South Korean sci-fi disaster film The Great Flood has dominated Netflix charts globally since its release last week, securing the top spot for eight consecutive days.
The movie, which follows AI researcher Dr. Gu An-na, played by Kim Da-mi, centers on her desperate struggle to survive a catastrophic tsunami in Seoul while protecting her six-year-old son, Jai-in.
As floodwaters engulf their high-rise building, An-na fights panicked neighbors, evades looters, and faces life-threatening obstacles, all while receiving mysterious guidance from a man, Hee-jo (Park Hae-soo of Squid Game fame), whose motives may not be entirely altruistic.
The film’s plot blends high-stakes disaster survival with speculative sci-fi elements, challenging traditional genre conventions. While some viewers praised its tension and emotional core, particularly the mother-child relationship at the heart of the story, critics offered mixed reviews.
Ready Steady Cut described it as “a compelling disaster movie that veers into confounding ambition,” while Screen Anarchy noted it “maddeningly strays from the disaster genre into ambitious sci-fi.”
Decider added that the film “tries to upend traditional disaster narratives a little too hard,” and some viewers on Rotten Tomatoes called it “totally unwatchable” or “more of a cinematic disaster than the flood itself.”
Despite criticism, the movie’s unique premise and emotional depth have drawn audiences worldwide, making it Netflix’s seventh most-watched film in the UK and achieving global chart-topping status. Analysts suggest the combination of disaster spectacle, emotional storytelling, and the popularity of South Korean media contributed to its widespread viewership.
Director and cast have emphasized that the story is ultimately about human emotions, focusing on the bond between parent and child, rather than just a conventional disaster narrative. The mix of action, suspense, and emotional stakes appears to resonate with global audiences, even as critical opinions remain divided, demonstrating the film’s capacity to spark conversation and debate.
