# The Battle at Lake Changjin (2021) — Celluloid fact sheet

Source: https://celluloidscore.com/movies/the-battle-at-lake-changjin-2021/
Last reviewed: 2026-08-31

| Field | Value |
|-------|-------|
| Celluloid Score | 58% |
| Editorial Rating | 55/100 |
| Audience Snapshot | 85% (excluded from composite) |
| Metascore | 50/100 |
| Letterboxd | 3/5 |
| IMDb | 6.5/10 |
| Director | Chen Kaige |
| Genres | War, Action, History |
| Runtime | 176 min |
| Festival premiere | Shanghai 2021 (Chinese Film Panorama) |
| Major awards | 2 wins, 0 nominations |

## Quick answer

The Battle at Lake Changjin (2021) earns a 58% Celluloid Score — Not Recommended. Western critics split on its propaganda framing, but China's 5.7-billion-yuan titan became a defining cultural event — a Critics and audiences diverge (55% critic vs 85% audience). Metascore 50/100. Directed by Chen Kaige.

## Celluloid verdict

Western critics split on its propaganda framing, but China's 5.7-billion-yuan titan became a defining cultural event — a war epic built for national memory as much as international awards.

## Synopsis

During the Korean War, Chinese People's Volunteer Army soldiers endure brutal winter conditions at Lake Changjin as Wu Qianli and his teenage brother Wu Wanli fight a desperate campaign against American forces at Chosin Reservoir.

## Cast

Wu Jing, Jackson Yee, Duan Yihong, Zhu Yawen

## Accolades

Premiered at Shanghai 2021, where it won the Chinese Film Panorama.
- Won Best Picture — Golden Rooster Awards 2022
- Won Best Director — Golden Rooster Awards 2022

## Where to watch

Global: Prime Video
the United States: Prime Video
Japan: Prime Video, Hulu, U-NEXT
Thailand: not currently streaming

## Critic reviews on Celluloid: 1

## Common questions

**Is The Battle at Lake Changjin worth watching?**
The Battle at Lake Changjin holds a 58% Celluloid Score. Western critics split on its propaganda framing, but China's 5.7-billion-yuan titan became a defining cultural event — a war epic built for national memory as much as international awards.

**What is The Battle at Lake Changjin about?**
During the Korean War, Chinese People's Volunteer Army soldiers endure brutal winter conditions at Lake Changjin as Wu Qianli and his teenage brother Wu Wanli fight a desperate campaign against American forces at Chosin Reservoir.

**Who directed The Battle at Lake Changjin?**
The Battle at Lake Changjin (2021) was directed by Chen Kaige.

**What is the Celluloid Score of The Battle at Lake Changjin?**
58% — calculated from available Celluloid editorial (55/100), Metascore (50/100), Letterboxd (3/5), and IMDb (6.5/10) inputs. Audience sentiment is excluded.

**What awards did The Battle at Lake Changjin win?**
The Battle at Lake Changjin won Best Picture (Golden Rooster Awards 2022), Best Director (Golden Rooster Awards 2022).

**Where can I watch The Battle at Lake Changjin?**
The Battle at Lake Changjin is streaming on Prime Video; on Prime Video in the United States; on Prime Video, Hulu, U-NEXT in Japan. Availability varies by region.

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Reviewed and scored by Celluloid · Editor: Kaiser Khan (https://celluloidscore.com/author/kaiser-khan/)

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