# The 36th Chamber of Shaolin (1978) — Celluloid fact sheet

Source: https://celluloidscore.com/movies/the-36th-chamber-of-shaolin-1978/
Last reviewed: 2026-07-25

| Field | Value |
|-------|-------|
| Celluloid Score | 85% |
| Critic Score | 94% |
| Audience Score | 90% |
| Metascore | 82/100 |
| Letterboxd | 4.1/5 |
| IMDb | 7.6/10 |
| Director | Lau Kar-leung |
| Genres | Action, Adventure |
| Runtime | 116 min |

## Quick answer

The 36th Chamber of Shaolin (1978) earns a 85% Celluloid Score — Recommended. The definitive training film — Gordon Liu earns every technique on screen, and half of hip-hop took its name from it. Metascore 82/100. Directed by Lau Kar-leung.

## Critics consensus

The definitive training film — Gordon Liu earns every technique on screen, and half of hip-hop took its name from it.

## Synopsis

During the Qing Dynasty, a fishmonger is killed by the reigning Manchu government for supporting the anti-government movement; his son manages to escape to Shaolin Temple, where he plans to learn its secretive brand of martial arts to seek revenge.

## Cast

Gordon Liu Chia-Hui, Lo Lieh, John Cheung Ng-Long, Wilson Tong Wai-Shing, Wa Lun, Hon Kwok-Choi, Lau Kar-Wing, Wai Wang

## Critic reviews on Celluloid: 1

## Common questions

**Is The 36th Chamber of Shaolin worth watching?**
The 36th Chamber of Shaolin holds a 85% Celluloid Score. The definitive training film — Gordon Liu earns every technique on screen, and half of hip-hop took its name from it.

**What is The 36th Chamber of Shaolin about?**
During the Qing Dynasty, a fishmonger is killed by the reigning Manchu government for supporting the anti-government movement; his son manages to escape to Shaolin Temple, where he plans to learn its secretive brand of martial arts to seek revenge.

**Who directed The 36th Chamber of Shaolin?**
The 36th Chamber of Shaolin (1978) was directed by Lau Kar-leung.

**What is the Celluloid Score of The 36th Chamber of Shaolin?**
85% — the average of five public sources: critics 94%, audience 90%, Metascore 82/100, Letterboxd 4.1/5, and IMDb 7.6/10.

**Where can I watch The 36th Chamber of Shaolin?**
Streaming availability varies by region — see the The 36th Chamber of Shaolin page for current options.

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

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