You must watch these 6 Choi Seung-hyun movies if you loved his role as Thanos in Squid Game

Sayan
SAG-AFTRA Foundation Conversations Presents "Squid Game" - Source: Getty
Choi Seung-hyun (Photo by JC Olivera/Getty Images for SAG-AFTRA Foundation)

When Choi Seung-hyun stepped into a role that rivaled Thanos in intensity in Squid Game, he reminded audiences that he never really went away.. Many knew him first as T.O.P from BigBang, where he owned every stage he walked on. But long before he turned Squid Game upside down, he stepped into films that proved he had more to give. He didn’t just choose easy roles that leaned on his fame.

He chose stories that threw him into rough places and made him dig out something real. Some of these films dropped him into the middle of a war where kids hold rifles with shaking hands. Others push him into crime scenes where he plays men who never back down when pushed.

You can see him stand toe to toe with veterans and hold his own. He does not hide behind music or an idol image when he works on screen. Each film shows how he takes that sharp energy from rap and pours it into tense silences or sudden outbursts. He does not try to be safe.

He does not try to please everyone. These six films prove why he can vanish for years and still grab attention when he returns. Watch them if Thanos hooked you.


You must watch these 6 Choi Seung-hyun movies if you loved his role as Thanos in Squid Game

1. 71: Into the Fire (2010)

Choi Seung-hyun (Photo by JC Olivera/Getty Images for SAG-AFTRA Foundation)
Choi Seung-hyun (Photo by JC Olivera/Getty Images for SAG-AFTRA Foundation)

Choi Seung-hyun stepped into 71: Into the Fire as Oh Jang-beom, who led scared boys during the Korean War. He filmed rough scenes that left bruises, but earned him Best New Actor at Korea’s Blue Dragon and Baeksang Awards.

The film tells how seventy-one kids delayed North Korean troops long enough for backup. T.O.P made Jang-beom believable as a teen stuck between tears and courage. He often looked scared, yet he stood his ground when shots rang out.

His quiet moments gave weight to every bullet and death. He did not play it safe. His raw eyes showed he understood how fear never really leaves. Many say this role proved he could act as more than an idol star. 71: Into the Fire still shows a young performer ready to risk sweat for a story that mattered.


2. Commitment (2013)

Choi Seung-hyun (Photo by JC Olivera/Getty Images for SAG-AFTRA Foundation)
Choi Seung-hyun (Photo by JC Olivera/Getty Images for SAG-AFTRA Foundation)

In Commitment, Choi Seung-hyun took on Lee Myung-hoon who spied for North Korea to save his sister. He lived undercover in South Korea while pretending to be an ordinary student who wanted peace.

Every scene showed two sides. One side wanted normal days and a smile with classmates. The other side held a hidden knife ready for betrayal. T.O.P made those choices look real and hard. He trained for sharp fight scenes and maintained a cold, unreadable stare.

Busan’s film festival named him New Asian Actor of the Year for this work. His best scenes are the quiet ones where Myung-hoon watches people laugh and knows he cannot. Commitment showed he could play troubled teens without fake drama. Fans saw he could carry a whole movie and keep the truth heavy all the way.


3. Tazza: The Hidden Card (2014)

Choi Seung-hyun (Photo by TPG/Getty Images)
Choi Seung-hyun (Photo by TPG/Getty Images)

Tazza: The Hidden Card pulled Choi Seung-hyun into a world full of cheating and secret bets. He played Ham Dae-gil, who was clever enough to cheat gamblers at their own games. He carried his uncle’s legacy and bet his life with every hand.

He trained with real cards, so no trick looked fake on camera. This sequel to Tazza gave him room to show charm and sudden anger. He fit well with crooks and hustlers. Dae-gil tricked older sharks while staying two steps ahead.

His poker face worked because his eyes flickered when he got cornered. Critics liked that he stayed calm yet snapped when crossed. Tazza: The Hidden Card still holds up for showing he could handle slick crime stories. This film proved he can gamble for real in any scene and walk away cool.


4. IRIS: The Movie (2011)

Choi Seung-hyun (Photo by Charley Gallay/Getty Images for Netflix)
Choi Seung-hyun (Photo by Charley Gallay/Getty Images for Netflix)

In IRIS: The Movie, Choi Seung-hyun became Vick, who killed spies in cold blood. He moved through shootouts without fear. Vick never wasted words and never missed his target.

Fans remember how he looked quiet, but death came with him. This film cuts the TV series into a sharp story. T.O.P was trained to stay steady when bullets flew around. His face stayed calm while enemies fell. He brought that quiet threat to every shot.

He even added his voice to the soundtrack, which tied his musical life to the role. Vick stayed in people’s minds because he made every short scene tense. IRIS: The Movie is still listed when people name cold hitmen done right. This work showed he could do dark parts and keep the chill steady.


5. 19‑Nineteen (2009)

Choi Seung-hyun (Photo by Unique Nicole/Getty Images for Netflix)
Choi Seung-hyun (Photo by Unique Nicole/Getty Images for Netflix)

19‑Nineteen showed Choi Seung-hyun before bigger hits. He and Seungri played teens blamed for a murder they never planned. They ran from the police and hid under bridges and empty buildings.

T.O.P gave his boy a raw panic that made sense. His face switched from anger to fear to hope. He fought with Seungri on rooftops and in bus stops. The plot was simple, but his performance felt real. He did not try to look good. He looked vulnerable and raw.

They filmed real chase scenes on city streets that made the fear clear. This movie does not feel like a shiny idol launch. It feels rough and honest. 19‑Nineteen helped him break out from just being a rapper. It gave fans a hint of what he could do with real stakes on screen.


6. The Secret Message (2015)

Choi Seung-hyun (Photo by Vittorio Zunino Celotto/Getty Images)
Choi Seung-hyun (Photo by Vittorio Zunino Celotto/Getty Images)

The Secret Message showed Choi Seung-hyun as Woo-hyun, who missed an old love and found comfort in texts to a stranger. He stayed in South Korea while she stayed in Japan.

They sent lines back and forth about life and loss. T.O.P kept Woo-hyun calm but you saw his sadness slip out in tiny ways. The series did not push big drama. It stayed quiet, which made each word count.

He looked natural when he heard old voicemails alone. Fans liked the scenes where he typed replies that meant more than they said. The Secret Message is not long, but people still mention it. He showed he can carry soft love stories. Woo-hyun felt real for anyone who has ever wanted one more message before goodbye.


Follow for more updates.

Love movies? Try our Box Office Game and Movie Grid Game to test your film knowledge and have some fun!

Quick Links

Edited by Sezal Srivastava