Oldboy
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Oldboy is a 2003 thriller film directed by Park Chan-wook, starring Choi Min-sik, Yoo Ji-tae, Kang Hye-jung. It drew a wide audience and shaped its genre.
Plot
In 1988, businessman Oh Dae-su is arrested for assault and drunkenness, consequently missing his daughter's fourth birthday. Shortly after being collected by his friend Joo-hwan, Dae-su is abducted. He awakens in a sealed room with a television, from which he learns that he has been framed for his wife's murder. Growing deranged from the solitude as years pass, Dae-su theorizes about the identity of his captor, trains himself in martial arts, creates a hole in the wall with chopsticks to attempt to escape through, and attempts suicide by slitting his wrists (after which he is resuscitated). In 2003, Dae-su is sedated, hypnotized, and released.
Production
Written by Lim Joon-hyung and Hwang Jo-yoon, the film was produced by Show East. Choi Seung-hyun composed the score. Chung Chung-hoon handled the cinematography. The film runs 120 minutes. The crew and editing refined every shot.
Reception
On a budget of $3,000,000, Oldboy grossed $17,500,000 worldwide at the box office. A critic consensus praised its screenplay and score.
Legacy
Its legacy endures through a remake, a sequel and a lasting franchise; later cinema cites its influence and symbolism.
See also
References
- "The 100 Greatest Films of All Time". topfilms100. Retrieved 30 June 2026.
- Ebert, Roger. The Great Movies. Broadway Books.
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