The Forbidden Kingdom
Seen it?2008 | 104 min | Action, Adventure, Fantasy
Sunday Safe BetWhy it’s a Sunday Safe Bet
It was a solid box office hit. A safe bet when you want something reliable.
Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.Is it for you?
- Who'll love it
- Made for fantasy fans and action fans. If you loved Mulan or Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, start here.
- The mood
- Mind-bending.
- The pace
- Fast-moving, at 1 hr 44 min.
- What might put you off
- Rated PG-13: scary moments and peril. Probably too much for younger kids.
An American teenager who is obsessed with Hong Kong cinema and kung-fu classics makes an extraordinary discovery in a Chinatown pawnshop: the legendary stick weapon of the Chinese sage and warrior, the Monkey King. With the lost relic in hand, the teenager unexpectedly finds himself travelling back to ancient China to join a crew of warriors from martial arts lore on a dangerous quest to free the imprisoned Monkey King.
How it earned its rating
- CriticsSolid
63% on Rotten Tomatoes, 57 on Metacritic
- AudiencesSolid
6.7 out of 10
- AwardsNot counted
No major awards or nominations
- Box office & staying powerStrong
$152 million worldwide on a $55 million budget; still draws a steady audience long after release
- Buzz & cultural impactSolid
About 160K people sought it out in the past year
Trailer
More like this
Mulan
Saturday SpecialAlso stars Liu Yifei, in another martial arts adventure, and a Saturday Special.
Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings Saturday SpecialAnother martial arts action film, and a Saturday Special.
The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies Saturday SpecialAnother epic fantasy action film, and a Saturday Special.
Conan the Destroyer
Weeknight WatchAnother epic fantasy adventure, though it's more of a weeknight watch.
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: Sword of Destiny Weeknight WatchAnother martial arts action film, though it's more of a weeknight watch.
Want more like this, picked just for you? Get my picks
Cast & crew
Directed by Rob Minkoff
- Jackie ChanOld Hop / Lu Yan
- Jet LiThe Silent Monk / The Monkey King
- Michael AngaranoJason Tripitikas
- Liu YifeiGolden Sparrow / Chinatown Girl
- Li BingbingNi Chang a.k.a White-Haired Witch
- Collin ChouJade Warlord
- Morgan BenoitLupo
- Jack PosobiecSouthie
- Thomas McDonellYoung Southie
- Juana CollignonSouthie Girl