Train to Busan

Train to Busan is a South Korean zombie film series produced by Next Entertainment World. The installments include a theatrical film, an animated prequel that was released in theaters in the international market, and a standalone sequel that had a limited theatrical release. Based on an original story by Park Joo-suk, the premise centers around a zombie epidemic outbreak that originates in South Korea. Each respective installment details the struggles of the primary characters to withstand the advances of the undead, and survive the events to make their escape.

The original film, Train to Busan, was met with critical and box office success. The prequel, Seoul Station was also met with positive critical reception, with praise directed at its expansion to the story; while it also attained monetary gains for the studios. However, the sequel, Peninsula, received mixed reviews from critics with the film being perceived as inferior to its predecessors. Despite its overall reception, and being released during the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic impact on the film industry, it was a financial success.

An American remake and a sequel to Peninsula is in development.

A man named Seok-woo, his estranged daughter Su-an, and other passengers become trapped on a speeding train in South Korea during a zombie outbreak. As the passengers become overtaken by the undead passengers, and gradually become infected, the number of defenders dwindle as the safety of available space within the railroad vehicle dwindles. With each station at each stop proving to also be overtaken, the train continues along as its passengers hope to escape before they are all infected. Despite insurmountable odds, the father-daughter duo fight to survive by mending their relationship and creating alliances with the remaining passengers, all while overcoming the rising forces of the army of undead plaguing the limited train space.

Prior to the events of the zombie outbreak in Busan, Hye-sun and her boyfriend Ki-woong arrive at a train station in Seoul, South Korea. Hye-sun, who recently escaped her life of slavery at a brothel, now lives with Ki-woong in a troubled relationship. As they face financial troubles, Ki-woong approaches Hye-sun with plans to procuring her for services on an adult online website. As their argument at the station begins, the pair separate just as a bloodied homeless man stumbles into the train station area and collapses. The man's younger brother frantically asks onlookers for help, though they are repulsed by the lack of cleanliness and social status of the men; the ailing man is left alone to die. This quickly changes however, when the man reanimates and attacks the crowd in a ravenous frenzy. As the infection begins to spread to those who are bitten, Hye-sun witnesses the ongoing bloodbath, while Ki-woong's search is intensified when her father Suk-gyu arrives looking for her. As the trio reunites, they fight for survival and race to stay ahead of the pandemonious epidemic. As their window for escape narrows, militant officials assemble to contain what the interpret as an insurrection. Despite their differences, the family struggles to board a train and avoid the ongoing attacks from the undead.

As a zombie epidemic quickly spreads over South Korea and the country is defeated in a day, Korean Marine Jung-seok races to get his family to a ship to escape the outbreak. The family passes a couple with a young daughter that pleads for assistance, though they leave them behind in their frantic escape. The passengers aboard the ship begin to succumb to similar ailments including Jung-seok's nephew. As his sister refuses to leave her child, Jung-seok is left to lock down the quarters to save the rest of the ship. As military officials arrive, his brother-in-law named Chul-min watches on mournfully watching his wife and son die. He resentfully states that Jung-seok should have done more to save his family. The forces of the world quarantine South Korea and lockdown its borders.

In September 2018, an English language adaptation of Train to Busan was announced to be in development. Following a competitive bidding war for the distribution rights to the project, New Line Cinema was announced to serve the distributing company.

In February 2021, it was announced that the film will be directed by Timo Tjahjanto, with a script written by Gary Dauberman, the premise be similar to that of the original film. The project will be a joint-venture production between New Line Cinema, Atomic Monster,