Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Moderate
- playful
- propulsive
- wondrous
- family movie night
- martial arts marathon
What critics said
Critics broadly praised the dazzling martial arts performances and Jackie Chan–Jet Li pairing while finding the adventure weighed down by filler and an American-centric perspective.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Jason begins as an American teenager obsessed with kung-fu movies before being transported into an ancient Chinese quest.
The Monkey King, legendary warriors, temple traditions, and the White-Haired Witch shape the central quest.
Jackie Chan and Jet Li anchor the film with prominently staged martial arts encounters and a celebrated on-screen pairing.
Jason's devotion to Hong Kong cinema becomes the pathway through which he encounters living martial arts legends and assumes responsibility.
Films like The Forbidden Kingdom, and why
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
shared martial arts spectacle, fantasy quest structure, comic adventure tone, and Chinese mythology
The Last Airbender
shared time travel premise, fish out of water humor, and action-adventure training arc
The Mummy
shared mythic fantasy journey, magical relic, ensemble warriors, and accessible blockbuster energy
Shanghai Noon
shared martial arts comedy, mentor figures, and high-energy choreographed fights
Movie Details
- Director
- Rob Minkoff
- Release Date
- 2008-04-17
- Runtime
- 104 min
- Rating
- 6.7 / 10 (1999)
Cast
- Jackie Chan
- Jet Li
- Michael Angarano
- Liu Yifei
- Li Bingbing
- Collin Chou
- Morgan Benoit
- Jack Posobiec
- Thomas McDonell
- Juana Collignon
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Amazon Prime Video, fuboTV, Philo, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, MovieSphere+ Amazon Channel
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is The Forbidden Kingdom about?
- A kung-fu-obsessed American teenager is swept into mythic ancient China, where legendary warriors need his help to restore the Monkey King's freedom.
- What is The Forbidden Kingdom like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of The Forbidden Kingdom as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is The Forbidden Kingdom violent?
- Somewhat. Ember rates the violence in The Forbidden Kingdom as moderate.
- What did critics think of The Forbidden Kingdom?
- Critics broadly praised the dazzling martial arts performances and Jackie Chan–Jet Li pairing while finding the adventure weighed down by filler and an American-centric perspective.
- Which films are like The Forbidden Kingdom?
- Films with a similar feel include Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, The Last Airbender, The Mummy, and Shanghai Noon.
- How long is The Forbidden Kingdom?
- The Forbidden Kingdom runs 104 minutes.
- Where can I watch The Forbidden Kingdom?
- In United States, The Forbidden Kingdom streams on Amazon Prime Video, fuboTV, Philo, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, MovieSphere+ Amazon Channel.
