What is the Metascore for The Big Boss?

The Big Boss has a Metascore of 62 out of 100 on Celluloid.

The Big Boss

Item: The Big Boss
Rating: 3.5
Author: Kaiser Khan

Directed by Lo Wei · 1971 · Last reviewed July 25, 2026

Answer Summary

The Big Boss (1971) earns a 70% Celluloid Score — Recommended. Recommended — recommended by most critics and audiences.Audiences (79%) responded more warmly than critics (71%).

Quick Verdict

Averaged from five public sources (critic, audience, Metascore, Letterboxd, IMDb). See how we calculate scores.

70%

Celluloid Score Recommended

Five-source breakdown

71% Critic Score

79% Audience

62 Metascore

★★★☆☆ Letterboxd 3.4

7 IMDb /10

Runtime: 1h 39m
Cast: Bruce Lee , Maria Yi , James Tien Chun , Marilyn Bautista , Han Ying-Chieh , Tony Liu Tian-jue , Li Kun , Nora Miao
Country: Hong Kong
Language: Mandarin

Official theatrical poster for The Big Boss (1971)

Theatrical release

Where to watch

Not confirmed on any major streaming platform yet — check local listings.

Why this score?

Majority of critics rated it fresh (71%).
General viewers mostly liked it (79%).
Metascore is generally favorable (62/100).
Celluloid Score 70% averages all five public rating sources — our own composite, not a third-party trademark score.

Best for

Short runtime — easy weeknight watch

Not ideal for

Viewers who only watch top-tier, 90%+ rated films

Scores reflect data indexed at build time. Component sources are shown on this page; Celluloid Score is our composite, not a third-party trademark. Scoring policy

Is The Big Boss worth watching?

Yes — The Big Boss earns a 70% Celluloid Score. Recommended — recommended by most critics and audiences.

Critics Consensus

Lee’s first leading role, and the moment Hong Kong action stopped imitating anyone — raw, cheap, and electrifying whenever he moves.
Celluloid Critics Consensus

Audiences (79%) responded more warmly than critics (71%).

What is The Big Boss about?

Cheng is a young Chinese mainlander who moves in with his expatriate cousins to work at an ice factory in Thailand. He does this with a family promise never to get involved in any fights. However, when members of his family begin disappearing after meeting the management of the factory, the resulting mystery and pressures force him to break that vow and take on the villainy of the Big Boss.

Critic Reviews

critic The Big Boss

The Big Boss (1971) Review

★★★½☆ 3.5/5

Lo Wei's The Big Boss (1971) remains a defining Action landmark from Hong Kong, with scores that still shape how audiences discover the title.

Worth watching — solid entertainment with lasting cultural visibility.

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