Snake in the Eagle's Shadow
Directed by Yuen Woo-ping · 1978 ·
Snake in the Eagle's Shadow (1978) earns a 75% Celluloid Score — Recommended. Recommended — recommended by most critics and audiences.Critics and audiences are closely aligned on this one.
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.
4-input transparent breakdown
Theatrical release Where to watch
Streaming availability varies by region — currently on U-NEXT in Japan. Check local listings for your region.
Why this score?
- Celluloid's editorial rating is positive (82/100).
- General viewers mostly liked it (83%).
- Metascore is generally favorable (70/100).
- Celluloid Score 75% combines 4 verified rating inputs; audience sentiment is shown separately.
Best for
- Viewers who want a well-regarded action, comedy 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 Snake in the Eagle's Shadow worth watching?
Yes — Snake in the Eagle's Shadow earns a 75% Celluloid Score. Recommended — recommended by most critics and audiences.
Celluloid Verdict
The Yuen Woo-ping and Jackie Chan collaboration that invented kung-fu comedy months before Drunken Master perfected it.
Celluloid editorial verdict
Critics and audiences are closely aligned on this one.
What is Snake in the Eagle's Shadow about?
Everyone abuses and humiliates a downtrodden orphan until he befriends an old man, who turns out to be the last master of the snake fist fighting style. Jackie becomes the old man's student and finds himself in battle with the master of the eagle's claw style, who has vowed to destroy the snake fist clan.
Watch the Trailer
Critic Reviews
Snake in the Eagle's Shadow (1978) Review
★★★½☆
Yuen Woo-ping's Snake in the Eagle's Shadow (1978) remains a defining Action landmark from Hong Kong, with scores that still shape how audiences discover the title.
Strongly recommended — holds up for new and returning viewers.
Snake in the Eagle's Shadow 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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