The number one movie onNetflixright now is this South Korean disaster movie that you absolutely can't miss this week.
If you're looking for the perfect alternative to all those sentimental Christmas movies streaming right now, thenThe Great Floodmight be exactly what you're looking for.
The movie is about what might be humanity's last day on Earth, when an asteroid impact causes global flooding that submerges the planet in water.
The Great Floodpremiered on the platform on Friday and quickly shot to the top of the site's top 10.Watch With Usexplains why fans can't get enough of it.
10 Must-Watch Korean Shows to Watch on Netflix Right Now (November 2025)
The Disaster Premise Will Instantly Hook You
The plot ofThe Great Floodfollows the residents of a high-rise apartment building in Seoul, including scientist Gu An-na (Kim Da-mi) and her son. After an asteroid impact causes the melting of the Antarctic ice sheets, the entire planet is swallowed up by floods that render Earth a terrifying sea of endless water. As the water levels rise, An-na, her son and the rest of the building's residents must race higher and higher to escape the water. But what happens when they reach the top? Who will be there to save them?
The idea of a massive flood submerging the entire planet is instantly hooky on its own, andThe Great Floodproduces some stunning and terrifying imagery of humans trapped in endless waves, while Tsunamis bludgeon and batter what's left of the world. In effect, water is like a horror movie monster in the film. While the film is a bit more than just a disaster movie (which we'll get into soon),The Great Floodplays on our fears of the end of the world, the melting of the polar ice caps and just generally what might happen in a doomsday scenario. It's always hard to turn away from our worst nightmares.
'The Great Flood' Has a Sci-Fi Angle That Makes the Movie Unique
What makesThe Great Floodunique and not just another doomsday disaster movie is that it ventures into thought-provoking science-fiction territory, exploring ideas related to artificial intelligence. All we'll say is that not everything is as it seems as the floods and apocalyptic rains continue to drown the world.The Great Floodshowcases an interesting twist that we don't feel at liberty to reveal if you want the full experience of the movie.All we can say is that some critics have compared this aspect of the film to movies likeEdge of Tomorrow,starringTom Cruise.
With its blend of good old-fashioned disaster flick with sci-fi ambitions, TheGreat Floodbecomes a subversive and surprising movie that goes into territories you might not be expecting — and it's this sci-fi angle that adds a more nuanced and humanistic layer to the film as well. In some ways, it's a lot likeDeep Impact, the 1998 disaster movie, starringMorgan Freeman,Elijah Woodand many others, about an asteroid that's about to hit Earth. Like that film,The Great Floodemphasizes how the characters react to the extraordinary event that's unfolding before them rather than focusing on the event itself.
Kim Da-mi's Lead Performance Commands Your Attention
The protagonist of the film is Gu An-na, a scientist who is doing everything that she can to save herself in the face of all-out disaster. Ultimately, we don't think the film would be what it is without Kim's emotionally rich performance. Viewers and critics have commended Kim for her ability to anchor the film with a sincere portrayal of a mother determined to save her son no matter the cost to her own life.
29 Must-Watch Movies on Netflix (December 2025): 'Jay Kelly' and More
Despite the fact thatThe Great Floodis a fantastical film, Kim's performance is unmistakably believable. She does a fantastic job at conveying a realistic bond between mother and son, and the lengths one mother would go to for him. Thus, it's the heart and soul of An-na that guides the film through all its chaos, and when some critics felt that the film's later sci-fi elements muddled the plot, it was nevertheless Kim's performance that they found elevated the material.
StreamThe Great Floodnow on Netflix.
