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● Movie Guide · Last updated May 13, 2026

Oldboy: Plot, Cast, Ending & Where to Watch

2003 · South Korea · Drama, Thriller, Mystery, Action · 2h 00m · Korean

Oldboy is a 2003 South Korea drama film directed by Park Chan-wook. This guide covers the plot, full cast, an overview of the ending, where to watch, and similar films you might want next.

Read Ending Explained → Movies Like Oldboy Where to Watch
DramaThrillerRecommended
Original Title
Oldboy
Director
Park Chan-wook
Writers
Hwang Jo-yoon, Lim Joon-hyung, Park Chan-wook
Country
South Korea
Runtime
2h 00m
Release
Nov 21, 2003
§ 01 Plot · 6 min read

Oldboy Plot Summary

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, 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.

● Quick takeaway

With no clue how he came to be imprisoned, drugged and tortured for 15 years, a desperate man seeks revenge on his captors.

§ 02 Cast · 6 roles

Cast and Characters

Choi Min-sik headshot
Choi Min-sik
as Oh Dae-Su
Plays Oh Dae-Su.
Yoo Ji-tae headshot
Yoo Ji-tae
as Lee Woo-jin
Plays Lee Woo-jin.
Kang Hye-jung headshot
Kang Hye-jung
as Mi-do
Plays Mi-do.
Kim Byeong-ok headshot
Kim Byeong-ok
as Mr. Han
Plays Mr. Han.
Ji Dae-han headshot
Ji Dae-han
as No Joo-hwan
Plays No Joo-hwan.
Oh Dal-su headshot
Oh Dal-su
as Park Cheol-woong
Plays Park Cheol-woong.
§ 03 · Spoiler Zone · Read with care

Ending Overview

How does Oldboy end? Our spoiler-aware breakdown walks through the final act beat by beat — including the choices, motivations, and ambiguous final shot that viewers most often debate.

Read full Ending Explained →
§ 04 Watch · Updated May 13

Where to Watch Oldboy

Availability may vary by region and change over time.

K
Kanopy
Free with ads
● Available
F
Fandango at Home Free
Free with ads
● Available
A
Amazon Video
Rent
● Available
A
Apple TV Store
Rent
● Available
View all regions & options →
§ 06

Frequently Asked

What is Oldboy about?

With no clue how he came to be imprisoned, drugged and tortured for 15 years, a desperate man seeks revenge on his captors.

Where can I watch Oldboy?

See the Where to Watch section below for the current streaming, rental, and purchase options in your region.