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What's After the Movie?
Drama thriller

731 (2025): Cast, Ratings & Box Office

731 (2025) movie poster

731 is a 2025 drama thriller directed by Linshan Zhao, starring Irene Wan, Yu Li and Karry Wang. It runs 2 hours 5 minutes and earned $274.1 million worldwide. IMDb users rate it 3.3/10.

IMDb rating
3.3/10
worldwide gross
$274.1M
Echo Score
56
731 (2025) movie poster
Released
Runtime
2h 5m (125 min)
Director
Linshan Zhao
Genres
Drama , History , Mystery , Thriller
Original language
Chinese
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is 731 About?

The premise of 731 without spoilers.

Based on true events set in WWII‑era Northeast China, the film follows an ordinary man whose quiet life is shattered when he is drawn into the brutal world of the Japanese Imperial Army’s notorious Unit 731, which carried out inhumane bacterial experiments on prisoners, forcing him to confront the horrors of war and survival.

Cast & crew

731 Cast

Irene Wan leads the cast, with Yu Li and Karry Wang. Directed by Linshan Zhao; 17 actors are credited in all.

Ratings

731 Reviews & Ratings

IMDb users rate 731 3.3/10. Our Echo Score gives it 56/100, strongest in rewatch factor (65) and weakest in sensory experience (45).

56 /100

731 Echo Score Breakdown

The film presents a polarized reception, with considerable admiration for its emotional weight and historical relevance juxtaposed against notable criticism of its visual execution and narrative restraint. Reviewers commend the intense, heart‑wrenching story and its capacity to keep viewers engaged, yet they frequently denounce the production's stylistic choices, describing them as cheap or garish. This dichotomy yields an overall impression of a work that succeeds in evoking feeling and awareness but falters in cinematic craftsmanship, resulting in a mixed but moderately positive score.

Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.

  • Art & Craft 50

    In terms of direction and visual execution, opinions are split. Some viewers highlight the film’s cinematic flair and gripping imagery, while several critics point to tacky filmmaking, sloppy cuts, and a distasteful stylistic approach. The production design is described both as enthralling and as garishly presented, indicating inconsistency. Consequently, the artistic craftsmanship registers as average, reflecting a balance of praise and criticism.

  • Character & Emotion 60

    When evaluating acting and emotional resonance, the feedback leans toward the positive. Audiences frequently mention an engaging lead, intense performances, and a heart‑wrenching portrayal of victims, which enhances the film’s impact. Critics, however, note a lack of humanity in certain portrayals. Overall, character work is viewed as solid, with strengths in emotional depth outweighing occasional stiffness in the ensemble.

  • Story & Flow 58

    The narrative’s coherence and pacing receive mixed commentary. Reviewers praise the suspenseful, gripping plot and its capacity to maintain tension, yet some critics label the story as overly sentimental and conventionally plotted. The historical framework is appreciated for its importance, though the execution is sometimes deemed insufficiently dark. This results in a moderately favorable assessment of the story’s engagement and originality.

  • Sensory Experience 45

    Sensory elements such as sound design and visual style are frequently critiqued. Viewers report cheap visual quality, sloppy editing, and a garish aesthetic, while a minority acknowledge moments of cinematic enthusiasm. The soundtrack and auditory experience are not prominently praised. Consequently, the sensory experience scores below average, reflecting predominant dissatisfaction with the film’s auditory‑visual presentation.

  • Rewatch Factor 65

    Regarding replay value, many audiences emphasize the film’s importance for historical remembrance and its emotional weight, indicating a desire to revisit the material. Some express that, despite its grim subject, the film remains compelling and worth multiple viewings. A few dissenters note limited entertainment appeal. Overall, the rewatch factor is relatively strong, driven by its educational impact and intense emotional resonance.

Box office

731 Box Office

731 grossed $274.1 million worldwide. $410,904 came from the US and Canada and $273.7 million (100%) from the rest of the world.

2025 box office

Worldwide gross

$274.1M

US & Canada
$410.9K
International
$273.7M
US & Canada 0% Rest of the world 100%
Videos

731 Trailers & Videos

2 videos: 1 trailer and 1 teaser.

Official Trailer [Subtitled]
  • Teaser Official Teaser Trailer
Details

731 Also Known As

5 alternative titles, including “731: 生化启示录” and “Biochemical Revelations”.

Also known as
  • 731: 生化启示录
  • Biochemical Revelations
  • Operation Cherry Blossoms at Night
  • Evil Unbound 731
  • Evil Unbound

Seen 731?

FAQ

731 FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Runtime

Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings, post-credit scenes and language of 731, each answered in a sentence.

How long is 731?

731 runs 2 hours 5 minutes (125 minutes).

When was 731 released?

731 was released on September 19, 2025.

Who directed 731?

731 was directed by Linshan Zhao.

Who is in the cast of 731?

731 stars Irene Wan, Yu Li and Karry Wang, among 17 credited actors.

How much did 731 make at the box office?

731 grossed $274.1 million worldwide ($410,904 domestic, $273.7 million international).

How is 731 rated?

731 has 3.3/10 on IMDb, 51% on TMDB and 2.5/5 on Letterboxd.

Does 731 have a post-credit scene?

No. 731 has no extra scene during or after the credits.

What language is 731 in?

The original language of 731 is Chinese.

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