Squid Game draws people in for all kinds of different reasons. Maybe you like the Battle Royale aspect of it, with people fighting for survival in deadly games. Maybe you love the drama that unfolds as people attempt to survive, or the imaginative set design, or the social commentary.
We're between seasons of Squid Game now, with the third and final batch of episodes arriving on Netflix on June 27. When it comes to filling the void, you’ll want to find something that can offer similar vibes. The good news is there are a lot of options out there. You can turn to other K-dramas or international films and shows, but there are also some excellent options from the United States.
Not sure where to start? We’ve got you covered with these seven movies and shows like Squid Game.
Battle Royale
We have to start with the movie. This movie arguably started a wave of interest in this kind of storytelling. There is a sequel, but it’s not as good as the first movie.
Battle Royale is set in a world where Japan has suffered a terrible financial crisis. Each year, one high school class is picked to face off against each other. They are taken to an isolated island where there can only be one winner and set loose against each other. The movie is intense and violent, exploring themes of survival, fear, love, and sorrow.
Watch Battle Royale on Tubi and Pluto TV.
Alice in Borderland
Another Japanese drama worth your time is Alice in Borderland. This underrated series follows Arisu, a game-obsessed kid who finds himself in an abandoned Tokyo. He and his friends find each other and need to work together to compete in a series of games.
While Squid Game opts for childhood games, Alice in Borderland opts for more computerized games. There are plot twists as the series continues, and obviously the adventure lasts longer than it does in Battle Royale. This series will certainly appeal to the dystopian fans out there.
Alice in Borderland is available on Netflix.
Ready Player One
If you love the book Ready Player One by Ernest Cline, then you’ll definitely want to take in the movie. It’s not quite as good, but it does a fine job of translating the world to the screen.
This is another story set in a dystopian world, with many people facing joblessness and homelessness. In this world, technology is everything, with most people living in the digital world rather than the real one.
Our heroes are scouring that digital world for a fortune left behind by a technical tycoon. There are some fun 1980s vibes going on, a lot of conspiracies, and lessons in acceptance and friendship. It is more futuristic than Squid Game, but it’s a lot of fun.
Watch Ready Player One on the Roku Channel.
The Hunger Games
Of course, we can’t overlook one of the big series that Squid Game was originally compared to, although The Hunger Games is actually a lot more like Battle Royale. The movies take us to a future where America has become a stratified dictatorship called Panem. The country is split into districts, and each year, the districts will send two tributes to fight to the death in a huge arena. We follow Katniss Everdeen from District 12, the poorest district, as she figures out how to not just survive the games, but to help her friend Petta survive as well. There’s also a love triangle and a rebellion to focus on as the movies continue.
Watch The Hunger Games on TNT and TBS.
Panic
While this series was canceled after just one season, it wraps up pretty well and there isn’t need for more. Based on the book of the same name, Panic is set in a town where each year, a group of high school seniors are willing to risk their lives for the promise of thousands of dollars. They have to go through a series of challenges. While death isn’t actually the intention, they put themselve at risk and people have died in the past. That's why the sheriff wants to put a stop to these games.
Panic is available to stream on Prime Video.
Death Race
Jason Statham stars in a movie that has elements of Battle Royale and Squid Game, but with cars. He plays a man who is framed for the murder of is wife. That lands him in one of the toughest prisons in the world, and it’s soon clear that he’s put here on purpose.
He used to be one of the world's greatest race car drivers, and this prison has a long-running "death race" where the inmates compete against each other. Anything goes, including killing people. The person who finishes first gets freedom. Or do they?
Death Race is available to stream on Max.
3%
If dystopia is your thing, then you’ll want to turn to the Brazilian series 3%. This series is set in a world where the poor and rich are separated. The poor live “inland” and the rich live “offshore.” Every year, there’s a chance for the poorest kids to move to offshore, but only 3% will make it.
These teens are willing to risk it all for a happier and healthier life. This includes risking their own lives. After all, what’s the point in living in squalor and poverty? There are a lot of questions you’ll ask yourself as you watch this, including what you would do in particular situations.
3% is available to stream on Netflix.
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