Oldboy (2003 film)
Updated: 12/20/2025, 12:48:17 PM Wikipedia source
Oldboy (Korean: 올드보이) is a 2003 South Korean action thriller film directed and co-written by Park Chan-wook. A loose adaptation of the Japanese manga Old Boy by Garon Tsuchiya and Nobuaki Minegishi, the film follows Oh Dae-su (Choi Min-sik), who is imprisoned for 15 years without knowing the identity of his captor or his captor's motives. When he is released, Dae-su finds himself trapped in a web of conspiracy and violence as he seeks revenge against his captor who promises that if Dae-Su cannot find him within five days, the captor will kill himself and thus ensure that Dae-Su will never find the truth behind his capture. His quest becomes tied in with romance when he falls in love with a young sushi chef, Mi-do (Kang Hye-jung). Oldboy attained critical acclaim and accolades worldwide, including winning the Grand Prix at the 2004 Cannes Film Festival, where it garnered high praise from Quentin Tarantino, the president of the jury. In the United States, film critic Roger Ebert stated that Oldboy is a "powerful film not because of what it depicts, but because of the depths of the human heart which it strips bare". The film's action sequences, particularly the single shot corridor fight sequence, also received commendation for their impressive execution. The film's success led to two adaptations: an unauthorized Hindi remake in 2006 and an official American adaptation in 2013. As part of Park Chan-wook's The Vengeance Trilogy, it serves as the second installment, following Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance (2002) and preceding Lady Vengeance (2005). The film is regarded as one of the greatest films of all time and has been included in numerous "best-of" lists by many publications. In 2008, Oldboy was placed 64th on an Empire list of the top 500 movies of all time. In 2020, The Guardian ranked it number 3 among the classics of modern South Korean cinema.
Infobox
Hangul
올드보이
RR
Oldeuboi
MR
Oldŭboi
Directed by
Park Chan-wook
Screenplay by
mw- Hwang Jo-yun Lim Jun-hyung Park Chan-wook
Based on
Old Boyby Garon TsuchiyaNobuaki Minegishi
Produced by
Lim Seung-yong
Starring
Choi Min-sik Yoo Ji-tae Kang Hye-jung
Cinematography
Chung Chung-hoon
Edited by
Kim Sang-bum
Music by
Jo Yeong-wook
Productioncompanies
Egg FilmCJ Entertainment
Distributed by
Show East
Release date
21 November 2003 (2003-11-21)
Running time
120 minutes
Country
South Korea
Language
Korean
Budget
$3 million
Box office
$17.6 million
Tables
· Awards and nominations
Asia-Pacific Film Festival
Asia-Pacific Film Festival
Award
Asia-Pacific Film Festival
Category
Best Director
Nominee(s)
Park Chan-wook
Result
Won
Best Actor
Best Actor
Award
Best Actor
Category
Choi Min-sik
Nominee(s)
Won
Austin Film Critics Association
Austin Film Critics Association
Award
Austin Film Critics Association
Category
Best Film
Nominee(s)
Oldboy
Result
Nominated
Best Foreign Film
Best Foreign Film
Award
Best Foreign Film
Category
Won
Bangkok International Film Festival
Bangkok International Film Festival
Award
Bangkok International Film Festival
Category
Best Film
Nominee(s)
Nominated
Best Director (tied with Christophe Barratier for Les Choristes)
Best Director (tied with Christophe Barratier for Les Choristes)
Award
Best Director (tied with Christophe Barratier for Les Choristes)
Category
Park Chan-wook
Nominee(s)
Won
Belgian Film Critics Association
Belgian Film Critics Association
Award
Belgian Film Critics Association
Category
Grand Prix
Nominee(s)
Oldboy
Result
Won
Bergen International Film Festival
Bergen International Film Festival
Award
Bergen International Film Festival
Category
Audience Award
Nominee(s)
Won
Blue Dragon Film Awards
Blue Dragon Film Awards
Award
Blue Dragon Film Awards
Category
Best Director
Nominee(s)
Park Chan-wook
Result
Won
Best Actor
Best Actor
Award
Best Actor
Category
Choi Min-sik
Nominee(s)
Won
Best Supporting Actress
Best Supporting Actress
Award
Best Supporting Actress
Category
Kang Hye-jung
Nominee(s)
Won
British Independent Film Awards
British Independent Film Awards
Award
British Independent Film Awards
Category
Best Foreign Independent Film
Nominee(s)
Oldboy
Result
Won
Cannes Film Festival
Cannes Film Festival
Award
Cannes Film Festival
Category
Palme d'Or
Nominee(s)
Nominated
Grand Prix
Grand Prix
Award
Grand Prix
Category
Won
Chicago Film Critics Association
Chicago Film Critics Association
Award
Chicago Film Critics Association
Category
Best Foreign Language Film
Nominee(s)
Nominated
Critics' Choice Movie Award
Critics' Choice Movie Award
Award
Critics' Choice Movie Award
Category
Best Foreign Language Film
Nominee(s)
Nominated
Director's Cut Awards
Director's Cut Awards
Award
Director's Cut Awards
Category
Best Director
Nominee(s)
Park Chan-wook
Result
Won
Best Actor
Best Actor
Award
Best Actor
Category
Choi Min-sik
Nominee(s)
Won
Best Producer
Best Producer
Award
Best Producer
Category
Kim Dong-joo
Nominee(s)
Won
European Film Awards
European Film Awards
Award
European Film Awards
Category
Best Non-European Film
Nominee(s)
Park Chan-wook
Result
Nominated
Golden Trailer Awards
Golden Trailer Awards
Award
Golden Trailer Awards
Category
Best Foreign Action Trailer (tied with District 13)
Nominee(s)
Oldboy
Result
Won
Grand Bell Awards
Grand Bell Awards
Award
Grand Bell Awards
Category
Best Film
Nominee(s)
Nominated
Best Director
Best Director
Award
Best Director
Category
Park Chan-wook
Nominee(s)
Won
Best Actor
Best Actor
Award
Best Actor
Category
Choi Min-sik
Nominee(s)
Won
Best New Actress
Best New Actress
Award
Best New Actress
Category
Kang Hye-jung
Nominee(s)
Nominated
Best Adapted Screenplay
Best Adapted Screenplay
Award
Best Adapted Screenplay
Category
Park Chan-wook
Nominee(s)
Nominated
Best Cinematography
Best Cinematography
Award
Best Cinematography
Category
Chung Chung-hoon
Nominee(s)
Nominated
Best Editing
Best Editing
Award
Best Editing
Category
Kim Sang-bum
Nominee(s)
Won
Best Art Direction
Best Art Direction
Award
Best Art Direction
Category
Ryu Seong-hie
Nominee(s)
Nominated
Best Lighting
Best Lighting
Award
Best Lighting
Category
Park Hyun-won
Nominee(s)
Won
Best Music
Best Music
Award
Best Music
Category
Jo Yeong-wook
Nominee(s)
Won
Best Visual Effects
Best Visual Effects
Award
Best Visual Effects
Category
Lee Jeon-hyeong, Shin Jae-ho, Jeong Do-an
Nominee(s)
Nominated
Hong Kong Film Awards
Hong Kong Film Awards
Award
Hong Kong Film Awards
Category
Best Asian Film
Nominee(s)
Oldboy
Result
Won
Korean Film Awards
Korean Film Awards
Award
Korean Film Awards
Category
Best Film
Nominee(s)
Won
Best Director
Best Director
Award
Best Director
Category
Park Chan-wook
Nominee(s)
Won
Best Actor
Best Actor
Award
Best Actor
Category
Choi Min-sik
Nominee(s)
Won
Best Actress
Best Actress
Award
Best Actress
Category
Kang Hye-jung
Nominee(s)
Nominated
Best Supporting Actress
Best Supporting Actress
Award
Best Supporting Actress
Category
Yoon Jin-seo
Nominee(s)
Nominated
Best Cinematography
Best Cinematography
Award
Best Cinematography
Category
Chung Chung-hoon
Nominee(s)
Nominated
Best Editing
Best Editing
Award
Best Editing
Category
Kim Sang-bum
Nominee(s)
Nominated
Best Art Direction
Best Art Direction
Award
Best Art Direction
Category
Ryu Seong-hie
Nominee(s)
Nominated
Best Music
Best Music
Award
Best Music
Category
Jo Yeong-wook
Nominee(s)
Won
Best Sound
Best Sound
Award
Best Sound
Category
Oldboy
Nominee(s)
Nominated
Online Film Critics Society
Online Film Critics Society
Award
Online Film Critics Society
Category
Best Foreign Language Film
Nominee(s)
Nominated
Saturn Awards
Saturn Awards
Award
Saturn Awards
Category
Best Action or Adventure Film
Nominee(s)
Nominated
Best DVD or Blu-ray Special Edition Release
Best DVD or Blu-ray Special Edition Release
Award
Best DVD or Blu-ray Special Edition Release
Category
Ultimate Collector's Edition
Nominee(s)
Nominated
Sitges Film Festival
Sitges Film Festival
Award
Sitges Film Festival
Category
Best Film
Nominee(s)
Oldboy
Result
Won
José Luis Guarner Critic's Award
José Luis Guarner Critic's Award
Award
José Luis Guarner Critic's Award
Category
Won
Stockholm International Film Festival
Stockholm International Film Festival
Award
Stockholm International Film Festival
Category
Audience Award
Nominee(s)
Won
| Award | Category | Nominee(s) | Result |
| Asia-Pacific Film Festival | Best Director | Park Chan-wook | Won |
| Best Actor | Choi Min-sik | Won | |
| Austin Film Critics Association | Best Film | Oldboy | Nominated |
| Best Foreign Film | Won | ||
| Bangkok International Film Festival | Best Film | Nominated | |
| Best Director (tied with Christophe Barratier for Les Choristes) | Park Chan-wook | Won | |
| Belgian Film Critics Association | Grand Prix | Oldboy | Won |
| Bergen International Film Festival | Audience Award | Won | |
| Blue Dragon Film Awards | Best Director | Park Chan-wook | Won |
| Best Actor | Choi Min-sik | Won | |
| Best Supporting Actress | Kang Hye-jung | Won | |
| British Independent Film Awards | Best Foreign Independent Film | Oldboy | Won |
| Cannes Film Festival | Palme d'Or | Nominated | |
| Grand Prix | Won | ||
| Chicago Film Critics Association | Best Foreign Language Film | Nominated | |
| Critics' Choice Movie Award | Best Foreign Language Film | Nominated | |
| Director's Cut Awards | Best Director | Park Chan-wook | Won |
| Best Actor | Choi Min-sik | Won | |
| Best Producer | Kim Dong-joo | Won | |
| European Film Awards | Best Non-European Film | Park Chan-wook | Nominated |
| Golden Trailer Awards | Best Foreign Action Trailer (tied with District 13) | Oldboy | Won |
| Grand Bell Awards | Best Film | Nominated | |
| Best Director | Park Chan-wook | Won | |
| Best Actor | Choi Min-sik | Won | |
| Best New Actress | Kang Hye-jung | Nominated | |
| Best Adapted Screenplay | Park Chan-wook | Nominated | |
| Best Cinematography | Chung Chung-hoon | Nominated | |
| Best Editing | Kim Sang-bum | Won | |
| Best Art Direction | Ryu Seong-hie | Nominated | |
| Best Lighting | Park Hyun-won | Won | |
| Best Music | Jo Yeong-wook | Won | |
| Best Visual Effects | Lee Jeon-hyeong, Shin Jae-ho, Jeong Do-an | Nominated | |
| Hong Kong Film Awards | Best Asian Film | Oldboy | Won |
| Korean Film Awards | Best Film | Won | |
| Best Director | Park Chan-wook | Won | |
| Best Actor | Choi Min-sik | Won | |
| Best Actress | Kang Hye-jung | Nominated | |
| Best Supporting Actress | Yoon Jin-seo | Nominated | |
| Best Cinematography | Chung Chung-hoon | Nominated | |
| Best Editing | Kim Sang-bum | Nominated | |
| Best Art Direction | Ryu Seong-hie | Nominated | |
| Best Music | Jo Yeong-wook | Won | |
| Best Sound | Oldboy | Nominated | |
| Online Film Critics Society | Best Foreign Language Film | Nominated | |
| Saturn Awards | Best Action or Adventure Film | Nominated | |
| Best DVD or Blu-ray Special Edition Release | Ultimate Collector's Edition | Nominated | |
| Sitges Film Festival | Best Film | Oldboy | Won |
| José Luis Guarner Critic's Award | Won | ||
| Stockholm International Film Festival | Audience Award | Won |
References
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