What is the Metascore for A Touch of Zen?

A Touch of Zen has a Metascore of 84 out of 100 on Celluloid.

Where can I watch A Touch of Zen?

A Touch of Zen is available on The Criterion Channel. Availability varies by region — check your local streaming guide.

What countries is A Touch of Zen streaming in?

A Touch of Zen streams on TVING in South Korea; The Criterion Channel in the United States. Subscription availability only; rental and purchase options may differ.

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

Item: A Touch of Zen
Rating: 4
Author: Kaiser Khan

Directed by King Hu · 1970 · Last reviewed August 31, 2026

LLM fact sheet (.md)

Answer Summary

A Touch of Zen (1970) earns a 84% Celluloid Score — Recommended. Recommended — recommended by most critics and audiences.Critics (95%) were notably more enthusiastic than audiences (84%).

Quick Verdict

Calculated from 4 available inputs: Celluloid editorial rating, Metascore, Letterboxd and IMDb. Audience sentiment is shown separately and never changes the composite. See how we calculate scores.

84%

Celluloid Score Recommended

4-input transparent breakdown

95% Editorial Rating

84% Audience snapshot · excluded

84 Metascore

★★★★☆ Letterboxd 4.1

7.5 IMDb /10

Watch Trailer

Runtime: 3h 0m
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

Official theatrical poster for A Touch of Zen (1970)

Theatrical release

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 verified rating inputs; audience sentiment is shown separately.

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 a 84% Celluloid Score. Recommended — recommended by most critics and audiences.

Celluloid Verdict

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

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

critic A Touch of Zen

A Touch of Zen (1970) Review

★★★★☆ 4/5

King Hu's A Touch of Zen (1970) remains a defining Action landmark from Taiwan, with scores that still shape how audiences discover the title.

Essential viewing — a certified classic.

A Touch of Zen stills

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

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

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