Oldboy

2013, Mystery & thriller/Drama, 1h 43m

152 Reviews 25,000+ Ratings

critics consensus

Suitably grim and bloody yet disappointingly safe and shallow, Spike Lee's Oldboy remake neither surpasses the original nor adds anything new to its impressive legacy. Read critic reviews

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Oldboy Videos

Oldboy: Teaser Trailer - Preparing Your Stay photo 1

Oldboy: Teaser Trailer - Preparing Your Stay

Oldboy: Featurette - Talking Heads photo 2

Oldboy: Featurette - Talking Heads

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Oldboy Photos

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Movie Info

Although his life is already in a downward spiral, things get much worse for advertising executive Joe Doucett (Josh Brolin) ; while drunk one night, Joe is kidnapped and thrown into solitary confinement in a bizarre, hotellike room. For the next 20 years, Joe suffers unimaginable torment, but the motive and identity of his captor remain unknown. When he is inexplicably set free, Joe emerges with one goal: to find the person who stole two decades of his life.

Rating:

R (Language|Disturbing Images|Nudity|Some Graphic Sexuality|Strong Brutal Violence)
Genre:

Mystery & thriller, Drama
Original Language:

English
Director:

Spike Lee
Producer:

Roy Lee, Doug Davison, Nathan Kahane
Writer:

Mark Protosevich
Release Date (Theaters):

Nov 27, 2013 wide
Release Date (Streaming):

Mar 4, 2014
Box Office (Gross USA):

$2.2M
Runtime:

1h 43m
Distributor:

FilmDistrict

Cast & Crew

Josh Brolin
Joe Doucett

Elizabeth Olsen

Elizabeth Olsen
Marie Sebastian

Sharlto Copley
Adrian, The Stranger

Michael Imperioli

Michael Imperioli
Chucky

Linda Emond
Edwina Burke

James Ransone
Dr. Tom Melby

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News & Interviews for Oldboy

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Spike Lee’s Best Movies

Spike Lee’s Best Movies

Critic Reviews for Oldboy

All Critics (152) | Top Critics (60) | Fresh (59) | Rotten (93)

Full Review… Jason Bailey Flavorwire

Full Review… Wesley Morris Grantland

Full Review… Jonathan Robbins Film Comment Magazine

Full Review… Mark Kermode Observer (UK)

Full Review… Charlotte O'Sullivan London Evening Standard

Full Review… Tara Brady Irish Times

Full Review… Brian Eggert Deep Focus Review

Full Review… Richard Crouse Richard Crouse

Full Review… Mike Massie Gone With The Twins

Full Review… Sergio Benítez Espinof

Full Review… Nicholas Bell IONCINEMA.com

Full Review… Christopher Preston One Room With A View

View All Critic Reviews (152)

Audience Reviews for Oldboy

Dec 19, 2017

The remake of the Korean mind fuck does not shy away from most of the unpleasant aspects of the original, but it's a leaner, less detailed version, which makes it somewhat easier to stomach. The result is sometimes unintentionally funny, sometimes brutal, but the mystery is engaging and the movie entertaining enough. In other words: if you know the original, you won't need this. If you don't, this might very well blow your mind.

Jens S Super Reviewer
Oct 23, 2016

Watched half. It's crap. Watch the original Korean version instead.

Nicki M Super Reviewer
May 19, 2015

Josh Brolin is an extremely bad choice for the role of the protagonist. Besides, the execution is too weak, and is bound to disappoint regardless of having already watched the original or not.

Super Reviewer
Nov 01, 2014

Perhaps those are problems created by the heavy editing of Lee's cut, but this unnecessary and watered-down remake not only doesn't add anything new to the exceptional Korean film but is also full of plot holes and makes its jaw-dropping twist in the end seem only ludicrous.

Carlos M Super Reviewer

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