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ActionAdventureFantasy Editor's Pick

A Touch of Zen Review (1970) — 84% Celluloid Score

Directed by King Hu · 1970 ·

Short answer

Is A Touch of Zen worth watching?

Yes. A Touch of Zen (1970) earns an 84% Celluloid Score. That puts it in our Recommended tier. Critics (95%) were notably more enthusiastic than audiences (84%). See the 4 inputs.

84%
Celluloid Score Recommended

4-input transparent breakdown

95% Editorial Rating
84% Audience snapshot · excluded
84 Metascore
★★★★☆ Letterboxd 4.1
7.5 IMDb /10
0
Watch Trailer
Released
Runtime
3h 0m
Age rating
NR (US) · G (Japan)
Cast
Hsu Feng , Shih Chun , Pai Ying , Tien Peng , Roy Chiao , Tsao Chien , Miao Tian , Melvin Chang Yun-Wen
Streaming
The Criterion Channel
Country
Taiwan
Language
Mandarin

Also known as 俠女 Ein Hauch von Zen A Tocha de Zen 侠女 협녀 A Touch of Zen - La fanciulla cavaliere errante เหนือพยัคฆ์ Hiệp Nữ

Where to watch

  • The Criterion Channel

Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube, Fandango at Home

Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube, Fandango at Home

Where to watch A Touch of Zen by country

Country Streaming on
South Korea TVING
United States The Criterion Channel

Subscription availability, refreshed from TMDB. Rental and purchase options may differ.

Why this score?

  • Celluloid's editorial rating is exceptional (95/100).
  • General viewers mostly liked it (84%).
  • Metascore signals universal acclaim (84/100).
  • Letterboxd diarists rate it highly (4.1/5).
  • Celluloid Score 84% combines 4 rating inputs; audience sentiment is shown separately. Consult the source notes for verification dates where recorded.

Best for

  • Viewers who want a well-regarded action, adventure, fantasy pick
  • Epic-length viewers who want a big-screen experience
  • Critics' darlings — stronger with reviewers than general viewers

Not ideal for

  • Viewers who dislike long runtimes

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

Streaming availability, artwork and title metadata courtesy of TMDB. This product uses the TMDB API but is not endorsed or certified by TMDB.

Is A Touch of Zen worth watching?

Yes — A Touch of Zen earns an 84% Celluloid Score. That puts it in our Recommended tier. It suits viewers who want a well-regarded action, adventure, fantasy pick, but viewers who dislike long runtimes may want to skip it. Read our full review (4/5).

Celluloid verdict

King Hu’s three-hour wuxia dissolves into pure light by the end — the genre’s one undisputed art film.

, Founder & Editor

Critics (95%) were notably more enthusiastic than audiences (84%).

What is A Touch of Zen about?

Yang Hui-zhen, a mysterious princess on the run from corrupt government officials, is joined in her endeavors by skilled Buddhist monks and an unambitious painter named Gu Sheng-zhai.

Watch the Trailer

Critic Reviews

Short review 4 min read English A Touch of Zen

A Touch of Zen (1970) Review: Swordplay as Meditation

A Touch of Zen is King Hu's three-hour Taiwanese wuxia epic, a ghost story, political thriller and Buddhist fable whose fight scenes still look astonishing.

Yes, if you have the time. It is a landmark of martial arts cinema, essential for wuxia fans and film lovers, but its slow first hour and three-hour length demand commitment.

Kaiser Khan Founder & Editor

A Touch of Zen stills

Official production imagery supplied through TMDB, kept with the movie instead of split into a thin gallery page.

A Touch of Zen production still 1
A Touch of Zen production still 2
A Touch of Zen production still 3
A Touch of Zen production still 4
A Touch of Zen production still 5
A Touch of Zen production still 6

Images courtesy of TMDB. TMDB does not endorse or certify Celluloid.

Reader takes

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A Touch of Zen: frequently asked questions

Is A Touch of Zen worth watching?

Yes. A Touch of Zen (1970) has a Celluloid Score of 84%, averaged from the available Celluloid editorial, Metascore, Letterboxd and IMDb ratings. That puts it in our Recommended tier. Audience sentiment is shown separately and does not change the score.

Where can I watch A Touch of Zen?

In the United States, A Touch of Zen streams on The Criterion Channel with a subscription, and you can rent it from Amazon Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube or buy it from Amazon Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube. Elsewhere: TVING in South Korea. Availability changes; the where-to-watch table on this page is refreshed from TMDB.

How long is A Touch of Zen?

A Touch of Zen runs 3 hours (180 minutes).

What is A Touch of Zen rated?

A Touch of Zen is rated NR in the United States and G in Japan. These are the official classifications as recorded on TMDB; check your local classification board for content advice.

Who stars in A Touch of Zen?

A Touch of Zen is directed by King Hu and stars Hsu Feng, Shih Chun, Pai Ying, Tien Peng, Roy Chiao.

What is the Metascore for A Touch of Zen?

Metacritic's Metascore for A Touch of Zen is 84 out of 100. It is one of the inputs to the Celluloid Score.

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