The Xi'an Incident (1981): cast, story & where to watch
1981 · Film · ★ 8
Released in 1981, The Xi'an Incident is a drama and history film directed by Cheng Yin, running about 170 minutes.
What it’s about. Marshal Zhang Xueliang, Commander of the North Eastern Army, grows progressively disillusioned by Kuomintang leader Chiang Kai-shek's policy to engage the Chinese Communist Party rather than fight the Japanese invaders which are occupying Manchuria. Despite numerous pleas, Chiang does not budge. After discussing with fellow general Yang Hucheng, the two take events into their own hands and place Chiang Kai-shek under arrest on December 12, 1936, forcing Chiang into a coalition with the CCP.
Who’s in it. The Xi'an Incident stars Gu Yue as Mao Zedong, Weilin Guo as Zhao Di, Ange Jin as Zhang Xueliang and Fu Lu as Peng Dehuai, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 8.0/10, The Xi'an Incident sits among the best-reviewed titles in the catalogue.
Where to watch. Streaming options change often. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch The Xi'an Incident page.
If you liked it. Fans of The Xi'an Incident tend to enjoy The Shawshank Redemption, The Godfather, Schindler's List and The Godfather Part II.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch The Xi'an Incident (1981)?
- Streaming, rental and purchase options for The Xi'an Incident change frequently. Check our where-to-watch page for the latest availability in your country.
- Is The Xi'an Incident worth watching?
- The Xi'an Incident holds an audience score of 8.0 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy drama and history. Most viewers rate it highly.
- Who stars in The Xi'an Incident?
- The Xi'an Incident stars Gu Yue, Weilin Guo, Ange Jin, Fu Lu and Sun Feihu.
- When was The Xi'an Incident released?
- The Xi'an Incident was released in 1981, with a runtime of about 170 minutes.