Back to 1942 (2012): cast, story & where to watch
2012 · Film · ★ 6.2
Released in 2012, Back to 1942 is a drama and war film directed by Feng Xiaogang, running about 145 minutes. “History should never be forgotten” — that tagline sets the tone.
What it’s about. In 1942, Henan Province was devastated by the most tragic famine in modern Chinese history, resulting in the deaths of at least three million men, women and children. Although the primary cause of the famine was a severe drought, it was exacerbated by locusts, windstorms, earthquakes, epidemic disease and the corruption of the ruling Kuomintang government.
Who’s in it. Back to 1942 stars Zhang Guoli as Fan Dianyuan, Mo Zhang as Shuan Zhu, Xu Fan as Hua Zhi and Wang Ziwen as Xing Xing, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 6.2/10, Back to 1942 has drawn a solid, mixed-to-positive response. It went on to earn $311 at the box office.
Where to watch. In US you can stream it on Hi-YAH and Hi-YAH Amazon Channel. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch Back to 1942 page.
If you liked it. Fans of Back to 1942 tend to enjoy The Shawshank Redemption, The Godfather, Schindler's List and The Godfather Part II.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch Back to 1942 (2012)?
- In US, Back to 1942 is available to stream on Hi-YAH and Hi-YAH Amazon Channel. Availability varies by country — check our where-to-watch page for every region.
- Is Back to 1942 worth watching?
- Back to 1942 holds an audience score of 6.2 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy drama and war. Reactions are mixed, so it may depend on taste.
- Who stars in Back to 1942?
- Back to 1942 stars Zhang Guoli, Mo Zhang, Xu Fan, Wang Ziwen and Feng Yuanzheng.
- When was Back to 1942 released?
- Back to 1942 was released in 2012, with a runtime of about 145 minutes.