Red Cliff (2008)
John Woo's sweeping historical epic brings the legendary Battle of Red Cliffs to life in a visually breathtaking tale of war, strategy, and unlikely alliance.
Red Cliff - Movie Information
- Original Title: 赤壁
- Release Year: 2008
- Directed by: John Woo
- Type: Movie
- Genres: Adventure, Drama, History, Action, War
- Age Rating (US): R
- Runtime: 2h 25m
- Original Language: Chinese
- Spoken Languages: Mandarin
- Release Date (Theatrical): July 10, 2008 (China), November 20, 2008 (United States - R), April 27, 2009 (United Kingdom - 15), March 25, 2009 (France), October 13, 2008 (Australia - MA15+), October 23, 2009 (Italy), March 19, 2010 (Spain - 12), July 10, 2008 (South Korea - 15)
- Alternative Titles: Les Trois Royaumes, 1re partie (FR), 적벽대전:거대한 전쟁의 시작 (KR), Red Cliff: Part 1 (US), レッドクリフ PartI (JP), Chi bi (CN), La battaglia dei tre regni - Parte Prima (IT), O porfyros lofos (GR), Red Cliff ภาค 1 (TH)
- Production Companies: Lion Rock Productions, Showbox, Beijing Film Studio, Avex Entertainment, CMC Entertainment, Shanghai Film Group, Emperor Multimedia Group, China Movie Channel, Summit Entertainment, Beijing Jinyinma Movie & TV Culture Co.
- Production Countries: China, Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, United States of America
Red Cliff - Plot
In 208 A.D., in the final days of the Han Dynasty, shrewd Prime Minster Cao convinced the fickle Emperor Han the only way to unite all of China was to declare war on the kingdoms of Xu in the west and East Wu in the south. Thus began a military campaign of unprecedented scale. Left with no other hope for survival, the kingdoms of Xu and East Wu formed an unlikely alliance.
Red Cliff - Trailer
Watch the official trailer and see the epic scale of this legendary battle unfold:
The future will be decided.
Where to Watch Red Cliff
Looking for where to watch Red Cliff?
Compare all viewing options available in your region on JustWatch ↗
Red Cliff - Cast & Crew
Director(s)
- John Woo
Main Cast
- Tony Leung Chiu-wai
- Takeshi Kaneshiro
- Zhang Fengyi
- Chang Chen
- Vicky Zhao
- Hu Jun
- Shido Nakamura
- Lin Chi-Ling
- You Yongzhi
- Hou Yong
Writers
- John Woo
- Kuo Cheng
- Sheng Heyu
- Chan Hon
Producers
- Terence Chang
- Han Sanping
- Zilong Guo
- He Bing
- Chin-Wen Huang
Red Cliff - FAQs
Is Red Cliff based on a true story?
Red Cliff is rooted in real history. The Battle of Red Cliffs took place in 208–209 A.D. during the late Han Dynasty and is one of China's most celebrated military engagements. John Woo draws heavily from the classic historical novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms, blending documented events with dramatic storytelling.
Who are the main actors in Red Cliff?
The film boasts a stellar pan-Asian cast. Tony Leung Chiu-wai plays the brilliant strategist Zhou Yu, while Takeshi Kaneshiro portrays Zhu Ge Liang. Zhang Fengyi is the formidable Cao Cao, Chang Chen plays Sun Quan, and Lin Chi-Ling appears as the graceful Xiao Qiao.
What is Red Cliff about?
Set in 208 A.D. during the twilight of the Han Dynasty, Red Cliff follows the unlikely alliance between the kingdoms of Xu and East Wu as they face Prime Minister Cao Cao's overwhelming military force. Critics praised it as a visually stunning, large-scale epic that balances grand battle sequences with intimate character drama.
What is the ending of Red Cliff explained?
The international cut of Red Cliff is Part 1 of a two-part saga, ending as the allied forces prepare their defenses at the cliffs of the Yangtze River. The story concludes in Red Cliff II (2009), where the alliance executes a daring fire attack that devastates Cao Cao's fleet and decides China's fate.
Where can you stream Red Cliff?
You can watch Red Cliff on several platforms. It's available for free on Tubi TV, Kanopy, Plex, and The Roku Channel. If you prefer to own or rent it, Amazon Video, Apple TV, Google Play Movies, YouTube, and Fandango At Home all have it. Philo subscribers can also stream it as part of their plan.
How long is Red Cliff?
The international theatrical cut of Red Cliff runs 145 minutes — just over two hours and twenty minutes. It's worth noting that the original Chinese release was a two-part epic totaling roughly four and a half hours, offering a far more expansive look at the characters and battles.
Did Red Cliff win any awards?
Red Cliff was a major commercial and critical success across Asia. It swept the Hong Kong Film Awards, winning Best Film, Best Director for John Woo, and Best Action Choreography, among others. It also earned multiple Golden Horse Award nominations and became one of the highest-grossing Asian films of its era.
What are films similar to Red Cliff?
If you enjoyed Red Cliff, you might love Fearless (2006) with Jet Li, The Emperor and the Assassin (1998), or Once Upon a Time in China (1991). For more recent epics, The Battle at Lake Changjin II: Water Gate Bridge (2022) and Creation of the Gods II: Demon Force (2025) deliver similarly grand-scale action.
More About Red Cliff
Explore further details about Red Cliff on these authoritative resources: