Skip to main content
Celluloid
ActionDramaMysteryFantasy

The Five Venoms

Directed by Chang Cheh · 1978 ·

Short answer

Is The Five Venoms worth watching?

Yes. The Five Venoms (1978) earns a 77% Celluloid Score. That puts it in our Recommended tier. Critics and audiences are closely aligned on this one. See the 4 inputs.

77%
Celluloid Score Recommended

4-input transparent breakdown

86% Editorial Rating
85% Audience snapshot · excluded
74 Metascore
★★★½☆ Letterboxd 3.7
7.3 IMDb /10
0
Watch Trailer
Released
Runtime
1h 41m
Age rating
R (US)
Cast
Chiang Sheng , Phillip Kwok Chui , Sun Chien , Lu Feng , Lo Meng , Wai Pak , Johnny Wang Lung-Wei , Dick Wei
Country
Hong Kong
Language
Mandarin

Also known as 五毒 Los cinco venenos Cinq venins mortels Die unbesiegbaren Fünf Os Cinco Venenos de Shaolin 오독 Bes Zehir Le furie umane del kung fu

Where to watch

Streaming availability varies by region — our catalogue lists Prime Video in Japan. Check local listings for your region.

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

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

Why this score?

  • Celluloid's editorial rating is positive (86/100).
  • General viewers mostly liked it (85%).
  • Metascore is generally favorable (74/100).
  • Celluloid Score 77% 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, drama, mystery, fantasy pick
  • Short runtime — easy weeknight watch

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 The Five Venoms worth watching?

    Yes — The Five Venoms earns a 77% Celluloid Score. That puts it in our Recommended tier. It suits viewers who want a well-regarded action, drama, mystery, fantasy pick. Read our full review (3.5/5).

    Celluloid verdict

    Shaw Brothers at its most gleefully schematic — five styles, five suspects, and a mystery structure the genre rarely attempted.

    , Founder & Editor

    Critics and audiences are closely aligned on this one.

    What is The Five Venoms about?

    A dying master sends his last student to check up on five former pupils, who each know a special style of kung-fu.

    Watch the Trailer

    Critic Reviews

    Short review 4 min read English The Five Venoms

    The Five Venoms (1978) Review: A Kung Fu Whodunit

    The Five Venoms is Chang Cheh's 1978 Shaw Brothers cult favourite, a kung fu mystery built around five masked fighters, five animal styles and one question: who is who?

    Yes, with reservations. It is a playful, inventive Shaw Brothers classic for kung fu fans, provided you can sit through a talky middle and some very broad acting.

    Kaiser Khan Founder & Editor

    The Five Venoms stills

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

    The Five Venoms production still 1
    The Five Venoms production still 2
    The Five Venoms production still 3
    The Five Venoms production still 4
    The Five Venoms production still 5
    The Five Venoms 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.

    The Five Venoms: frequently asked questions

    Is The Five Venoms worth watching?

    Yes. The Five Venoms (1978) has a Celluloid Score of 77%, 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 The Five Venoms?

    In the United States you can rent it from Amazon Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube or buy it from Amazon Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube. Elsewhere: Prime Video in Japan. Availability changes; the where-to-watch table on this page is refreshed from TMDB.

    How long is The Five Venoms?

    The Five Venoms runs 1 hour 41 minutes (101 minutes).

    What is The Five Venoms rated?

    The Five Venoms is rated R in the United States. These are the official classifications as recorded on TMDB; check your local classification board for content advice.

    Who stars in The Five Venoms?

    The Five Venoms is directed by Chang Cheh and stars Chiang Sheng, Phillip Kwok Chui, Sun Chien, Lu Feng, Lo Meng.

    What is the Metascore for The Five Venoms?

    Metacritic's Metascore for The Five Venoms is 74 out of 100. It is one of the inputs to the Celluloid Score.

    More Like This

    Ranked by genre overlap and Celluloid Score. More movies like The Five Venoms →