Overview
An epic tale of war and strategy unfolds as two kingdoms unite against a common enemy.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Brutal
- grand
- visceral
- tense
- epic movie night
- martial arts marathon
What critics said
Critics broadly praised John Woo's triumphant return to Chinese cinema for combining grand battlefield spectacle with character, grit, and strategic drama.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
The alliance between Xu and East Wu depends on tactical wit as well as land and naval combat, culminating in a massive fleet battle.
The campaign includes enormous battles, mass casualties, burning ships, and imagery emphasizing the cost of changing Chinese history.
The film's battlefield formations, fire effects, ships, and white-dove imagery evoke Chinese painting while preserving kinetic action.
The threatened kingdoms of Xu and East Wu unite because Cao Cao's campaign leaves them no other viable path to survival.
Films like Red Cliff, and why
The Last Samurai
Shared attributes include lavish historical warfare, strategic battles, large-scale spectacle, and ensemble political drama.
Kingdom of Heaven
Shared attributes include grand period action, military strategy, divided loyalties, and emotionally heightened battlefield filmmaking.
Hero
Shared attributes include Chinese historical setting, martial arts choreography, competing kingdoms, and painterly epic spectacle.
Movie Details
- Director
- John Woo
- Release Date
- 2008-07-10
- Runtime
- 145 min
- Rating
- 7.1 / 10 (920)
Cast
- Tony Leung Chiu-wai
- Takeshi Kaneshiro
- Zhang Fengyi
- Chang Chen
- Zhao Wei
- Hu Jun
- Shido Nakamura
- Lin Chi-ling
- You Yongzhi
- Hou Yong
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Amazon Prime Video, Philo, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, Magnolia Selects Amazon Channel, Warriors and Gangsters 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 Red Cliff about?
- A lavish Three Kingdoms war epic in which an unlikely alliance confronts Cao Cao through strategy, martial skill, and monumental naval combat.
- What is Red Cliff like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Red Cliff as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is Red Cliff violent?
- Yes. Ember rates the violence in Red Cliff as brutal.
- What did critics think of Red Cliff?
- Critics broadly praised John Woo's triumphant return to Chinese cinema for combining grand battlefield spectacle with character, grit, and strategic drama.
- Which films are like Red Cliff?
- Films with a similar feel include The Last Samurai, Kingdom of Heaven, and Hero.
- How long is Red Cliff?
- Red Cliff runs 145 minutes.
- Where can I watch Red Cliff?
- In United States, Red Cliff streams on Amazon Prime Video, Philo, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, Magnolia Selects Amazon Channel, Warriors and Gangsters Amazon Channel.
