Oldboy

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Oldboy

R,

2013,

1h 43m,

Mystery & Thriller/

Drama

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Watchlist

Watchlist

40%

151 Reviews

Tomatometer

37%

25,000+ Ratings

Popcornmeter

40%

Tomatometer

151 Reviews

37%

Popcornmeter

25,000+ Ratings

Although his life is already in a downward spiral, things get much worse for advertising executive Joe Doucett; 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.

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.

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Jason Bailey

Flavorwire

Jun 18, 2016

The first hour or so of Lee's 'Oldboy' is so gripping that it's dispiriting to watch the wheels fall off the wagon so spectacularly in the third act.

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Wesley Morris

Grantland

Dec 10, 2013

Everything is wrong with [Spike] Lee's version of Park Chan-wook's notorious, super-violent super-action-thriller. For one thing, it's far from super. Not the quality, per se (although, for Lee, that's off, too), but the energy.

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Jonathan Robbins

Film Comment Magazine

Dec 9, 2013

Viewers new to Oldboy will appreciate Lee's affecting and entertaining tale of a man unjustly imprisoned. Fans of Park's film-and there are many wildly loyal ones-will likely be far less impressed.

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JD Duran

InSession Film

Aug 19, 2024

C+

Oldboy is rushed, undeveloped and if you haven’t seen the original, you’ll feel lost. The story is not explained well and is a huge disservice to the twist that is supposed to hit you hard.

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Diego Batlle

Otroscines.com

Nov 28, 2023

4.5/5

An undisputed reference when it comes to exploring new forms of auteurial expression within the framework of genre and spectacular cinema. [Full review in Spanish]

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Brian Eggert

Deep Focus Review

Aug 19, 2022

1.5/4

Lee’s not-inconsiderable talent makes a fine attempt to interpret the story with two or three unique touches, but he doesn’t make it vital or offer a fresh take.

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Harry W

Apr 15, 2019

The biggest fuck you to South Korea

Luke R

Mar 11, 2019

It's a good movie but flawed and the most fundamental one is people's eye's don't change colour as they get older.

Finn S

Feb 6, 2019

Unsubtle and stupid remake. Felt just thrown together carelessly with no art. Sloppy and lacking all emotion. The acting was awful. There was no reason to remake the original. This was a tasteless cashgrab failure.

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Jan 14, 2019

The movie has few decent moments, but other than that, its a horrible desecration of the original

Poe L

Oct 12, 2018

Fantastic acting and a story that SHOCKS at the end. Very original concept that was enjoyable to watch

Leia M

Apr 23, 2018

Not nearly as good as the original. I was entertained but little things in the filming bugged me and drew my attention from the film and kinda disconnected me from the film. Rent this but only after watching the Original. Both films are on Netflix

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Synopsis

Although his life is already in a downward spiral, things get much worse for advertising executive Joe Doucett; 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.

Director: Spike Lee
Producer: Roy Lee, Doug Davison, Nathan Kahane
Screenwriter: Mark Protosevich
Distributor: FilmDistrict
Production Co: Vertigo, 40 Acres & A Mule Filmworks
Rating: R (Language|Disturbing Images|Nudity|Some Graphic Sexuality|Strong Brutal Violence)
Genre: Mystery & Thriller, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Nov 27, 2013, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Feb 18, 2014
Box Office (Gross USA): $2.2M
Runtime: 1h 43m

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