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Entertainment • TV Series

Beef

Beef is a Netflix dark comedy-drama television series created by Lee Sung Jin and produced by A24.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 26, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Beef is a Netflix dark comedy-drama television series created by Lee Sung Jin and produced by A24. The first season follows two strangers whose road rage incident escalates into a destructive feud that affects their lives and relationships. The series premiered on Netflix on April 6, 2023.

Premise

The series begins with a traffic confrontation that develops into a prolonged conflict between two strangers. Over time, the feud spreads into their families, work lives, and other relationships.

Cast and characters

Season 1 stars Steven Yeun as Danny Cho and Ali Wong as Amy Lau. Other cast members include Joseph Lee, Young Mazino, David Choe, and Patti Yasutake.

Production

Beef was created by Lee Sung Jin and produced by A24 for Netflix. The series was developed as a dark comedy-drama and first premiered in 2023. The show is loosely inspired by a real-life road rage experience described by its creator.

Reception and format

The first season consists of 10 episodes and was released in a compact serialized format. Netflix later expanded the title into a second season with a different story and cast.

Key facts

  • The first season centers on a road rage incident between Danny Cho and Amy Lau that turns into an escalating feud.
  • Steven Yeun and Ali Wong star as the two leads in season 1.
  • Lee Sung Jin created the series, loosely inspired by his own road rage experience.
  • The series is produced by A24 and has been listed by Netflix as having 2 seasons.
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Canadian context

The series is available on Netflix in Canada and was widely discussed as an Emmy-winning Netflix title that Canadian viewers could stream alongside its global release.

Frequently asked questions

What is the Beef TV show about?
It follows two strangers whose road rage incident turns into an escalating feud that affects their lives, families, and work.
Who stars in Beef on Netflix?
Season 1 stars Steven Yeun and Ali Wong. Other notable cast members include Joseph Lee, Young Mazino, David Choe, and Patti Yasutake.
How many episodes of Beef are there?
The first season has 10 episodes. Netflix currently lists the series as having 2 seasons.
Is Beef based on a true story?
It is not a direct true-story adaptation, but it was loosely inspired by creator Lee Sung Jin’s own road rage experience.
Who created Beef?
Beef was created by Lee Sung Jin.

References

  1. Time Out — https://www.timeout.com/news/everything-you-need-to-know-about-beef-040423
    Supports: Premise, creator, inspiration, episode count, premiere date
  2. Netflix Tudum — https://www.netflix.com/tudum/articles/beef-season-1-recap
    Supports: Premise and main characters
  3. Netflix — https://www.netflix.com/title/81447461
    Supports: Series availability, seasons, creators, current cast listing
  4. IMDb — https://www.imdb.com/title/tt14403178/
    Supports: Creator, stars, genre, episode count, release date
  5. Forbes — https://www.forbes.com/sites/monicamercuri/2024/01/16/what-is-beef-about-on-netflix-everything-you-need-to-know/
    Supports: Premise, cast, inspiration from a real-life incident