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Action drama

Red Cliff (2009): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Plot

Red Cliff (2009) movie poster

Red Cliff is a 2009 action drama directed by John Woo, starring Takeshi Kaneshiro, Tony Leung Chiu Wai and Fengyi Zhang. It is partly based on Three Kingdoms: A Historical Novel by Luo Guanzhong and Moss Roberts. It runs 2 hours 26 minutes and earned $129.7 million worldwide. It earned 1 award nomination, including Best Foreign Language Film at the Critics' Choice 2010. Critics gave it 89% on Rotten Tomatoes and 73 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 7.3/10.

IMDb rating
7.3/10
Rotten Tomatoes
89%
worldwide gross
$129.7M
award nomination
1
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Red Cliff (2009) movie poster
Released
Runtime
2h 26m (146 min)
Director
John Woo
Genres
Action , Adventure , Drama , History
Original language
Chinese
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is Red Cliff About?

The premise of Red Cliff without spoilers, adapted from Three Kingdoms: A Historical Novel by Luo Guanzhong and Moss Roberts. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.

During the late Eastern Han Dynasty, General Cao Cao seeks to conquer all of China. To oppose him, warlords Liu Bei and Sun Quan forge an alliance, uniting their forces. Guided by the brilliant strategist Zhuge Liang and the skilled warrior Zhou Yu, they prepare for a monumental clash. The ensuing conflict becomes an epic struggle for survival, demanding unwavering courage and shaping the future of the empire.

Red Cliff Themes & Keywords

· 50 tags
  • han dynasty china
  • female spy
  • 3rd century
  • historical event
  • epic war
  • epic history
  • writer producer director
  • historical fiction
  • war espionage
  • military action
  • costume drama
  • prime minister
+38 more
  • emperor
  • warlord
  • political strategist
  • advisor
  • battle of red cliffs
  • imperial china
  • cavalry
  • warrior
  • viceroy
  • naval commander
  • bagua
  • battleships
  • tea ceremony
  • favorable conditions
  • testudo
  • roman tortoise formation
  • shield wall
  • imperial army
  • qin
  • musical duet
  • princess
  • naval fleet
  • kickball
  • funeral pyre
  • pregnant wife
  • sky lantern
  • wuxia action
  • china
  • alliance
  • strategy
  • chinese
  • chinese history
  • kung fu
  • combat
  • martial arts
  • yangtze river
  • wind
  • wind gust
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Cast & crew

Red Cliff Cast

Takeshi Kaneshiro leads the cast, with Tony Leung Chiu Wai and Fengyi Zhang. Directed by John Woo.

Ratings

Red Cliff Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave Red Cliff 89% on Rotten Tomatoes and 73 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 7.3/10.

Plot

Red Cliff Plot Summary

What happens in Red Cliff from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 5-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

In the Autumn of 208 AD, a formidable force of 100,000 peasants, led by their beloved commander Liu Bei](/actor/tony-leung-chiu-wai), find themselves fleeing from the overwhelming million-man army of Cao Cao. With the assistance of legendary heroes such as Zhao Yun and Zhang Fei, they navigate the treacherous waters of the Great River (known as the Yangtze) to seek refuge with Sun Quan, the leader of the southern territories.

Full summary

The whole story of Red Cliff, scene by scene

Read the full summary
Box office

Red Cliff Box Office

Red Cliff grossed $129.7 million worldwide. $627,047 came from the US and Canada and $129.1 million (100%) from the rest of the world.

2009 box office

Worldwide gross

$129.7M

US & Canada
$627K
International
$129.1M
US & Canada 0% Rest of the world 100%
Awards

Red Cliff Awards & Nominations

Red Cliff earned 1 award nomination, including Best Foreign Language Film at the Critics' Choice 2010.

1 nomination1 ceremony

Videos

Red Cliff Trailers & Videos

The trailer of Red Cliff.

Red Cliff Official HD Trailer John Woo Film
Quiz

How Well Do You Know Red Cliff?

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 year does the main story of 'Red Cliff' take place?

Details

Red Cliff Also Known As

46 alternative titles, including “La Battaglia Dei Tre Regni” and “La battaglia dei tre regni - Parte Seconda”.

Also known as
  • La Battaglia Dei Tre Regni
  • La battaglia dei tre regni - Parte Seconda
  • La battaglia dei tre regni - Parte Prima
  • Les Trois Royaumes
  • 1re partie
  • 赤壁1
  • Red Cliff: Part 1
  • Red Cliff 1
  • O porfyros lofos
  • レッドクリフ PartI
  • Red Cliff ภาค 1
  • Les 3 Royaumes - Partie 1
+34 more
  • Chi bi
  • 적벽대전 1부-거대한 전쟁의 시작
  • 적벽대전:거대한 전쟁의 시작
  • 1ère Partie
  • Red Cliff Part I
  • Acantilado rojo (versión internacional)
  • レッドクリフ Part I:2008
  • Red Cliff I
  • 赤壁(上)
  • La battaglia dei tre regni - Parte 1
  • Acantilado rojo
  • A Batalha dos 3 Reinos
  • The Battle Of Red Cliff
  • Les 3 Royaumes
  • Krvavé pobřeží
  • Битва у Красной скалы
  • Vörös szikla
  • Trzy Królestwa
  • Црвена литица
  • สามก๊ก : โจโฉแตกทัพเรือ 1
  • Ο Πορφυρός Λόφος
  • Kızıl Uçurum
  • レッドクリフ Part I
  • 적벽대전: 거대한 전쟁의 시작
  • הצוק האדום
  • Битва під Червоною Скелею
  • Кървавите скали
  • Bătălia de la Stânca Roșie
  • Raudonoji uola
  • Đại Chiến Xích Bích
  • Les Trois Royaumes Partie 1
  • Krvavé pobrežie, წითელი კლდე
  • Crvena stijena
  • El penya-segat vermell

Seen Red Cliff?

FAQ

Red Cliff FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Awards

Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings, the book behind it and awards of Red Cliff, each answered in a sentence.

How long is Red Cliff?

Red Cliff runs 2 hours 26 minutes (146 minutes).

When was Red Cliff released?

Red Cliff was released on November 18, 2009.

Who directed Red Cliff?

Red Cliff was directed by John Woo.

More films by John Woo

Who is in the cast of Red Cliff?

Red Cliff stars Takeshi Kaneshiro, Tony Leung Chiu Wai and Fengyi Zhang.

How much did Red Cliff make at the box office?

Red Cliff grossed $129.7 million worldwide ($627,047 domestic, $129.1 million international).

How is Red Cliff rated?

Red Cliff has 7.3/10 on IMDb, 89% on Rotten Tomatoes, 73 on Metacritic and 71% on TMDB.

Is Red Cliff based on a book?

Yes. Red Cliff is partly adapted from Three Kingdoms: A Historical Novel by Luo Guanzhong and Moss Roberts.

Was Red Cliff nominated for any awards?

Red Cliff received 1 nomination across 1 ceremony.

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