Best tv shows like Mr. Sunshine
Last updated March 2024
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Plot Summary:
Based in Shinmiyangyo, or the U.S. expedition to Korea in the late 19th century, Mr. Sunshine tells the story of a Korean boy born into a family of a house servant running away to board an American warship, later to return to his homeland as a U.S. marine officer. He ironically falls in love with an aristocrat’s daughter and discovers the dark scheme to colonize the country that he once ran away from.
IMDB Rating: 8.7
IMDB Votes: 10000
Genere: Action, Drama, Romance, War
Country: South Korea
Duration: 80 min
Plot tags: dorama, sentimental, captivating, sad, factual, romantic, gothic, epic, period piece
Best tv shows and movies like Mr. Sunshine (2018):
Similar in 79%
The King 2 Hearts (2012)
Plot Summary:
The King 2 Hearts is a 2012 South Korean television series, starring Ha Ji-won and Lee Seung-gi in the leading roles. It is about a South Korean crown prince who falls in love with a North Korean special agent. It aired on MBC from March 21 to May 24, 2012 on Wednesdays and Thursdays at 21:55 for 20 episodes.
IMDB Rating: 7.6
IMDB Votes: 1000
Genere: Action, Drama, Romance
Country: South Korea
Duration: 65 min
Plot tags: touching, captivating, emotional, romantic, dorama, crying, tense
Similar in 87%
Arsenal Military Academy (2019)
Plot Summary:
Xie Xiang disguises herself as a man in order to attend military school, where she and her classmates become embroiled in a series of tale-worthy events. After an academic career that wins her classmates’ and instructors’ respect, Xie sets out for China’s northeast to battle with Japanese forces that have rallied under a newly returned Chamber of Commerce president. As conspiracies and traps mount against her side, Xie will have to prove her valor in battle at last.
IMDB Rating: 8.3
IMDB Votes: 781
Genere: Action, History, Romance
Country: China
Duration:
Plot tags: exciting, dorama, romantic, sweet, romantic drama
Similar in 83%
Basketball (2013)
Plot Summary:
Set during the turbulent years of the Japanese occupation until independence, and a few years before the division of Korea into North and South, the story is about the first and last time that Korea had a single, unified national basketball team, which made history by advancing to the quarterfinals of the 1948 London Olympics. The drama follows the loves, conflicts, unity, and emotional victory of young athletes who cling to the sport as the bright spot in the darkness of their times.
IMDB Rating: 5.3
IMDB Votes: 30
Genere: Action, Drama, History, Romance
Country: South Korea
Duration:
Plot tags: psychological, captivating, disturbing, period drama
Similar in 85%
The Princess' Man (2011)
Plot Summary:
The Princess' Man is a 2011 South Korean television series, starring Park Si-hoo, Moon Chae-won, Kim Yeong-cheol, Song Jong-ho, Hong Soo-hyun, and Lee Soon-jae. It is a period drama about the forbidden romance between the daughter of King Sejo and the son of Sejo's political opponent Kim Jong-seo. It aired on KBS2 from July 20 to October 6, 2011 on Wednesdays and Thursdays at 21:55 for 24 episodes.
IMDB Rating: 8.2
IMDB Votes: 627
Genere: Action, Drama, Romance
Country: South Korea
Duration:
Plot tags: exciting, serious, captivating, tense, dorama, sageuk, historical drama
Similar in 86%
Queen In Hyun's Man (2012)
Plot Summary:
Kim Boong Do is a scholar who had supported the reinstatement of Queen In Hyun when Jang heebin's schemes resulted in her being deposed and replaced as King Sukjong's queen consort. He travels 300 years into the future of modern Seoul and meets Choi Hee Jin, a no-name actress who is expecting a career renaissance through her role as Queen In Hyun in a TV drama.
IMDB Rating: 7.8
IMDB Votes: 1000
Genere: Fantasy, Romance
Country: South Korea
Duration: 45 min
Plot tags: dorama, romantic, captivating, suspenseful, semi serious, novela, romantic drama, period drama
Similar in 87%
Kurt Seyit and Şura (2014)
Plot Summary:
A Turkish lieutenant and the daughter of Russian nobles fight for their love against forces of family and social expectation and historical events.
IMDB Rating: 7.3
IMDB Votes: 4000
Genere: Drama, History, Romance, War
Country: Turkey
Duration: 90 min
Plot tags: captivating, romantic, realistic, historical drama
Similar in 86%
Search: WWW (2019)
Plot Summary:
The stories of ambitious career women working at the top of the best portal sites in the IT industry. Paved with wins and losses, their road to success takes a new turn when love comes along the way.
IMDB Rating: 7.8
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Drama, Romance
Country: South Korea
Duration: 70 min
Plot tags: dorama, romantic, sentimental, light
Similar in 77%
The King in Love (2017)
Plot Summary:
Set during the Goryeo dynasty, Won, crown prince, has a sweet appearance hiding a lust for conquest. He is best friends with Rin, an elegant man of royal descent and Won's bodyguard. When beautiful San, the sole daughter of the wealthiest man in the nation, enters the lives of the two young men, the three at first become friends but a tragic romance ensues afterwards. Based on the novel of the same name by Kim Yi-Ryung.
IMDB Rating: 7.3
IMDB Votes: 369
Genere: Drama, Romance
Country: South Korea
Duration: 35 min
Plot tags: sentimental, sincere, romantic, touching, captivating, disturbing, historical drama
Similar in 80%
Bridal Mask (2012)
Plot Summary:
Bridal Mask is a 2012 KBS2 period drama based on the popular Korean manhwa by Huh Young-man. The setting takes place in Seoul, Korea during the 1930s Japanese colonial era. The plot of the TV drama is slightly modified from the original graphic novel. The story follows a man named Lee Kang-to, a Korean police officer commissioned by the Japanese Police to betray his own country and aid the Japanese in the annihilation of the Korean rebellion. During his mission, he encounters a notorious masked man who dons a traditional Korean bridal mask to fight for Korea's independence by assassinating Japanese key officers. As the detective's hunt for "Gaksital" unravels, his eyes are slowly opened to the treacherous deeds he has committed towards his own countrymen. It stars Joo Won and Jin Se-yeon as the leads and with Shin Hyun-joon as the notorious masked hero of the Korean rebellion and brother to the main character.
IMDB Rating: 8.2
IMDB Votes: 712
Genere: Action, History, Romance
Country: South Korea
Duration: 60 min
Plot tags: dorama, exciting, serious, captivating, realistic, suspenseful
Similar in 84%
All In (2003)
Plot Summary:
All In is a 2003 South Korean television drama series that aired on SBS from January 15 to April 3, 2003 on Wednesdays and Thursdays at 21:55 for 24 episodes. Inspired by the life of professional poker player Jimmy Cha, it starred Lee Byung-hun and Song Hye-kyo in a story about one's man's rise through the fiercely competitive world of casino gambling as he clashes with his rivals over money, success, and love. The drama was a ratings success in South Korea, with its final episode reaching a peak viewership rating of 47.7%, which is the 42nd highest-rated Korean drama episode of all time. It also won several awards, notably the Grand Prize for Lee Byung-hun at the 2003 SBS Drama Awards.
IMDB Rating: 7.8
IMDB Votes: 424
Genere: Action, Drama, Romance
Country: South Korea
Duration:
Plot tags: realistic, captivating, psychological, sentimental, exciting, clever, serious
Similar in 90%
Hwarang: The Poet Warrior Youth (2016)
Plot Summary:
Set during the Silla dynasty, Sam Maekjong is the son of the fallen king and present queen regent, Jiso, but he has been kept in hiding for protection ever since he was a young boy, when his father was murdered. Over the years the powerful nobles have tried and failed to usurp power from Jiso, causing her to grow wary and later even reluctant to hand the throne over. As her son comes of age, she creates the Hwarang, an elite group of male youth who train in fighting and education. Their existence cuts across the existing power factions and Sam Maekjong is amidst their ranks under the false name Kim Ji-Dwi, unbeknownst to other Hwarang members.
IMDB Rating: 8.0
IMDB Votes: 5000
Genere: Action, Comedy, Drama, History, Romance
Country: South Korea
Duration: 60 min
Plot tags: dorama, captivating, disturbing, visually appealing, suspenseful, historical drama, costume drama
Similar in 78%
The Innocent Man (2012)
Plot Summary:
A self-made medical student and an aspiring anchorwoman find their friendship -- and their dreams -- tested by a fateful tragedy.
IMDB Rating: 7.6
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Drama
Country: South Korea
Duration: 60 min
Plot tags: dorama, romantic, realistic, disturbing, sad
Similar in 76%
War and Peace (2007)
Plot Summary:
War and Peace delineates in graphic detail events leading up to the French invasion of Russia, and the impact of the Napoleonic era on Tsarist society, as seen through the eyes of five Russian aristocratic families. Portions of an earlier version of the novel, then known as The Year 1805,were serialized in the magazine The Russian Messenger between 1865 and 1867.
IMDB Rating: 7.2
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Drama, History, Romance, War
Country: Italy, France, Germany, Russia, Poland
Duration: 394 min
Plot tags: captivating, stylized, epic, emotional, contemplative, romantic, historical drama, fairy tale, period piece, costume drama
Similar in 84%
Six Flying Dragons (2015)
Plot Summary:
“Six Flying Dragons” is a Period drama depicts the ambitions and success stories of 6 people around Prince Lee Bang Won. This drama also depicts the ideological and political conflict between Prince Lee Bang Won and Jung Do Jeon who is the man instrumental in helping King Taejo to establish the fledgling Joseon nation. Jung Do Jeon wants a country ruled by ministers, while Lee Bang Won wants absolute power. Prince Lee Bang Won later become King TaeJong who was the third king in the Joseon Dynasty. He helped his father King Taejo to establish the Joseon Dynasty.
IMDB Rating: 8.8
IMDB Votes: 1000
Genere: Action, Drama, History
Country: South Korea
Duration:
Plot tags: exciting, tense, enigmatic, sageuk, disturbing, epic, costume drama, suspense, political drama
Similar in 81%
The Empress Ki (2013)
Plot Summary:
The story of the woman that would become Empress Ki, and her struggles as she worked her way through war, political conspiracies, and the imperial palace to become Empress of China. This Korean Drama re-imagines the historical figure as a fierce, independent woman who goes to extreme lengths to protect those she loves.
IMDB Rating: 8.4
IMDB Votes: 3000
Genere: Action, Drama, Romance
Country: South Korea
Duration:
Plot tags: suspenseful, romantic, harsh, multicultural, semi serious, captivating, epic, sageuk, political, costume drama
Similar in 79%
Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo (2016)
Plot Summary:
Scarlet Heart: Ryeo is the remake of Chinese drama Bu Bu Jing Xin that stars IU as a woman who gets time-warped back to the Goryeo dynasty, and becomes involved with a very large family of princes, some of whom are vying for the throne, or her affections, or both.
IMDB Rating: 8.6
IMDB Votes: 11000
Genere: Action, Drama, Fantasy, Romance
Country: South Korea
Duration: 60 min
Plot tags: touching, captivating, romantic, dorama, sageuk, sweet, harsh, gothic, sad, suspenseful
Similar in 80%
Hospital Playlist (2020)
Plot Summary:
Every day is extraordinary for five doctors and their patients inside a hospital, where birth, death and everything in between coexist.
IMDB Rating: 8.8
IMDB Votes: 7000
Genere: Comedy, Drama, Romance
Country: South Korea
Duration: 84 min
Plot tags: dorama, sincere, captivating, sentimental, realistic, epic, medical drama, touching
Similar in 81%
Itaewon Class (2020)
Plot Summary:
In a colorful Seoul neighborhood, an ex-con and his friends fight a mighty foe to make their ambitious dreams for their street bar a reality.
IMDB Rating: 8.2
IMDB Votes: 18000
Genere: Drama, Romance
Country: South Korea
Duration: 70 min
Plot tags: dorama, romantic, captivating, suspense, uplifting, touching, thought provoking, disturbing, feel good
Similar in 87%
Encounter (2018)
Plot Summary:
What happens when an encounter between a man and woman who seem to have nothing in common develops into a complicated love story? Cha Soo Hyun is a woman and daughter of a politician who lives a life where she is unable to choose her own path. After graduating from college, she entered into a loveless marriage with the son to a wealthy conglomerate, a marriage only beneficial to her politican father. After having a child, she was obliged to divorce. Her life is changed when she meets simple and kind Kim Jin Hyuk. Kim Jin Hyuk is ordinary and innocent, a young man who enjoys life and finds happiness in the smaller things. He works various part-time jobs to earn a living, but is looking for a regular job. One day, he decides to take a trip abroad, where he meets Cha Soo Hyun.
IMDB Rating: 7.6
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Drama, Romance
Country: South Korea
Duration: 60 min
Plot tags: romantic, dorama, sentimental, thought provoking, touching, entertaining
Similar in 89%
Chicago Typewriter (2017)
Plot Summary:
Writers that lived under Japanese rule in the 1930's are reincarnated into a bestselling writer who is in a slump, a mysterious ghostwriter and an anti-fan of the bestselling writer.
IMDB Rating: 8.3
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Drama, Fantasy, Romance
Country: South Korea
Duration: 70 min
Plot tags: exciting, suspenseful, dorama, psychological, romantic, rough, captivating, disturbing, semi serious
Similar in 85%
W: Two Worlds Apart (2016)
Plot Summary:
Han Hyo-joo plays a surgeon whose father is a famous comic book creator. One day Dad goes missing and she rushes to his workshop to look for him, and instead finds a strange man bathed in blood. She gets kidnapped by the bloody man, which is where their story begins. The drama takes place in 2016 Seoul, but in different dimensions that exist in parallel with one another. It’s described as a suspense romance melodrama about “a man and a woman who are living in the same time, but different worlds.”.
IMDB Rating: 8.0
IMDB Votes: 13000
Genere: Action, Comedy, Drama, Fantasy, Romance, Thriller
Country: South Korea
Duration: 60 min
Plot tags: dorama, captivating, exciting, sentimental, romantic drama, tense, comic
Similar in 80%
Sparrow (2016)
Plot Summary:
This drama is set during the revolutionary time in Shanghai, based on a novel of the same name of Hai Fei. During the republican revolution, Chen Shen is a secret agent under Special Operations Executive Director Bi Zhongliang, among the agents called “sparrow” (similar to the program “zero” in Japan).
IMDB Rating: 7.2
IMDB Votes: 55
Genere: Drama, Romance, War
Country: China
Duration: 45 min
Plot tags: sentimental, captivating, factual
Similar in 81%
The Moon Embracing the Sun (2012)
Plot Summary:
Moon Embracing the Sun is a 2012 South Korean historical television drama series, starring Kim Soo-hyun, Han Ga-in, Jung Il-woo and Kim Min-seo. It aired on Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation from January 4 to March 15, 2012 on Wednesdays and Thursdays at 21:55 for 20 episodes. The series is adapted from the novel of the same name written by Jung Eun-gwol and directed by Kim Do-hoon and Lee Seong-jun. It tells of a secret, poignant love story between a fictional king of the Joseon Dynasty and a female shaman against the backdrop of Korean traditional palace; and the conflicts and conspiracy of vying political powers. This production marks Han Ga-in's first historial drama and return to television since Bad Guy in 2010. It also marks the second historial drama for Jung Il-woo following The Return of Iljimae in 2009. The series won for Best Drama and Best Actor in the television category at the 2012 Baeksang Arts Awards, and multiple awards at 2012 MBC Drama Awards, including Drama of the Year.
IMDB Rating: 7.9
IMDB Votes: 3000
Genere: Drama, Fantasy, Romance
Country: South Korea
Duration:
Plot tags: serious, captivating, stylized, emotional, dorama, romantic drama, epic
Similar in 81%
My Country: The New Age (2019)
Plot Summary:
Set during the turbulent time of the fall of Goryeo and the founding of Joseon, two former friends face-off against one another over a woman and the future shape of the nation.
IMDB Rating: 8.1
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Action, Drama, History, Romance
Country: South Korea
Duration: 80 min
Plot tags: exciting, tense, sincere, disturbing, sad, sageuk, historical drama
Similar in 88%
Sungkyunkwan Scandal (2010)
Plot Summary:
Sungkyunkwan Scandal is a 2010 South Korean fusion historical drama about a girl who disguises herself as a boy while attending Sungkyunkwan, the Joseon Dynasty's highest educational institute, where no women were allowed. Directed by Kim Won-seok and written by Kim Tae-hee based on Jung Eun-gwol's bestselling 2007 novel The Lives of Sungkyunkwan Confucian Scholars, it stars Park Min-young, Park Yuchun, Yoo Ah-in, and Song Joong-ki. It aired on KBS2 from August 30 to November 2, 2010 on Mondays and Tuesdays at 21:55 for 20 episodes.
IMDB Rating: 7.8
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Comedy, Drama, Romance
Country: South Korea
Duration: 70 min
Plot tags: touching, romantic, exciting, humorous, inspirational, dorama, sageuk, romantic comedy
Similar in 77%
The Crowned Clown (2019)
Plot Summary:
The story takes place at a time in Joseon history, when upheaval and power struggles surrounding the throne had reached extreme levels. In order to escape those who plan to assassinate him, the king puts a clown, who looks exactly like him, on the throne.
IMDB Rating: 8.0
IMDB Votes: 1000
Genere: Drama, History, Romance
Country: South Korea
Duration: 80 min
Plot tags: touching, serious, suspense, realistic, suspenseful, romantic, epic, romantic drama, political
Similar in 83%
The Slave Hunters (2010)
Plot Summary:
The Slave Hunters is a 2010 South Korean action historical drama set in the Joseon Dynasty about a slave hunter who is tracking down a general-turned-runaway slave as well as searching for the woman he loves. It aired on KBS2 from January 6 to March 25, 2010 on Wednesdays and Thursdays at 21:55 for 24 episodes. An adequate display of muscular brawn, intricate yet gritty fight scenes, bawdy humor and eloquent moments of pathos and humanity made the series both visually and intellectually appealing to audiences. Critics gave special mention to director Kwak Jung-hwan's lush cinematography, the use of a Red One camera giving each shot its theater-worthy luster. The hit series topped the ratings chart for 7 consecutive weeks, averaging 31.7% and reaching a peak of 35.9%. The series was honored at the Seoul International Drama Awards, and the KBS Drama Awards. Jang also received a best actor nomination from the 2011 International Emmy Awards for his performance.
IMDB Rating: 8.7
IMDB Votes: 1000
Genere: Action, Drama, History
Country: South Korea
Duration:
Plot tags: sageuk, tense, captivating, psychological, exciting
Similar in 87%
Something in the Rain (2018)
Plot Summary:
Explore the relationship of two people as they go from being “just acquaintances” to “a genuine couple” — Yoon Jin Ah, a coffee shop supervisor in her 30s, and Seo Joon Hee, a designer at a video game company who has just returned from working abroad.
IMDB Rating: 8.1
IMDB Votes: 8000
Genere: Drama, Romance
Country: South Korea
Duration: 75 min
Plot tags: dorama, sweet, sentimental, romantic, light, feel good, romantic drama, affectionate
Similar in 76%
The Tudors (2007)
Plot Summary:
The Tudors is a history-based drama series following the young, vibrant King Henry VIII, a competitive and lustful monarch who navigates the intrigues of the English court and the human heart with equal vigor and justifiable suspicion.
IMDB Rating: 8.1
IMDB Votes: 80000
Genere: Drama, History, Romance, War
Country: Ireland, Canada, USA, UK
Duration: 60 min
Plot tags: stylized, captivating, serious, historical drama, soap opera, realistic, sexual, costume drama, period piece, sexy
Similar in 86%
Pearl Harbor (2001)
Plot Summary:
The lifelong friendship between Rafe McCawley and Danny Walker is put to the ultimate test when the two ace fighter pilots become entangled in a love triangle with beautiful Naval nurse Evelyn Johnson. But the rivalry between the friends-turned-foes is immediately put on hold when they find themselves at the center of Japan's devastating attack on Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941.
IMDB Rating: 6.2
IMDB Votes: 348000
Genere: Action, Drama, History, Romance, War
Country: USA
Duration: 183 min
Plot tags: romantic, sentimental, emotional, epic, period piece, factual, exciting, serious, realistic, captivating