Netflix to Stream Lee Chang-dong's Film Catalog Globally After Venice Grand Jury Prize
Following the Silver Lion win for "Possible Love" at the Venice Film Festival, Netflix is expanding its global availability of director Lee Chang-dong's works, including "Secret Sunshine" and "Peppermint Candy." The new film, Lee's first in eight years, will hit South Korean theaters on Sept. 23, then roll out to Australia, New Zealand, the U.K., Japan, the U.S., and Canada in late October. It will premiere on Netflix worldwide on Nov. 6.
The Silver Lion recognition at Venice marks a notable return for the director, whose earlier works "Secret Sunshine" and "Peppermint Candy" have long been celebrated in international festival circles. Netflix's expanded catalog arrangement brings these titles to subscribers across multiple regions, widening access beyond traditional theatrical distribution.
The rollout follows a staggered pattern: South Korea leads on Sept. 23, with Australia, New Zealand, the U.K., Japan, the U.S., and Canada following in late October. The global Netflix premiere arrives Nov. 6, making the new film available to a broad streaming audience shortly after its theatrical run.
The Netflix expansion could significantly broaden the director's audience beyond traditional art-house circles. Viewers who may not have encountered his earlier works in theaters will now discover them alongside the new film, potentially elevating his international profile. The staggered theatrical-then-streaming release could also sustain buzz over several weeks, benefiting both box office performance and subscriber engagement.