The Assassin
Seen it?2015 | 105 min | Action, Adventure, History
Sunday Safe BetWhy it’s a Sunday Safe Bet
It earned strong reviews (80% on Rotten Tomatoes), though it had a lukewarm 6.4 out of 10 from audiences and a box office loss. 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 action fans and history buffs. If you loved Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story or Mulan, start here. Critics rate it higher than audiences do, so it rewards patience more than it chases thrills.
- The mood
- Exciting.
- The pace
- Fast-moving, at 1 hr 45 min.
- What might put you off
- It's in Chinese, so expect subtitles (or a dub).
- Audiences were cooler on it than critics.
9th century China. Ten year old general’s daughter Nie Yinniang is abducted by a nun who initiates her into the martial arts, transforming her into an exceptional assassin charged with eliminating cruel and corrupt local governors. One day, having failed in a task, she is sent back by her mistress to the land of her birth, with orders to kill the man to whom she was promised – a cousin who now leads the largest military region in North China. After 13 years of exile, the young woman must confront her parents, her memories and her long-repressed feelings.
How it earned its rating
- CriticsStrong
80% on Rotten Tomatoes, 82 on Metacritic
- AudiencesBelow par
6.4 out of 10
- AwardsSolid
Won 2 Cannes awards: 68th Cannes Film Festival: Best Director, Cannes Soundtrack Award: Best Director. Also nominated for 1 BAFTA. Plus 16 other awards.
- Box office & staying powerBelow par
$12 million worldwide on a $15 million budget
- Buzz & cultural impactBelow par
About 55K people sought it out in the past year
Trailer
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Cast & crew
Directed by Hou Hsiao-hsien
- Shu QiNie Yinniang
- Chang ChenTian Ji'an
- Zhou YunLady Tian Yuan / Jingjinger
- Satoshi TsumabukiMirror Polisher
- Ni DahongNie Feng
- Yong MeiLady Nie Tian
- Lei ZhenyuTian Xing
- Nikki HsiehHuji
- Ethan JuanXia Jing
- Sheu Fang-YiPrincess Jiacheng / Taoist Nun