Oldboy
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.
Directed by Park Chan-wook · Action · Drama · Mystery · 120 min · 2003
Trailer
Director
Park Chan-wook
Studio
Egg Film / CJ Entertainment
Release
21 Nov 2003
Runtime
120 min
Genres
Action, Drama, Mystery
Full Plot
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?
Cast & Characters
Oh Dae-su, a businessman who seeks revenge after being held in a mysterious prison for 15 years. Choi Min-sik lost and gained weight for his role depending on the filming schedule, trained for six weeks, and did most of his own stunt work.
Choi Min-sik
Lee Woo-jin, the man behind Oh Dae-su's imprisonment. Park Chan-wook's ideal choice for Woo-jin had been actor Han Suk-kyu, who previously played a rival to Choi Min-sik in Shiri and No. 3. Choi then suggested Yoo Ji-tae for the role, despite Park believing he was too young for the part.
Yoo Ji-tae
Kang Hye-jeong
young Woo-jin.
Yoo Yeon-seok
Mi-do, Dae-su's love interest.
Kang Hye-jung
Mr. Han, Woo-jin's bodyguard.
Kim Byeong-ok
Lee Soo-ah, Woo-jin's sister.
Yoon Jin-seo
Mr. Park Cheol-woong, warden of the private prison.
Oh Dal-su
Suicidal man.
Oh Kwang-rok
Did You Know?
Made on an estimated budget of $3.0M, Oldboy has grossed $17.5M worldwide — about 5.8x its budget.
Source: TMDb API · verified 2026-08-02
The corridor fight scene took seventeen takes in three days to perfect and was one continuous take; there was no editing of any sort except for the knife stabbed in Oh Dae-su's back, which was computer-generated imagery.
Source: Wikipedia · verified 2026-08-03
In South Korea, the film was seen by 3,260,000 filmgoers and ranks fifth for the highest-grossing film of 2003.
Source: Wikipedia · verified 2026-08-03
Critical Assessment
Oldboy holds 8.3/10 on IMDb (710,562 votes), 82% on Rotten Tomatoes, 78/100 on Metacritic.
Not enough independent critic/audience score breakdown available.
Ratings as of July 30, 2026
Where to Watch
United States
United Kingdom
India
Streaming data from JustWatch via TMDb. Availability changes often — confirm on the provider before watching.
AI Verdict
AI-generatedBased on aggregated scores (8.3/10 on IMDb (710,562 votes), 82% on Rotten Tomatoes, 78/100 on Metacritic), this is a data-driven snapshot rather than an editorial take.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Oldboy's Rotten Tomatoes score?+
Oldboy holds a 82% critics' score on Rotten Tomatoes.
What is Oldboy's IMDb rating?+
Oldboy has a 8.3/10 rating on IMDb from 710,562 votes.
What is Oldboy's Metacritic score?+
Oldboy has a Metascore of 78/100 on Metacritic.
Is Oldboy good? What are critics saying?+
Oldboy holds 8.3/10 on IMDb (710,562 votes), 82% on Rotten Tomatoes, 78/100 on Metacritic.
How long is Oldboy?+
Oldboy has a runtime of 120 min.
Who directed Oldboy?+
Oldboy was directed by Park Chan-wook.
Where can I watch Oldboy?+
Oldboy is available to stream, rent, or buy on Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, BFI Player, Shudder, Arrow Video Amazon Channel, BFI Player Amazon Channel, BFI Player Apple TV Channel, ARROW, Curzon Home Cinema, Sky Store, Amazon Prime Video, VI movies and tv, Amazon Prime Video with Ads.
Fan & Critic Buzz
The public reaction to "Oldboy" is largely positive, with reviewers praising its unsettling atmosphere, violent content, and thought-provoking themes. Many have noted that it is one of the greatest revenge stories ever told, with an unforgettable villain and a twisted plot. Some critics have also highlighted its ability to evoke strong emotions, including fear and shock.
Viewer Reviews (TMDb)
I’m sure that all of you can always spot a film with good acting, superb plot and great cinematography easily but when it comes to a thriller that possesses all those above quality, it would be such a rarity. OldBoy here, second installment from The Vengeance Trilogy directed by…
This is definitely one of the films to see before you die. It's seat-squirmingly unsettling, shocking and very violent. It's a journey into a truly disturbed mind; a mind, which - like yours will be - is unable to cope with what it discovers. This film is brilliantly twisted. It…
manwhonose · 10/10Just about everyone I’d spoken to about this film recommended it to me. I watched this film with the original Korean-language soundtrack, with English subtitles. Oh Dae-su (Chi Min-sik) is a bit of a flirt (whether he is a womaniser is not made clear) with a wife and young child,…
This is not just a film you watch, it’s a film you experience. Oldboy is without question, one of the greatest revenge stories ever put to film. It has, in my opinion, the greatest villain of all time, smart, terrifying, and totally unforgettable. The movie is twisted, disturbing…
EveAlex23 · 10/10
From the trailer's comments
In a perfect world this movies should have won the Oscar before Parasite
@edgarcross4721 · 6624 likesThat awkward moment when you're watching this movie and your dad is sitting right beside you.
@rutab4086 · 4079 likesJust watched the movie...Holy shit, I was NOT expecting that 😳
@bye230 · 2184 likesHollywood, you will never surpass this movie, never.
@cthulhufthagn6804 · 1423 likesall i could say was, this film was really MASTERPIECE.
@happyless2381 · 32 likesThis was a crazy movie and the twist in the end was omg
@Johnlindsey289 · 32 likesi don't know why, but he kinda looks like the korean johnny depp
@devine0fido · 3422 likesNo matter how many times I watch Old Boy, I still get chills. Definitely one of the best films created!
@anubhavaggarwal6502 · 1261 likes
