Overview
A gripping tale of bravery and sacrifice unfolds as a small band of soldiers fights against overwhelming odds.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Extreme
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Graphic
- harrowing
- propulsive
- monumental
- historical film night
- war movie marathon
What critics said
Critics broadly praised the film's monumental production design, immersive battle spectacle, and shifting scale while finding its oversized ensemble difficult to follow and emotionally engage with.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
The soldiers defend the Sihang Warehouse while the battle becomes a highly visible symbol of Chinese resistance.
The film moves between individual soldiers inside the warehouse and expansive, thunderous combat sequences across Shanghai.
Yang Guai, Old Abacus, Lao Hulu, Lao Tie, Duan Wu, and Colonel Xie Jinyuan contribute to a shared defense and communal legend.
The warehouse defense is framed as an emblematic act of Chinese resistance during the 1937 Shanghai fighting.
Films like The Eight Hundred, and why
Dunkirk
shared wartime siege structure, immersive combat spectacle, and themes of survival under overwhelming military pressure
Saving Private Ryan
shared historical war setting, large-scale battle staging, ensemble soldier narrative, and grim endurance
The Alamo
shared siege warfare, heroic resistance, historical drama, and spectacle centered on collective survival
Assembly
shared Chinese historical war context, patriotic sacrifice, and emotionally charged battlefield action
Movie Details
- Director
- Guan Hu
- Release Date
- 2020-08-14
- Runtime
- 147 min
- Rating
- 7.0 / 10 (356)
Cast
- Wang Qianyuan
- Zhang Yi
- Huang Zhizhong
- Jiang Wu
- Ou Hao
- Du Chun
- Vision Wei
- Tang Yixin
- Li Jiuxiao
- Jerry Lee
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads
- 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 Eight Hundred about?
- A monumental Chinese war epic follows a surrounded garrison whose desperate defense turns a Shanghai warehouse into a symbol of resistance.
- What is The Eight Hundred like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of The Eight Hundred as brisk, its intensity as extreme and its storytelling as layered.
- Is The Eight Hundred violent?
- Yes. Ember rates the violence in The Eight Hundred as graphic.
- What did critics think of The Eight Hundred?
- Critics broadly praised the film's monumental production design, immersive battle spectacle, and shifting scale while finding its oversized ensemble difficult to follow and emotionally engage with.
- Which films are like The Eight Hundred?
- Films with a similar feel include Dunkirk, Saving Private Ryan, The Alamo, and Assembly.
- How long is The Eight Hundred?
- The Eight Hundred runs 147 minutes.
- Where can I watch The Eight Hundred?
- In United States, The Eight Hundred streams on Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads.
