Back to the Past
Seen it?2025 | 107 min | Science Fiction, Action, Comedy
Weeknight Watchearly ratingWhy it’s a Weeknight Watch
With a box office loss and middling reviews (40% on Rotten Tomatoes), it's a mixed bag. Fine if it's on; don't plan your night around it.
Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.Is it for you?
- Who'll love it
- Made for anyone who wants a laugh, sci-fi fans and action fans. If you loved Alita: Battle Angel, start here.
- The mood
- Light and funny, mind-bending.
- The pace
- Fast-moving, at 1 hr 47 min.
- What might put you off
- It's in Cantonese, so expect subtitles (or a dub).
In the Qin Dynasty, time-traveller Hong Siu-lung has lived in seclusion with his family for twenty years. Yet every step he takes remains under the watchful eye of his former disciple, now the Qin Emperor. On the brink of ultimate power after conquering the six warring states, the emperor is suddenly ambushed by a mysterious team wielding advanced weapons clearly originating from Hong’s time. Drawn together by fate again, Hong and Qin Emperor are forced to confront the long-buried conflict between them, because the future now depends on how they settle their past.
How it earned its rating
- CriticsBelow par
40% on Rotten Tomatoes
- AudiencesNot counted
Not measured yet: not enough ratings
- AwardsWeak
0 wins and 1 nomination from smaller awards and festivals
- Box office & staying powerWeak
$39 million worldwide on a $45 million budget
- Buzz & cultural impactSolid
About 258K people sought it out in the past year
Trailer
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Cast & crew
Directed by Ng Yuen-Fai, Jack Lai Jan-Lung
- Louis KooHong Siu-lung
- Raymond Lam FungChiu Poon / Majesty
- Bai BaiheGalie
- Jessica Hsuan HuenWu Ting-fong
- Sonija Kwok Sin-NaeKam Ching
- Joyce Tang Lai-mingSin-yau
- Michael Miu Kiu-waiKen
- Louis CheungStone
- Kevin Chu Kam-yinBowie
- Wu YueMax