Train to Busan and its sequel Peninsula are about to leave Netflix

Watch while you can

One of the world's most underrated zombie apocalypses is officially leaving Netflix. Train to Busan and its sequel, Peninsula, will both be departing the streaming site on May 2, 2026. This South Korean gem is well-loved by zombie fans the world over for its remarkably fast pace and shocking violence. More importantly, each film offers a sympathetic view of flawed protagonists struggling against insurmountable odds.

In Train to Busan, workaholic Seok-woo (Gong Yoo) is trying to connect with his estranged daughter Su-an (Kim Su-an), who has mostly lived with her grandmother since her parents' divorce. Seok-woo royally screws up Su-an's birthday by missing her recital, and reluctantly agrees to take her to visit her mother in Busan the next morning. While they are riding the bullet train from Seoul, the zombie apocalypse breaks out, leaving Seok-woo desperately fighting for the daughter he once took for granted as society begins to fall apart at the seams and split along class lines.

In Peninsula, we are introduced to a new cast of characters as we learn more about how the zombie virus has spread over nearly half a decade. Korea is under permanent quarantine, while the rest of the world has moved on. Living in Disapora in China, Han Jung-Seok (Gang Dong-won) is recruited to lead a ragtag group on a heist to retrieve money a truck-load of money left behind during the initial zombie invasion. Of course, things quickly go sideways and our heroes are forced to contend with both the surviving humans and an army of zombies.

Jung-Seok's tragic backstory unfolds as we learn he lost his sister and nephew. His brother-in-law Chul-min survives, and their complicated relationship as each processes his grief alone provides most of the emotional backbone of Peninsula.

Like any great zombie story, Train to Busan is more about humanity in crisis than it is about the undead. Seok-woo and Su-an are our focal points, but the collision of many different people, all forced into tight proximity during an unmitigated disaster. Their story is devastating, but they are surrounded by people in similar circumstances. More often than not, these everyday people fall to the zombie hordes, but their shared humanity nonetheless shines through.

Director Yeon Sang-ho helmed Train to Busan and Peninsula, as well as the vastly underrated animated prequel Seoul Station. Sang-ho's next film is set to debut at the 2026 Cannes Film Festival. Tackling the familiar theme of survivors trapped in an enclosed space during a zombie outbreak, Colony promises to continue Sang-ho's bleak, violent, yet hopeful view of humanity in crisis. With both Train and its sequel soon to leave Netflix, there's no better time to give these heartbreaking (and terrifying) genre films a watch.