19 movies that are hard to understand on the first watch

Modified Jan 30, 2025 16:27 ET

On the set of The Shining - Source: Getty

9) Oldboy

Oldboy, written and directed by Park Chan-wook, is a mind-bending thriller with the storyline jumping back and forth. It is filled with flashbacks which can be disorienting at times. The viewers are left to question the perception of the narrator and discern the truth. The unexpected twists in the movie along with the symbolism and allegory that it uses to carry a deeper meaning in it can be difficult to understand when watched for the first time according to the viewers.