The Wandering Earth II

Name: The Wandering Earth II
Genre: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi
Released: January 20, 2023
Duration: 173 min
Rating: 56
Cast: Andy Lau, Anil Joseph, Fengyi Zhang, Jacky Wu, Jeremiah Blakely

2023

METASCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 7 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 42 Ratings

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7.2

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7.2	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 42 Ratings

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The Wandering Earth 2 (UK Trailer 1)

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Movie Details & Credits

Well Go USA Entertainment | Release Date: January 20, 2023 | NR

Starring: Andy Lau, Anil Joseph, Fengyi Zhang, Jacky Wu, Jeremiah Blakely, Matias Lorieri, Regina Wan, Temur Mamisashvili, Zhi Wang, Zina Blahusova

Summary: In the near future, after learning that the sun is rapidly burning out and will obliterate Earth in the process, humans build enormous engines to propel the planet to a new solar system, far out of reach of the sun’s fiery flares. However, the journey out into the universe is perilous, and humankind’s last shot at survival will depend onIn the near future, after learning that the sun is rapidly burning out and will obliterate Earth in the process, humans build enormous engines to propel the planet to a new solar system, far out of reach of the sun’s fiery flares. However, the journey out into the universe is perilous, and humankind’s last shot at survival will depend on a group of young people brave enough to step up and execute a dangerous, life-or-death operation to save the earth.… Expand

Director: Frant Gwo

Genre(s): Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi

Rating: NR

Runtime: 173 min

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Critic Reviews

Matthew Monagle

Jan 20, 2023

It is this combination of maximalism, nationalism, fatalism, and two-dimensional characterization that makes this one of the most enjoyable current franchises. Read full review

RogerEbert.com Simon Abrams

Jan 20, 2023

Somehow, The Wandering Earth II never feels tonally unbalanced or narratively convoluted, partly because Gwo and his collaborators keep their movie’s plot focused on feats of action-adventure heroism. Read full review

Polygon Jesse Hassenger

Jan 21, 2023

It is remarkable that his three-hour Wandering Earth prequel is simultaneously stranger and more emotionally grounded than the earlier film. Yet even at this length, even with eye-popping moments and believable characters, some crucial humanity feels missing. Read full review

John Berra

Jan 22, 2023

There is certainly much to admire about this ambitious homegrown sci-fi saga, even if it feels rather protracted with the running time clocking in 45 minutes longer than its predecessor. Read full review

Movie Nation Roger Moore

Jan 21, 2023

The Wandering Earth II is even bigger, more sprawling and more daffy in its Big Science. It’s got a few first act jokes before turning somber, dogged and yet never fatalistic. It’s also more cluttered and more pointed in its Chinese messaging. So naturally it’s almost an hour longer than the two hour original. Read full review

The Guardian Phuong Le

Jan 24, 2023

At nearly three hours long, The Wandering Earth II is packed with expository science talk, which gets more convoluted and tiring as the clock ticks on. Read full review

Brandon Yu

Jan 22, 2023

Losing all of the glee of its predecessor, the movie instead offers nearly three hours of convoluted story lines, undercooked themes and a tangle of confused, glaringly state-approved political subtext. Read full review

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User Reviews

hachiyuki

Jan 28, 2023

It gets rid of the narrow western ideology and gives a Chinese version story of how to save the world.

10 of 13 users found this helpful103

Cartesian

Jan 29, 2023

Best Sci-Fi movie in years.Better than the first one.Expecting 3 from now on!

5 of 6 users found this helpful51

helperT

Feb 11, 2023

this gives a new meaning to sci-fi. I like how it's not like a big superhero; the other people are nobodies, but everyone plays a part. this movie is like a 3 in 1. the engineers, scientists, and politicians. they could be separate but add them together and ... well it's beautiful. but don'tthis gives a new meaning to sci-fi. I like how it's not like a big superhero; the other people are nobodies, but everyone plays a part. this movie is like a 3 in 1. the engineers, scientists, and politicians. they could be separate but add them together and ... well it's beautiful. but don't take my word for it. watch it yourself!… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

lachzx

Jan 29, 2023

Didn't have too high of expectations, but indeed turns out to be much better than I thought, a better movie than the first one of the series. Funny how the only negative review with a comment right now describes it as CCP propaganda of China and Russia saving the world (just like how someDidn't have too high of expectations, but indeed turns out to be much better than I thought, a better movie than the first one of the series. Funny how the only negative review with a comment right now describes it as CCP propaganda of China and Russia saving the world (just like how some certain propaganda media describes it to be)while in both movies of the series, it has always been every one of all countries united together saving the world(you can watch the first one of the series in Netflix btw). Since this is a Chinese movie unfortunately there will be more reviews/comments based on the bias on "China Bad" instead of the movie itself. So even though I am writing this review but I do suggest if you are interested in the movie, instead of looking for the comments/reviews, it's better just to watch it and decide what kinda movie this is yourself.

I do recommend checking analyze of the movie if you can after you watch it though, the story is rather complex, and I think probably most people will miss at least some details of what happened in the movie after the first time they watch it… Expand

7 of 9 users found this helpful72

Maulcun

Apr 22, 2023

I absolutely loved The Wandering Earth 2! Chinese sci-fi films have really improved so much in the last few years. Much better than Hollywood ones.

It was interesting to see how a huge crisis brought humanity together and forced us to act as one. This second movie started off slow andI absolutely loved The Wandering Earth 2! Chinese sci-fi films have really improved so much in the last few years. Much better than Hollywood ones.

It was interesting to see how a huge crisis brought humanity together and forced us to act as one.

This second movie started off slow and appears to be incoherent, but it all comes together in the 3rd act of the movie and it is a worthy prequal and ties up superbly to the first movie. This is not your typical space battle laser guns sci-fi movie. This has a far more intelligent storyline that makes you think how future human civilization and its technology can turn out be and what humanity as a whole is capable of doing in order to survive. It provided great concepts as what space colonization and AIs can do. It's a disaster movie on an epic grand scale like we haven't seen before. This is why we need more movies like this in the future

Highly recommended, and must watch in a big screen.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

JLuis_001

Apr 24, 2023

Regardless of its financial accomplishments and the sheer voracity and scale of its purported targets, The Wandering Earth II - which is actually a prequel and not a sequel to the 2019 film - has several of the same problems that plagued its predecessor and that is primarily a lack ofRegardless of its financial accomplishments and the sheer voracity and scale of its purported targets, The Wandering Earth II - which is actually a prequel and not a sequel to the 2019 film - has several of the same problems that plagued its predecessor and that is primarily a lack of focus.

The Wandering Earth II, even with its three extensive and inconveniently long hours, can't make much sense of its mix of plot lines. Basically, they are all tangled and very poorly defined and this evidently takes away from its consistency and above all takes its toll on the entertainment.

In a case of cruel irony, this film proves that its worst flaw is precisely its size, cause it wants to be an immense experience, all about the spectacle, but it taints it with its own foolishness of saturating its plot with so much stuff that feels like filler, including the political touch, in a clear propagandistic push from its country of origin.

Its magnitude and ambition do not allow it to fall on deaf ears.
In terms of its capabilities, The Wandering Earth II manages to ensure that not everything is wasted, but that same scope forces it to be judged with more ferocity and therefore its results are far from being concrete and satisfactory.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

rfdub

Mar 24, 2023

An utterly boring and unartful piece of CCP propaganda masquerading as a film. Terrible CGI as per usual with Chinese productions, flat one dimensional characters who's sole purpose is to make China look heroic, and an utterly laughable plot and premise that make no sense whatsoever and hasAn utterly boring and unartful piece of CCP propaganda masquerading as a film. Terrible CGI as per usual with Chinese productions, flat one dimensional characters who's sole purpose is to make China look heroic, and an utterly laughable plot and premise that make no sense whatsoever and has so many plot holes you'd think you were watching a piece of swiss cheese.

Seriously, ALL the 10/10 reviews are from Chinese bots, as it's well known the CCP has such thin skin they pay armies of trolls to review bomb their marquee propaganda "Films" on wester review sites as they're terrified the world will see how utterly crap their cinema really is.

The first film in this series was arguably the worst film I've ever watched. This one gives it a good run for it's money.… Expand

3 of 4 users found this helpful31

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