Cliff Walkers

Cliff Walkers

Directed by Zhang Yimou

Produced by Emperor Motion Pictures, Shanghai Film Group

2021120 min6.7 / 10

A tense, paranoid spy thriller set in 1930s Manchukuo where betrayed agents navigate a web of threats and deception with limited trust.

In the puppet state of Manchukuo in the 1930s, four Communist party special agents, after returning to China, embark on a secret mission. Sold out by a traitor, the team find themselves surrounded by threats on all sides.

Questions people ask

  • Is Cliff Walkers scary? Yes, very. More frightening than 94% of films.

  • Is Cliff Walkers violent? Yes. More violent than 83% of films.

  • Is Cliff Walkers easy watching? Not especially. Less comforting than 74% of films.

  • Is Cliff Walkers sad? Somewhat. More sad than 70% of films.

  • Does Cliff Walkers end with hope? Not especially. Less hopeful than 70% of films.

These describe how the film comes across, measured across the whole film and compared with other well-known films. They are not a content list — nothing here was counted or checked scene by scene, so for age-suitability or specific content use a classification board or a dedicated content-warning service.

Written about

35/ 100

Cinnamon Score

How much this film gives you that nothing else will, and whether it delivers.

You have seen this shape before.

Rarity13

How unlike any other film this one feels

Surprise45

How much more it delivers than it promises

Love55

How much audiences actually like it

The highest scores in the catalogue →

Ensemble

Like Cliff Walkers

Nearest across the full emotional profile.

Same Mood as Cliff Walkers

Nearest on what's most distinctive about this one.

Like Cliff Walkers, But Darker

Similar, pushed toward heavier and more intense.

Like Cliff Walkers, But Lighter

Similar, pushed toward warmer and easier.

Like Cliff Walkers, But Less Popular

Same territory, far fewer people have seen it.

Share thisXBlueskyReddit