If you loved watching Squid Game, then these movies and TV show series should scratch that itch if you’re looking for more similar themes.
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On September 17, Netflix dropped their latest Korean series, Squid Game. The show follows a group of cash-strapped people who participate in a series of deadly games for the chance to win 45.6 billion won. Squid Game has been a hit with viewers thanks to its intriguing premise, compelling mystery, engaging and dynamic characters, and applicable life lessons. If you binge-watched through the nine-episode series and are itching to watch more movies and series like Squid Game, we’ve got you covered. Here are nine movies and TV series you should watch if you liked Squid Game.
ALICE IN BORDERLAND
The version of Alice in Borderland we’ll be talking about is the live-action Netflix adaption, though the anime it is based on is great, too. The series follows Arisu, an unemployed teenager, and his two friends, Chota and Karube. One day, while Arisu and his friends are hiding from the police, they are suddenly transported to an abandoned Tokyo save for the three of them. They now must compete in a series of dangerous games if they want to make it out alive. If you read the manga or watched the anime, the series should be pleasing enough. But even if you haven’t, the show is accessible to newcomers as well so that you too can enjoy the high tension and drama.
AS THE GODS WILL
Based on the first arc of the manga of the same name by Muneyuki Kaneshiro and Akeji Fujimura, As The Gods Will centers on a teenager named Shun Takahata. Living an ordinary life in 2nd-year high school, one day, he and his classmates are forced to participate in a series of children’s games with a deadly twist. With no idea as to who is behind it all, Shun must now fight to survive as he realizes that some of his classmates are taking the opportunity to off their fellow classmates. Directed by Takashi Miike, this quirky yet disturbing film mixes both horror and comedy to deliver an interesting viewing experience.
BATTLE ROYALE
You could say Battle Royale was what started the whole genre. Based on the novel by Koushun Takami, Battle Royale is set in a future where a class of 9th-grade students is picked and forced to fight each other to the death until one remains victorious. The movie follows 42 students who are forced to kill each other on an abandoned island. Battle Royale is incredibly violent, but also delivers a compelling plot and multi-dimensional characters. The film can get depressing, but it’s a must-watch if you’re a fan of the genre.
CUBE
Cube follows a group of individuals with different personalities who wake up inside a seemingly never-ending maze filled with traps. Not knowing how they got there or who each other are, the group must now use their wits and talents to find a way out of the maze before it’s too late. Where Cube shines the brightest is how it explores how different people with different personalities work together. Tensions will flair and it’s interesting to see how these people will put aside their suspicions to make it out. While the visuals may not hold up as well given today’s standards, the gripping story, human dynamic, and edge of your seat tension will keep you hooked until the end. If you enjoyed the human aspect of Squid Game, you may enjoy this as well.
CIRCLE
On paper, Circle’s premise and setting may sound quite simple, but the execution makes it worth the watch. The movie centers on 50 individuals who are trapped in a room with only a glowing orb in the center. Every two minutes, someone dies and the group realizes that they need to be the ones who choose who dies before one is left standing.
Despite the fact that the film is set in just one location, it remains an enthralling watch from beginning to end. This is because Circle revolves around how people value and deem success and who’s worthy to live. A lot of topics that are still relevant today like race, gender, sex, wealth, immigration, and more are all brought up. As every round passes by, you see people play mind games as they bring up a variety of reasons as to why they deserve to live and others don’t.
EXAM
Exam is another movie with a simple premise and premise but stuns with how it effectively uses it. A group of eight individuals vying for a coveted corporate job are brought into a windowless room as their final test. They are given a piece of paper and a pen and are tasked to answer just one question before the timer runs out. But when they flip the paper and see that it’s blank, confusion, paranoia, and tension ensues as the group tries to figure out what the question is.
This psychological thriller lets its characters do all the talking. To be put into such a high-pressure setting will eventually lead to conflict and Exam greatly explores that theme of working together while staying on top.
READY OR NOT
Ready or Not follows Grace (Samara Weaving) who is about to marry her boyfriend Daniel (Adam Brody) and marry into the wealthy Le Domas family. On the night of her wedding, Grace partakes in a time-honored tradition with the family where she is supposed to play a game with them. She pulls out a card with the words “Hide and Seek” written on it. Grace is instructed by the family patriarch to go hide and the family will find her. In reality, though, the family is going to kill Grace. Now, she must survive the night and the family.
The hide-and-seek with a deadly twist concept already gives Ready or Not a compelling premise. Grace hiding from the family trying to kill her adds a lot of tension in the movie. But aside from the film being scary, it’s also funny. In a sense, the film is almost self-aware of its premise. It has some tongue and cheek scenes poking fun at what the family is doing. At times the film can get bloody and tense, others it’s funny that can get laughs from the audience.
THE BELKO EXPERIMENT
From the mind of James Gunn comes this smart and twisted horror movie. The Belko Experiment follows 90 Americans working at the Belko Industries office in Bogota, Colombia. One day, the entire building is put into lockdown and a mysterious voice on the intercom orders them to kill each other. What follows next is a series of increasingly dark decisions that make for a gory thrill ride.
THE HUNGER GAMES SERIES
If you read the plot of Squid Game and thought of Hunger Games, then you’re not alone. We recommend you watch (or rewatch) the first two movies in the series, The Hunger Games and The Hunger Games: Catching Fire as those most closely relates to Squid Game’s battle royale premise.
Continue Reading: Last Chance: Catch These K-Dramas Before They Leave Netflix On September 30
