The Assassins (2012): cast, story & where to watch
2012 · Film · ★ 5.5
Released in 2012, The Assassins is a drama and history film directed by Zhao Lin-Shan, running about 107 minutes.
What it’s about. In the year 198 BC, Cao Cao (Chow Yun Fat), Prime Minister of the Han Dynasty, ventured to the east and defeated China's greatest warrior Lu Bu, terrifying every ambitious warlord across the country. Several years later, after taking the Han Emperor under his wing, Cao crowns himself King of Wei. He built a magnificent Bronze Sparrow Island to symbolize his power and rumors spread that he would replace the Emperor. Meanwhile, young lovers Mu Shun (Hiroshi Tamaki) and Ling Ju (Liu Yi-Fei) are taken from a prison camp to a hidden tomb, where they spend five cruel years together, training as assassins for a secret mission. In the year 220 BC astronomical signs predict dramatic change. As a result, Cao's son Cao Pi (Yau Sam-Chi) and Cao's followers urge Cao to become the new Emperor - but unknown opposing forces plot against him.
Who’s in it. The Assassins stars Chow Yun-fat as Chancellor Cao Cao, Liu Yifei as Ling Ju / Diao Chan, Hiroshi Tamaki as Mu Shun and Alec Su as Emperor Xian of Han, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 5.5/10, The Assassins has drawn a solid, mixed-to-positive response.
Where to watch. In US you can stream it on YouTube TV, Hi-YAH and Hi-YAH Amazon Channel and rent or buy it from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Fandango At Home and FlixFling. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch The Assassins page.
If you liked it. Fans of The Assassins tend to enjoy The Shawshank Redemption, The Godfather, Schindler's List and The Godfather Part II.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch The Assassins (2012)?
- In US, The Assassins is available to stream on YouTube TV, Hi-YAH and Hi-YAH Amazon Channel, and rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store and Fandango At Home. Availability varies by country — check our where-to-watch page for every region.
- Is The Assassins worth watching?
- The Assassins holds an audience score of 5.5 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy drama and history. Reactions are mixed, so it may depend on taste.
- Who stars in The Assassins?
- The Assassins stars Chow Yun-fat, Liu Yifei, Hiroshi Tamaki, Alec Su and Annie Shizuka Inoh.
- When was The Assassins released?
- The Assassins was released in 2012, with a runtime of about 107 minutes.