10 Most Memorable Hammer-Wielding Movie Characters

Oldboy is the best film of Korean director Park Chan-wook's career and stands among the most prominent Asian movies of the last 20 years. Its most celebrated scene sees protagonist Oh Dae-su run through an entire corridor of goons in a single take while brandishing a hammer, fighting off all manner of fists, feet and improvised weaponry.

Lead actor Choi Min-sik did most of his own stunt work in Oldboy, which adds another dimension of excitement to a scene that wisely strips down the frills to amp up the intensity. Oh Dae-su is no trained fighter and no superhero, so his journey through the goons is not an easy one and is replete with stop-start moments as he is overcome by bodies. He takes a real beating and carries out most of the fight with a knife jutting out of his back.

The devastating plot twists of Oldboy's third act are brave and unexpected, so it's a testament to the ingenuity of this action sequence that it's the moment people remember most clearly from the film. And that moment comes with Oh Dae-su wielding a blood-stained hammer.