Memories of Murder
Directed by Bong Joon Ho · 2003 ·
Memories of Murder (2003) earns a 87% Celluloid Score — Recommended. Recommended — recommended by most critics and audiences.Critics and audiences are closely aligned on this one.
Calculated from 4 available inputs: Celluloid editorial rating, Metascore, Letterboxd and IMDb. Audience sentiment is shown separately and never changes the composite. See how we calculate scores.
4-input transparent breakdown
🏆 2 award wins — Won Best Cinematography, Blue Dragon Film Awards 2003
CJ Entertainment Where to watch
Streaming availability varies by region — currently on BFI Player, ITVX in the United Kingdom. Check local listings for your region.
Rent: Amazon Video, Google Play, YouTube, Fandango at Home
Buy: Amazon Video, Google Play, YouTube, Fandango at Home
Where to watch Memories of Murder by country
| Country | Streaming on |
|---|---|
| Japan | U-NEXT |
| South Korea | Netflix, TVING |
| United Kingdom | BFI Player, ITVX |
Subscription availability, refreshed from TMDB. Rental and purchase options may differ.
Why this score?
- Celluloid's editorial rating is exceptional (95/100).
- Audiences widely enjoyed it (93%).
- Metascore signals universal acclaim (82/100).
- Letterboxd diarists rate it highly (4.4/5).
- IMDb users score it 8.1/10.
Best for
- Viewers who want a well-regarded crime, drama pick
Not ideal for
Scores reflect data indexed at build time. Component sources are shown on this page; Celluloid Score is our composite, not a third-party trademark. Scoring policy
Streaming availability, artwork and title metadata courtesy of TMDB. This product uses the TMDB API but is not endorsed or certified by TMDB.
Is Memories of Murder worth watching?
Yes — Memories of Murder earns a 87% Celluloid Score. Recommended — recommended by most critics and audiences.
Celluloid Verdict
Bong Joon Ho's procedural masterpiece pairs dark humor with mounting dread and a devastating final shot.
Celluloid editorial verdict
Critics and audiences are closely aligned on this one.
What is Memories of Murder about?
Detectives hunt Korea's first known serial killer in the 1980s, overwhelmed by incompetence, politics, and the limits of forensic science.
Watch the Trailer
Critic Reviews
Memories of Murder (2003) Review: A Korean Classic
★★★★½
Bong Joon Ho's Memories of Murder (2003) endures as a defining crime landmark from South Korea, with scores that still shape how audiences discover cinema from the region.
Essential viewing — a certified classic.
Memories of Murder stills
Official production imagery supplied through TMDB, kept with the movie instead of split into a thin gallery page.
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