5.9
Viewer Rating
Combines user and critic ratings from four sources
Journey to the West: The Demons Strike Back (2017)
Bias Rating
Analyzing...
Leans Progressive
Viewer Rating
Rating: 5.9
Overview
Tang Monk brings three disciples on a journey to the West. On the outside, everything seems harmonious. However, tension is present beneath the surface, and their hearts and minds are not in agreement. After a series of demon-capturing events, the monk and his disciples gain mutual understanding of each others' hardships and unease. Finally, they resolve their inner conflict and work together to become an all-conquering, demon-exorcising team.
Starring Cast
Where to watch
Bias Dimensions
Political: Center
Diversity: Moderate
Female Combat: Yes
Gender Swap: Yes
Buddhism: Positive
Overview
Tang Monk brings three disciples on a journey to the West. On the outside, everything seems harmonious. However, tension is present beneath the surface, and their hearts and minds are not in agreement. After a series of demon-capturing events, the monk and his disciples gain mutual understanding of each others' hardships and unease. Finally, they resolve their inner conflict and work together to become an all-conquering, demon-exorcising team.
Starring Cast
Where to watch
Detailed Bias Analysis
Analyzing...
Leans Progressive
Primary
The film's central themes revolve around a spiritual journey, personal growth, and overcoming internal and external temptations, which are universal and inherently apolitical, leading to a neutral rating.
The movie features a cast that aligns with the cultural origin of its source material, a classic Chinese novel, and does not engage in explicit race or gender swaps of roles traditionally perceived as white. Its narrative primarily focuses on a traditional adventure with male protagonists, without presenting a critical portrayal of traditional identities or incorporating explicit DEI themes as central to its story.
Secondary
The film features the White Bone Demoness, a primary antagonist, who engages in direct physical combat with the male disciples. She demonstrates superior strength and skill, defeating Zhu Bajie and Sha Wujing in several close-quarters encounters throughout the narrative.
The character Red Boy, canonically a male demon child in the original Journey to the West novel, is portrayed as female in this film adaptation, constituting a gender swap.
The film, an adaptation of a classic Chinese novel, centers on a Buddhist monk's pilgrimage to obtain scriptures. Despite the characters' personal flaws and comedic struggles, the narrative consistently affirms the virtues of Buddhist principles such as compassion, perseverance, and the pursuit of enlightenment, portraying the spiritual journey as noble and ultimately triumphant.
Journey to the West: The Demons Strike Back centers on the traditional pilgrimage story, depicting the adventures of Tang Sanzang and his disciples. The film does not include any identifiable LGBTQ+ characters or themes, leading to no specific portrayal to evaluate.
The film "Journey to the West: The Demons Strike Back" does not feature any identifiable transsexual characters or themes. While the narrative includes magical transformations and gender-bending by demons for disguise or comedic effect, these elements are not presented as expressions of transsexual identity or related to gender transition.
The film is an adaptation of the classic Chinese novel "Journey to the West." All major characters, who are canonically East Asian, are portrayed by actors of East Asian descent, consistent with the source material.
Viewer Rating Breakdown
User Ratings
5.5
5.7
Critic Ratings
6.4
5.9
More Like This
Leans Progressive
6.5
The Taking of Tiger Mountain
(2014)
Political: Strong Left
Diversity: Moderate
Center
7.2
Detective Dee and the Mystery of the Phantom Flame
(2010)
Political: Center
Diversity: Moderate
Female Combat: Yes
Progressive
8.0
Ne Zha 2
(2025)
Political: Strong Left
Diversity: High
Progressive
7.5
Green Snake
(2021)
Political: Leans Left
Diversity: Moderate
LGBTQ: Positive
Female Combat: Yes
Center
6.7
Immortal Demon Slayer
(2017)
Political: Center
Diversity: Moderate
Female Combat: Yes
Center
6.0
Detective Dee: The Four Heavenly Kings
(2018)
Political: Center
Diversity: Moderate
Female Combat: Yes
Center
7.5
A Writer's Odyssey
(2021)
Political: Center
Diversity: Moderate
Female Combat: Yes
Center
6.8
Animal World
(2018)
Political: Center
Diversity: Moderate
Center
6.6
New Gods: Yang Jian
(2022)
Political: Center
Diversity: Moderate
Female Combat: Yes
Center
7.0
Kuiba
(2011)
Political: Center
Diversity: Moderate
Female Combat: Yes
Leans Progressive
6.8
Curse of the Golden Flower
(2006)
Political: Center
Diversity: High
Leans Progressive
7.7
Big Fish & Begonia
(2016)
Political: Center
Diversity: Moderate
LGBTQ: Positive
Leans Progressive
7.8
The Legend of Hei
(2019)
Political: Leans Left
Diversity: Moderate
Leans Progressive
6.6
Unleashed
(2005)
Political: Leans Left
Diversity: Moderate
Center
6.8
Bodies at Rest
(2019)
Political: Center
Diversity: Moderate
Female Combat: Yes
Leans Progressive
7.8
Ip Man 2
(2010)
Political: Leans Left
Diversity: Moderate
Progressive
7.2
Ip Man 4: The Finale
(2019)
Political: Leans Left
Diversity: High
Leans Progressive
7.3
The Mermaid
(2016)
Political: Leans Left
Diversity: Moderate
Leans Progressive
7.3
Journey to the West
(2023)
Political: Strong Left
Diversity: Moderate
Leans Progressive
7.2
Yolo
(2024)
Political: Center
Diversity: High
Female Combat: Yes