Let’s break down the confusion—and the actual movie you might find behind that thumbnail. First, a quick history lesson. The legitimate, big-budget sequel— Journey to the West: The Demons Strike Back —actually released in 2017 . It was directed by Tsui Hark, produced by Stephen Chow, and starred Kris Wu, Lin Gengxin, and Yao Chen.
If you want to see a giant, fighting Buddha made of gold and a terrifying mechanical spider, search for
If you’ve been scrolling through streaming platforms like Netflix, Amazon Prime, or even YouTube’s rental section recently, you might have seen a title that made you do a double-take: Journey To The West The Demons Strike Back Full 2021
For fans of Chinese cinema, the name instantly evokes two things: Stephen Chow’s 2013 hit Journey to the West: Conquering the Demons and its 2017 follow-up, The Demons Strike Back . So why does a "2021" version exist? Is it a lost sequel? A remaster? Or something else entirely?
The real Demons Strike Back (2017) is a frenetic, colorful mess of brilliant action and weird humor. The fake 2021 version is just... a mess. It lacks the manic energy of Stephen Chow or the visual flair of Tsui Hark. Let’s break down the confusion—and the actual movie
However, there is a niche audience for these low-budget adaptations. If you love watching The Asylum ’s knockoffs (like Atlantic Rim ), you might get a few laughs from the wooden acting and terrible green screen. Don't judge the Monkey King by the thumbnail.
Disclaimer: As of 2025, no official "Journey to the West 3" has been released. If you see a 2024 or 2025 version, it is almost certainly another low-budget digital placeholder. It was directed by Tsui Hark, produced by
| Feature | The Real 2017 Film | The Fake 2021 Film | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | | Tsui Hark | A name you’ve never heard of (e.g., "Jiang Kai") | | Monkey King | Lin Gengxin (handsome, sharp) | An actor in a cheap Halloween costume | | Runtime | ~110 minutes | ~70-80 minutes | | Budget | Massive, visible on screen | Looks like a student film | Is the 2021 Version Worth Watching? The honest answer: Only if you enjoy "so bad it's good" cinema.
If you want to fall asleep to two people whispering in a cave while a cheap CGI pig snorts in the corner, go ahead and rent the 2021 version.
So what is the version?