# Dying to Survive (2018) — Celluloid fact sheet

Source: https://celluloidscore.com/movies/dying-to-survive-2018/
Last reviewed: 2026-07-23

| Field | Value |
|-------|-------|
| Celluloid Score | 87% |
| Critic Score | 95% |
| Audience Score | 92% |
| Metascore | 86/100 |
| Letterboxd | 4.1/5 |
| IMDb | 8/10 |
| Director | Wen Muye |
| Genres | Drama, Comedy |
| Runtime | 117 min |
| Festival premiere | Shanghai 2018 (Chinese Film Panorama) |
| Major awards | 3 wins, 0 nominations |

## Quick answer

Dying to Survive (2018) earns a 87% Celluloid Score — Recommended. A rare Chinese crowd-pleaser with teeth — Xu Zheng balances slapstick and moral outrage in a healthcare satire that move Metascore 86/100. Directed by Wen Muye.

## Critics consensus

A rare Chinese crowd-pleaser with teeth — Xu Zheng balances slapstick and moral outrage in a healthcare satire that moved policy and swept Golden Rooster recognition.

## Synopsis

A smuggling operation for cheap leukemia medication turns a seedy shopkeeper into an unlikely folk hero — Wen Muye's dark comedy-drama sparked national drug-pricing reform debates and became one of the highest-grossing non-blockbuster films in Chinese history.

## Cast

Xu Zheng, Wang Chuanjun, Tan Zhuo, Zhang Yu

## Accolades

Premiered at Shanghai 2018, where it won the Chinese Film Panorama.
- Won Best Actor — Golden Rooster Awards 2019
- Won Best New Director — Golden Rooster Awards 2019
- Won Best Original Screenplay — Golden Rooster Awards 2019

## Where to watch

Global: Prime Video, Viki
the United States: Prime Video, Viki

## Critic reviews on Celluloid: 1

## Common questions

**Is Dying to Survive worth watching?**
Dying to Survive holds a 87% Celluloid Score. A rare Chinese crowd-pleaser with teeth — Xu Zheng balances slapstick and moral outrage in a healthcare satire that moved policy and swept Golden Rooster recognition.

**What is Dying to Survive about?**
A smuggling operation for cheap leukemia medication turns a seedy shopkeeper into an unlikely folk hero — Wen Muye's dark comedy-drama sparked national drug-pricing reform debates and became one of the highest-grossing non-blockbuster films in Chinese history.

**Who directed Dying to Survive?**
Dying to Survive (2018) was directed by Wen Muye.

**What is the Celluloid Score of Dying to Survive?**
87% — the average of five public sources: critics 95%, audience 92%, Metascore 86/100, Letterboxd 4.1/5, and IMDb 8/10.

**What awards did Dying to Survive win?**
Dying to Survive won Best Actor (Golden Rooster Awards 2019), Best New Director (Golden Rooster Awards 2019), Best Original Screenplay (Golden Rooster Awards 2019).

**Where can I watch Dying to Survive?**
Dying to Survive is streaming on Prime Video, Viki; on Prime Video, Viki in the United States. Availability varies by region.

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

Markdown mirror: https://celluloidscore.com/movies/dying-to-survive-2018.md