Operation Red Sea
An elite Chinese Navy unit known as the Sea Dragon is deployed on a high stakes mission overseas. In the desert nation of Yewaire on the Arabian Peninsula, a group of civilians is held by militants, triggering a carefully staged hostage rescue. The Jiaolong Commando Squad uses precise tactics,... Read more
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About Operation Red Sea
An elite Chinese Navy unit known as the Sea Dragon is deployed on a high stakes mission overseas. In the desert nation of Yewaire on the Arabian Peninsula, a group of civilians is held by militants, triggering a carefully staged hostage rescue. The Jiaolong Commando Squad uses precise tactics, swift moves, and tight formations to press through hostile streets and harsh terrain. As the operation escalates, soldiers face heavy fire, impromptu obstacles, and the strain of time as they balance duty with personal risk. The film focuses on the teamwork, training, and resolve that keep teammates steady under pressure, delivering a brisk, action driven portrait of modern combat without spoilers. The tension never slackens, and the sense of purpose lingers after all.
Directed by Dante Lam Chiu-Yin with a screenplay by Eric Lin Ming-Chie and Chen Zhuzhu, Operation Red Sea showcases Lam's muscular, practical effects driven style. The project leans on naval action experience and big scale set pieces, with intense realism.
It grossed 579,330,426 worldwide on a 70,000,000 budget, signaling a strong commercial reception across Asia and international markets. The film drew large audiences with its ambitious action sequences and star powered cast. Its box office performance surpassed many expectations globally.
Operation Red Sea left a mark as a major Chinese war cinema milestone, with its sea and desert action sequences and ensemble performances drawing attention to modern naval warfare. Its scale influenced subsequent productions and helped elevate Dante Lam's profile internationally. It sparked discussion about naval realism in action cinema.
Critics highlighted the film's kinetic energy and technical craft, noting its emphasis on teamwork, discipline, and sacrifice under fire. Some reviews pointed to familiar genre beats, yet the relentless pacing and practical effects give the mission a convincing, immersive feel. Viewers walked away with a renewed interest in ensemble tactics.
Details
- Release Date
- February 16, 2018
- Runtime
- 2h 18m
- Rating
- R
- User Ratings
- 425 votes
- Type
- Movie
- Genres
- Action, Thriller, War, Adventure
- Country
- China
- Collection
- Operation Red Sea Collection
- Studio
- Bona Film Group +4 more
- Budget
- $70,000,000
- Box Office
- $579,330,426
- External Links
- View on IMDB
Official Trailer
Cast
Zhang Yi
Yang Rui
Johnny Huang
Gu Shun
Hai Qing
Xia Nan
Du Jiang
Xu Hong
Zhang Hanyu
Gao Yun
Jiang Luxia
Tong Li
Yutian Wang
Zhang 'Rocky' Tiande
Yin Fang
Li Dong
Henry Prince Mak
Zhuang Yu
Guo Jiahao
Lu Chen
Written by: Eric Lin Ming-Chie, Dante Lam Chiu-Yin, Chen Zhuzhu