Jiang Ziya (2020): Ratings, Box Office & Plot
Jiang Ziya is a 2020 fantasy animated film directed by Li Wei and Teng Cheng. It runs 1 hour 50 minutes and earned $240.6 million worldwide. Critics gave it 83% on Rotten Tomatoes, and IMDb users rate it 6.5/10.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 50m (110 min)
- Directors
- Li Wei and Teng Cheng
- Original language
-
Chinese
- Studio
- Well Go USA Entertainment
- After the credits
- Yes Extra scene during or after the credits
What Is Jiang Ziya About?
The premise of Jiang Ziya without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
Revered commander Jiang Ziya faces a profound moral dilemma when ordered to vanquish the formidable Nine-Tailed Fox Demon. The demon’s strength is mysteriously linked to the fate of an innocent young girl, forcing Jiang Ziya to question the will of heaven and forge his own path. His journey becomes a compelling exploration of loyalty, redemption, and the true meaning of divine power, challenging his understanding of what it means to be a god.
Jiang Ziya Themes & Keywords
· 17 tags- fish out of water
- 3 dimensional
- 3d
- reference to jiang ziya
- cgi animation
- immortality
- cg animation
- multiple realms
- demon
- gods
- donghua
- chinese mythology
+5 more Show fewer
- chinese animation
- shenmo
- character name as title
- chinese fantasy
- fox demon
The Director of Jiang Ziya
Directed by Li Wei and Teng Cheng.
- Co-director Li Wei
- Co-director Teng Cheng
More from Li Wei and Teng Cheng
One more film directed by Li Wei and Teng Cheng: The Wild Blade of Strangers.
Jiang Ziya Reviews & Ratings
Critics gave Jiang Ziya 83% on Rotten Tomatoes, and IMDb users rate it 6.5/10. Our Echo Score gives it 75/100, strongest in art & craft (90) and weakest in character & emotion (60).
Jiang Ziya Echo Score Breakdown
In overall terms, Jiang Ziya excels in visual ambition while showing uneven narrative clarity. The film’s intricate world-building and dynamic action sequences have been widely praised for their cinematic craft and atmospheric resonance. However, several observers pointed out confusing plot threads and pacing hurdles that diminish emotional engagement. The result is a striking yet somewhat uneven epic that leaves a strong visual impression but undercuts narrative cohesion.
Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.
- Art & Craft 90
In terms of art and craft, Jiang Ziya delivers exemplary visual storytelling. Critics and users alike note the film’s striking animation, refined cinematography, and detailed production design, from an understated color palette to fluid action choreography. The traditional wuxia influences merge seamlessly with video game–inspired graphics to create a cohesive aesthetic. Overall, the visual execution stands out as a major strength.
- Character & Emotion 60
In terms of character development, the film offers modest emotional depth. Several critics observed that complex mythic figures receive limited exploration, resulting in earned pathos that feels underdeveloped. Some users noted poignant moments in the middle and well-drawn emotional beats, but these instances remain intermittent. Ultimately, the characters provide occasional resonance but do not consistently anchor the narrative.
- Story & Flow 65
In terms of story and flow, Jiang Ziya balances ambitious scope with occasional incoherence. Critics frequently mention a complex mythos and pacing unevenness that challenges narrative clarity, while some users report confusion over character names and rapid dialogue. The post-credit sequence is often cited as the film’s most coherent segment. Consequently, the story remains engaging in parts but lacks consistent cohesion.
- Sensory Experience 85
In terms of sensory experience, the film delivers an immersive sound and visual landscape. Multiple critics highlight the dramatic score, nuanced sound design, and video game–influenced graphics that produce an intoxicating audio-visual synergy. User feedback emphasizes a beautiful soundtrack and effective voice performances that strengthen the film’s atmosphere. Overall, Jiang Ziya offers a richly layered sensory immersion.
- Rewatch Factor 65
In terms of rewatch factor, Jiang Ziya offers selective replay value rooted in its visual and action appeal. The film’s dynamic sequences and rich atmosphere encourage further viewings, but its narrative complexity can hinder full appreciation on subsequent watches. Observers also highlight an engaging post-credit scene as an incentive to revisit the film. Overall, the rewatch appeal remains moderate and situation-dependent.
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IMDb 6.5 /10
See on IMDb -
Rotten Tomatoes 83% Tomatometer
Popcornmeter 88%
See on Rotten Tomatoes -
TMDB 73% User score
See on TMDB -
Movie Insider 3.8 /5
See on Movie Insider
Jiang Ziya Plot Summary
What happens in Jiang Ziya from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
After a fox spirit triggers the downfall of the Shang dynasty, a war sweeps across the three realms, destabilizing everything. The fox spirit is captured, and Jiang Ziya, a mortal who has risen to fame through the fighting, is assigned the grim duty of executing it. During the act, the fox spirit reveals there is a young girl inside her, and that proceeding with the execution would kill the girl as well. Jiang hesitates, but when the spirit fights to escape, his resolve hardens and he seems to finish the act. Convinced that the girl was merely an illusion conjured by the fox spirit, Jiang Ziya is stripped of his powers and banished to the North Sea until he can straighten out his mind and purpose.
Full summary
The whole story of Jiang Ziya, scene by scene
Jiang Ziya Box Office
Jiang Ziya grossed $240.6 million worldwide. $214,670 came from the US and Canada and $240.4 million (100%) from the rest of the world.
Worldwide gross
$240.6M
- US & Canada
- $214.7K
- International
- $240.4M
Jiang Ziya Trailers & Videos
The trailer of Jiang Ziya.
How Well Do You Know Jiang Ziya?
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
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
Who is assigned the grim duty of executing the fox spirit at the beginning of the story?
Seen Jiang Ziya?
Movies Like Jiang Ziya
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Legend of Jiang Ziya, Ne Zha and New Gods: Nezha Reborn.
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Legend of Jiang Ziya 2019 -
Ne Zha 2019 -
New Gods: Nezha Reborn 2021 -
Nezha Conquers the Dragon King 1979 -
The Nine-Colored Deer 1981 -
League of Gods 2016 -
Fangs of Fortune 2024 -
White Snake: Afloat 2024 -
The Wind Guardians 2018 -
The Tale of the White Serpent 1958 -
L.O.R.D: Legend of Ravaging Dynasties 2 2020 -
Journey to the West: The Demons Strike Back 2017
Jiang Ziya FAQ: Box Office, Runtime & Release Date
Runtime, release date, director, box office, ratings, post-credit scenes and language of Jiang Ziya, each answered in a sentence.
How long is Jiang Ziya?
Jiang Ziya runs 1 hour 50 minutes (110 minutes).
When was Jiang Ziya released?
Jiang Ziya was released on February 7, 2020.
Who directed Jiang Ziya?
Jiang Ziya was directed by Li Wei and Teng Cheng.
More films by Li Wei How much did Jiang Ziya make at the box office?
Jiang Ziya grossed $240.6 million worldwide ($214,670 domestic, $240.4 million international).
How is Jiang Ziya rated?
Jiang Ziya has 6.5/10 on IMDb, 83% on Rotten Tomatoes, 73% on TMDB and 3.8/5 on Movie Insider.
Does Jiang Ziya have a post-credit scene?
Yes. Jiang Ziya has an extra scene during or after the credits, so it is worth staying seated.
What language is Jiang Ziya in?
The original language of Jiang Ziya is Chinese.
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