Skip to content
What's After the Movie?
Drama

Back to 1942 (2012): Ratings, Box Office & Plot

Back to 1942 (2012) movie poster

Back to 1942 is a 2012 drama. It runs 2 hours 25 minutes and earned $918,487 worldwide. Critics gave it 36% on Rotten Tomatoes and 41 on Metacritic.

Rotten Tomatoes
36%
worldwide gross
$918.5K
Metascore
41
Loading streaming availability…
Back to 1942 (2012) movie poster
Released
Runtime
2h 25m (145 min)
Genre
Drama
Original language
Chinese
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is Back to 1942 About?

The premise of Back to 1942 without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.

During wartime in 1942, a wealthy landowner's comfortable existence is shattered as famine sweeps through the Chinese countryside. He is forced to witness the suffering of those less fortunate and grapple with the impact of the conflict on his community. The crisis compels him to re-evaluate his position and understand the widespread devastation caused by the ongoing war.

Loading streaming availability…
Ratings

Back to 1942 Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave Back to 1942 36% on Rotten Tomatoes and 41 on Metacritic.

Plot

Back to 1942 Plot Summary

What happens in Back to 1942 from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 14 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 2-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

In the frigid winter of 1942, set against the backdrop of the Second Sino-Japanese War, the province of Henan transforms into a perilous combat zone for survival. Wealthy landlord Master Fan holds the key to his family’s survival as well as that of his villagers amidst a rampant famine. However, tragedy strikes when bandits invade their village, leading to the devastating loss of Fan’s son. With his home now a dangerous place, he must flee with his daughter, wife, and daughter-in-law, accompanied by the steadfast servant Shuanzhu. As they journey westward, they seek refuge and join forces with fellow villager Xialu and his family. Yet, their struggles are compounded when NRA soldiers seize their dwindling food supplies, all while Japanese aircraft bombard the area relentlessly.

Full summary

The whole story of Back to 1942, scene by scene

Read the full summary
Box office

Back to 1942 Box Office

Back to 1942 grossed $918,487 worldwide. $312,954 came from the US and Canada and $605,533 (66%) from the rest of the world.

2012 box office

Worldwide gross

$918.5K

US & Canada
$313K
International
$605.5K
US & Canada 34% Rest of the world 66%
Videos

Back to 1942 Trailers & Videos

2 videos: 2 trailers.

Back To 1942 (WAR Movie - Adrien Brody) - Trailer
  • Trailer Back to 1942 (Yi jiu si er) (2012) Trailer
Quiz

How Well Do You Know Back to 1942?

10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.

Question 1 of 10

  1. Question 1: not answered
  2. Question 2: not answered
  3. Question 3: not answered
  4. Question 4: not answered
  5. Question 5: not answered
  6. Question 6: not answered
  7. Question 7: not answered
  8. Question 8: not answered
  9. Question 9: not answered
  10. Question 10: not answered

What major historical event serves as the backdrop for 'Back to 1942'?

Details

Back to 1942 Also Known As

10 alternative titles, including “Empire of War - Der letzte Widerstand” and “温故1942”.

Also known as
  • Empire of War - Der letzte Widerstand
  • 温故1942
  • Yi jiu si er
  • 温故一九四二
  • 1942′ye Dönüş
  • Вспоминая 1942
  • בחזרה ל-1942
  • Обратно в 1942-ра
  • Згадуючи 1942
  • แผ่นดินวิปโยค 1942

Seen Back to 1942?

FAQ

Back to 1942 FAQ: Box Office, Runtime & Release Date

Runtime, release date, box office, ratings, post-credit scenes and language of Back to 1942, each answered in a sentence.

How long is Back to 1942?

Back to 1942 runs 2 hours 25 minutes (145 minutes).

When was Back to 1942 released?

Back to 1942 was released on November 30, 2012.

How much did Back to 1942 make at the box office?

Back to 1942 grossed $918,487 worldwide ($312,954 domestic, $605,533 international).

How is Back to 1942 rated?

Back to 1942 has 36% on Rotten Tomatoes, 41 on Metacritic, 65% on TMDB and 3.4/5 on Letterboxd.

Does Back to 1942 have a post-credit scene?

No. Back to 1942 has no extra scene during or after the credits.

What language is Back to 1942 in?

The original language of Back to 1942 is Chinese.

Coming soon to your phone

The Plot Explained Movie Summary App

From blockbusters to hidden gems: plot summaries, endings explained and timelines on your phone. Save your favorites and never miss a twist again.

Be the first to know when it launches. Your email stays private, always. Learn more about the app