So what is the version?

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?

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 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.

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:

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.

| 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.

Journey To The West The Demons Strike Back Full 2021 в‡’

So what is the version?

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?

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. Journey To The West The Demons Strike Back Full 2021

If you want to see a giant, fighting Buddha made of gold and a terrifying mechanical spider, search for

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

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:

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. Is it a lost sequel

| 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.