Last week Netflix announced an impressive lineup of more than 30 Korean films and TV shows (opens in new tab) slated to launch in 2023.

Jung_E is a new sci-fi thriller from Yong Sang-Ho, the director of "Train to Busan" and Netflix's "Hellbound" series; the film, released on January 20, has leapt to #1 on Netflix's most-watched movies list. This feat was achieved in just three days, surpassing "Dog Gone" and "Glass Onion": the film is currently ranked #2 and #3, respectively. The current Netflix Top 5 is dominated by "Sing 2" and "The Pale Blue Eye".

Naturally, you may be wondering if "Jung_E" is worth watching this week. So, if you're wondering whether to add this sci-fi thriller to your watch list, we'll answer whether you should stream or skip this new Netflix release.

Set in the 22nd century, "Jung_E" depicts a nightmarish future Earth devastated by climate change. The surface of the Earth is inhospitable, and humans live in man-made space shelters. However, this interstellar shelter is far from safe.

War has broken out among the remnants of humanity, and some of the shelters claim to be part of the newly formed Republic of Adria. Captain Jung-Yi (Kim Hyun-Joo) is an elite leader of the allied forces fighting back against the Republic, but when his last mission fails, he falls into a coma.

A mysterious organization using advanced AI technology clones Jung-Yi's brain to create "Jung_E," a super-powered mercenary who will be the key to winning the war. However, there is no simple way to clone him.

Currently, "Jung_E" has a score of 64% on the review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes (opens in new tab). While this does not earn it a spot in our roundup of Netflix movies over 90%, it does indicate that the film has attracted more positive write-ups than negative ones. Coincidentally, the audience score is also just 64%.

Empire's Al Horner (open in new tab) states that "'Jung_E' delivers where it matters: propulsive action sequences, emotional drama, and grand existential questions about the human connections that sustain us," but they give the possible five stars, giving the film only three out of five.

Meanwhile, Andrew Webster of The Verge (open in new tab) specifically praised the film's acclaimed director: "Sangho is a director who keeps finding new angles and ideas, even in the most crowded spaces."

The film's director, Sangho, is a "master of the art of the cinema." 17]

However, Roger Moore of Movie Nation (opens in new tab) described the film as "a thriller sandwiched between human versus robot shootouts, with tedious corporate intrigue crammed in between," and said, "There is little human connection to any of it, and action writer Yeon Sang-ho," concluding, "is a rare soulless misstep for Yeon Sang-ho."

The film is "a real gem of a movie.

If you are looking for an over-the-top sci-fi thriller that will keep you entertained throughout its 100-minute running time, "JUNG_E" may be just what you are looking for. It probably won't be memorable for long, but it's a nonstop thrill ride.

It's also great to see more foreign language content finding an audience on Netflix. With the blockbuster success of "Squid Game," Netflix seems to be giving Korean content more of a chance.

"Jung_E" is definitely a film worth streaming if you want to start your week with a cinematic escape. And hopefully, this film is a preview of the Netflix film industry in 2023.