Kakao Entertainment is stealing the global spotlight with its flagship titles for the second half of 2025: “Queen Mantis” and “You and Everything Else.” This momentum builds on the success of Kakao Entertainment’s earlier 2025 hits including “When Life Gives You Tangerines,” “Karma,” and “Nine Puzzles,” highlighting the company’s growing presence as a global studio.
“Queen Mantis,” premiered on Sept. 5 on Netflix and SBS, ranked 6th on Netflix’s global Top 10 non-English shows chart while remaining in the Top 10 for two consecutive weeks, as reported by Netflix Tudum. “You and Everything Else” also got off to a smooth start, reaching Netflix’s Top 10 in 13 countries upon its release on Sept. 12, according to FlixPatrol.
Notably, these accomplishments demonstrate that Kakao Entertainment – known for its expertise in reinterpreting a broad spectrum of IPs, its extensive experience in content production, and its synergy-driven collaborations with subsidiaries – continues to set new industry benchmarks. Through its IP crossover strategy, Kakao Entertainment has showcased well-crafted adaptations of its popular web novels and webtoons, further leveraging that knowledge and experience to reinterpret works from abroad and earn positive reviews. It has also strengthened its content competitiveness by producing original works with its creative power, collaborating with actors and producers from its subsidiaries to create synergy.
Queen Mantis
“Queen Mantis,” based on the 2017 French drama “La Mante,” follows a serial killer nicknamed “The Mantis” who unexpectedly partners with her detective son to track down a copycat murderer imitating her past crimes. The Korean adaptation reinterprets the original story with the unique touch of K-content by exploring the emotional depths of diverse characters, adding unexpected twists and raising thought-provoking questions about life. Bolstered by aesthetic visuals and cinematography, “Queen Mantis” also embraces these elements within a Korean setting and context, piquing the interest of global audiences.
Director Byun Young-joo, who helms the series, explained, “Some parts stay true to the original, while others move in a different direction. However, the latter truly resonated with me.”
The popularity of “Queen Mantis” largely stems from the layered relationship of a killer mother and her detective son. Instead of portraying stereotypical maternal love, “Queen Mantis” features Jeong I-shin – “The Mantis” – as an enigmatic character provoking her son, Cha Su-yeol (Jang Dong-yoon from BH Entertainment under Kakao Entertainment), who harbors a complicated mix of suspicion, resentment, and love-hate feelings toward his mother. Their psychological tension, coupled with ideological conflict over justice – especially the idea of taking justice into their own hands – are the highlights of the series, attracting viewers.
You and Everything Else
The Netflix series “You and Everything Else,” starring Kim Go-eun from BH Entertainment, is also making waves with its heartwarming and therapeutic story. It is garnering global attention for its multidimensional portrayal of two friends – Ryu Eun-jung (Kim Go-eun) and Cheon Sang-yeon (Park Ji-hyun) – who share an enduring, complicated love-hate relationship. Their lives become intricately intertwined as they repeatedly cross paths through various phases of life. Kim Go-eun, in particular, is earning praise for her subtle portrayal of Eun-jung, a seemingly-ordinary, yet outspoken and endearing character, depicting her journey from her 20s to 40s and capturing the complex and nuanced emotions she harbors toward Sang-yeon.
The crown jewel of “You and Everything Else” is the emotional resonance that it evokes. By delving deeply into the inner lives of the characters caught in a whirlwind of emotions from love and admiration to jealousy, the series prompts viewers to reminisce about their own Eun-jung and Sang-yeon. It invites viewers to its fictional world at first glance, but upon closer inspection, its strong sense of immersion – created by a rich narrative and touching direction – guides them to reflect on their own lives.
The success of “Queen Mantis” and “You and Everything Else” is also raising high expectations for “Walking on Thin Ice,” a KBS2TV miniseries scheduled to premiere on Sept. 20. Featuring high-profile actors Lee Young-ae, Kim Young-kwang and Park Yong-woo, it zooms in on the risky collaboration between Kang Eun-soo (Lee Young-ae,) who is determined to protect her family, and Lee Kyung (Kim Young-kwang,) a double-faced teacher, after they accidentally discover a bag of drugs.
Source: Press Release
