# Memories of Murder (2003) — Celluloid fact sheet

Source: https://celluloidscore.com/movies/memories-of-murder-2003/
Last reviewed: 2026-08-31

| Field | Value |
|-------|-------|
| Celluloid Score | 87% |
| Editorial Rating | 95/100 |
| Audience Snapshot | 93% (excluded from composite) |
| Metascore | 82/100 |
| Letterboxd | 4.4/5 |
| IMDb | 8.1/10 |
| Director | Bong Joon Ho |
| Genres | Crime, Drama |
| Runtime | 132 min |
| Festival premiere | San Sebastián 2003 (Best Director) |
| Major awards | 2 wins, 0 nominations |

## Quick answer

Memories of Murder (2003) earns a 87% Celluloid Score — Recommended. Bong Joon Ho's procedural masterpiece pairs dark humor with mounting dread and a devastating final shot. Metascore 82/100. Directed by Bong Joon Ho.

## Celluloid verdict

Bong Joon Ho's procedural masterpiece pairs dark humor with mounting dread and a devastating final shot.

## Synopsis

Detectives hunt Korea's first known serial killer in the 1980s, overwhelmed by incompetence, politics, and the limits of forensic science.

## Cast

Song Kang-ho, Kim Sang-kyung, Kim Roe-ha

## Accolades

Premiered at San Sebastián 2003, where it won the Best Director.
- Won Best Cinematography — Blue Dragon Film Awards 2003
- Won Audience Choice Award for Most Popular Film — Blue Dragon Film Awards 2003

## Where to watch

the United Kingdom: BFI Player, ITVX
South Korea: Netflix, TVING
Japan: U-NEXT

## Critic reviews on Celluloid: 1

## Common questions

**Is Memories of Murder worth watching?**
Memories of Murder holds a 87% Celluloid Score. Bong Joon Ho's procedural masterpiece pairs dark humor with mounting dread and a devastating final shot.

**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.

**Who directed Memories of Murder?**
Memories of Murder (2003) was directed by Bong Joon Ho.

**What is the Celluloid Score of Memories of Murder?**
87% — calculated from available Celluloid editorial (95/100), Metascore (82/100), Letterboxd (4.4/5), and IMDb (8.1/10) inputs. Audience sentiment is excluded.

**What awards did Memories of Murder win?**
Memories of Murder won Best Cinematography (Blue Dragon Film Awards 2003), Audience Choice Award for Most Popular Film (Blue Dragon Film Awards 2003).

**Where can I watch Memories of Murder?**
Memories of Murder is on BFI Player, ITVX in the United Kingdom; on Netflix, TVING in South Korea; on U-NEXT in Japan. Availability varies by region.

---
Reviewed and scored by Celluloid · Editor: Kaiser Khan (https://celluloidscore.com/author/kaiser-khan/)

Markdown mirror: https://celluloidscore.com/movies/memories-of-murder-2003.md