Red Cliff (Chinese: 赤壁; pinyin: Chìbì), alternatively known as The Battle of Red Cliff, is a Chinese epic film based on the Battle of Red Cliffs and events during the End of Han Dynasty and immediately prior to the period of the Three Kingdoms in ancient China. The film is expected to be released in two versions: within Asia, Red Cliff is to be released in two parts totaling over four hours in length, with the first part premiering in July 2008 and the second in January 2009. Outside of Asia, a single 2½ hour film will be released in January 2009.

The film is directed by John Woo and stars Tony Leung Chiu-Wai, Takeshi Kaneshiro, Zhang Fengyi, Chang Chen, Hu Jun, Lin Chi-ling and Zhao Wei. With an estimated budget of US$80 million, Red Cliff is the most expensive Asian-financed film to date.

This film is one of the two 2008 Three Kingdoms related films, the other being Daniel Lee's Three Kingdoms: Resurrection of the Dragon which has already been released.

Director John Woo said in an interview with CCTV-6 that the film will use primarily the historical record Chronicle of the Three Kingdoms as a blueprint for the Battle of Red Cliffs, rather than the historical novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms. As such, traditionally vilified characters such as Cao Cao and Zhou Yu will be given a more historically accurate treatment in the film.

In the Imperial Court of the Han Dynasty in Xuchang in the summer AD 208, Prime Minister Cao Cao requests for the Emperor Xian's permission to launch a campaign against the warlords Liu Bei and Sun Quan in southern China, whom he considers rebels against the Han Dynasty. The Emperor hesitates, but reluctantly agrees after Cao Cao speaks of his contributions and loyalty (rescuing the Emperor when he was in exile, uniting northern China). Court official Kong Rong openly challenges and denounces him as a traitor, with the intention of usurping the throne. Kong claims Liu Bei and Sun Quan have no intentions of rebelling, especially when the former is the Emperor's uncle. Subsequently, Kong Rong is executed and Cao Cao placed in command of the Imperial Army, setting forth his campaign.

Cao Cao's mighty army swiftly conquers the southern lands. Meanwhile, Liu Bei abandons the city of Xinye and leads his army and 100,000 civilians unwilling to be under Cao Cao's rule on an exodus. However, Cao Cao's cavalry catches up with Liu Bei, igniting the Battle of Changban. Zhang Fei, sworn brother of Liu Bei, personally leads a small group of soldiers armed with reflective shields to hold off the enemy while buying time for the civilians to escape. As the enemy soldiers approached, Zhang's troops uses their shields to reflect sunlight into the eyes of the enemy's horses, throwing them into chaos and seizing the preemptive attack. At the same time, Zhao Yun is in search for Liu Bei's wives and son. He finds Lady Mi desperately trying to protect the infant Liu Shan from being seized by enemy soldiers. Severely wounded, she commits suicide by throwing herself in a well after entrusting Liu Shan to Zhao Yun. Zhao Yun fights bravely and manages to break out after being surrounded by the enemy.

Zhuge Liang, Liu Bei's chief advisor, brings Guan Yu, sworn brother of Liu Bei, to assist Zhang Fei. Zhao Yun, Zhang Fei and Guan Yu bravely hold off the enemy until the last group of civilians have evacuated. Guan Yu stays to hold off the enemy and is surrounded, throwing his halberd towards Cao Cao, missing the latter by an inch. Cao Cao orders to let Guan Yu off, saying the general could have killed him earlier, but decided to spare him.

Following the battle, Zhuge Liang sets forth for Wu on a diplomatic mission to negotiate an alliance between Liu Bei and Sun Quan. Sun Quan is in the midst of a dilemma, unsure whether to oppose Cao Cao or surrender. His advisors desperately try to persuade him to surrender, while his military officers advocate war. Zhuge Liang urges Sun Quan to form the alliance, but the young ruler states he needs more time to decide. Lu Su brings Zhuge Liang to meet Wu's viceroy and chief commander of Wu's army, Zhou Yu. Busy training his troops at Chi Bi with Gan Ning, Zhuge Liang discusses about war with the viceroy. Amidst returning home to his wife, Xiao Qiao, to witness the birth of a foal, the two strategists convey their ideas by playing the zither. Through their performance, Zhuge Liang understands Zhou Yu supports war against Cao Cao.

Meanwhile, Cao Cao recruits generals Cai Mao and Zhang Yun, both of whom surrendered to the prime minister and well-versed in naval warfare. At the same time, Cao Cao also boasts of his army's might and expresses his desire to possess the beautiful Xiao Qiao. Following a tiger hunt with Sun Shangxiang and Zhou Yu, Sun Quan finally makes his decision to form an alliance with Liu Bei and launches a war against Cao Cao. He draws his sword and slices off a corner of the table, stating to his subjects, "Whoever who speaks of surrender shall end up like this table!" Sun Quan appoints Zhou Yu, Lu Su and Cheng Pu as the main commanders of the army.

Zhou Yu and his generals tour Liu Bei's camp, exchanging ideas and having insights into his army. They formulate a plan to engage Cao Cao's army, who are moving towards Wu on both land and water. The first battle begins with Sun Shangxiang luring Cao Cao's vanguard into the Eight Trigrams Formation, where they are utterly defeated by the allied forces. Cao Cao learns of the loss, but shows no disappointment, and proceeds to lead his army to camp on the opposite side of the river, directly facing the allied army's camp at Chi Bi. At the same time, the allied forces throw a banquet to celebrate their victory.

Zhou Yu and Zhuge Liang discuss on the new plan to combat Cao Cao's navy. Zhou Yu states Cao Cao's next move is still unclear, even though they scored a victory against Cao Cao's vanguard. The viceroy then says he hopes Zhuge Liang and himself will not become enemies in the future; if that is so, they will continue to serve their respective lords. By sending a pigeon he had cared for the past few days to scout Cao Cao's navy, Zhuge Liang discovers a weakness in the enemy's formation. The film ends with Zhou Yu lighting his minature-sized ships on a map based on the battle formation with a torch, signifying the plans with the Battle of Chi Bi.

Kong Rong was sentenced to execution by Cao Cao after he spoke ill of the latter before an emissary from Sun Quan, whereas in the movie he was executed for openly challenging Cao Cao and denouncing him as a traitor with the intention of usurping the throne before the emperor.

In history, Lady Gan of Liu Bei's two wives survived the Battle of Changban unlike in the movie where she was killed by enemy soldiers amidst the chaos. In addition, Liu Bei had numerous sons, and the son portrayed in the story was not his only "remaining bloodline" (though he was the most conspicuous and significant in the novel because he was Bei's first non-adopted son). In reality, his two daughters were captured in the battle.

Zhang Fei and a few soldiers met Cao Cao's troops at a bridge where Zhang Fei bellowed at the enemy, striking fear into them such that they did not dare to advance. In the movie, Zhang Fei led an army of 1000 to engage the enemy head on.

Guan Yu only arrived to reinforce Liu Bei's retreating army after Zhao Yun had rescued Liu Shan. He did not stay behind to hold off the enemy forces alone like in the movie.

Zhuge Liang met Sun Quan personally and discussed about the alliance with him in a private conversation unlike in the movie where the duo met during an assembly of all the subjects of Wu.

Zhou Yu was training his troops at Chaisang prior to the Battle of Red Cliffs and not at Red Cliff.

Zhuge Liang first met Zhou Yu at the latter's residence unlike in the movie where they met at the military training grounds.

Cao Cao had never met Xiao Qiao before in his entire life. However in the movie he mentioned that he had "never forgotten her" since he first saw her with her father Qiao Xuan.

Cai Mao and Zhang Yun had surrended to Cao Cao before the Battle of Changban along with their lord Liu Cong (which was, in fact, the catalyst for Liu Bei's flight and the Battle of Changban) but in the movie they came to serve Cao Cao after the battle.

Zhou Yu and his generals did not visit Liu Bei's camp in history. In fact, they only had a brief meeting which was fictionalised in Romance of the Three Kingdoms in which Zhou Yu attempted to have Liu Bei assassinated.

Sun Shangxiang had not met Liu Bei before their marriage, which was a politically-arranged marriage to strengthen ties between Liu Bei and Sun Quan. In the movie, Sun Shangxiang met Liu Bei at the banquet to celebrate the victory.

The battle scene in the movie with the Eight Trigrams Formation was a fictional one. The forces of Sun Quan and Liu Bei did not fight side-by-side with each other in any battle. Also, the Eight Trigrams Formation was only put into use as an army (not navy) formation long after the Battle of Red Cliffs.

Zhou Yu and Zhuge Liang did not become enemies in the future as Zhou Yu had replied towards the end of the film. However, in Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Zhou Yu was jealous of Zhuge Liang's intelligence during the planning before the Battle of Red Cliffs. Zhou Yu knows that Zhuge Liang would be a formidable foe in future and tries to capture and kill him.