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Oldboy

Original title: Oldeuboi
  • 20032003
  • RR
  • 2h
IMDb RATING
8.4/10
563K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
471
25
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Oldeuboi (2003)
Theatrical Trailer from Tartan Films
Play trailer1:35
3 Videos
99+ Photos
  • Action
  • Drama
  • Mystery
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.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.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.
IMDb RATING
8.4/10
563K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
471
25
  • Director
    • Park Chan-wook
  • Writers
    • Garon Tsuchiya(manga)
    • Nobuaki Minegishi(manga)
    • Park Chan-wook(character created by: Oldboy, Vengeance Trilogy)
  • Stars
    • Choi Min-sik
    • Yoo Ji-Tae
    • Kang Hye-jeong
Top credits
  • Director
    • Park Chan-wook
  • Writers
    • Garon Tsuchiya(manga)
    • Nobuaki Minegishi(manga)
    • Park Chan-wook(character created by: Oldboy, Vengeance Trilogy)
  • Stars
    • Choi Min-sik
    • Yoo Ji-Tae
    • Kang Hye-jeong
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 1.1KUser reviews
    • 336Critic reviews
    • 77Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Top rated movie #71
    • Awards
      • 40 wins & 21 nominations

    Videos3

    Oldboy (2003)
    Trailer 1:35
    Oldboy (2003)
    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

    Photos172

    Choi Min-sik and Kang Hye-jeong in Oldeuboi (2003)
    Choi Min-sik in Oldeuboi (2003)
    Kang Hye-jeong in Oldeuboi (2003)
    Choi Min-sik, Yoo Ji-Tae, and Kim Byeong-Ok in Oldeuboi (2003)
    Choi Min-sik in Oldeuboi (2003)
    Choi Min-sik and Seung-shin Lee in Oldeuboi (2003)
    Choi Min-sik in Oldeuboi (2003)
    Choi Min-sik and Kang Hye-jeong in Oldeuboi (2003)
    Kim Byeong-Ok in Oldeuboi (2003)
    Choi Min-sik and Kang Hye-jeong in Oldeuboi (2003)
    Choi Min-sik in Oldeuboi (2003)
    Choi Min-sik in Oldeuboi (2003)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Choi Min-sik
    Choi Min-sik
    • Dae-su Ohas Dae-su Oh
    Yoo Ji-Tae
    Yoo Ji-Tae
    • Woo-jin Leeas Woo-jin Lee
    Kang Hye-jeong
    Kang Hye-jeong
    • Mi-doas Mi-do
    Kim Byeong-Ok
    Kim Byeong-Ok
    • Mr. Hanas Mr. Han
    Dae-han Ji
    • No Joo-hwanas No Joo-hwan
    Dal-su Oh
    Dal-su Oh
    • Park Cheol-woongas Park Cheol-woong
    Seung-shin Lee
    Seung-shin Lee
    • Yoo Hyung-jaas Yoo Hyung-ja
    • (as Seung-Shin Lee)
    Jin-Seo Yoon
    Jin-Seo Yoon
    • Lee Soo-ahas Lee Soo-ah
    Tae-kyung Oh
    • Young Dae-suas Young Dae-su
    Yoo Yeon-Seok
    Yoo Yeon-Seok
    • Young Woo-Jinas Young Woo-Jin
    • (as Ahn Yeon-Seok)
    Il-han Oo
    • Young Joo-hwanas Young Joo-hwan
    Young-hee Lee
    • Clock Store Ladyas Clock Store Lady
    Young-ae Kim
    • Elevator Ladyas Elevator Lady
    Mi Mi Lee
    • Dental Nurseas Dental Nurse
    Jae-Duk Han
    • Night Teacheras Night Teacher
    Jung Ae Kwak
    • Nun Teacheras Nun Teacher
    San Kim
    • Electronics Store Owneras Electronics Store Owner
    Chae-soo Jang
    • Woo-jin's Doctoras Woo-jin's Doctor
    • Director
      • Park Chan-wook
    • Writers
      • Garon Tsuchiya(manga)
      • Nobuaki Minegishi(manga)
      • Park Chan-wook(character created by: Oldboy, Vengeance Trilogy) (screenplay)
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Four live octopodes were eaten for the scene with Dae-su in the sushi bar, a scene which provoked some controversy abroad. Eating live octopus in Korea is commonplace although it is usually sliced first. When the film won the Grand Prix at Cannes, the director thanked the octopodes along with the cast and crew.
    • Goofs
      When Woo-jin Lee is searching through the Internet for the word "Evergreen", you can see that the high school website already has been visited on that computer because the link is highlighted in purple colors.
    • Quotes

      Dae-su Oh: Laugh and the world laughs with you. Weep and you weep alone.

    • 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

    User reviews1.1K

    Review
    Top review
    10/10
    If only we were all living in Asia....
    To start off; This is the one and only film that kept me quiet for a whole 5 mins after seeing it. I literally couldn't close my mouth, and yet there wasn't any sound coming out of it. Oldboy had such an impact on me that words are too little to describe that impact. Therefore this film is definitely in my top 3 films ever made. It belongs there because it has a massive ingredient that a lot of films seem to miss out on; a divine plot. Even though the acting and screenplay are world class, the plot is really the cherry on the cake.

    When it comes to screenplay Park Chan-Wook is unique (at least for western standards) in his way of filming. The colours are so vivid and it seems like he wanted every shot to be a piece of art. One tip: If you like the shooting in 'Oldboy', have a look at 'Sympathy for Lady Vengeance', the third part in Park's revenge-trilogy. It's even superior to the camera-work in 'Oldboy'. Don't, however, expect a story like Oldboy's, because you would be very disappointed.

    When it comes to acting and the music, this film is also one of the better films ever made. The music sticks in your head and every time I put in my Oldboy-DVD and the theme-song comes up, I'm just flooded with good memories (even though the plot doesn't have a single reason to be happy about). The characters are also presented very well by the outstanding cast. Especially Choi Min-Sik and Yu Ji-Tae set a very convincing performance.

    I really appreciate this film being respected as it should be, by having a place in the top 250. If, however, it was up to me it would be even higher in the ranking. I don't see why films like 'The Usual Suspects' or 'Memento', which are fantastic pieces of film-making and which without a doubt deserve a place in the top 250, are higher in the top 250 than 'Oldboy'. They serve the same cause; a fantastic plot. But those plots can't stand in the shadow or even come close to the plot of 'Oldboy'. The one and only reason is that those two films are better known and from a western production company. If we were all living in Asia, no doubt 'Oldboy' would be in the top 20 of all time.

    My advice to people who haven't watched this film yet: Go see it! This is definitely a must- see. If you have a weak stomach, pull yourself together and still watch it. Don't be as shallow as a lot of people here tend to be. Look beyond the violence and see the things I mentioned before: world class acting, cinematography, music and last but certainly not least the plot. Once you've opened yourself up you'll find a whole new world of cinema. Enjoy!
    helpful•799
    298
    • bur_007
    • Dec 19, 2007

    FAQ3

    • 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 site
      • Official site (Russia)
    • Language
      • Korean
    • Also known as
      • Old Boy
    • 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
      • $707,481
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $68,957
      • Mar 27, 2005
    • Gross worldwide
      • $15,194,593
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

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

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