Caught by the Tides

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Caught by the Tides

Released May 2

1h 51m

Drama

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Popcornmeter

99%

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69 Reviews

Popcornmeter

Fewer than 50 Ratings

An enduring but fragile love story shared by Qiao Qiao and Guao Bin, set in China, from the early 2000s to the present day. One day, a restless Guao Bin leaves without any notice to try his luck in another province. Qiao Qiao decides to go looking for him.

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Critics Consensus

An intimate epic that captures the passage of time with melancholic clarity, Caught by the Tides might be director Jia Zhangke and star Tao Zhao's most profound collaboration yet.

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Tim Grierson

Los Angeles Times

Drawing from nearly 25 years of footage, including images from his most acclaimed films, Jia has crafted a poignant new story with an assist from fragments of old tales.

Jun 23, 2025

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Stephanie Zacharek

TIME Magazine

This is a quietly brilliant film, one that blends a personal story, about two young people trying to make their mark, with a more global one, about a country that, a little more than 20 years ago, began changing drastically by the minute.

Jun 6, 2025

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Richard Whittaker

Austin Chronicle

Caught by the Tides suggest that it’s being built on the ruins of a pastoral idyll. The past wasn’t that great, [Jis] implies, but if you’re going to replace it then make it something better – and that applies to Qiao Qiao and Guo Bin.

Rated: 3.5/5

May 22, 2025

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Hoai-Tran Bui

Inverse

It may be one of the most ambitious, immersive cinematic achievements released in this century.

Aug 11, 2025

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Jay Liu

The Asian Cut

Interesting on a metatextual level, even if only on that level.

Rated: 3.5/5

Jul 31, 2025

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Brogan Luke Bouwhuis

InBetweenDrafts

It’s impossible to ignore the extent to which 'Caught by the Tides' is a success, and subsequently just how remarkable of a creative accomplishment this is for Zhangke.

Rated: 7/10

Jul 24, 2025

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Doug H

Love story and documentary. I had tears at the end. China changes and love doesn't work. I will watch it again and discover more.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

08/09/25

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Steph B

This movie was so boring, uninspired, and uninteresting. He should have made a film from all the authentic and historic footage of the 3 Gorges Dam instead of putting us to sleep with the boring story fit into its narrative. A doc on the dam would have been much more preferable to the boredom of 'Caught'.

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

08/02/25

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Jessica T

Some of the scenes are touching. The idea behind it is cool. It's beautifully shot in parts. It's interesting to see's China over the years. Otherwise, it's quite bad. The plotting creates long unwatchable scenes, the symbolism is not subtle or brief, it's so corny, and the characterization is very, very poor. I wasn't familiar with the filmmaker before seeing it and I know it contains scenes from other movies so maybe it's like a greatest hits and less like a movie? I dunno, but I wouldn't recommend it to most people.

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

07/29/25

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Michael K

Flat out dull. Sorry

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

06/23/25

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Persona M

PCC money movie, previsible, without soul

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

06/13/25

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Stephen C

Success in 1 hour and 51 minutes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! In Mandarin and American English audio versions with American English subtitles!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The USA grossed over $286,900.00!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Dubbed and subtitled in worldwide studios!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/08/25

Full Review

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Zhang-Ke Jia

Director

Tao Zhao

Qiao Qiao

Zhubin Li

Guao Bin

Zhang-Ke Jia

Screenwriter

Wan Jiahuan

Screenwriter

Casper Liang Jiayan

Producer

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Synopsis

An enduring but fragile love story shared by Qiao Qiao and Guao Bin, set in China, from the early 2000s to the present day. One day, a restless Guao Bin leaves without any notice to try his luck in another province. Qiao Qiao decides to go looking for him.

Director: Zhang-Ke Jia
Producer: Casper Liang Jiayan, Shozo Ichiyama
Screenwriter: Zhang-Ke Jia, Wan Jiahuan
Distributor: Janus Films
Production Co: Wishart Media , Xstream Pictures, Momo Pictures, Huanxi Media Group
Genre: Drama
Original Language: Chinese
Release Date (Theaters): May 2, 2025, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 5, 2025
Box Office (Gross USA): $286.9K
Runtime: 1h 51m

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