Journey to the West: Conquering the Demons

Journey to the West: Conquering the Demons
Company type	Film
Industry	Film industry
Founded	2013; 13 years ago
Founder	Stephen Chow, Derek Kwok
Successor	Journey to the West: The Demons Strike Back (2017)
Headquarters	China, Hong Kong
Area served	Worldwide
Key people	Stephen Chow (co-writer, producer, co-director), Derek Kwok (co-director)
Products	Fantasy-comedy film
Parent	Bingo Movie Development, Village Roadshow Pictures Asia, Chinavision Media Group, Edko Films, Huayi Brothers, China Film Group

Journey to the West: Conquering the Demons () is a 2013 fantasy-comedy film co-written and produced by Stephen Chow, who also co-directed alongside Derek Kwok. This Chinese-Hong Kong collaboration was announced in July 2011 and premiered in China on 10 February 2013. The movie presents a humorous and loose adaptation of the 16th-century classic novel Journey to the West, traditionally credited to Wu Cheng'en.

The cast includes notable actors such as Shu Qi, Wen Zhang, and Huang Bo, with production handled by companies including Bingo Movie Development, Village Roadshow Pictures Asia, Chinavision Media Group, Edko Films, Huayi Brothers, and China Film Group. Distributed by Huayi Brothers Media, the film earned approximately US$215 million at the box office.

A follow-up titled Journey to the West: The Demons Strike Back, penned and produced by Chow and directed by Tsui Hark, was released on January 28, 2017.

Plot

Set prior to Tang Sanzang acquiring his disciples and embarking on the Journey to the West, the narrative unfolds in a riverside village plagued by a mysterious aquatic menace. After a Taoist priest slays a giant manta ray, claiming it to be the demon, Sanzang—a self-styled demon hunter—warns that this is not the true threat. The villagers disregard his warning and hang him. The genuine demon reemerges, causing numerous casualties. Sanzang frees himself and, along with survivors, strands the creature ashore; it then transforms into a human form. He attempts to pacify it by singing from a nursery rhyme book but is attacked. Another demon hunter, Duan, captures the creature and converts it into a puppet. Sanzang explains his master’s compassionate method of using nursery rhymes to draw out demons’ better nature—a strategy Duan rejects. Feeling disheartened, Sanzang consults his master who reaffirms this philosophy and sends him on a quest for "enlightenment."

A couple enters an abandoned restaurant only to be killed by its chef—a pig demon. Later, Sanzang visits the same establishment, now appearing lively with patrons. He perceives through the illusion: reanimated corpses of previous victims and the demon’s distinctive nine-toothed rake. Duan destroys these zombies and confronts the pig demon, temporarily imprisoning it in her magical bag. The demon escapes in boar form, causing the building’s collapse; Sanzang and Duan withdraw. Duan develops intense feelings for Sanzang, admiring his ideals, but he distances himself to avoid romantic distractions during his pursuit of nirvana.

Sanzang’s master advises that subduing Monkey King Sun Wukong, imprisoned by Buddha, is necessary to control the pig demon. That night, Sanzang is captured by a gang that also holds Duan captive—later revealed as part of Duan’s scheme to win him over. After he rejects her advances, she imprisons him. The pig demon returns and wounds Duan but is driven off by rival demon hunters. Misreading Sanzang’s concern as affection, Duan becomes frustrated; after another refusal, she destroys his nursery rhyme book before he leaves.

Several days later, Sanzang discovers a cave beneath a lotus garden where Monkey King has been confined for 500 years. Monkey King suggests using a dancer as bait for the pig demon; Duan volunteers. Monkey King captures the demon so Duan can puppetize it. She gives both fish and pig puppets to Sanzang and offers her golden ringed weapon as an engagement token, which he declines. She departs after returning his nursery rhyme book—randomly assembled since she cannot read.

Monkey King deceives Sanzang into removing his prison seal and breaks free in fury. Sanzang prays to Buddha as Monkey King tears hair from his head in anger. Three demon hunters arrive but are slain by Monkey King. Duan returns to protect Sanzang but is fatally wounded; before dying, he confesses love for her as Monkey King vaporizes her body. Upon examining the nursery rhyme book again, Sanzang realizes Duan had rearranged its words into those of the Buddha Sutra. He summons Buddha who defeats Monkey King with a single palm strike. Sanzang places Duan’s golden ring on Monkey King’s head, transforming it into his restraining headband.

Sanzang tells his master that enduring Duan’s loss led him to enlightenment. He is then instructed to journey west (India) to obtain Buddhist sutras at Leiyin Temple. The Water Demon, Pig Demon, and Monkey King have been tamed and transformed into humans named Sha Wujing, Zhu Bajie, and Sun Wukong. As they traverse the desert, Sanzang glimpses an image of Duan across the sands.

Prominent Ghosts and Demons in Journey to the West

Due to variations in dialects and translations, the names of demons appear with different spellings.

Sha Wujing

Sha Wujing is the initial demon introduced, depicted as a colossal fish preying on villagers who are celebrating the defeat of a giant manta ray, mistakenly identified as the demon. Often referred to as the 'Water Demon' in literary works, Sha Wujing's character serves to demonstrate Duan and Sanzang's techniques for hunting demons.

Zhu Bajie (Zhu Wuneng)

The second significant demon character is Zhu Bajie, shown as a mute and mischievous innkeeper with a waxen complexion who transforms into a fierce pig demon. He tries to ensnare Duan and Sanzang, but Sanzang sees through his deceptions and collaborates with Duan to challenge him.

Sun Wukong

Sun Wukong, the Monkey King, is the final and most formidable demon. Imprisoned by Buddha within a concealed cave, he initially appears as a disheveled elderly man exhibiting monkey-like behavior. After deceiving Sanzang into freeing him, he restores his full strength, becoming the greatest menace to the Demon Hunters.

Sun Wukong has been extensively represented across various media including comics, anime, Japanese live-action series, graphic novels, musicals, and stage productions.

Cast

Shu Qi portraying Duan
Wen Zhang as Tang Sanzang
Huang Bo in the role of Sun Wukong
Chen Bing Qiang as Zhu Bajie
Jiro Lee playing Sha Wujing
Show Lo as Prince Important
Cheng Sihan portraying Master Nameless
Xing Yu as Fist of the North Star
Lu Zheng Yu in the role of Killer One
Chiu Chi Ling as Killer Two
Yang Di playing Killer Three
Chrissie Chau as Killer Four
Ge Hang Yu portraying Killer Five and Short Sun Wukong
Fung Min-hun as Taoist Priest
Yeung Lun in the role of Mayor
Zhang Chao Li as Almighty Foot
He Wun Hui portraying Maple
Tang Yixin as Blossom
Chen Yichun and Liu Zhan Ling as Gao Family Inn Managers
Huang Xiao Chuan playing Leader of the Sand People
Zhang Yu Wen as Sheng
Xu Min portraying Mrs. Gen
Li Jing in the role of Gen
Zhang Wei Fu as Grandpa Gen
Fan Fu Lin playing Muscleman
Dai Qu Hua as Lan
Zhong Kai Jie portraying Lan's baby
Xie Jing Jing as Fat Lady
Yu Qian Wen playing Fat Lady's husband
Kong Wu Shuang as Singing Girl
Li Gao Ji in the role of Taoist Priest Fook
Wen Fei Fei portraying Monk Lu
Huang Hai Seng as Monk Shou
Zhang Wan Ku, Xu Wen Qiang, Chen Jian Feng, Li Nin Cai, Li Jing, Li Gui Suan, Han Xiao Chuang, Yu Ping, Li Yong Bo, Gong Meng Ying, Ge Hui Lei, Zhang Hong Di, Chen Xing Xiang, Zhang Cheng Long, and Wang Ya Bing appearing as villagers
Min Hun Fung

Box office

The movie achieved numerous milestones at China's box office. Premiering on 10 February 2013, it earned 78 million Yuan ($12.5 million) on opening day alone, breaking the former Chinese film opening-day record of 70 million yuan ($11.2 million) previously held by Painted Skin: The Resurrection. On 14 February 2013, it collected 122 million yuan ($19.6 million), surpassing Transformers: Dark of the Moon which had 112 million yuan for China's highest single-day box office revenue. The film's opening total in China reached $92.46 million.

So far, its earnings include US$205 million from China, US$3.6 million from Hong Kong, US$3.2 million from Malaysia, and US$1.8 million from Singapore.

Journey to the West: Conquering the Demons accumulated a worldwide gross of US$215 million, becoming at that time the top-grossing Chinese-language film globally. This record was later overtaken by Monster Hunt in 2015 as China's highest-grossing domestic film ever produced.

Critical reception

The movie garnered positive feedback from film critics. On Rotten Tomatoes, it achieved a 94% approval rating from 34 reviewers, with an average score of 7.22 out of 10. The site's summary describes it as "as charming, humorous, action-filled, and absurd as Stephen Chow's finest projects, Journey to the West offers spectacular action scenes delivered with exhilarating energy." Meanwhile, Metacritic assigns the film a weighted average of 68 based on 13 critiques, reflecting "generally favorable reviews."

Edmund Lee of Screen International described the film as "an entirely enjoyable blend of action and comedy." Andrew Chan gave it a 9 out of 10, commending Chow’s trademark over-the-top comedic approach. American writer Grady Hendrix remarked that Chow "raises the stakes and crafts what could be his most emotionally resonant film to date," emphasizing its impact beyond mere amusement.

Sequel

In March 2013, Derek Kwok disclosed that he was collaborating with Stephen Chow on script development for a sequel, with Chow potentially reprising a starring role. The follow-up production was financed with an estimated budget of around US$64 million. Principal photography commenced on 6 August 2015, featuring Kris Wu as Tang Sanzang, Lin Gengxin portraying Sun Wukong, Mengke Bateer as Sha Wujing, Yao Chen in the role of Taoist, and Bao Bei'er cast in an undisclosed character; Shu Qi and Cheng Sihan returned to their roles as Duan and Master Nameless respectively.

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