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Action thriller

Hidden Strike (2023): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Ending

Hidden Strike (2023) movie poster

Hidden Strike is a 2023 action thriller directed by Scott Waugh, starring Jackie Chan as Dragon Luo, Chunrui Ma and John Cena. It runs 1 hour 42 minutes and earned $2.2 million worldwide on a $80 million budget. Critics gave it 20% on Rotten Tomatoes, and IMDb users rate it 5.4/10.

IMDb rating
5.4/10
Rotten Tomatoes
20%
worldwide gross
$2.2M
Echo Score
31
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Hidden Strike (2023) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 42m (102 min)
Director
Scott Waugh
Original language
English
Budget
$80M
After the credits
Yes Extra scene during or after the credits
The story

What Is Hidden Strike About?

The premise of Hidden Strike without spoilers. The whole story and the ending explained are in the plot summary further down.

Two experienced soldiers find themselves on a perilous journey along the notorious "Death Highway." Facing relentless gunfire and widespread chaos, they must overcome a harsh environment and confront personal challenges as they navigate the dangerous path. Their skills and resilience are put to the ultimate test in this action-packed adventure.

Hidden Strike Themes & Keywords

· 50 tags
  • team action
  • desert adventure
  • two word title
  • scene during opening credits
  • surprise during end credits
  • scene during end credits
  • bloopers during credits
  • wisecrack humor
  • chinese
  • subtitled scene
  • bilingualism
  • snorricam
+38 more
  • slow motion scene
  • frenchman
  • revenge
  • evil man
  • die hard scenario
  • heist
  • psychotronic film
  • ex soldier
  • mercenary
  • special forces
  • commando
  • commando unit
  • commando mission
  • mission
  • soldier
  • army
  • female soldier
  • female mercenary
  • professor
  • engineer
  • mother son relationship
  • father daughter relationship
  • brother brother relationship
  • death of brother
  • loss of brother
  • corpse
  • dead body
  • evacuation
  • oil
  • oil refinery
  • oil tanker
  • ship
  • cargo ship
  • ship captain
  • commander
  • body suit
  • bulletproof vest
  • village
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Cast & crew

Hidden Strike Cast & Characters

Jackie Chan leads the cast as Dragon Luo, with Chunrui Ma as Mei and John Cena as Chris. Directed by Scott Waugh; 10 actors are credited in all.

From the director

More from Scott Waugh

More films directed by Scott Waugh, best-rated first: Runner, Act of Valor, Need For Speed and 6 Below: Miracle On The Mountain.

Full filmography
Ratings

Hidden Strike Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave Hidden Strike 20% on Rotten Tomatoes, and IMDb users rate it 5.4/10. Our Echo Score gives it 31/100, strongest in sensory experience (40) and weakest in story & flow (25).

31 /100

Hidden Strike Echo Score Breakdown

Hidden Strike falls short across most dimensions, delivering an uneven cinematic experience that fails to capitalize on its star power. Critics consistently note the film's lackluster visual execution, subpar editing, and underwhelming production values, while a handful of viewers acknowledge occasional energetic action set pieces. The overall impression is one of a forgettable, poorly crafted action comedy that struggles to engage audiences beyond brief amusement. Consequently, the film receives a low overall Echo Score.

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

  • Art & Craft 25

    In terms of art and craft, the film is hindered by dated and poorly integrated CGI, which reviewers describe as atrocious and reminiscent of early digital effects. Editing receives criticism for being clumsy, and the direction is seen as meandering, contributing to a flat visual presentation. While occasional action choreography showcases some flair, the overall production quality remains below expectations, resulting in a low art score.

  • Character & Emotion 30

    When evaluating character and emotion, performances are widely regarded as bland, with chemistry between the leads described as bone‑dry and lacking depth. Critics point to shallow acting and unmemorable personas, though a few viewers note moments of humor from the duo. The consensus indicates limited character development and weak emotional resonance, placing this aspect in the lower tier of the scoring range.

  • Story & Flow 25

    Story and flow emerge as a primary weakness; reviewers label the plot predictable, dumb, and lacking stakes. Pacing is described as meandering, and the script offers little originality or narrative cohesion. A minority of users find the premise tolerable for casual viewing, but the dominant viewpoint is that the storyline fails to engage, resulting in a markedly low story score.

  • Sensory Experience 40

    Sensory experience receives a mixed assessment. While the visual style suffers from overused, low‑quality CGI, action sequences and fight choreography are praised for delivering energetic moments reminiscent of classic Chan work. Sound design and music are not heavily discussed, suggesting they are unremarkable. This blend of shortcomings and occasional strengths leads to a moderate sensory score.

  • Rewatch Factor 35

    Rewatch factor is generally low, with many critics calling the film forgettable and lacking lasting appeal. Some viewers, however, acknowledge brief entertainment value and find the action enjoyable enough for a single viewing. The overall sentiment indicates limited replay value, placing the rewatch score in the lower-mid range.

Plot

Hidden Strike Plot Summary & Ending Explained

What happens in Hidden Strike from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events and the ending explained. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

After a brutal attack on an oil refinery in Iraq, owned by the Chinese corporation Unicorp, mercenaries led by Owen Paddock create chaos. The refinery’s Director of Operations, Professor Cheng, urgently seeks help from private security firms to carry out a rescue operation for the civilian employees trapped inside. Enter ex-special forces soldier Dragon Luo Feng, portrayed by the legendary Jackie Chan, who commands his private security firm to evacuate the civilians on the perilous Highway of Death, guiding them towards the safety of the Green Zone.

Full summary

The whole story of Hidden Strike, scene by scene, with the ending explained

Read the full summary
Box office

Hidden Strike Box Office & Budget

Hidden Strike grossed $2.2 million worldwide on a $80 million budget.

2023 box office

Worldwide gross

$2.2M

International
$2.2M
Budget
$80M
Videos

Hidden Strike Trailers & Videos

The trailer of Hidden Strike.

Official Trailer
Quiz

How Well Do You Know Hidden Strike?

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 dangerous location does Luo Feng and his team travel through?

Cars

Cars in Hidden Strike

41 cars on screen, including the Can-Am Maverick X3 and the Golden Dragon XML 6129 E5G.

All 41 cars
  • Can-Am Maverick X3 in Hidden Strike Can-Am Maverick X3 Main role
  • Golden Dragon XML 6129 E5G in Hidden Strike Golden Dragon XML 6129 E5G Main role
  • Higer KLQ 6109 in Hidden Strike Higer KLQ 6109 Main role
  • Huakai T-Rex in Hidden Strike Huakai T-Rex Important role
Details

Hidden Strike Also Known As

28 alternative titles, including “S.N.A.F.U.: Situation Normal: All F***ed Up” and “The Furious Sandstorm”.

Also known as
  • S.N.A.F.U.: Situation Normal: All F***ed Up
  • The Furious Sandstorm
  • Project X-Traction
  • Ex-Baghdad
  • Project X
  • 狂怒沙暴
  • Kuang nu sha bao
  • حمله مخفی
  • برخورد پنهان
  • Proyecto extracción
  • Lovitură ascunsă
  • Круче некуда
+16 more
  • Місія на двох
  • Snafu: V háji jako obvykle
  • مشروع أكس الأحتكاكي (الضربة الخفية)
  • SNAFU
  • Ölümcül Çarpışma
  • Projeto Extração
  • מתקפה חזיתית
  • A kimenekítési projekt
  • 스내푸
  • Vùng Xanh
  • プロジェクトX-トラクション
  • Mirtinas susidūrimas
  • Skriti udarec
  • ضربه پنهان
  • Скрита атака
  • Slēptais trieciens

Seen Hidden Strike?

FAQ

Hidden Strike FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Runtime

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

How long is Hidden Strike?

Hidden Strike runs 1 hour 42 minutes (102 minutes).

When was Hidden Strike released?

Hidden Strike was released on July 28, 2023.

Who directed Hidden Strike?

Hidden Strike was directed by Scott Waugh.

More films by Scott Waugh

Who is in the cast of Hidden Strike?

Hidden Strike stars Jackie Chan as Dragon Luo, Chunrui Ma as Mei and John Cena as Chris, among 10 credited actors.

How much did Hidden Strike make at the box office?

Hidden Strike grossed $2.2 million worldwide on a budget of $80 million.

How is Hidden Strike rated?

Hidden Strike has 5.4/10 on IMDb, 20% on Rotten Tomatoes, 69% on TMDB and 2.3/5 on Letterboxd.

Does Hidden Strike have a post-credit scene?

Yes. Hidden Strike has an extra scene during or after the credits, so it is worth staying seated.

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