With Ji Chang Wook and DO (EXO), The manipulated has skyrocketed to the top of Disney+’s global charts, according to FlixPatrol data from Nov. 24. The drama has outperformed high profile films like Everything is rightstarring Kim Kardashian, demonstrating its broad international appeal and critical acclaim in major markets.
The series has maintained its No. 1 position in South Korea and Taiwan for 18 consecutive days and remains in the top 10 in regions such as Hong Kong, Singapore and Türkiye. Disney+’s strategic release of two new episodes every Wednesday has fueled global audiences’ weekly anticipation The manipulated one of the best performing non-English titles on the platform this season.
With a huge budget of KRW 35 billion, The manipulated is a dark, high-stakes revenge thriller that explores power, deception and psychological warfare. Inspired by Manufactured city (2017), the drama offers a relentless pace, intense twists and turns and a suffocating atmosphere. It revolves around Park Tae Joong, played by Ji Chang Wook, a man wrongly accused of a crime, caught in a web of manipulation where the truth is bent and every move could be his last.
The cast, including DO, Lee Kwang Soo and Jo Yoon Su, shines in both action and emotionally charged sequences. Yet it is Ji Chang Wook’s performance that grounds the series. Moving away from his usual roles in Healer OR Melting me gentlyJi transforms into a layered character consumed by trauma and moral ambiguity.
His performance as Tae Joong is a masterpiece of subtle emotional control. Whether it’s through a fleeting twitch of his eyebrows, a held breath, or an intense eye roll, Ji channels a man who unravels under pressure without ever overdoing it. In scenes of high-stakes dialogue and internal conflict, he brings nuance and tension that elevates the drama beyond its genre.
The manipulated it’s not just another thriller, it’s a bold step forward for Korean dramas on the global stage. With its brilliant direction, cinematic quality and complex performances, it not only dominates the streaming charts, but also solidifies Ji Chang Wook’s evolution into a powerful dramatic actor ready for deeper and more challenging roles.
Sources: K14
