Little-Known Sci-Fi Disaster Film The Great Flood Surges to #1 on Netflix
A previously under-the-radar science-fiction disaster movie has exploded in popularity on Netflix, as viewers rush to witness what happens when a massive, world-ending tsunami threatens to erase civilization. Despite Netflix currently featuring major releases such as Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery, KPop Demon Hunters, and an abundance of holiday-themed films, subscribers appear far more captivated by large-scale destruction and high-stakes survival than seasonal comfort viewing.
That surprise hit is The Great Flood, a South Korean sci-fi thriller that has rapidly climbed to the very top of Netflix’s charts.
What Is The Great Flood About?
Co-written and directed by Kim Byung-woo, the award-winning filmmaker behind The Terror Live, The Great Flood takes place in the near future, where a catastrophic flood engulfs a modern city with little warning. Skyscrapers become death traps, streets turn into raging rivers, and survival depends on reaching higher ground before time runs out.
The film stars Kim Da-mi (Itaewon Class, Our Beloved Summer) as Gu An-na, a mother fighting against the relentless rise of floodwaters while trying to protect her young son. As panic spreads, An-na navigates collapsing buildings, desperate neighbors, and violent opportunists in a race to escape.
A Dangerous Alliance Forms
During her desperate climb toward safety, An-na is separated from her son and eventually rescued by Son Hee-jo, portrayed by Park Hae-soo (Squid Game, Karma). Though Hee-jo initially appears to be a lifeline, his cold demeanor and unclear intentions raise troubling questions.
As described by Netflix Tudum, An-na soon begins to suspect that Hee-jo’s reasons for helping may be far from selfless, and that the survival of all three of them may ultimately rest on her decisions. The supporting cast includes Kwon Eun-seong and Jeon Hye-jin, adding further emotional depth to the unfolding catastrophe.
Netflix Viewers Push The Great Flood to #1
Since debuting on Netflix on December 19, The Great Flood has surged to #1 on the platform both globally and in the United States. The unexpected rise has pushed popular titles like How the Grinch Stole Christmas, The Super Mario Bros. Movie, My Secret Santa, and Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery down the streamer’s Top 10 rankings.
The film’s success highlights Netflix viewers’ increasing appetite for international disaster movies and intense sci-fi thrillers that prioritize emotional stakes alongside large-scale destruction.
Divisive Reviews Fuel the Buzz
While The Great Flood continues to dominate viewing charts, critical and audience reactions remain sharply split. The film currently holds a 60% critics score on Rotten Tomatoes, while its audience rating sits lower at 42%, underscoring the polarizing nature of the experience.
Some critics have been less forgiving. Ready Steady Cut noted that the movie begins strongly but becomes overwhelmed by its own ambition, while Heaven of Horror praised the concept and performances but argued that the runtime works against the overall impact.
Others, however, found plenty to admire. Radio Times awarded the film a strong 4 out of 5 stars, praising Kim Da-mi’s emotionally charged performance and the film’s massive premise, which comes together powerfully in its closing moments.
A Streaming Hit Despite the Backlash
Whether praised or criticized, The Great Flood has undeniably captured attention. Its mix of apocalyptic spectacle, moral ambiguity, and survival drama has turned it into one of Netflix’s most talked-about movies of the moment—proving that divisive reactions often drive curiosity rather than diminish it.
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