The Assassin
刺客聶隱娘
Synopsis
9th century China. Ten year old general’s daughter Nie Yinniang is abducted by a nun who initiates her into the martial arts, transforming her into an exceptional assassin charged with eliminating cruel and corrupt local governors. One day, having failed in a task, she is sent back by her mistress to the land of her birth, with orders to kill the man to whom she was promised – a cousin who now leads the largest military region in North China. After 13 years of exile, the young woman must confront her parents, her memories and her long-repressed feelings.
Trailers, Teasers & Extra Featurettes
Official promotional previews, behind-the-scenes footage, and exclusive clips.
Official TrailerOfficial
Type: Trailer • Published 2015-09-25
Top Cast
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Shu Qi
Nie Yinniang
Chang Chen
Tian Ji'an
Zhou Yun
Lady Tian Yuan / Jingjinger
Satoshi Tsumabuki
Mirror Polisher
Ni Dahong
Nie Feng
Yong Mei
Lady Nie Tian
Lei Zhenyu
Tian Xing
Nikki Hsieh
Huji
Ethan Juan
Xia Jing
Sheu Fang-Yi
Princess Jiacheng / Taoist Nun
Jacques Picoux
Kongkonger
Mei Fang
Nie Feng's Mother
Tien Pi-Hua
Tian Xing's Wife
Wang I-Yuan
Tian Xing's Son
Michael Chang
Jiang Shize
Leon Dai
Tian Xu
Jack Kao
Yuan Yi
Sun Pei
Madam Yuan Yi
Release History & Theatrical Window
Sydney Film Festival
Festival / Special Debut
October 16, 2015
Wide Cinema Exhibition
January 26, 2016
Physical Home Media
Financials & Box Office Performance
Production Budget
$15M
Filming & production cost
Worldwide Gross
$12M
Total global ticket sales
Box Office Return
0.8x
-$3M deficit
Theatrical Status
Budget Return
Box office tier
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Hou Hsiao-hsien
- Screenplay & Story
- Chu Tien-Wen, Hou Hsiao-hsien, Hsieh Hai-Meng, Zhong A-Cheng
- Original Score
- Lim Giong
- Original Title
- 刺客聶隱娘
- Country of Origin
- Hong Kong, Taiwan, China, France
- Spoken Languages
- Mandarin
- Runtime
- 1h 45m
- Production Budget
- $15M
- Worldwide Gross
- $12M
- Production Studios
- Sil-Metropole Organisation, Central Motion Picture Corporation, SpotFilms, Media Asia Films, China Dream Film Culture Industry, Huace Pictures, Wild Bunch
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Hou Hsiao-hsien
Chu Tien-Wen, Hou Hsiao-hsien, Hsieh Hai-Meng, Zhong A-Cheng
Lim Giong
Mark Lee Ping-Bing
Liao Ching-sung, Huang Chih-chia
Song Dai, Stephen Lam Bing-Kwan, Chen Yiqi, Peter Lam Kin-Ngok, Hou Hsiao-hsien
Department Leadership Roster
Hou Hsiao-hsien
Director
Chu Tien-Wen
Screenplay
Hou Hsiao-hsien
Screenplay
Song Dai
Producer
Stephen Lam Bing-Kwan
Producer
Liao Ching-sung
Editor
Mark Lee Ping-Bing
Director of Photography
Hsieh Hai-Meng
Screenplay
Zhong A-Cheng
Screenplay
Huang Chih-chia
Editor
Lim Giong
Original Music Composer
Huang Wen-ying
Costume Design
Chen Yiqi
Producer
Peter Lam Kin-Ngok
Producer
Huang Wen-ying
Production Design
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
NR: Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.
International Certification Matrix
Parental Guidance — Recommended for mature viewers.
FSK 12 — Restricted to viewers aged 12 and older.
Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for The Assassin.
Featured In Curated Collections
Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring The Assassin.
Drama Hindi Dubbed
Dual Audio Hindi Movies 5 to 7
Automated renaming to: Dual Audio Hindi Movies 5 to 7
Dual Audio Hindi Movies
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Action Hindi Dubbed
My Collection
Asian Cinema
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Frequently Asked Questions About The Assassin
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is The Assassin about?
9th century China. Ten year old general’s daughter Nie Yinniang is abducted by a nun who initiates her into the martial arts, transforming her into an exceptional assassin charged with eliminating cruel and corrupt local governors. One day, having failed in a task, she is sent back by her mistress to the land of her birth, with orders to kill the man to whom she was promised – a cousin who now leads the largest military region in North China. After 13 years of exile, the young woman must confront her parents, her memories and her long-repressed feelings.
Who directed The Assassin?
The Assassin was directed by Hou Hsiao-hsien.
Who stars in The Assassin?
The principal cast of The Assassin includes Shu Qi, Chang Chen, Zhou Yun, Satoshi Tsumabuki, Ni Dahong.
When was The Assassin released and how long is it?
The Assassin was released in 2015 with a total runtime of 1h 45m.
What was the box office and production budget of The Assassin?
The Assassin had a reported production budget of $15M and grossed $12M at the worldwide box office (0.8 return on budget, classified as a underperformed).
Who composed the musical score for The Assassin?
The original motion picture soundtrack for The Assassin was composed by Lim Giong.
What is the age rating and content advisory for The Assassin?
The Assassin holds official age classifications: AU: PG (Parental Guidance — Recommended for mature viewers.); DE: 12 (FSK 12 — Restricted to viewers aged 12 and older.); FR: TP; US: NR (Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.).