Oldboy Budget
DramaThrillerMysteryAction2hUpdated
Synopsis
Abducted on a rainy night in 1988, the obnoxious drunk, Oh Dae-Su, much to his surprise, wakes up locked in a windowless and dilapidated hotel room, for an unknown reason. There, his invisible and pitiless captors will feed him, clothe him, and sedate him to avert a desperate suicide--and as his only companion and a window to the world is the TV in his stark cell--the only thing that helps Oh Dae-Su keep going is his daily journal. Then, unexpectedly, after fifteen long years in captivity, the perplexed prisoner is deliberately released, encouraged to track down his tormentor to finally get his retribution. However, who would hate Oh Dae-Su so much he would deny him of a quick and clean death?
What is the budget of Oldboy?
"Oldboy," a drama released in 2003, was directed by Park Chan-wook and stars Choi Min-sik, Yoo Ji-tae. The production budget was $3,000,000, placing it in the micro-budget range for drama productions of its era.
Key Budget Allocation Categories
While specific budget breakdowns are not publicly available, typical cost drivers for a drama production like this include:
- Above-the-Line Talent: Drama films live or die on the strength of their performances.
- Location Filming & Period Production Design: Authentic locations , whether contemporary or historical , require scouting, permits, travel, lodging, and often significant dressing to match the story's time period.
- Post-Production, Color Grading & Score: The editorial process for dramas is typically longer than genre films, with careful attention to pacing and tone.
- Production: The corridor fight scene took seventeen takes in three days to perfect and was one continuous take; there was no editing of any sort except for the knife stabbed in Oh Dae-su's back, which was computer-generated imagery.
What were the major cost factors in Oldboy?
Several factors contributed to the overall production costs of "Oldboy."
- Above-the-Line Talent: Above-the-Line Talent is one of the primary cost drivers in drama productions of this scale.
- Location Filming: Location Filming & Period Production Design is one of the primary cost drivers in drama productions of this scale.
- Post-Production: Post-Production, Color Grading & Score is one of the primary cost drivers in drama productions of this scale.
How Does Oldboy's Budget Compare to Similar Films?
At $3,000,000, Oldboy sits in the micro-budget range. Here is how it compares to productions with a similar budget:
- Ghost in the Shell (1995): Budget $3,000,000, Worldwide Gross $10,000,000
- Witness for the Prosecution (1957): Budget $3,000,000, Worldwide Gross $9,000,000
- Perfect Blue (1998): Budget $3,000,000, Worldwide Gross $683,666
- In the Mood for Love (2000): Budget $3,000,000, Worldwide Gross $15,867,968
- One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975): Budget $3,000,000, Worldwide Gross $108,981,275
The median budget for wide-release drama films in the 2000s ranges from $30 to 80M for mid-budget to $150M+ for tentpoles.
Oldboy Box Office Performance
"Oldboy" earned $707,481 domestically and $17,500,000 worldwide at the box office. Against a production budget of $3,000,000, the film performed strongly at the box office.
A film typically needs to earn approximately twice its production budget to cover marketing and distribution costs. For "Oldboy," that break-even threshold was roughly $6,000,000. With worldwide earnings of $17,500,000, the film cleared that threshold comfortably.
- Production Budget: $3,000,000
- Worldwide Gross: $17,500,000
- Net Return: $14,500,000
- ROI: approximately 483.3%
At 483.3%, "Oldboy" earned roughly $5.83 for every $1 invested in production.
Oldboy Production History
Nearly all the music cues that are composed by Shim Hyeon-jeong, Lee Ji-soo and Choi Seung-hyun are titled after films, many of them film noirs. ; Track listing
Awards and Recognition
46 wins & 28 nominations total
- Cannes Film Festival Grand Prix
- Sitges Film Festival Best Feature-Length Film award
Critical Reception
Oldboy received critical acclaim, and is considered an influential cult classic. Praise was also given to the film's action sequences, specifically highlighting the "all-timer" single shot hallway fight sequence. On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, the film has an approval rating of 82% based on 160 reviews.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much did it cost to make Oldboy (2003)?
The production budget was $3,000,000, covering principal photography, cast and crew salaries, locations, sets, post-production, and music. Marketing and distribution (P&A) costs are estimated at an additional $1,500,000 - $2,400,000, bringing the total studio investment to approximately $4,500,000 - $5,400,000.
How much did Oldboy (2003) earn at the box office?
Oldboy grossed $707,481 domestic, $16,792,519 international, totaling $17,500,000 worldwide.
Was Oldboy (2003) profitable?
Yes. Against a production budget of $3,000,000 and estimated total costs of ~$7,500,000, the film earned $17,500,000 theatrically - a 483% ROI on production costs alone.
What were the biggest costs in producing Oldboy?
The primary cost drivers were above-the-line talent (Choi Min-sik, Yoo Ji-tae, Kang Hye-jung); talent compensation, authentic period production design, and meticulous post-production.
How does Oldboy's budget compare to similar drama films?
At $3,000,000, Oldboy is classified as a micro-budget production. The median budget for wide-release drama films in the 2000s ranges from $30 - 80M for mid-budget to $150M+ for tentpoles. Comparable budgets: Ghost in the Shell (1995, $3,000,000); Witness for the Prosecution (1957, $3,000,000); Perfect Blue (1998, $3,000,000).
Did Oldboy (2003) go over budget?
There are no widely reported accounts of significant budget overruns for this production. However, studios rarely disclose precise budget overrun figures publicly. The reported production budget reflects the final estimated cost.
What was the return on investment (ROI) for Oldboy?
The theatrical ROI was 483.3%, calculated as ($17,500,000 − $3,000,000) ÷ $3,000,000 × 100. This measures gross revenue against production budget only - it does not account for P&A or exhibitor shares.
What awards did Oldboy (2003) win?
46 wins & 28 nominations total.
Who directed Oldboy and who were the key crew members?
Directed by Park Chan-wook, written by Lim Joon-hyung, Hwang Jo-yoon, Park Chan-wook, shot by Chung Chung-hoon, with music by Choi Seung-hyun, Shim Hyun-jung, edited by Kim Sang-bum, Kim Jae-beom.
Where was Oldboy filmed?
Oldboy was filmed in South Korea.
Filmmakers
Oldboy
Official Trailer
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