Television series
Kingdom
Other titles called Kingdom: the 2012 series (NHK), the 2014 series (Audience Network), the 2019 series (Netflix).
Kingdom is a high-stakes K-pop competition show where seven established boy groups battle simultaneously, each releasing new music the same day to vie for chart dominance. It's thrilling, visually spectacular, and genuinely suspenseful—you'll find yourself invested in groups you'd never heard of. For anyone who loves watching artists at peak creativity under pressure.
If you liked this
Produce 1012016
The grandparent of all K-pop survival shows. Massive scale, genuine stakes, and the format that proved audiences would binge competition shows where the outcome genuinely mattered to millions of people.
But Eleven episodes is a commitment, and it focuses on trainees rather than established stars, so the performances are less polished than Kingdom's.
Queendom2019
The female answer to Kingdom, same format and production values but with girl groups. If you loved the competition and want more of this exact show, this is it—just swapping the lineups.
But It's genuinely the same format, so if you've just finished Kingdom, watching identical structure might feel repetitive rather than fresh.
The Unit2006
Trainees and idols compete to form a supergroup under the mentorship of established industry legends. Messier and more unpredictable than Kingdom because the group dynamics are being forged in real time.
But The concept of a temporary supergroup means you know from day one that the relationships won't last, which undercuts some emotional investment.
Not sure tonight? Get a pick in a minute, starting from Kingdom
The wildcard
Something you would not have found on your own.
Physical: 1002023
Both are Korean competition shows that thrive on genuine suspense and meaningful elimination. Both prove the format works because the outcome is truly uncertain and the competition is real.
Not music, but pure competition distilled. One hundred fit people, one prize, relentless physical challenges with no narrative manipulation. If you loved Kingdom's real-time stakes and suspense, this delivers the same dopamine hit through a completely different lens.
But It's not about art or creativity at all—just bodies and endurance. If you want the artistry element that makes Kingdom special, this abandons it entirely.
More like this (4)
My Super Sweet 162005
Twice's survival show, and a masterclass in tension. The emotional stakes feel impossibly high because you're watching JYP Entertainment decide who gets to debut. Genuinely gripping television.
But It's focused on creating one group rather than comparing existing ones, so the performance variety isn't as wide as Kingdom's.
Love Live! School Idol Project2013
A different angle on competition: trainees live together, train together, and face constant evaluation. The social dynamics add a reality-show texture that pure performance competitions don't have.
But It became controversial after airing due to mistreatment allegations, which casts a shadow over rewatching and genuinely darkens the mood.
The I-Land2019
High-concept survival show with a science-fiction premise and stunning production design. The competition is intellectually interesting because the rules constantly shift and adapt.
But The shifting rules sometimes feel arbitrary rather than fair, and a few viewers find the production choices more interesting than the actual contestants.
Turning Red2022
Both celebrate K-pop and boy groups with unironic affection, but Turning Red shows fandom from the outside looking in, while Kingdom lets you experience what the artists themselves feel. Different angles on the same genuine love.
A Pixar film about a girl obsessed with a boy band, made with such genuine love for fandom culture that it feels like someone who actually watches these shows made it. The concert sequences have Kingdom's same energy: controlled chaos, technical precision, and real emotional connection.
But It's a kids' film, so the emotional depth and character work don't have the maturity of Kingdom. If you're watching for competition stakes and artist vulnerability, you won't find much.
