Crossing (2026) Review: A Long March Epic Short On Depth

This Crossing review covers a 2026 Chinese war epic about one of the best-known campaigns of the Long March. Directed by Xu Zhanxiong, the film dramatises the Red Army's four crossings of the Chishui River. It is loud, large in scale and packed with history, but it does not always make that history feel personal.

Crossing Review: The Story So Far (No Spoilers)

The Crossing plot opens in the aftermath of the devastating Xiang River battle in 1934. The Red Army is trapped inside an encirclement of roughly 400,000 enemy troops, and its leaders must find a way out. Their answer is a bold strategy built around the Chishui River, which the film presents as a major campaign of the Long March.

The original Chinese title, Sì dù, translates as "Four Crossings," and it tells you how the film is built. Rather than a single battle, it follows a chain of moves, feints and counter-moves. Mao Zedong, Zhou Enlai and Zhu De sit at the centre of the planning, while Chiang Kai-shek directs the opposing side.

This is a History movie first, and an action film second. Viewers who know the period will find it easier to follow than newcomers.

What Works in Crossing

The production is polished, and the scale is the film's clearest strength. One critic described it as action-packed, well-produced and occasionally thrilling. That fits the film's best stretches, when the maneuvering turns into large set pieces on the water and in the hills.

The central idea is also strong. A trapped army outwitting a far larger force by moving back and forth across the same river is a compelling hook. When the film leans on strategy rather than noise, it hints at the tense, clever war story it could have been.

Fans of the Action movie reviews we publish will find enough spectacle to hold their attention, especially in the larger battles.

Crossing Cast and Performances

The Crossing cast is led by Liu Ye as Mao Zedong, with Wang Lei as Zhou Enlai and Wang Zhifei as Zhu De. Wang Yaoqing plays Chiang Kai-shek, Yu Shi plays Zhao Defa, and Lin Yongjian plays Wang Jialie.

On paper, that is a serious line-up, and the film asks its actors to carry weighty historical figures. Reception on the performances is mixed, though. Asian Movie Pulse criticised the acting, and the large ensemble leaves little room for any one character to grow beyond a familiar role.

Where Crossing Stumbles

The main complaint from early critics is that the subject and the execution never quite fit together. The same reviewer who found the film occasionally thrilling also called it shallow and exhausting. Another critic gave it a C- and described the battle scenes as a frantic mess.

That matches the pattern the film seems to fall into:

• Fast, chaotic action that makes it hard to follow who is winning

• Historical figures who feel more like symbols than people

• A long run of events that can wear viewers down

Critical coverage is still thin. Only a handful of reviews and ratings were available at the time of writing, so treat early scores with caution. An audience score of 47 on Moviefone comes from just three ratings.

Is Crossing Worth Watching?

Crossing is worth watching if you already care about the Long March or Chinese historical epics, but it is a hard sell for casual viewers. The scale and production values give it some appeal on a big screen. The thin characters and messy action keep it from becoming a strong film.

If you want a character-driven war drama, look elsewhere, perhaps among our War movie reviews. If you want to see a famous campaign staged on a grand scale, this delivers part of that promise. You can read more background on the production on the Crossing Wikipedia page).

The film opens in select US theaters on July 10, 2026, through Well Go USA, after an earlier release in China. Hopes for a wide international audience may be limited by the mixed early response.

Who Will Enjoy Crossing

• History buffs curious about the Chishui River campaign and the Long March

• Fans of large-scale Chinese war epics who can forgive thin characters

• Viewers who want spectacle and strategy over emotional depth