The Grandmaster

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The Grandmaster

PG-13

2013

2h 10m

Biography

Drama

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78%

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139 Reviews

59%

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10,000+ Ratings

The fall of China's last dynasty, a time of chaos, division and war, is the golden age of Chinese martial arts. Legendary kung fu master Ip Man, who will eventually train Bruce Lee, finds his peaceful life interrupted by vengeance.

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Critics Consensus

Though its storytelling is a tad muddled, Wong Kar Wai's The Grandmaster still exhibits the auteur's stylistic flourishes in gorgeous cinematography and explosive action set pieces.

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J. Hoberman

ARTINFO.com

Feb 25, 2019

The Grandmaster strikes me as Wong's strongest film since In the Mood for Love and surprisingly credible as an exercise in kung fu stylistics as well as temps perdu.

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Mark Kermode

Observer (UK)

Dec 7, 2014

3/5

The Grandmaster interweaves themes of ancient loyalty and modern betrayal around a narrative predicated upon the interplay between the differing schools, traditions and movements of myriad martial arts disciplines.

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Vadim Rizov

Sight & Sound

Dec 5, 2014

Each punch, kick and impact is captured cleanly and coherently, Wong serving the spectacle of a big brawl rather than resisting its adrenalised charms.

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Carla Renata

The Curvy Film Critic

Mar 24, 2026

The colorful fight scenes and cinematography illustrating Wing Chun were like watching a perfected cinematic ballet.

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Don Shanahan

Every Movie Has a Lesson

Oct 14, 2024

3/5

With a penchant for moody music, colorful imagery, decorated interiors, and splendidly unique cinematography, Kar-wai brings those talents to a totally new genre for him with The Grandmaster.

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Sean Axmaker

Stream on Demand

Aug 19, 2023

Yuen Wo Ping provides the choreography, which Wong turns into something more like a dance on screen. To Wong, the power of the movement is not just in its effect upon a rival fighter but in the way the man moves through the world.

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Leprechaun K

@LeprechaunKing Feb 26, 2025

Probably one of my least favorite WKW films. My Blueberry Nights being the absolutely worst. WKW has always preferred style over substance. In this case, Style x Martial Arts wears thin.

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Marit Risto F

@RT66247982 Feb 26, 2024

Despite all the fighting, I think this is the best film I've ever seen. Unbelievable images. Strong artistic and poetic appeal

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John A

@ExcessMale Aug 25, 2023

Wong Kar-Wai doesn't seem so concerned with the truly fascinating historical/character aspects surrounding Ip Man's life however I can't help feverishly fixating on such a masterfully crafted film with CGI-free martial arts action scenes.

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Andre G

@RT43547453 Aug 5, 2023

Beautiful cinematography. Many scenes are like paintings.

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Jul 16, 2023

Every scene and every primary actor in this movie is amazing. Plus, one of the only films I know that addresses the Japanese occupation of China.

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Steve C

@RT19610513 Jun 25, 2023

This is Wong's artist take on the Ip Man's story, starring one of his favorite leading man from his other movies. So don't bother comparing it to Donnie Yen's action counterpart series of 4 movies, it's like comparing apples and oranges.

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Kar-Wai Wong

Director

Tony Leung Chiu Wai

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Zhang Ziyi

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Synopsis

The fall of China's last dynasty, a time of chaos, division and war, is the golden age of Chinese martial arts. Legendary kung fu master Ip Man, who will eventually train Bruce Lee, finds his peaceful life interrupted by vengeance.

Director: Kar-Wai Wong
Producer: Jacky Yee Wah Pang
Screenwriter: Zou Jingzhi, Xu Haofeng
Distributor: Weinstein Co.
Production Co: Annapurna Pictures
Rating: PG-13 (Language|Brief Drug Use|Some Smoking|Violence)
Genre: Biography, Drama
Original Language: Chinese
Release Date (Theaters): Aug 23, 2013, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 15, 2014
Box Office (Gross USA): $6.6M
Runtime: 2h 10m

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