The 36th Chamber of Shaolin Review (1978) — 84% Celluloid Score
Directed by Lau Kar-leung · 1978 ·
The 36th Chamber of Shaolin (1978) earns a 84% 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
- Prime Video
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 The 36th Chamber of Shaolin by country
| Country | Streaming on |
|---|---|
| India | Netflix |
| Indonesia | Netflix |
| Japan | Netflix, Prime Video, U-NEXT |
| Malaysia | Netflix |
| Pakistan | Netflix |
| Philippines | Netflix |
| South Africa | Prime Video |
| South Korea | Netflix |
| Thailand | Netflix |
| United States | Prime Video |
Subscription availability, refreshed from TMDB. Rental and purchase options may differ.
Why this score?
- Celluloid's editorial rating is exceptional (94/100).
- Audiences widely enjoyed it (90%).
- Metascore signals universal acclaim (82/100).
- 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 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 The 36th Chamber of Shaolin worth watching?
Yes — The 36th Chamber of Shaolin earns a 84% Celluloid Score. Recommended — recommended by most critics and audiences.
Celluloid Verdict
The definitive training film — Gordon Liu earns every technique on screen, and half of hip-hop took its name from it.
Celluloid editorial verdict
Critics and audiences are closely aligned on this one.
What is The 36th Chamber of Shaolin about?
During the Qing Dynasty, a fishmonger is killed by the reigning Manchu government for supporting the anti-government movement; his son manages to escape to Shaolin Temple, where he plans to learn its secretive brand of martial arts to seek revenge.
Critic Reviews
The 36th Chamber of Shaolin (1978) Review
★★★★☆
Lau Kar-leung's The 36th Chamber of Shaolin (1978) remains a defining Action landmark from Hong Kong, with scores that still shape how audiences discover the title.
Essential viewing — a certified classic.
The 36th Chamber of Shaolin 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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