Melo Movie (Korean: 멜로무비) is a 2025 South Korean romantic comedy television series written by Lee Na-eun, directed by Oh Chung-hwan, and starring Choi Woo-shik, Park Bo-young, Lee Jun-young, and Jeon So-nee. The series follows the intertwined lives of aspiring young individuals navigating love and challenges. It was released on Netflix on February 14, 2025.
Contents
Synopsis
Ko Gyeom is a passionate film enthusiast who dreams of watching every movie ever made. He becomes a film critic, driven by his love for cinema. Kim Mu-bee is an aspiring film director with a complicated past. She's determined to make her mark in the industry, but carries emotional baggage. The two share a connection from the past, but a mysterious incident led them to drift apart. They reconnect 5 years later, with Ko Gyeom moving next door to Kim Mu-bee. This rekindles their feelings, but also brings back old wounds and unresolved issues.
Cast and characters
Main
Choi Woo-shik as Ko Gyeom (32 years old)
Choi Ye-chan as young Ko Gyeom
An extra who becomes a film critic.
Park Bo-young as Kim Mu-bee (32 years old)
Jo Eun-sol as young Kim Mu-bee
A woman who hates films but becomes a film director.
Lee Jun-young as Hong Si-jun
A genius unknown composer and Ju-a's ex.
Jeon So-nee as Son Ju-a
A screenwriter and Si-jun's ex.
Supporting
Kim Jae-wook as Ko Jun
Gyeom's older brother.
Ko Chang-seok as Ma Sang-u
A director.
Kim Hee-jung as Kang Yeon-ju
Mu-bee's mother.
Kim Young-woong as Park Sang-sik
Owner of a small video store.
Cha Woo-min as Woo Jeong-hu
Choi Ja-un as young Woo Jeong-hu
Special appearances
Kim Da-hwin as Kim Hun-dong
Mu-bee's father.
Eum Moon-suk as Kang-hun
An actor.
Han Jae-In as Yu-rim (ep. 4-6)
Si-jun's friend.
Production
Development
Director Oh Chung-hwan, who directed Hotel del Luna (2019) and Castaway Diva (2023), and writer by Lee Na-eun, who wrote Our Beloved Summer (2021–2022), teamed up while Studio N managed the production of the series.
Casting
In 2023, both Choi Woo-shik and Park Bo-young were reportedly cast and positively reviewing it. This marked a reunion between Choi Woo-shik and writer Lee Na-eun. The next year, Lee Jun-young, Jeon So-nee, and Kim Jae-wook were cast to appear. Choi, Park, Lee, and Jeon were confirmed to lead the series in February 2024. On May 29, 2024 it was reported that Cha Woo-min was cast to play the role of Woo Jeong-hu.
Reception
Critical response
On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 100% of 6 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 7.9/10. Carmen Chin of NME rated the series 3 out of 5 stars in her review. Pierce Conran of South China Morning Post graded the series with 3+1⁄2 out of 5 stars.