Hero

Hero

One man's strength will unite an empire.

Directed by Zhang Yimou

Produced by Beijing New Picture Film Co. Ltd., China Film Co-Production

200299 min7.5 / 10

A visually stunning wuxia epic that uses martial spectacle and narrative ambiguity to explore the moral cost of sacrifice, loyalty, and the price of empire.

During China's Warring States period, a district prefect arrives at the palace of Qin Shi Huang, claiming to have killed the three assassins who had made an attempt on the king's life three years ago.

Where to watch

Questions people ask

  • Is Hero violent? Yes, very. More violent than 95% of films.

  • Is Hero one of a kind? Yes, very. More singular than 90% of films.

  • Is Hero sad? Yes. More sad than 82% of films.

  • Is Hero scary? Yes. More frightening than 76% of films.

  • Does Hero end with hope? About average. Almost exactly mid-range.

  • Is Hero easy watching? About average. Almost exactly mid-range.

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

75/ 100

Cinnamon Score

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

Distinctly its own thing.

Rarity92

How unlike any other film this one feels

Surprise49

How much more it delivers than it promises

Love88

How much audiences actually like it

The highest scores in the catalogue →

Ensemble

Everything like Hero, and what each one shares →

Like Hero

Nearest across the full emotional profile.

Same Mood as Hero

Nearest on what's most distinctive about this one.

Like Hero, But Darker

Similar, pushed toward heavier and more intense.

Like Hero, But Lighter

Similar, pushed toward warmer and easier.

Like Hero, But Less Popular

Same territory, far fewer people have seen it.

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