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DramaComedy Shanghai 2018 · Chinese Film Panorama Editor's Pick

Dying to Survive Review (2018) — 86% Celluloid Score

Directed by Wen Muye · 2018 ·

Short answer

Is Dying to Survive worth watching?

Yes. Dying to Survive (2018) earns an 86% Celluloid Score. That puts it in our Recommended tier. Critics and audiences are closely aligned on this one. See the 4 inputs.

86%
Celluloid Score Recommended

4-input transparent breakdown

95% Editorial Rating
92% Audience snapshot · excluded
86 Metascore
★★★★☆ Letterboxd 4.1
8 IMDb /10
0
Released
Runtime
1h 57m
Age rating
12 (South Korea) · G (Japan)
Cast
Xu Zheng , Wang Chuanjun , Tan Zhuo , Zhang Yu
Streaming
Prime Video
Country
China
Language
Mandarin

Also known as 我不是药神 Mourir pour survivre Morrendo para Sobreviver 薬の神じゃない！ 나는 약신이 아니다 我不是藥神 Chết Để Hồi Sinh

🏆 3 award wins — Won Best Actor, Golden Rooster Awards 2019

Where to watch

  • Prime Video

Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV, Fandango at Home

Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV, Fandango at Home

Where to watch Dying to Survive by country

Country Streaming on
Japan Prime Video, U-NEXT
South Korea TVING
United States Prime Video

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

Why this score?

  • Celluloid's editorial rating is exceptional (95/100).
  • Audiences widely enjoyed it (92%).
  • Metascore signals universal acclaim (86/100).
  • Letterboxd diarists rate it highly (4.1/5).
  • IMDb users score it 8/10.

Best for

  • Viewers who want a well-regarded drama, comedy pick

Not ideal for

    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 Dying to Survive worth watching?

    Yes — Dying to Survive earns an 86% Celluloid Score. That puts it in our Recommended tier. It suits viewers who want a well-regarded drama, comedy pick. Read our full review (4.5/5).

    Celluloid verdict

    A rare Chinese crowd-pleaser with teeth — Xu Zheng balances slapstick and moral outrage in a healthcare satire that moved policy and swept Golden Rooster recognition.

    , Founder & Editor

    Critics and audiences are closely aligned on this one.

    What is Dying to Survive about?

    A smuggling operation for cheap leukemia medication turns a seedy shopkeeper into an unlikely folk hero — Wen Muye's dark comedy-drama sparked national drug-pricing reform debates and became one of the highest-grossing non-blockbuster films in Chinese history.

    Critic Reviews

    Short review 4 min read English Dying to Survive

    Dying to Survive (2018) Review: Laughter With a Conscience

    Dying to Survive is Wen Muye's Chinese comedy-drama about a shopkeeper smuggling cheap leukaemia drugs. It is funny, furious and deeply moving.

    Yes. It is a crowd-pleaser with real anger behind it, ideal for viewers who like social drama delivered with humour, warmth and a star turn at its centre.

    Kaiser Khan Founder & Editor

    Dying to Survive stills

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

    Dying to Survive production still 1
    Dying to Survive production still 2
    Dying to Survive production still 3
    Dying to Survive production still 4
    Dying to Survive production still 5
    Dying to Survive production still 6

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

    Reader takes

    No reader takes published yet. Send yours and we may publish it after editing.

    Dying to Survive: frequently asked questions

    Is Dying to Survive worth watching?

    Yes. Dying to Survive (2018) has a Celluloid Score of 86%, 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 Dying to Survive?

    In the United States, Dying to Survive streams on Prime Video with a subscription, and you can rent it from Amazon Video, Apple TV, Fandango at Home or buy it from Amazon Video, Apple TV, Fandango at Home. Elsewhere: Prime Video, U-NEXT in Japan; TVING in South Korea. Availability changes; the where-to-watch table on this page is refreshed from TMDB.

    How long is Dying to Survive?

    Dying to Survive runs 1 hour 57 minutes (117 minutes).

    What is Dying to Survive rated?

    Dying to Survive is rated 12 in South Korea and G in Japan. These are the official classifications as recorded on TMDB; check your local classification board for content advice.

    Who stars in Dying to Survive?

    Dying to Survive is directed by Wen Muye and stars Xu Zheng, Wang Chuanjun, Tan Zhuo, Zhang Yu.

    What is the Metascore for Dying to Survive?

    Metacritic's Metascore for Dying to Survive is 86 out of 100. It is one of the inputs to the Celluloid Score.

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