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Oldboy

Original title: Oldeuboi
  • 2003
  • R
  • 2h
IMDb RATING
8.3/10
680K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
229
27
Oldboy (2003)
After being kidnapped and imprisoned for fifteen years, Oh Dae-Su is released, only to find that he must find his captor in five days.
Play trailer1:58
6 Videos
99+ Photos
Dark ComedyOne-Person Army ActionPsychological DramaPsychological ThrillerActionDramaMysteryThriller

After being kidnapped and imprisoned for fifteen years, Oh Dae-Su is released, only to find that he must track down his captor in five days.After being kidnapped and imprisoned for fifteen years, Oh Dae-Su is released, only to find that he must track down his captor in five days.After being kidnapped and imprisoned for fifteen years, Oh Dae-Su is released, only to find that he must track down his captor in five days.

  • Director
    • Park Chan-wook
  • Writers
    • Garon Tsuchiya
    • Nobuaki Minegishi
    • Park Chan-wook
  • Stars
    • Choi Min-sik
    • Yoo Ji-tae
    • Kang Hye-jeong
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    8.3/10
    680K
    YOUR RATING
    POPULARITY
    229
    27
    • Director
      • Park Chan-wook
    • Writers
      • Garon Tsuchiya
      • Nobuaki Minegishi
      • Park Chan-wook
    • Stars
      • Choi Min-sik
      • Yoo Ji-tae
      • Kang Hye-jeong
    • 1.3KUser reviews
    • 326Critic reviews
    • 78Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Top rated movie #77
    • Awards
      • 43 wins & 28 nominations total

    Videos6

    Official 'Oldboy' Trailer
    Trailer 1:58
    Official 'Oldboy' Trailer
    Oldboy
    Trailer 1:57
    Oldboy
    Oldboy
    Trailer 1:57
    Oldboy
    Oldboy (2003)
    Trailer 1:35
    Oldboy (2003)
    Director Park Chan-wook on Weaving Violent and Erotic Themes into 'Oldboy'
    Clip 4:33
    Director Park Chan-wook on Weaving Violent and Erotic Themes into 'Oldboy'
    The Cast of 'Tigertail' Name Their Favorite Films in Asian Cinema
    Clip 2:56
    The Cast of 'Tigertail' Name Their Favorite Films in Asian Cinema
    IMDbrief: 'Outlaw King' & Most Epic Tracking Shots in Film History
    Clip 3:59
    IMDbrief: 'Outlaw King' & Most Epic Tracking Shots in Film History

    Photos207

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    + 201
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    Top cast53

    Edit
    Choi Min-sik
    Choi Min-sik
    • Dae-su Oh
    Yoo Ji-tae
    Yoo Ji-tae
    • Woo-jin Lee
    Kang Hye-jeong
    Kang Hye-jeong
    • Mi-do
    Kim Byeong-Ok
    Kim Byeong-Ok
    • Mr. Han
    Ji Dae-han
    • No Joo-hwan
    • (as Dae-han Ji)
    Oh Dal-su
    Oh Dal-su
    • Park Cheol-woong
    • (as Dal-su Oh)
    Seung-shin Lee
    Seung-shin Lee
    • Yoo Hyung-ja
    • (as Seung-Shin Lee)
    Yoon Jin-seo
    Yoon Jin-seo
    • Lee Soo-ah
    Oh Tae-kyung
    • Young Dae-su
    • (as Tae-kyung Oh)
    Yoo Yeon-seok
    Yoo Yeon-seok
    • Young Woo-Jin
    • (as Ahn Yeon-Seok)
    Il-han Oo
    • Young Joo-hwan
    Lee Young-hee
    • Clock Store Lady
    Kim Young Ae
    Kim Young Ae
    • Elevator Lady
    • (as Kim Yeong-ae)
    Mi Mi Lee
    • Dental Nurse
    Jae-Duk Han
    • Night Teacher
    Jung Ae Kwak
    • Nun Teacher
    San Kim
    • Electronics Store Owner
    Chae-soo Jang
    • Woo-jin's Doctor
    • Director
      • Park Chan-wook
    • Writers
      • Garon Tsuchiya
      • Nobuaki Minegishi
      • Park Chan-wook
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews1.3K

    8.3680.3K
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    Summary

    Reviewers say 'Oldboy' is a polarizing film, celebrated for its intricate plot, shocking twists, and emotional impact. Many praise its cinematography, direction, and Choi Min-sik's compelling performance. However, some critics argue the violence is gratuitous and the twist unconvincing, leading to mixed reactions. Despite the controversy, 'Oldboy' is often hailed for its bold storytelling and significant place in modern cinema.
    AI-generated from the text of user reviews

    Featured reviews

    9max8791

    One of most well-made films I've ever seen

    I decided to check this movie out after Ebert's 4 star rave review, and the cult status this movie has received (and was also intrigued by the sexy-looking Ultimate Edition), so I decided to rent it. I was VERY surprised at how different it was than I expected it to be - I expected a ton of violence and not much in the way of writing or acting. The first time I saw it, I wasn't blown away, just kind of like whatever.

    When I watched it for the second time, however, I really started to notice how well it's made, in addition to liking it more. Every shot is bursting with background detail, a great amount of attention on the production design (the theme of a certain color in a scene was restrained, yet perfectly balanced). The actors really gave it all, especially the 2 male leads who really blew me away. The music is a varied mix of beautiful classical music and some pretty cool techno. The screenplay is brilliant; the characters are developed very well, extremely complex, and the plot is not only ingenious, but the payoff and twists are 1000x better than any Shamaylan movie.

    Simply put, from a technical point of view, it's one of the best movies ever. From a critic's point of view, it is a very well-done movie that goes a little overboard in sex and violence, and is just a little strange.
    8LeroyBrown-2

    As good and disturbing as expected.

    I read the review for "Oldboy" a few years ago and have since read praise about the movie from IMDb posters. Often times movies with that kind of hype tend to fall short and is a major disappointment. I don't know anything about Korean cinema so I had fairly low expectations. I had expected it to be a simplistic revenge film, shot in bad film stock. Well I have to say that I'm glad I was wrong, and even gladder still that I actually watched this film.

    The basic story is that a man named Oh Dae-Su is kidnapped and held captive for 18 years and then released. He has no idea who or why this is being done to him. While in captivity he readies himself for the day when he gets out and take revenge on those who imprisoned him, and to find out why he was imprisoned. So far it sounds just like any old revenge martial art flick and up to this point it pretty much is, but it's incredibly well crafted. I have to admit I have not paid much attention to Asian martial arts films since Bruce Lee died and maybe I should now. Mainly because this movie doesn't have the jumpy camera work, or bad editing of those old flicks. This movie is a crisply shot as any Scorcese film. That alone elevates this movie to a higher plateau.

    Once he is released, Oh Dae-Su goes on a quest to find what happened to his family and to find the identity of those who had him captured. During the quest for the bad guys, the movie played out like an old fashioned detective movie. The search wasn't rushed and neither was it boring. I suppose the set up made us want to go on this quest with Oh Dae-Su which sounds like Odysseus, and just as Odysseus went on one incredible quest so did Oh Dae-Su.

    It's when he finds the man who had him held captive that the movie truly departs from being an average revenge film to something that is extra ordinary and extraordinarily disturbing. It's at this point that I have to say that the less said the better. It's something totally out of the ordinary and something that I think will repulse some viewers, but at the same time one can't help have sympathy for all the characters even the man who ordered Oh's incarceration.

    The acting in the movie is excellent. I had no idea that Korean cinema has such skillful actors. They all really played their part incredibly well. Min-sik Choi, who played Oh Dae-Su was incredible. He goes through the rigors of being a desperate captive, to being a determined man on a mission. Along the way he runs through the gamut of so much emotion and not once did he hit a false note.

    Overall I have to say that this movie is incredibly well crafted and as good as everybody say, however I find it a little disturbing so I can't give this movie a ten. But don't let my not giving the film a ten scare you away it's a good, enjoyable film.
    9Genevieve_X

    Freaked me out

    I haven't written a comment on IMDb for about 3 years but was inspired to with this film. It is not very often that I come across a film by accident (World Movies on cable) and the spend the next day scouring the internet to find out information about it and can't get it out of my head! Anyway, yep there are plot holes, but Old boy borrows a lot from surrealism and you are meant to suspend your disbelief! I don't buy comments when people say "it is so unrealistic because he should've done this ..." because it is a surrealist film and meant to be unrealistic! For me the sign of a good film is if it sticks on your head! THis one surely does (althought I did have to look away a few times ... ) Loved it!!!! Work of cruel genius!!! (HOLLYWOOD - Please don't ruin it by remaking it!!!)
    9sqreader

    Absolutely Sublime.......................................................

    I've scored this a 9 but I think I may have been a little harsh! I have just read a review that says the reviewer cannot understand the hype. I can see no hype. Everything the film promised and more was delivered. This is a truly wonderful film. It is beautifully acted, brutally and painstakingly directed and as good a display of raw emotion as I have witnessed in any language. The story is gripping, the characters believable and well rounded, the emotion human and the feeling I was left with at the end of the film is one of awe. And that was after I had watched it twice. Honestly, this is a truly, truly wonderful film. Do not miss it under any circumstances!
    9asrafalli

    Disturbing! But great.

    When I search google for the most confusing movie this movie was on the list so I gave it a shot didn't expect it to be this good the way it shows the story line it was amazing and creative. Loved every bit of it. Kind of disturbing but for those who like adult kind of movie it surely a must watch.

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Choi Min-sik trained for six weeks and lost twenty pounds to get in shape for the role of Dae-su, and did most of his own stunt work.
    • Goofs
      (at around 29 mins) Main character states that lack of sunlight has left him depleted of Vitamins A and E. These are obtained through diet. Sunlight is only responsible for the production of Vitamin D. Thus, the character should only be depleted of Vitamin D.
    • Quotes

      Woo-jin Lee: Remember this: "Be it a rock or a grain of sand, in water they sink as the same."

    • Alternate versions
      Park Chan-wook stated on his solo DVD commentary that there is an edited version for television broadcast. It omits some of the more extreme violence and the love scene between Oh Dae Su and Mi-do.
    • Connections
      Edited into 365 Days, also Known as a Year (2019)
    • Soundtracks
      Bring My Love
      by Starsailor

    Top picks

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    FAQ23

    • How long is Oldboy?Powered by Alexa
    • If this film is part of a trilogy, how important is it that the three be seen in order?: Can you watch any one of the three without confusion?
    • Is "Oldboy" based on a novel?
    • Is the movie ending the same as in the manga?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • November 21, 2003 (South Korea)
    • Country of origin
      • South Korea
    • Official sites
      • Apple TV Store
      • Official site (Russia)
    • Language
      • Korean
    • Also known as
      • Cinco días para vengarse
    • Filming locations
      • Busan, South Korea
    • Production companies
      • Show East
      • Egg Films
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $3,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $2,458,200
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $68,957
      • Mar 27, 2005
    • Gross worldwide
      • $17,617,021
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
      • Dolby Surround 7.1
      • Dolby Digital EX
      • DTS
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.35 : 1

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