# Hero (2002) — Celluloid fact sheet

Source: https://celluloidscore.com/movies/hero-2002/
Last reviewed: 2026-07-13

| Field | Value |
|-------|-------|
| Celluloid Score | 85% |
| Critic Score | 95% |
| Audience Score | 86% |
| Metascore | 86/100 |
| Letterboxd | 4/5 |
| IMDb | 7.9/10 |
| Director | Zhang Yimou |
| Genres | Action, Drama |
| Runtime | 99 min |
| Festival premiere | Berlinale 2003 (Alfred Bauer Prize) |
| Major awards | 0 wins, 1 nominations |

## Quick answer

Hero (2002) earns a 85% Celluloid Score — Recommended. Zhang Yimou's ravishing martial-arts poem turned Chinese blockbusters into international events. Metascore 86/100. Directed by Zhang Yimou.

## Critics consensus

Zhang Yimou's ravishing martial-arts poem turned Chinese blockbusters into international events.

## Synopsis

A nameless warrior recounts his assassination attempts on the King of Qin through shifting tales of color, loyalty, and sacrifice.

## Cast

Jet Li, Tony Leung, Maggie Cheung

## Accolades

Premiered at Berlinale 2003, where it won the Alfred Bauer Prize.
- Nominated for Best Foreign Language Film — Academy Awards 2003

## Critic reviews on Celluloid: 1

## Common questions

**Is Hero worth watching?**
Hero holds a 85% Celluloid Score. Zhang Yimou's ravishing martial-arts poem turned Chinese blockbusters into international events.

**What is Hero about?**
A nameless warrior recounts his assassination attempts on the King of Qin through shifting tales of color, loyalty, and sacrifice.

**Who directed Hero?**
Hero (2002) was directed by Zhang Yimou.

**What is the Celluloid Score of Hero?**
85% — the average of five public sources: critics 95%, audience 86%, Metascore 86/100, Letterboxd 4/5, and IMDb 7.9/10.

**What awards did Hero win?**
Hero earned 1 major award nomination: Best Foreign Language Film (Academy Awards 2003).

**Where can I watch Hero?**
Streaming availability varies by region — see the Hero page for current options.

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Reviewed and scored by Celluloid · Editor: Kaiser Khan (https://mrkaiserkhan.com)

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