Bingbing Li, Collin Chou, Jackie Chan

An American teenager who is obsessed with Hong Kong cinema and kung-fu classics makes an extraordinary discovery in a Chinatown pawnshop: the legendary stick weapon of the Chinese sage and warrior, th...( read more  read more... )e Monkey King. With the lost relic in hand, the teenager unexpectedly finds himself traveling back to ancient China to join a crew of warriors from martial arts lore on a dangerous quest to free the imprisoned Monkey King.

Flixster Users

65% liked it

302,472 ratings

Critics

64% liked it

123 critics

PG-13, 1 hr. 53 min.

Directed by: Rob Minkoff

Release Date: April 18, 2008

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DVD Release Date: September 9, 2008

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Stats: 16,053 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (16,053)


  • October 6, 2009
    Decent martial arts fantasy tail that is enjoyable without ever being hard work on the brain
  • September 10, 2009
    Maybe if I was younger, or if Chan and Li were younger.
  • August 5, 2009
    Chan and Li should have teamed up for something more epic, something more serious. It's like if DeNiro and Pacino had teamed up for a family friendly crime comedy. At least The Forbidden Kingdom stays fairly true to many classic Kung-Fu films. Yes, it's lighter in tone and is too...( read more) concerned with making the cool American teen the hero, but there's plenty of action and impressive choreography. Li is excellent in a double role, relishing his opportunity to play the Monkey King. Chan does his usual stuff and also doubles up as an old man in very bad make-up. Forbidden Kingdom is a great film for kids and young teens and they wont feel embarrassed for liking it, when they grow up.
  • May 31, 2009
    Entertaining.
  • April 6, 2009
    Hmmmm the usual curious mystic honk kong phooey chop sockey spiritual action flick based in the Orient. What can I say...it looks lovely with beautiful green vistas and magical splashes of light and sorcery....but the story is the usual weird and wonderful mess which is kinda uno...( read more)riginal and boring. Its the usual wizards, martial arts, magic and evil henchmen by the numbers haha

    The heroes (Jackie and Jet) train and make a martial arts expert outta of useless 80's lookin American kid who somehow travels to another world of mystic wizards and monkey kings and of course..manages to save it no worries. Surprise surprise hehe.

    there's nothing special here atall really...its all been see before and is rather cliched.chan and li are good together for sure but they need to do something more original.
  • November 17, 2009
    Couldn't remember the details, but this movie is funny and full of jokes. A man went to the past and brought back the magic stick for the monkey king (Journey to the West). At the end, the future man will back to his period of time.
  • November 12, 2009
    you have to watch it twice
  • November 12, 2009
    Great story & action!
  • November 10, 2009
    i luved this movie i watched it over and over again
  • November 9, 2009
    Great movie for the "Kung Fu Fantasy" fan. Its good to see Jackie and Jet in the same movie. Good effects and good story line. Not for the youngsters.

Critic Reviews


April 18, 2008
Stephanie Zacharek, Salon.com

When Chan and Li match wits, each celebrates the other's presence. This isn't just a martial-arts display; it's generosity and camaraderie in motion. full review

April 18, 2008
Kyle Smith, New York Post

Forbidden Kingdom is chop-socky bordering on chop-schlocky, but it's good-natured myth-making cut into kid-size pieces. full review

April 18, 2008
Colin Covert, The Minneapolis Star Tribune

Unfailingly lighthearted, the film's fight scenes are stylized, soaring wire work and gravity-defying digital sorcery rather than blood-and-bruises beatdowns. full review

April 18, 2008
A.O. Scott, The New York Times

Forbidden Kingdom is a faithful and disarmingly earnest attempt to honor some venerable and popular Chinese cinematic traditions. full review

April 18, 2008
Liam Lacey, Globe and Mail

The Forbidden Kingdom...offers the first-ever on-screen pairing of martial-arts legends Jackie Chan and Jet Li, but it's a bit of a bait-and-switch. Both stars get plenty of screen time, yet their fig... full review

April 16, 2008
Armond White, The New York Press

The Forbidden Kingdom's high-flying exhilaration strikes the right note for the first onscreen pairing of action-movie legends Jet Li and Jackie Chan. full review

April 14, 2008
David Edelstein, New York Magazine

Once past the clunky prologue, the film is great fun, with a good balance between computer effects and athleticism. full review

April 13, 2008
Nick Schager, Slant Magazine

Forbidden Kingdom serves up convoluted mythology with mild indifference. full review

View more The Forbidden Kingdom reviews at RottenTomatoes.com

Comments


  • greatestdramaqueen
    April 5, 2009
    i loves this film it the best thing ever and if you haven't seen it then it your lost cause it the best ever lol
  • acandav
    September 13, 2008
    if you haven't wacthed this movie... you don't know what yuou are missing
  • ashfaqshaikh1
    July 19, 2008
    U HAVE NEVER SEEN LIKE THIS ???
    JUST PRESS THIS LINK AND ENJOY IT
    http://www.subhehogayimamu.com/?um=407
  • acidwolf
    May 15, 2008
    omg Jacky Wu's in this? I need to see it!
  • TsongYee
    May 1, 2008
    Jakie Chan is really a hard-working actor.As a Chinese,I'm proud of him!Best wishes to him!
  • wassadudes
    April 26, 2008
    It is a good thing that the news of Jackie and Jet working together over-shadow the movie because I went into the movie completely clueless and came out amazed.

    But the biggest disappointment from that news is that it over-shadows Collin Chou who plays the Jade Warlord!!! WTF!!

    Collin is sooo freaking cool and his Hollywood profile isnt bad either. Seriously, he was the Seraph in the Matrix, Hayate in DOA, and Jet Li's father in Fearless. Not to mention he fought Donnie Yen in Flash Point just last year.

    Those of u that havent seen Forbidden Kingdom should anticipate seeing him too cuz this mofo is almost just as good as Jet and Jackie, almost.
  • michiko272000
    April 22, 2008
    AWESOME!!!! I LOVED IT SOOO MUCH...
    ANYTHING WITH KUNG-FU AND JACKIE CHAN... DEFINETLY A BOX OFFICE HIT FOR ME!!!!
    I've always been a loyal fan of jackie chan!!!
  • natly2002
    April 20, 2008
    This is a movie we have to see! action and mistery
    with JC and JL
  • LordShegxy
    April 16, 2008
    at last! dis wat i bin waitin 4! 2 see does 2 fellas do somtin. honestly, i had dreamt of this. not the movie really but them both doing sometin. it is good job.
  • mariangelapinto
    April 15, 2008
    I am waiting with great expectations this movie, MC- Vzla

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

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The Forbidden Kingdom Trivia


  • Which one of these screenplays has not been penned by M Night Shyamalan?  Answer »
  • In the Forbidden Kingdom, What word does Sparrow use when she is refering to herself?  Answer »
  • In the movie "Tha Forbidden Kingdom, who played the monkey king?"  Answer »
  • which two actors star in the Forbidden Kingdom?  Answer »

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