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Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon

Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon is a 2000 Chinese-language wuxia film directed by Ang Lee.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 27, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon is a 2000 Chinese-language wuxia film directed by Ang Lee. Set in Qing dynasty China, it follows warriors pursuing a stolen sword while exploring themes of love, duty, and sacrifice. The film was a major international success and won four Academy Awards.

Plot

The film is set in Qing dynasty China and follows the search for the stolen Green Destiny sword. The story brings together master warriors, a young aristocrat, and a masked thief in a tale involving romance, loyalty, and conflict.

Production

Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon was directed by Ang Lee and scripted by Wang Hui-ling, James Schamus, and Tsai Kuo-jung. It was produced as a Chinese-language wuxia film with an international cast.

Reception and awards

The film received strong critical and commercial attention and became a major crossover success outside Asia. It won four Academy Awards, including Best Foreign Language Film, and was also nominated for Best Picture.

Legacy

The film is frequently cited as one of the most internationally influential wuxia films. Its success helped broaden global interest in Chinese-language action cinema.

Key facts

  • The film is based on a novel by Wang Dulu and is part of his Crane-Iron series.
  • It was directed by Ang Lee and written by Wang Hui-ling, James Schamus, and Tsai Kuo-jung.
  • The main cast includes Chow Yun-fat, Michelle Yeoh, Zhang Ziyi, and Chang Chen.
  • The film won four Academy Awards and was nominated for Best Picture.
  • It was a major international box-office success and is widely associated with the global popularity of wuxia cinema.
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Canadian context

The film was distributed in North America by Sony Pictures Classics and received wide critical attention in Canada and other English-speaking markets as a landmark international film.[4]

Frequently asked questions

What is Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon?
It is a 2000 Chinese-language wuxia film directed by Ang Lee about a stolen sword and the warriors connected to it.
Who directed the film?
Ang Lee directed Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.
What is it based on?
It is based on the fourth novel in Wang Dulu's Crane-Iron series.
Who are the main actors?
The principal cast includes Chow Yun-fat, Michelle Yeoh, Zhang Ziyi, and Chang Chen.
What awards did it win?
It won four Academy Awards, including Best Foreign Language Film, and was nominated for Best Picture.
Why is the film notable?
It became a major international success and is one of the best-known wuxia films outside China.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crouching_Tiger,_Hidden_Dragon
    Supports: Basic identification, plot premise, and source novel information.
  2. Sony Pictures Classics — https://www.sonyclassics.com/film/crouchingtigerhiddendragon
    Supports: Director, writers, cast, awards, and synopsis.
  3. SFFILM — https://www.sffilm.org/event/crouching-tiger-hidden-dragon/
    Supports: Release context, award recognition, and summary of the film's significance.
  4. IMDb — https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0190332/
    Supports: Plot summary and character information.
  5. The Hollywood Reporter — https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/crouching-tiger-hidden-dragon-review-movie-2000-1258293/
    Supports: Worldwide box-office success and Academy Award nominations/wins.
  6. Hujiang — https://cn.hujiang.com/new/p638478/
    Supports: Chinese-language title, wuxia genre, co-production background, and broad award/box-office context.