Hero (2002 film)

Hero
Chinese theatrical release poster
Chinese name
Traditional Chinese英雄
Simplified Chinese英雄
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu PinyinYīngxióng
Yue: Cantonese
JyutpingJing Hung
Directed byZhang Yimou
Screenplay by
  • Feng Li
  • Bin Wang
  • Zhang Yimou
Story byFeng Li
Bin Wang
Zhang Yimou
Produced byZhang Yimou
Bill Kong
Starring
CinematographyChristopher Doyle
Edited byAngie Lam
Music byTan Dun
Production
companies
Sil-Metropole Organisation
CFCC
Elite Group Enterprises
Zhang Yimou Studio
Beijing New Picture Film
Distributed byBeijing New Picture Film
Release dates
  • 24 October 2002 (2002-10-24) (China)
  • 21 December 2002 (2002-12-21) (Hong Kong)
Running time
99 minutes
CountriesChina
Hong Kong[1]
LanguageMandarin
Budget$31 million[2]
Box office$177.4 million[2]

Hero (Chinese: 英雄; pinyin: Yīngxióng) is a 2002 wuxia martial arts film[3] directed, co-written, and produced by Zhang Yimou, and starring Jet Li, Tony Leung Chiu-wai, Maggie Cheung, Zhang Ziyi, Donnie Yen and Chen Daoming.[4] The cinematography was by Christopher Doyle, and the musical score composed by Tan Dun. The film was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film at the 75th Academy Awards.

The historical background of the film refers to the Warring States Period in ancient China, when China was divided into seven states. In 227–221 BC, the Qin state was about to unify the other six states, assassins from the six states were sent to assassinate the king of Qin. One of the most famous incidents was Jing Ke's attempted assassination of the King of Qin.[5]

Hero was first released in China on 24 October 2002. At that time, it was the most expensive project[6] and one of the highest-grossing motion pictures in China.[7] Miramax acquired American market distribution rights, but delayed the release of the film for nearly two years. Quentin Tarantino eventually convinced Miramax to open the film in American theaters on 27 August 2004.[8][9]

The film received positive reviews from critics. It became the first Chinese-language movie to top the American box office, where it stayed for two consecutive weeks, and went on to earn $53.7 million in the United States and $177 million worldwide.[2]

  1. ^ "YING XIONG (2002)". BFI. Archived from the original on 5 April 2016. Retrieved 7 February 2022.
  2. ^ a b c Cite error: The named reference BOM was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ "How King Hu changed action cinema forever". 21 February 2024.
  4. ^ "Hero". Turner Classic Movies. United States: Turner Broadcasting System. Retrieved 26 May 2018.
  5. ^ Pines, Yuri (14 January 2021), Childs-Johnson, Elizabeth (ed.), "The Warring States Period: Historical Background", The Oxford Handbook of Early China, Oxford University Press, pp. 579–594, doi:10.1093/oxfordhb/9780199328369.013.26, ISBN 978-0-19-932836-9, retrieved 23 April 2022
  6. ^ Cite error: The named reference ebert was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  7. ^ Jones, Arthur (5 January 2003). 'Hero' kicks B.O. records." Variety.com. Retrieved 26 September 2018.
  8. ^ Cite error: The named reference Fangoria1 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  9. ^ Cite error: The named reference sfgate was invoked but never defined (see the help page).