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Oldboy

Original title: Oldeuboi
  • 20032003
  • 1818
  • 2h
IMDb RATING
8.4/10
558K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
552
48
Oldeuboi (2003)
Theatrical Trailer from Tartan Films
Play trailer1:35
3 Videos
99+ Photos
ActionDramaMystery

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
558K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
552
48
  • 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
    • 335Critic reviews
    • 77Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Top rated movie #72
    • 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)
    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)
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

    Storyline

    Edit
    Abducted on a rainy night in 1988, the obnoxious drunk, Oh Dae-Su, much to his surprise, wakes up locked in a windowless and dilapidated hotel room, for an unknown reason. There, his invisible and pitiless captors will feed him, clothe him, and sedate him to avert a desperate suicide--and as his only companion and a window to the world is the TV in his stark cell--the only thing that helps Oh Dae-Su keep going is his daily journal. Then, unexpectedly, after fifteen long years in captivity, the perplexed prisoner is deliberately released, encouraged to track down his tormentor to finally get his retribution. However, who would hate Oh Dae-Su so much he would deny him of a quick and clean death? —Nick Riganas
    imprisonmentpsychological torturerevengebrother sister relationshipcaptive288 more
    • Plot summary
    • Plot synopsis
    • Taglines
      • 15 years of imprisonment, five days of vengeance
    • Genres
      • Action
      • Drama
      • Mystery
      • Thriller
    • Certificate
      • 18
    • Parents guide

    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
      Just before the scene where Dae-su Oh meets the suicidal man at the top of a building, there is a part when he finds out he wears an expensive suit and a watch. When he grabs the man however, the watch is gone.
    • 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
    9/10
    Great film!
    I feel compelled to defend this film from some quite frankly unwarranted criticism. Although it isn't without its flaws, and all films have a few,it certainly isn't a one star film.What this film has is the ability to be sublime, shocking, ridiculous, mildly amusing and visually stunning which is some feat for any film.The sheer scale of the comments here suggests that here is a film that gets to you in one way or another. This film is as far away from Maborosi as you can get yet both films are up there as great pieces of cinema. I wont divulge the plot or end this comment with a Latin quote to reinforce my self importance i'll just say go and watch it, preferably if you're not too squeamish and don't mind subtitles.This film left me thinking about it the following day which is normally a good thing (atleast it shows my memory is working!)
    helpful•254
    164
    • lucas739
    • Mar 17, 2007

    FAQ3

    • Is "Oldboy" based on a novel?
    • Is the movie ending the same as in the manga?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • October 15, 2004 (United Kingdom)
    • 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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