"War Named Election 〈Running Mate〉 and Other New OTT Releases for the Week of June 3, 2025 (6/18~6/25)"

The new OTT releases for the third week of June feature the fierce election war among high school students, which is more intense than college entrance exams, and the double life of a K-pop star turned exorcist. Don’t miss the chance to watch the hit movie from theaters at home. A dazzling one-man show by Kang Ha-neul and an epic saga inviting you to the fierce Colosseum of Rome land on OTT. With the ongoing monsoon raising the discomfort index, how about blowing away the accumulated stress through these new releases? Here are the new OTT releases for the third week of June.

What is written as an election is read as a war. The election war among high school students, fiercer than college entrance exams, unfolds on OTT. The Tving original <Running Mate>, releasing on June 19, tells the story of Seo Hoon, who becomes the target of ridicule from the entire school due to an unexpected incident and is nominated as the vice-presidential candidate in the student council election. Although he seems destined to be a victim of all sorts of political machinations, his struggle to overcome this and run towards victory naturally garners support and interest.

<Running Mate> has garnered much attention as it is directed and written by Han Jin-won, co-writer of <Parasite>. Although it’s a high school election, it realistically portrays fierce and precarious competition comparable to any political drama, enhancing the viewing experience. The confrontations and interests of candidates rivaling seasoned politicians, along with political maneuvers, create twists that make viewers eagerly anticipate the next episode. Rising stars like Yoon Hyun-soo, Lee Jung-sik, Choi Woo-sung, Hong Hwa-yeon, Lee Bong-jun, and Kim Ji-woo appear in droves, and their passionate performances cannot be missed. Having been pre-released at the Busan International Film Festival two years ago, <Running Mate> showed tremendous popularity with a 5-minute sell-out cut; can it capture the hearts of Tving subscribers this time? If you’re curious about ‘the bright politics of young kids,’ don’t forget to binge-watch on June 19.

The heat of K-Pop extends beyond the globe to Netflix Originals. However, fans are unaware of the extraordinary double life that must never be known. <K-Pop Demon Hunters>, releasing on June 20, tells the story of K-Pop superstars ‘HuntRix’ Lumi, Mira, and Joy, who record sell-out performances every time they perform. When the dazzling spotlight goes out, the paths of these K-Pop stars unfold differently. They use their secret abilities to defeat evil forces. One day, an idol group called ‘Lion Boys’ appears, threatening the position of HuntRix...

Produced by Sony Pictures, known for the <Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse> series, <K-Pop Demon Hunters> promises a powerful spectacle with K-Pop stars’ glamorous performances and exorcism action that transcends time and space. Additionally, the participation of superstars like Ahn Hyo-seop, Kim Yoon-jin, Ken Jeong, Lee Byung-hun, and Daniel Dae Kim adds to the charm of the work. True to its theme of K-Pop, the songs throughout the piece create a lively atmosphere that already excites the audience. TWICE’s Jeongyeon, Jihyo, and Chaeyoung participated in the OST, hinting at an animation that will delight the eyes and ears.

>Streaming< showcases Kang Ha-neul’s one-man show on Netflix. The film is a fake documentary that live-streams the every move of a famous streamer chasing a serial killer case while uncovering the truth of the incident. Kang Ha-neul stars as Woo-sang, a streamer running a crime channel online, leading the story throughout the runtime. He finds clues to the unresolved serial killer case and approaches the truth of the incident, but unexpected events put his life in danger.

<Streaming> is mostly shot in one take. True to the concept of an internet live broadcast, it provides a significant sense of presence, continuously giving viewers the effect of witnessing an actual event. In many ways, this work highlights everything about Kang Ha-neul. It allows us to meet various sides of Kang Ha-neul that we haven’t seen before. The virtue of the work lies in glimpsing his energy as he races toward the truth without hesitation and sometimes goes on a rampage. A twist upon a twist is essential in such a film. It not only showcases the fun of the thriller genre but also sharply critiques the light and shadow of internet broadcasting and the various issues that arise from it.

Meet the legend that returns after 24 years on OTT. <Gladiator 2> tells the story of Lucius, who fights in the Colosseum for the fate of Rome, more than 20 years after the death of ‘Maximus’. Although Russell Crowe, the protagonist of the first film, unfortunately does not appear, Ridley Scott is back in the director’s chair, promising another epic saga while continuing the story of the first film.

Paul Mescal, who touched the hearts of global movie fans with <Aftersun>, takes on the lead role in this work. He makes a dazzling debut in the Colosseum as a gladiator slave, showcasing his true worth. The delicate emotional performance of the protagonist, who is unable to act due to the wheel of fate, and the brutal action that is not afraid of bloodshed are vividly portrayed. Joining him are Pedro Pascal from <Fantastic Four> and Denzel Washington, who needs no modifiers, adding weight to the work. Connie Nielsen from the first film reprises her role as Lucilla, maintaining the continuity of the series. The highlight of this work is undoubtedly the battle scenes in the Colosseum. The heat and presence make the audience feel as if they are actually there. Let’s meet the world of gladiators prepared by <Gladiator 2>, which has everything ready except aerial combat, on OTT.

Editor of Taylor Content, Hong Seon