Theater goers watching a film at a cinema in Wanda Group’s Oriental Film Metropolis in Qingdao, … Extra
China has one of many largest field places of work on the earth, so it solely is sensible that there’s additionally a bombing trade for Chinese language language movies. Whereas many Chinese language language motion pictures come from the historic Hong Kong Cinema, many others come from Mainland China and the Taiwanese movie trade. Every trade has a distinct historical past and really feel, however all of them have produced timeless classics. Between the three industries, Chinese language language cinema has flourished with many iconic and exquisite Chinese language movies. The perfect Chinese language motion pictures vary in style from melodramas to martial arts spectaculars and there’s something for everybody relating to the most effective Chinese language movies.
High Chinese language Movies
Chinese language cinema dates again to the silent film era. Nonetheless, the trade has gone via peaks and valleys relating to manufacturing. This record seems primarily at three distinct industries: mainland Chinese language movies, Hong Kong cinema and Taiwan’s film trade. Nonetheless, it considers “movies made primarily in a Chinese language language” broadly, together with many co-productions (and even one U.S.-made movie seems on the record).
Chinese language language cinema has produced iconic directors like Chen Kaige, Yimou Zhang, Ang Lee and Wong Kar-wai, in addition to actors like Tony Leung Chiu-wai, Gong Li, Jackie Chan, Andy Lau and lots of others. Whereas this record doesn’t embody the highest-grossing Chinese language film, 2025’s Ne Zha 2, it’s a really notable movie that’s price a watch. Ne Zha 2 is an animated sequel to 2018’s Ne Zha and is at present the fifth highest-grossing movie worldwide and the No. 1 highest-grossing animated film of all time. Usually, it ought to be mentioned that this record comes from a Western perspective and a author who doesn’t communicate any of the numerous languages spoken in China. Nonetheless, this record tries to be the right primer for these eager about Chinese language cinema and takes high quality and historic significance into its rating.
25. Higher Days (2019)
Directed by Derek Tsang, Higher Days follows a petty legal and a bullied highschool scholar after the homicide of a teenage lady within the lead-up to varsity entrance exams. The movie stars Zhou Dongyu and Jackson Yee.
The movie was extremely anticipated in China (primarily because of the recognition of Zhou and Yee) and was each a crucial and industrial success. It was nominated for an Oscar for Greatest Worldwide Function Movie because the entry from Hong Kong. It’s a wonderful melodrama that feels completely fashionable. Discover Higher Days on streaming here.
24. The Farewell (2019)
The Farewell is probably an odd alternative for this record. Whereas it’s primarily in Mandarin (with sections in English), it’s an American movie. There are a number of nice American movies which are partially in Chinese language lately (All the things, In all places, All At As soon as; Didi; and Fortunate Grandma particularly come to thoughts). Whereas a few of these movies really feel extra like English movies, with some sections in Chinese language, The Farewell looks like a Chinese language language movie.
From director Lulu Wang, the movie follows a Chinese language-American lady who returns to Changchun to say goodbye to her Grandmother, who has lately been secretly identified with most cancers. The movie stars Awkwafina, Tzi Ma, Diana Lin and Zhao Shu-zhen. It’s accessible to stream here.
23. Nonetheless Life (2006)
Directed by Jia Zhangke, Nonetheless Life tells the story of two individuals looking for lacking spouses in Fengjie, a city destroyed by the constructing of the Three Gorges Dam. The movie stars Zhao Tao and Han Sanming.
Jia has change into synonymous with gradual storytelling, which gained’t be for everybody, however Nonetheless Life looks like considered one of his most accessible movies. The movie was well-received by critics, particularly after it was launched within the U.S. in 2008 (it had beforehand gained the Golden Lion on the Venice Movie Pageant in 2006, in addition to different movie pageant prizes in 2007). It’s at present accessible to stream on a number of platforms.
22. Farewell My Concubine (1993)
Leslie Cheung Kwok-wing (proper) in Chen Kaige’s film “Farewell My Concubine.”
Farewell My Concubine is a romantic epic that follows two mates and actors within the Peking opera in opposition to the backdrop of the start of the Republic of China to the aftermath of the Cultural Revolution. Directed by Chen Kaige, the movie stars Leslie Cheung, Zhang Fengyi and Gong Li.
The movie is visually wealthy and heartbreaking. It was the primary Chinese language language movie to win the Palme d’Or on the Cannes Movie Pageant. It additionally gained a Golden Globe and was nominated for an Oscar for Greatest Overseas Language Movie. Nonetheless, it was controversial in China and weeks after it was launched, the politburo demanded the movie to be edited, and the federal government objected to the illustration of homosexuality, Nineteen Sixties China and suicide within the movie. It’s accessible here.
21. Goodbye, Dragon Inn (2003)
Goodbye, Dragon Inn gained’t be for everybody. Nonetheless, it’s a lovely instance of gradual cinema. The movie follows a number of characters on the ultimate screening on the Taipei movie show earlier than it closes down as they watch the final 90 minutes of the 1967 movie Dragon Inn.
Jun Shih and Miao Tien, who each appeared within the authentic Dragon Inn, seem as themselves within the movie. They’re joined by Lee Kang-sheng, Chen Shiang-chyi and Kiyonobu Mitamura. The movie is directed by Tsai Ming-liang, who is among the most famous filmmakers of the “Second New Wave” of Taiwanese cinema. Discover it on streaming here.
20. The Marriage ceremony Banquet (1993)
Winston Chao and Could Chin pose on set of the film “The Marriage ceremony Banquet,” circa 1993.
The Marriage ceremony Banquet follows a bisexual Taiwanese man, Gao Wai-Tung, who lives in New York together with his Jewish boyfriend. He plans on marrying a buddy to maintain her from being deported to Mainland China and maintain his mother and father off his again. Nonetheless, when Wai-Tung’s mother and father arrive for the courthouse wedding ceremony, his relationships are thrown into chaos. It stars Winston Chao, Gua Ah-leh, Lung Sihung, Could Chin and Mitchell Lichtenstein.
Whereas the movie is at its core a romcom, it has a wonderful depth and complexity to it because it explores Nineties queer and immigrant tradition. The movie is the second in director Ang Lee’s “Father Is aware of Greatest” Trilogy (three movies starring Lung that look at themes of Confucian households and altering cultures) with 1991’s Pushing Arms and 1994’s Eat Drink Man Lady. The Marriage ceremony Banquet was nominated for a Greatest Overseas-Language Movie Oscar and Golden Globe. In 2023, it was additionally chosen for preservation on the Library of Congress. The Marriage ceremony Banquet is being remade in 2025 as an English Language movie starring Bowen Yang, Lily Gladstone, Kelly Marie Tran and Han Gi-chan. Sadly, it’s at present not accessible for streaming.
19. The Time to Dwell and the Time to Die (1985)
The Time to Love and the Time to Die (typically additionally referred to as A Time to Dwell, A Time to Die) is a movie impressed by director Hsiao-hsien Hou’s childhood. It follows a boy whose household strikes from Mainland China to Taiwan.
The coming-of-age drama stars Yu An-shun, Tien Feng and Xin Shufen. It’s an emotionally wealthy and heartbreaking movie about household, homeland and sickness. Nonetheless, it is perhaps most notable for its top-notch directing and performing. Sadly, it’s at present not accessible for streaming.
18. Increase the Purple Lantern (1991)
Director Zhang Yimou is a powerhouse of Chinese language cinema, and Increase the Purple Lantern is considered one of his most iconic movies. Set within the Nineteen Twenties, the movie follows a teen who turns into the fourth concubine or a rich man after her father’s demise, solely to conflict with the opposite ladies of the home.
The movie stars Gong Li, Ma Jingwu, He Saifei and Cao Cuifen. Gong and Zhang are frequent collaborators; Increase the Purple Lantern is the third of eight collaborations after 1987’s Purple Sorghum in 1987 and Ju Dou in 1990 (each nice Chinese language movies in their very own proper). Increase the Purple Lantern gained the Silver Lion on the Venice Worldwide Movie Pageant and was nominated for the Academy Award for Greatest Overseas Language Movie. Sadly, it’s at present not accessible for streaming.
17. A Contact of Zen (1971)
French re-release of poster artwork with an English title for “A Contact Of Zen,” 1971.
A Contact of Zen is a wuxia (a style that follows martial artists in historical China) movie and co-production between Taiwan and Hong Kong. It follows an unmotivated artist and a princess on the run from a murderous basic whereas exploring themes like feminism, transcendence and Zen Buddhism.
A Contact of Zen gained the Technical Grand Prize and was nominated for the Palme d’Or on the Cannes Movie Pageant. It was solely the second Chinese language-language movie to win an award at Cannes and was the primary wuxia movie to win a world movie pageant award. The movie was directed by King Hu and stars Hsu Feng and Shih Chun. It’s at present accessible on streaming on multiple platforms.
16. Police Story (1985)
Police Story follows a cop who fights to clear his identify after being framed for homicide. Directed, co-written by and starring Jackie Chan, Police Story is pure heart-racing enjoyable and is surprisingly humorous for an motion movie. Chan walks the road between comedy and spectacular stunt work through the movie’s many motion scenes. Contemporary reviews even liken Chan to silent comedians like Buster Keaton.
Police Story turned a seven-movie franchise, and the movies fluctuate in high quality. Whereas the unique is arguably the most effective, Police Story 3: Supercop (which options Chan teaming up with Michelle Yeoh for a few of the finest motion scenes within the franchise) and Police Story 2 (which provides emotional depth to the sequence) are glorious movies in their very own proper. The unique Police Story is on the market to stream here.
15. Boat Folks (1982)
Ann Hui’s Boat Folks follows a Japanese photojournalist as he breaks away from a government-approved tour of Vietnam to {photograph} the true lives of Vietnamese individuals below communist rule. Whereas components of the movie are in Cantonese, a lot of it is usually in Vietnamese and Japanese.
Boat Folks stars George Lam, Andy Lau, Cora Miao and Season Ma. The movie gained 5 Hong Kong Movie Awards, together with Greatest Movie. Whereas it’s the third movie in Hui’s Vietnam Trilogy, it’s largely seen as her masterpiece and cemented her as a fixture of Hong Kong’s New Wave. Nonetheless, it was additionally a controversial movie as many noticed it as anti-Vietnamese or at the least one-sided in opposition to the Vietnamese authorities. The movie was additionally banned in Taiwan and later China. It’s accessible to steam here.
14. Days of Being Wild (1990)
Leslie Cheung Kwok-wing within the Wong Kar-wai 1990 film “Days of Being Wild.”
Days of Being Wild is considered one of many nice movies by director Wong Kar-Wai. The movie follows a a playboy, his former lover, his new girlfriend and a policeman after a household secret is revealed.
Days of Being Wild gained finest movie on the Hong Kong Movie Awards. The movie has a star-studded forged, together with Leslie Cheung, Andy Lau, Maggie Cheung and Tony Leung. It’s the first movie in a casual trilogy with 2000’s Within the Temper for Love and 2004’s 2046, all of that are must-watches for these eager about modern Hong Kong Cinema. It’s accessible to stream on multiple platforms.
13. The Blue Kite (1993)
The Blue Kite was really banned in China upon its completion and led to a ten-year ban from filmmaking by its director, Tian Zhuangzhuang. Nonetheless, it’s now thought to be a basic of Chinese language Cinema. The movie follows a girl whose librarian husband is pressured right into a labor camp through the Maoist purges; she should then survive poverty through the Nineteen Fifties to boost her younger son.
The movie stars Lü Liping, Pu Quanxin, Chen Xiaoman, Li Xuejian and Guo Baochang. The Blue Kite is a main instance of “the Fifth Technology” of mainland Chinese language filmmaking. It’s a very political movie; nonetheless, it’s additionally a profoundly human movie. The Blue Kite is at present streaming here.
12. A Metropolis of Unhappiness (1989)
Hou Hsiao-hsien’s A Metropolis of Unhappiness is a historic drama that follows three brothers as they navigate the altering tradition of Taiwan and the White Terror after the Japanese exit the Island within the Nineteen Forties.
The movie stars Tony Leung, Xin Shufen, Chen Sung-young, Jack Kao and Li Tian-lu. It was the primary Taiwanese movie to win the Golden Lion award on the Venice Movie Pageant. The movie is the primary in Hou’s free “Taiwan Trilogy” with 1993’s The Puppetmaster and 1995’s Good Males, Good Ladies. Sadly, A Metropolis of Unhappiness isn’t at present accessible for streaming.
11. Avenue Angel (1937)
Avenue Angel follows two sisters who discover work at a tea home in Thirties Shanghai and the trumpet participant (who the youthful sister falls in love with). There’s a lot happening within the movie, together with romance, music, comedy, the struggles of poverty and the galvanization of left-wing politics. The movie comes on the finish of the Golden Age of Shanghai Cinema, and whereas it looks like an essential movie, it is usually extremely watchable.
Directed by Yuan Muzhi, the movie stars Zhou Xuan and Zhao Dan. Zhou was a preferred singer and even nicknamed the “Golden Voice.” The movie popularized two songs, “Music of the 4 Seasons” and “Songstress on the Ends of the Earth.” It falls below public area within the U.S. and is on the market to stream here.
10. Infernal Affairs (2002)
Infernal Affairs is the Hong Kong movie on which Martin Scorsese’s The Departed relies. The movie follows a police cadet who goes undercover within the Triad and a mole put in by against the law boss. After they each rise within the group, their covers change into at risk of being blown.
Directed by Andrew Lau and Alan Mak, the movie stars Andy Lau, Tony Leung, Anthony Wong and Eric Tsang. The movie is emotional and visually wealthy. Infernal Affairs was nominated for 16 Hong Kong Movie Awards and gained seven, together with Greatest Movie. It’s accessible to stream here.
9. The Goddess (1934)
The Goddess is perhaps a tough promote to a contemporary viewers. It’s a silent movie a few mom being pressured into intercourse work to offer for her son in Thirties Shanghai. Directed by Wu Yonggang, the movie stars Ruan Lingyu in considered one of her ultimate roles.
The Goddess was common when it got here out. Nonetheless, it skilled a reassurance in recognition after the 1991 Ruan biopic, Middle Stage starring Maggie Chueng, used extracts of The Goddess and 1935’s New Ladies to showcase the movies of the “Chinese language Garbo.” The Goddess can also be notable for its early use of filmmaking strategies of montage and dissolve. Sadly, it’s at present not accessible on streaming.
8. Dragon Inn (1967)
Written and directed by King Hu, Dragon Inn is a foundational movie within the wuxia style. Dragon Inn follows a warrior who seeks to defend the kids of a condemned basic from the key police in 1400s China. Whereas the plot is pretty easy, the motion and imagery of this movie are iconic.
Whereas the movie has been remade twice (1992’s New Dragon Gate Inn and 2011’s Flying Swords of Dragon Gate), the unique is the most effective of the three. There are only a few Taiwanese movies that had been made earlier than 1970, and Dragon Inn is definitely essentially the most iconic movie of early Taiwanese cinema. It’s accessible to stream here.
7. As soon as Upon a Time in China (1991)
There are a few glorious martial arts movies in regards to the Chinese language folks hero Wong Fei-hung (Jackie Chan’s Drunken Grasp II and Donnie Yen’s Iron Monkey particularly come to thoughts); nonetheless, As soon as Upon a Time in China is the most effective. The movie follows Wong’s struggle for household, love and his martial arts faculty in opposition to the backdrop of a quickly modernizing lifestyle in late 1800s China and the rising tide of imperialism.
Directed by Tsui Hark, the movie stars Jet Li. As soon as Upon a Time in China has change into a staple of Hong Kong Cinema and the wuxia film style. It has led to 5 sequels and a TV sequence. It gained 4 Hong Kong Movie Awards and was a breakout movie for Li. Discover it here.
6. Election 2 (2006)
Election 2, additionally typically referred to as Triad Election, is a sequel to 2000’s Election. Whereas each movies are nice motion pictures, Election 2 is best. The movie follows a boss who runs for an unheard-of second time period to carry on to the highest spot in against the law syndicate.
The movie was proven on the Hong Kong Worldwide Movie Pageant and out of competitors on the Cannes Movie Pageant. It has change into a cult favorite, particularly amongst followers of Hong Kong cinema and director Johnnie To. The movie stars Louis Koo, Simon Yam, Nick Cheung, Cheung Siu-fai, Lam Suet and Gordon Lam. Sadly, it’s at present not accessible on streaming.
5. Yellow Earth (1984)
Yellow Earth is Chen Kaige’s directorial debut. The movie follows a touring communist soldier and a rebellious younger lady who seeks freedom from her village’s traditions. The movie stars Xueqi Wang, Bai Xue, Quiang Liu and Tuo Tan.
The movie is visually hanging, with one other iconic “fifth-generation” director, Zhang Yimou, as cinematographer. Yellow Earth is a crucial movie in Chinese language historical past. In 1982, each Chen and Zhang had been in The Beijing Movie Academy’s first graduating class because it was closed within the Nineteen Sixties throughout Mao’s Cultural Revolution. Sadly, it’s at present not accessible on streaming.
4. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000)
Ang Lee’s Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon is a superbly made wuxia epic. Set in a stylized model of the Qing Dynasty, it follows a warrior, his lover, a princess and a thief after a 400-year-old sword is stolen. The movie stars Chow Yun-fat, Michelle Yeoh, Zhang Ziyi and Chang Chen.
The movie, which is a multinational co-production, was nominated for 10 Oscars, profitable 4, together with Greatest Overseas Language Movie. Lee additionally obtained a Golden Globe for Greatest Director. It was additionally a shock worldwide hit on the field workplace. The movie feels half like a comic book e-book and half like a folktale in a very efficient manner. It’s accessible to stream here.
3. Spring in a Small City (1948)
Spring in a Small City follows a newly poor married couple because the spouse’s former lover visits their household compound. Directed by Fei Mu, the movie was named the most effective Chinese language movie ever made by the Hong Kong Movie Awards in 2005.
The movie begins with an iconic elongated narration from actress Wei Wei as Zhou Yuwen. There are solely 5 characters within the film, making it really feel extremely intimate and lonely. Whereas Spring in a Small City is now a beloved basic, it was controversial upon its launch. It was rejected by the Communist Social gathering, which might come to energy the next yr in 1949. It was rediscovered when the China Movie Archive launched a brand new print of the movie within the Nineteen Eighties, and it has since change into an everlasting basic of mainland Chinese language cinema. It’s within the public area within the U.S. and is on the market here.
2. Within the Temper For Love (2000)
Director Wong Kar-wai is a powerhouse of Hong Kong cinema, and Within the Temper For Love is considered one of his biggest movies. Within the Temper For Love follows neighbors in Nineteen Sixties British Hong Kong as they bond exterior of their marriages. It’s a dreamy and heartbreaking romance.
The movie has been influential within the romance style and has impressed movies like Sofia Coppola’s Misplaced in Translation and Barry Jenkins’ Moonlight. It additionally served as inspiration for one of many alternate universes in The Daniels’ All the things, In all places All at As soon as. Wong is a superb director and his movies Chungking Specific and Glad Collectively are different must-watches for these eager about Hong Kong Cinema. It’s accessible to stream here.
1. A Higher Tomorrow (1986)
Actor Yun-Fats Chow on set of the film “A Higher Tomorrow.”
Within the States, director John Woo is finest recognized for movies like Face/Off and Mission Unattainable 2, however his Hong Kong motion basic A Higher Tomorrow is arguably his finest movie. The movie follows an ex-triad member as he tries to attach together with his estranged policeman brother and keep away from the pull of gang life.
A Better Tomorrow is a extremely influential movie in Hong Kong motion cinema and is commonly credited for beginning the Heroic Bloodshed or Hong Kong Blood Opera style. The movie was ranked quantity two on The Hong Kong Movie Awards record of Best 100 Chinese Motion Pictures. The movie stars Ti Lung, Leslie Cheung and Chow Yun-fat. Sadly, it’s at present not accessible to stream.
Backside Line
Whether or not you might be searching for a quiet meditation on Chinese language historical past or a loud Hong Kong motion movie, these movies symbolize the attractive depth and breadth of Chinese language language cinema.
