Operation Red Sea poster

Operation Red Sea

Movie R 2018 2h 18m 7.4 /10

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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Streaming availability last verified: February 03, 2026

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

Zhang Yi

Yang Rui

Johnny Huang

Johnny Huang

Gu Shun

Hai Qing

Hai Qing

Xia Nan

Du Jiang

Du Jiang

Xu Hong

Zhang Hanyu

Zhang Hanyu

Gao Yun

Jiang Luxia

Jiang Luxia

Tong Li

Yutian Wang

Yutian Wang

Zhang 'Rocky' Tiande

Yin Fang

Yin Fang

Li Dong

Henry Prince Mak

Henry Prince Mak

Zhuang Yu

Guo Jiahao

Guo Jiahao

Lu Chen

Written by: Eric Lin Ming-Chie, Dante Lam Chiu-Yin, Chen Zhuzhu

Frequently Asked Questions

Operation Red Sea is available to stream on Amazon Prime Video. You can also rent or buy it on Apple iTunes, Google Play, Vudu, and Amazon Video.

Yes, Operation Red Sea is available to stream on Amazon Prime Video.

Yes, you can rent on Apple iTunes, Google Play, Vudu, and Amazon Video or buy on Apple iTunes, Google Play, Vudu, and Amazon Video.

With a rating of 7.4/10 from 425 viewers, Operation Red Sea is well-regarded and recommended by viewers.

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, sw...

Operation Red Sea stars Zhang Yi, Johnny Huang, Hai Qing, Du Jiang, and Zhang Hanyu.

Operation Red Sea was released on February 16, 2018.

Operation Red Sea is a Action, Thriller, War, and Adventure film.

Zhang Yi portrays Yang Rui, a member of the Jiaolong Commando Unit - Sea Dragon. He helps lead the team during the hostage rescue mission.

Johnny Huang stars as Gu Shun, Hai Qing as Xia Nan, Du Jiang as Xu Hong, and Zhang Hanyu as Gao Yun, alongside Zhang Yi who plays Yang Rui. These actors headline the film and portray the key team members.

The mission unfolds in the nation of Yewaire on the Arabian Peninsula. The Jiaolong unit battles local rebels and the Zaka terrorist organization during the operation.

Operation Red Sea is rated R, meaning it is intended for adult audiences. The movie features intense action and war scenes consistent with its genres.