From Disaster to Cult Classic: Why Real Is Suddenly Going Viral
Once upon a time in 2017, a Korean film called Real hit theaters with so much hype, you'd think it was the second coming of Oldboy. Starring Hallyu royalty Kim Soo-hyun, and boasting a surreal noir aesthetic, the film promised to be a cerebral, stylish action thriller. Instead, what audiences got was... well, a fever dream wrapped in a plot twist wrapped in an existential crisis. The reviews were brutal. Netizens laughed. Critics cringed. Some even walked out of theaters.
Fast forward to 2025, and guess what?
Real is suddenly everywhere.
Wait, What Happened?
What’s fueling this unexpected revival of a film that was once dubbed a “legendary flop”? Simple: Gen Z’s bizarre taste and TikTok’s viral magic.
You see, the same things that made Real unwatchable in 2017—its overly stylized action, convoluted plot, and philosophical mumbo jumbo—are now being celebrated for exactly those reasons. It's so over-the-top that it’s ironically enjoyable. In other words, it’s become camp.
Think The Room meets Inception, with a touch of Black Mirror and a side of Korean drama melodrama. Now throw in Kim Soo-hyun doing action scenes in a double role with slicked-back hair and a poker face. Boom. Cult material.
The TikTok Effect
TikTok creators are dissecting the film scene-by-scene, adding memes, ironic commentary, and side-by-side edits with modern pop culture. One viral video joked:
“Real walked so AI deepfakes could run.”
Another used the movie's chaotic visuals as a metaphor for student life:
“This is what midterms feel like.”
Once TikTok gets its hands on a “so-bad-it’s-good” piece of media, it’s game over. Views explode, edits multiply, and suddenly the film is being rewatched, restreamed, and—yup—respected (sort of).
Gen Z: The Cult Classic Generation
Unlike millennials who crave plot and emotional coherence, Gen Z thrives on absurdism, glitchcore aesthetics, and ironic detachment. They grew up on YouTube edits and love media that feels like a digital acid trip. For them, Real isn’t a failed film—it’s a vibe.
Some even argue that Real was just ahead of its time. The confusing timelines, surreal set designs, and brooding monologues? That’s peak 2025 energy, baby.
Kim Soo-hyun’s Image: Redeemed?
Let’s be honest. Back in 2017, Real was considered a career risk for Kim Soo-hyun. Today? It's adding layers to his public persona. Fans now joke that he’s a "method actor from another universe." His stoic expressions in the film are getting meme-ified and ironically praised as “genius-level satire.”
Real has now become part of his legacy—not as a mistake, but as a misunderstood masterpiece.
Should You Watch It?
Absolutely. Not because it’s good (it’s not, by traditional standards), but because it’s an experience. Watch it with friends. Make popcorn. Open your third eye.
If you’ve ever wanted to see what happens when K-noir goes full cyberpunk fever dream, this is it. Just don't try to make sense of the plot. That's not the point.
