squid Game, but fortunately, both situations evoke the same emotions: fear.
A zombie apocalypse may feel quite different from the dystopic world of Squid Game, but fortunately, both situations evoke the same emotions: fear. #Alive’s main character is struggling as much as any Squid Game player, as he must figure out which moves will keep him alive, and which will inevitably lead to his death. With a strong 88% on Rotten Tomatoes, this movie is invigorating and proves that the zombie genre still has some new stories to tell.
1
The Platform (2019)
A Prisoner Decides To Overthrow The System
The Platform is a Spanish sci-fi movie that takes place in a vertical prison where prisoners on the upper levels get the most food and those on the lower levels are left to starve. The 2019 dystopian thriller was released on Netflix to worldwide acclaim.
- Release Date
-
March 20, 2020
- Runtime
-
94 minutes
- Cast
-
Ivan Massagué
, Zorion Eguileor
, Antonia San Juan
, Emilio Buale - Director
-
Galder Gaztelu-Urrutia
Last but not least, there is 2019’s The Platform. This Spanish horror movie takes place in a prison, where inmates are fed using a platform that descends from the ceiling. Because the prisoners near the top take more than they need, the prisoners near the bottom are left to starve. That is, until one man decides to change the system so that he is the one who benefits, not the men upstairs.
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Aside from having an incredibly interesting premise, The Platform is the ideal follow-up to Squid Game because it perfectly captures social issues. In the same way that Squid Game delves into class problems and morality, The Platform shows the darkest sides of humanity. Though not an easy watch, The Platform is sure to leave audiences thinking, and more than that, will keep them scared.
Squid Game is a South Korean series released in 2021 about financially struggling individuals who are invited to participate in a series of children’s games. The competition offers a lucrative prize but comes with perilous consequences, as the players soon discover the lethal stakes involved in each round.
- Release Date
-
September 17, 2021
- Network
-
Netflix
- Cast
-
Lee Jung-jae
, Lee Byung-hun
, Park Hae-soo
, Yim Si-wan
, Kang Ha-neul
, Wi Ha-jun
, Park Gyu-young
, Lee Jin-wook
, Hoyeon
, Oh Young-soo
, Park Sung-hoon
, Yang Dong-geun
, Heo Sung-tae
, Kim Joo-ryoung
, Kang Ae-sim
, Lee Da-wit
, Choi Seung-hyun
, Anupam Tripathi
, Lee You-mi
, Jo Yu-ri
, Won Ji-an
, Jun Suk-ho
, Park Hye-jin
, Chae Gook-hee - Creator(s)
-
Hwang Dong-hyuk
- Seasons
-
3
- Writers
-
Hwang Dong-hyuk
- Directors
-
Hwang Dong-hyuk
- Showrunner
-
Hwang Dong-hyuk