When the Phone Rings
Their love hangs by a thread... until a stranger picks up the phone.
Created by Kim Ji-woon
On MBC
A tense romantic thriller built on the collision of a fraught marriage and a kidnapping crisis, where emotional intimacy and suspense sustain each other across a tight 12-episode arc.
A rising politician and his mute wife's tense marriage begins to unravel after a call from a kidnapper turns their lives upside down.
Where to watch
- StreamNetflix
Questions people ask
Is When the Phone Rings sad? Yes. More sad than 84% of series.
Is When the Phone Rings violent? Somewhat. More violent than 71% of series.
Is When the Phone Rings scary? Somewhat. More frightening than 66% of series.
Is When the Phone Rings easy watching? Not especially. Less comforting than 61% of series.
Does When the Phone Rings leave you hopeful? About average. Almost exactly mid-range.
These describe how the series comes across across its whole run, compared with other well-known series. They are not a content list — nothing here was counted or checked episode by episode, so for age-suitability or specific content use a classification board or a dedicated content-warning service.
Written about
- The Shows That Know They EndFinding
Cinnamon Score
How much this series gives you that nothing else will, and whether it delivers.
Familiar shape, done well.
How unlike any other series this one feels
How much more it delivers than it promises
How much audiences actually like it
Ensemble
Everything like When the Phone Rings, and what each one shares →
Like When the Phone Rings
Nearest across the full emotional profile.
Same Mood as When the Phone Rings
Nearest on what's most distinctive about this one.
Like When the Phone Rings, But Darker
Similar, pushed toward heavier and more intense.
Like When the Phone Rings, But Lighter
Similar, pushed toward warmer and easier.
Like When the Phone Rings, But Less Popular
Same territory, far fewer people have seen it.
