How to Watch Small Things Like These on Netflix in the US with a VPN (2026)

Small Things Like These (2024), the Irish historical drama directed by Tim Mielants, is available on Netflix South Korea. Starring Cillian Murphy, Eileen Walsh, Michelle Fairley, and Emily Watson, the movie follows a coal merchant who discovers disturbing secrets connected to a local convent in 1985 Ireland. The film is based on Claire Keegan’s acclaimed novella of the same name.

Small Things Like These is not currently available through a Netflix US subscription. However, Netflix South Korea and JustWatch South Korea list the movie. Private Internet Access, ExpressVPN, and NordVPN all offer South Korean VPN connections, including streaming-optimized and Seoul-based options. These services can provide a South Korean IP address, but that does not automatically grant access to Netflix’s Korean catalog.

Netflix may detect VPN traffic and limit subscribers to movies licensed worldwide. According to Netflix’s official VPN policy, regional playback through a VPN is not guaranteed, and ad-supported subscriptions do not support VPN viewing. VPN providers may also restrict geographic circumvention, so users should review the applicable terms before attempting access.

How to watch Small Things Like These on Netflix with a VPN

Netflix South Korea lists the movie under its English title, Small Things Like These, while Korean streaming guides use 이처럼 사소한 것들. Confirm the 2024 release year and Cillian Murphy’s role as Bill Furlong before starting.

1. Choose a VPN provider. Compare Private Internet Access first, ExpressVPN second, and NordVPN third, and review each service’s streaming restrictions before subscribing.
2. Download and install the official VPN application on your Windows PC, Mac, smartphone, tablet, or another compatible device.
3. Select South Korea if your intended use complies with the applicable terms. PIA offers South Korea and KR Streaming Optimized, ExpressVPN lists Seoul, and NordVPN supports automatic South Korean server selection.
4. Close Netflix completely, including open browser tabs and background application sessions.
5. Establish the VPN connection and confirm that the application displays an active connection.
6. Reopen Netflix, sign in with your existing account credentials, and select your regular viewing profile.
7. Search for Small Things Like These (2024) or 이처럼 사소한 것들. Confirm Cillian Murphy as Bill Furlong and Emily Watson as Sister Mary.
8. Start playback only if Netflix displays the movie and permits viewing under your subscription, regional licensing conditions, and applicable terms.

The official Netflix South Korea page for Small Things Like These identifies the film as a 2024 drama. It describes a father who discovers a girl locked in a shed, leading him to question the secrets surrounding a convent and his small Irish community.

The Korean Netflix page lists English original audio and Korean subtitles. It also identifies the film as available to download, subject to Netflix’s subscription, device, and download restrictions. English subtitles are not listed on that public Korean page, so viewers should verify available language options inside their accounts.

Small Things Like These runs approximately 99 minutes. It follows Bill Furlong, a coal merchant supporting his wife and five daughters while confronting troubling evidence about the treatment of vulnerable young women. Its Netflix title identifier is 81990652.

Best VPNs for watching Small Things Like These on Netflix

Private Internet Access, ExpressVPN, and NordVPN provide documented South Korean VPN connections. They differ in their available endpoints, connection protocols, streaming-related features, and server-selection controls.

VPN	South Korean server locations	Option to try first
Private Internet Access (Editor’s Choice)	South Korea, KR Streaming Optimized	KR Streaming Optimized for permitted streaming
ExpressVPN	South Korea, with Seoul identified on its official country page	Seoul
NordVPN	Seoul, with 60 South Korean servers listed	South Korea automatic selection

These locations provide encrypted VPN connectivity, not guaranteed access to Netflix South Korea. Netflix may recognize any of these connections and restrict geographically licensed movies even when the VPN itself works correctly.

1. Private Internet Access

Private Internet Access takes our Editor’s Choice position because it publishes detailed information about its South Korean server locations and offers a dedicated streaming-optimized endpoint. Its documentation makes the available connections straightforward to evaluate without relying on unsupported claims about Netflix compatibility.

According to the official PIA server location directory, updated October 15, 2026, the provider offers two South Korean entries: South Korea and KR Streaming Optimized.

KR Streaming Optimized is intended to support streaming-related network performance. The standard South Korea entry provides another connection option for general privacy and networking purposes.

To find these locations, launch PIA and open the VPN SERVER section. Search for South Korea or streaming, then choose an endpoint appropriate to your permitted use.

The application establishes an encrypted tunnel and displays its connection status. However, a successful connection only confirms that VPN routing is active. It does not establish that Netflix will provide access to movies licensed exclusively for South Korea.

PIA does not list separate Seoul, Busan, or Incheon entries. Although its connections provide South Korean IP addresses, users should not assume that several independently selectable Korean cities are available.

The distinction matters when comparing VPN services. ExpressVPN explicitly identifies Seoul, while PIA presents standard and streaming-optimized country-level entries.

PIA also publishes virtual server location documentation explaining how some VPN destinations provide an IP address associated with one country while the actual equipment operates elsewhere.

South Korea does not appear among PIA’s published offshore virtual locations. This distinguishes its Korean connections from destinations such as India, where the provider explicitly identifies physical infrastructure located outside the advertised country.

However, PIA does not disclose the precise physical address of every individual Korean server. The absence of a virtual-location designation does not establish the exact building or data center used for a connection.

PIA supports WireGuard and OpenVPN, two established VPN protocols. WireGuard generally provides efficient encrypted connections with relatively low overhead, while OpenVPN offers an alternative for networks with different compatibility requirements.

WireGuard is a practical starting point for users who prioritize connection efficiency. OpenVPN may help when firewall restrictions, device compatibility, or unusual network configurations cause problems with another protocol.

Neither protocol determines which movies Netflix will allow an account to watch. Switching between WireGuard and OpenVPN cannot override Netflix’s regional licensing restrictions.

Because Small Things Like These runs approximately 99 minutes, stable throughput is important for uninterrupted playback. However, connection quality and Netflix playback authorization are separate considerations.

Users connecting from the United States may experience additional latency because their encrypted traffic must travel to a distant South Korean endpoint. Actual performance depends on the internet provider, routing, server congestion, and local network quality.

If ordinary browsing becomes unreliable, compare your connection with and without the VPN. Restarting PIA, updating the application, or testing another supported protocol may resolve temporary networking problems.

PIA also recommends clearing browser cookies and cache when troubleshooting streaming sessions. These actions can remove outdated session data, but they cannot guarantee access to geographically licensed Netflix titles.

One important restriction applies. The official PIA streaming policy explicitly prohibits using the service to circumvent geographic restrictions imposed by content providers.

PIA recommends selecting a VPN server that matches the country where the subscriber is physically located when using streaming platforms.

Therefore, its Korean endpoints provide documented encrypted networking options, not a guaranteed or authorized method for unlocking Netflix South Korea from the United States.

2. ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN ranks second because it provides a documented South Korean server location, supports several connection protocols, and offers straightforward controls through its applications.

The official ExpressVPN South Korea page identifies Seoul as its Korean server location. Subscribers can select the endpoint to establish an encrypted connection using a South Korean IP address.

ExpressVPN does not identify several independently selectable Korean cities in its public directory. Seoul is the documented location, so alternatives such as Busan and Incheon should not be presented as confirmed options.

To establish a connection, open ExpressVPN and navigate to VPN Locations. Search for South Korea, choose Seoul, and wait until the application confirms that the encrypted tunnel is active.

ExpressVPN also offers Smart Location, which automatically recommends a VPN endpoint based on network conditions. However, its recommendation may point outside South Korea.

Manual selection gives users greater control when comparing Korean VPN connections for permitted privacy and networking activities.

The provider supports Lightway UDP and TCP, WireGuard, and OpenVPN on compatible applications. Available protocols can differ depending on the operating system and application version.

Lightway focuses on efficient connections and quick reconnection after temporary interruptions. This may help when users switch between wireless networks or recover from an unstable connection.

WireGuard provides another efficient encrypted connection option, while OpenVPN can offer compatibility with particular devices and network configurations.

ExpressVPN also maintains official virtual server documentation, identifying destinations where the advertised IP country differs from the physical hosting country.

South Korea is not identified as an offshore virtual destination in that documentation. However, ExpressVPN does not publish the exact physical address of every individual server.

Connection performance depends on the subscriber’s actual location, internet provider, server workload, and network routing. A connection originating in the United States may experience different latency from one established within East Asia.

If ordinary browsing becomes slow, check the original internet connection, restart ExpressVPN, and compare supported protocols. Updating the application may also help resolve temporary compatibility problems.

ExpressVPN offers an internet kill switch on supported applications, designed to reduce unintended traffic exposure if the VPN connection drops unexpectedly. This is a privacy feature rather than a Netflix compatibility feature.

The Seoul connection can provide a Korean IP address for permitted uses, but Netflix independently determines whether an account may access the South Korean movie catalog.

Consequently, ExpressVPN’s Korean server availability does not guarantee that Small Things Like These will appear in an American Netflix account.

3. NordVPN

NordVPN takes third place and offers a documented South Korean server network. According to its official South Korea server page, the provider currently lists 60 South Korean servers associated with Seoul.

To establish an automatic connection, launch NordVPN and select South Korea on the server map. The application chooses an available server using its connection-selection system.

For manual selection, open the country list and choose an available South Korean server. This can help users compare ordinary network routes or troubleshoot connectivity problems.

The provider identifies Seoul as its Korean city location. It does not publish several separate South Korean city choices, so locations such as Busan should not be assumed.

NordVPN supports NordLynx, its WireGuard-based VPN protocol. The official NordLynx documentation explains how the technology supports efficient encrypted connections.

NordLynx is integrated into NordVPN’s applications, so subscribers do not need to install a separate WireGuard client for normal use.

Actual speeds depend on the selected server, subscriber location, network congestion, and underlying internet connection. A fast protocol cannot eliminate every cause of buffering.

NordVPN also includes SmartPlay, which combines VPN routing with DNS-related features. According to the official SmartPlay guide, the feature activates automatically when subscribers connect through the VPN application.

There is no separate SmartPlay switch required during ordinary VPN use. However, SmartPlay does not guarantee access to every streaming platform or geographically licensed movie.

If normal browsing becomes unreliable, compare automatic server selection with an individual available Seoul server. Restarting NordVPN and updating the application may also resolve temporary networking problems.

NordVPN’s published server count establishes the size of its Korean network, not the number of endpoints accepted by Netflix.

Netflix may recognize NordVPN traffic and restrict Small Things Like These even when the VPN connection itself works correctly.

What to do if Small Things Like These does not appear

If Netflix does not display Small Things Like These, the problem may involve geographic licensing, VPN recognition, account settings, or outdated browser information. Begin by confirming that you are searching for the 2024 drama starring Cillian Murphy.

1. Close Netflix completely, including open browser tabs and background application sessions.
2. Disconnect from the VPN and verify that your ordinary internet connection works correctly.
3. Reconnect to South Korea only if your intended use complies with Netflix’s and your VPN provider’s terms.
4. Try another officially documented Korean endpoint when troubleshooting ordinary VPN connectivity.
5. Clear Netflix cookies and the relevant browser cache to remove outdated session data.
6. Open a private or incognito browsing window to test without the previous browser session.
7. Sign in again and check your Netflix profile’s maturity and language settings.
8. Search for Small Things Like These (2024) or 이처럼 사소한 것들, confirm the cast, and check whether Netflix authorizes playback.

PIA users can compare South Korea and KR Streaming Optimized. ExpressVPN documents Seoul, while NordVPN offers multiple servers associated with Seoul.

These are officially documented connections, not servers independently confirmed to unlock Netflix South Korea.

Make sure you select the correct movie. Small Things Like These stars Cillian Murphy as Bill Furlong, Eileen Walsh as his wife, Eileen, and Emily Watson as Sister Mary. Michelle Fairley plays Mrs. Wilson.

The film is set in an Irish town in 1985, where Bill works as a coal merchant and struggles with his conscience after discovering evidence of mistreatment connected to a convent. Its historical setting reflects the wider legacy of Ireland’s Magdalene laundries.

Do not confuse it with similarly named productions such as All Those Small Things or Things Like This. Their stories and casts are unrelated.

Netflix’s missing-title troubleshooting guide explains that licensing restrictions, profile maturity settings, and language preferences can prevent movies from appearing in search results.

If Netflix identifies an active VPN, it may restrict the catalog or display a playback error. Follow the streaming service’s instructions and disconnect the VPN when necessary.

Changing VPN locations or protocols cannot guarantee that Netflix will make its South Korean catalog available to an American subscriber.

Netflix may detect the VPN

A VPN routes internet traffic through another endpoint and changes the public IP address visible to online services. A South Korean VPN connection may provide a Korean IP address while the subscriber physically remains in the United States.

However, changing the apparent country does not automatically grant access to movies licensed for South Korea.

Netflix can recognize VPN traffic and restrict the catalog to titles licensed worldwide. Small Things Like These may therefore appear on Netflix South Korea’s public page while remaining unavailable to an American account connected through a Korean VPN server.

Netflix may also display a VPN or proxy error instead of permitting playback.

Its support documentation recommends checking the apparent network country through Fast.com and selecting Show more info to view the Client location.

That diagnostic can help identify a location mismatch, but it does not establish permission to access another country’s licensed movies.

Can you use a Netflix ad-supported plan with a VPN?

No. Netflix does not support VPN connections on its ad-supported experience.

The official Netflix ad-supported VPN troubleshooting guide explains that subscribers may receive a playback error when Netflix detects an active VPN or proxy.

Netflix recommends disconnecting the VPN to restore supported playback.

JustWatch South Korea lists Small Things Like These on Netflix and Netflix Standard with Ads. However, the movie’s availability on a Korean ad-supported subscription does not override Netflix’s restrictions on VPN use with advertising-supported plans.

An ad-free subscription avoids this specific incompatibility, but Netflix may still recognize VPN traffic and restrict access to geographically licensed movies.

Upgrading your subscription does not guarantee that Small Things Like These will become available through a Korean VPN connection.

Does changing the VPN location change your Netflix account?

No. Changing your VPN location affects network routing and the public IP address visible to websites. It does not automatically change your Netflix email address, password, subscription, payment details, billing country, or saved profiles.

Netflix independently manages account settings and regional content rights. Connecting through South Korea does not automatically convert an American subscription into a Korean account.

This distinction matters because Small Things Like These appears on Netflix South Korea but is not currently included in Netflix US subscription options.

If the movie remains unavailable, check current US streaming options for Small Things Like These. JustWatch US lists Hulu as a subscription option, alongside digital rentals and purchases through Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, and Fandango At Home.

These American options may be simpler than depending on another country’s Netflix catalog, particularly when regional playback or VPN-provider restrictions apply.

Which VPN should you use?

Private Internet Access ranks first because it documents South Korea and KR Streaming Optimized, supports WireGuard and OpenVPN, and provides transparent infrastructure information. However, PIA expressly prohibits using its service to circumvent geographic restrictions, so these connections do not guarantee or authorize access to Netflix South Korea from the United States.

ExpressVPN provides a documented Seoul connection, Lightway, WireGuard, and OpenVPN options on compatible devices. NordVPN offers 60 South Korean servers associated with Seoul, along with NordLynx and automatically activated SmartPlay. Both provide encrypted networking features, but neither guarantees access to regional Netflix movies.

As of October 17, 2026, the official Netflix South Korea page and JustWatch South Korea list Small Things Like These (2024), while Netflix US does not currently offer the film. Regional licensing, VPN detection, ad-supported plan restrictions, and provider terms may prevent playback through the Korean catalog regardless of which VPN service a subscriber chooses.