Lisa (left) and Jun (right). Photos: courtesy of Lloud and Pledis Entertainment.
K-pop’s global influence is nothing new, and the entertainment industry has been taking notes. More and more K-pop artists have been branching out into film and television, proving that their star power extends well beyond music. These crossovers are reshaping how far K-pop can go, and who it can reach. From action heroes to drama queens, here are some notable K-pop crossovers worth checking out.
Lisa Stars in the New Short Film Dream
Lisa recently took to social media to announce her upcoming short film, Dream, which she’ll be starring in alongside Japanese heartthrob Kentaro Sakaguchi. The song “Dream” from her album Alter Ego, which explores longing and nostalgia, serves as the inspiration for the movie. Lisa teased the new project, sharing its official trailer and captioning it: “An emotional, beautiful story that will soon be yours.” The film will premiere on Aug. 13, 2025 on her music label Lloud’s YouTube channel.
Before Dream, however, Lisa made her acting debut this year in the third season of the hit HBO anthology series The White Lotus. She plays Mook, a warm but calculating wellness consultant at a luxury resort in Thailand navigating a romance with the resort’s security guard that pushes him to make morally grey choices.
Jun and Jackie Chan Clash in Action Thriller Film, The Shadow’s Edge
The Shadow’s Edge is an upcoming Chinese crime action thriller in which Seventeen’s Jun will share screen space with the legendary martial artist, actor, and filmmaker Jackie Chan. The K-pop sensation will play Hu Feng, a skilled member of a ruthless crime syndicate led by Fu Longsheng (Tony Leung Ka-fai), the mastermind behind a massive heist that leaves the police stumped. To counter the relentless criminals, the police department brings in retired tracking expert Wong Tak Chung (Jackie Chan). Tensions reach a boiling point when the cops and criminals start playing mind games with each other. The film is set to hits theaters on Aug. 16, 2025.
Jennie Brings Depth to her Role in The Idol
In this 2023 American drama, Blackpink’s Jennie plays Dyanne, a sultry backup dancer and friend of Lily-Rose Depp’s Jocelyn, a troubled pop star. Initially, Dyanne comes across as a close ally and confidante to Jocelyn. But as the pop star finds herself entangled in a toxic, all-consuming romance with The Weeknd’s Tedros, a shady nightclub owner, she soon realizes that Dyanne is a member of his cult, and even orchestrated their first meeting. Despite the controversy surrounding the show’s racy and explicit content, Jennie was praised for her performance, particularly for her impressive dance skills and captivating on-screen presence.
Ok Taecyeon’s First Japanese Movie, La Grande Maison Paris
Ok Taecyeon‘s Japanese film debut follows the story of a renowned Japanese chef, Natsuki Obana (Takuya Kimura), who’s on a mission to open a three-Michelin-star restaurant in Paris. But it’s not all smooth sailing—sourcing the best ingredients proves to be a challenge, and tensions simmer in the kitchen as the staff, including Rick Yuan (Ok Taecyeon), the brilliant pastry chef, clash with Obana from time to time. Speaking about his involvement in this 2024 film, the 2PM member said, “Working on this project with people from all over the world showed me that chasing your dreams is a universal language—it doesn’t matter where you’re from. Our film is all about that shared passion and working towards a common goal.”
Rain’s Starring Role in the Hollywood Movie, Ninja Assassin
In one of the most epic crossovers at the time, Korean pop icon Rain brought his martial arts skills to the big screen in Ninja Assassin (2009). His character Raizo (Rain) is a lethal assassin under the Ozunu Clan. But when his friend falls victim to the clan’s brutality, Raizo breaks free from them and plots his revenge. He teams up with Europol agent Mika Coretti (Naomie Harris), and together, they embark on a dangerous mission to take down the Ozunu empire one brick at a time.
“I put my heart and soul into this movie,” Rain later revealed to CNN Entertainment, adding that he spent months perfecting his body for the role, pushing his limits with rigorously long workouts. “For about a year, I couldn’t eat properly,” he shared. His hard work paid off, earning him the “Biggest Badass” award at the MTV Movie Awards in 2010. Rain also played the role of a rookie racer in the sports action American movie Speed Racer (2008), but it was Ninja Assassin that cemented him as a global action star.
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