Ever since Hero premiered in the mainland, the debate surrounding the film has become all the more intense. Many mainlanders were more than a bit dissatisfied with director Zhang Yimou's presentation of history, specifically questioning the historical veracity of his portrayal of the infamous first Qin emperor (Qinshihuang) as an enlightened ruler who saved both China and its people. Hong Kong audiences had their own gripes with the film.
從《英雄》在大陸首映後，討論的戰火便如排山倒海而來，許多大陸觀眾對張藝謀的顛覆歷史頗不以為然，認為他把歷史暴君秦始皇，寫成護國護民的明君，太過悖離史實。