# A Touch of Zen (1970) — Celluloid fact sheet

Source: https://celluloidscore.com/movies/a-touch-of-zen-1970/
Last reviewed: 2026-07-25

| Field | Value |
|-------|-------|
| Celluloid Score | 84% |
| Critic Score | 95% |
| Audience Score | 84% |
| Metascore | 84/100 |
| Letterboxd | 4.1/5 |
| IMDb | 7.5/10 |
| Director | King Hu |
| Genres | Action, Adventure, Fantasy |
| Runtime | 180 min |

## Quick answer

A Touch of Zen (1970) earns a 84% Celluloid Score — Recommended. King Hu’s three-hour wuxia dissolves into pure light by the end — the genre’s one undisputed art film. Metascore 84/100. Directed by King Hu.

## Critics consensus

King Hu’s three-hour wuxia dissolves into pure light by the end — the genre’s one undisputed art film.

## Synopsis

Yang Hui-zhen, a mysterious princess on the run from corrupt government officials, is joined in her endeavors by skilled Buddhist monks and an unambitious painter named Gu Sheng-zhai.

## Cast

Hsu Feng, Shih Chun, Pai Ying, Tien Peng, Roy Chiao, Tsao Chien, Miao Tian, Melvin Chang Yun-Wen

## Critic reviews on Celluloid: 1

## Common questions

**Is A Touch of Zen worth watching?**
A Touch of Zen holds a 84% Celluloid Score. King Hu’s three-hour wuxia dissolves into pure light by the end — the genre’s one undisputed art film.

**What is A Touch of Zen about?**
Yang Hui-zhen, a mysterious princess on the run from corrupt government officials, is joined in her endeavors by skilled Buddhist monks and an unambitious painter named Gu Sheng-zhai.

**Who directed A Touch of Zen?**
A Touch of Zen (1970) was directed by King Hu.

**What is the Celluloid Score of A Touch of Zen?**
84% — the average of five public sources: critics 95%, audience 84%, Metascore 84/100, Letterboxd 4.1/5, and IMDb 7.5/10.

**Where can I watch A Touch of Zen?**
Streaming availability varies by region — see the A Touch of Zen page for current options.

---
Reviewed and scored by Celluloid · Editor: Kaiser Khan (https://celluloidscore.com/author/kaiser-khan/)

Markdown mirror: https://celluloidscore.com/movies/a-touch-of-zen-1970.md