Shubhabrata Dutta
The history of cinema in China, which dates back to 1905, encompasses a rich and diverse array of films from three distinct film industries: the Chinese mainland, Hong Kong, and Taiwan. The evolution of Chinese cinema has been marked by several notable phases and contributions. Hong Kong cinema, distinct due to its artistic freedom under British rule, became a powerhouse in its own right, particularly in martial arts cinema. Production houses like Shaw Brothers and Golden Harvest played pivotal roles. Icons like Bruce Lee and Jackie Chan rose to fame through these studios, with Lee’s debut in ‘The Big Boss’ (1971) and Chan’s breakout role in ‘Fist Of Fury’ (1972).
The 1980s and 1990s saw the rise of Hong Kong crime films, with directors like Ringo Lam and John Woo creating classics such as ‘A Better Tomorrow’ (1987) and ‘Hard Boiled’ (1992) and actors like Chow Yun-fat gaining international fame. This vast and intricate history illustrates the depth and global impact of Chinese cinema. For those interested in exploring this genre, the following selection of the best Chinese films is available for streaming on Netflix.
16. Marry My Dead Body (2022)
Directed by Cheng Wei-hao, ‘Marry My Dead Body’ follows an unlikely pair of a homophobic police officer, Wu Ming-han (Greg Hsu), and a gay ghost, Mao Mao (Austin Lin), who have to set aside their differences to solve Mao Mao’s murder and only then will Ming-han be free of him. What follows is a string of hilarious incidents garnished with action as the two deal with the local crime gang. A mindless, entertaining flick, ‘Marry My Dead Body’ is perfect for a weekend binge-watch. It can be streamed here.
15. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: Sword of Destiny (2016)
‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: Sword of Destiny’ is a sequel to ‘Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon’ (2000). It stars Michelle Yeoh as warrior-maiden Shu Lien (reprising her role from the first film), the protector of Green Destiny, a magical sword that belonged to her dead lover. However, she faces a threat from the ruthless warlord Hades Dai (Jason Scott Lee), who is hell-bent on getting his hands on the weapon. Shu Lien teams up with Silent Wolf (Donnie Yen) to protect the sword and the very world from destruction.
While Yeoh and Yen up the ante of the entire film, the fight scenes further add to its wuxia nature. A visually stunning blend of action, arts, and Chinese culture, ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: Sword of Destiny’ does justice to its predecessor. You can watch the film here.
14. The Wandering Earth (2019)
As if a large star about to devour it wasn’t enough, the Earth is now headed toward Jupiter, and a collision is imminent. ‘The Wandering Earth’ follows a group of astronauts as they try to save their home planet while being stuck between a huge rock and a hard and hot place. Will the Earth’s 12,000 thrust engines, built to propel it out of the solar system before the sun eats it up, be of any help? Set in the not-too-distant future, the film is directed by Frant Gwo and is based loosely on the 2000 eponymous novella by Liu Cixin. It stars Wu Jing, Zhao Jinmai, Andy Lau, Ng Man-tat, Qu Chuxiao, and Arkadiy Sharogradskiy. You can watch it here.
13. The Pig, the Snake and the Pigeon (2023)
This dark action thriller follows fugitive Chen Kui-lin (Ethan Juan), an infamous hitman who decides to become the most-wanted criminal in the world after realizing that his days on Earth are numbered. He is third in line after Bullhead (Chen Yi-wen) and Hongkie (Ben Yuen), who acquire the first and second positions, respectively, in the country’s Most-Wanted list. Kui-lin thus decides to kill the two and sets off on a murderous quest. But can a quest propelled by a thirst for blood bring peace? Directed by Wong Ching-po, this movie received multiple nominations at the ‘60th Golden Horse Awards’ and won the award for Best Action Choreography. You can watch ‘The Pig, the Snake and the Pigeon’ here.
12. The Yin Yang Master – Dream of Eternity (2021)
A fantasy film adapted from Baku Yumemakura’s fantasy novel-and-short-stories series ‘Onmyōji,’ ‘The Yin Yang Master – Dream of Eternity’ follows four masters, Hongruo, Longye (Jessie Li), Boya (Deng Lun), and Qingming (Mark Chao), to join forces at the Imperial City that is facing the threat of the wrath of a serpent demon that was trapped inside the body of the Empress within the city centuries ago by four masters and has since been protected by four stone guardians. But when Hongruo is killed by a hair demon, his position is filled by He Shouye (Wang Duo). How the three present masters and the new replacement work together to keep the serpent at bay, with help from the stone guardians, is what follows in this epic fantasy drama. Directed by Guo Jingming, ‘The Yin Yang Master – Dream of Eternity’ is custom-made for fantasy fanatics, although it assures entertainment to all. You can check it out here.
11. Double World (2020)
This fantasy action epic is based on the famous MMORPG (massive(ly) multiplayer online role-playing game) called Zhengtu, which was a phenomenon in China when it dropped in 2007 and has maintained its standard still. Since then, the game has only garnered more and more players and is a universe in itself. The film’s story is set in the fictional Central Plains continent and shows a tournament being organized by the King of Southern Zhao, in conflict with Southern Zhao, to find a Field Marshal. Each of Southern Zhao’s eight clans sends three of their warriors to take part in it. Fueled by tragic pasts and revenge, ‘Double World’ is a thoroughly entertaining movie with stunning visuals and incredible action sequences. Directed by Teddy Chan, the movie can be watched right here.
10. The Yinyang Master (2021)
In Li Weiran’s ‘The Yinyang Master’ (侍神令), Chen Kun and Zhou Xun lead a stellar cast in this Chinese fantasy film adapted from the NetEase game Onmyōji. The story revolves around Qing Ming, a Yinyang Master framed for a crime, embarking on a journey between human and demon realms. As the demon king threatened a return, Qing Ming faced betrayal, battles, and an impending demon invasion. The plot intertwines friendship, sacrifice, and the supernatural, delivering a visually striking cinematic experience. With captivating performances and a gripping narrative, the film explores themes of destiny and loyalty against the backdrop of an otherworldly conflict. You can watch the film here.
9. Incantation (2022)
‘Incantation’ (Chinese: 咒; pinyin: Zhòu) is a Taiwanese found footage supernatural folk horror film directed by Kevin Ko. The plot revolves around Li Ronan, cursed six years ago for violating a religious taboo. Faced with the consequences, she strives to shield her daughter from the repercussions of her past actions, navigating a tense and mystical narrative filled with supernatural elements. Kevin Ko crafts a gripping tale of redemption and the enduring impact of ancient curses, creating an atmospheric and haunting cinematic experience. You can watch it here.
8. A Chinese Odyssey: Part 2 – Cinderella (1995)
‘A Chinese Odyssey: Part 2 – Cinderella’ is the sequel to the Hong Kong fantasy-comedy film directed by Jeffrey Lau. Continuing the whimsical journey inspired by ‘Journey to the West,’ the film stars Stephen Chow as the mischievous Monkey King. This installment delves deeper into the character’s backstory, revealing his complex relationship with Zixia, a celestial being. Fusing romance, fantasy, and comedy, the film takes the audience on a surreal adventure filled with mythical creatures, magic, and humor. As Monkey King grapples with destiny and love, ‘Cinderella’ maintains the captivating visual style and inventive storytelling that defines this iconic cinematic series. Feel free to stream it here.
7. Us and Them (2018)
‘Us And Them’ is directed by Rene Liu and stars Jing Boran and Zhou Dongyu in leading roles. The film centers around their characters, Lin and Fang. The two of them fall in love, but eventually, the harsh realities of life keep them apart. The movie uses a nonlinear format of storytelling, jumping between the past and present. While the past is shown in color, the present is shown in black and white.
Lin and Fang meet some days before the Chinese New Year Festival. We see that they are both struggling with their lives. Lin wants to create a video game but cannot do so because of his work and the lack of time and money. Fang, after a fight with her boyfriend’s mother, broke off her relationship and moved to Beijing. The two of them then start living together and earn money selling software and porn.
Later, we see that the owner of the complex where the couple lives asks them to move out because a friend of the owner will be coming in, Which infuriates Lin a lot. He even becomes rude to his father when he calls him to inquire about his work and health. Seeing this change in him, Fang decides to end their relationship. The two of them meet after a long time, and Lin is finally successful and happily married. Though responses to the film have been mixed to positive, it must be said that considering it is the debut film of director Rene Liu, she has done a fine job in storytelling and character development. You can watch the movie here.
6. Green Snake (2021)
Starring talented voice actors like Tang Xiaoxi, Zhang Fuzheng, and Wei Chao, ‘Green Snake’ is an action-adventure fantasy film directed by Amp Wong. The story revolves around two demon-snake sisters whose attempt to flatten an island temple is fouled by a gold monk named Fahai. After they are separated, Xiao Qing finds herself in a dystopian and embarks on a quest to find his sister. In her journey, she meets a mysterious man who is struggling to recall his past life. Does he hold the key to Xiao’s reunion with her sister? Or is he an enemy trying to misguide her? You can watch the movie here.
5. A Chinese Odyssey: Part One – Pandora’s Box (1995)
Loosely based on the 16th-century Wu Cheng’en’s novel ‘Journey to the West,’ the classic Jeffrey Lau directorial follows the Monkey King Sun Wukong (Stephen Chow), who is banished to the mortal world by Guanyin (a Buddhist bodhisattva) after the former refuses to continue his pilgrimage with his mentor Xuan Zang.
In the mortal world, he is stripped of his powers and memories and becomes the leader of a group of bandits. How his experiences and exploits bring his memory back and reawaken his metaphysical self is what we see in this overarching drama. Seamlessly sewing action, comedy, and romance, the film smartly manages to grab the attention. While you may find the visual effects old because they are, it goes without saying that the film is a must-watch. It can be streamed here.
4. The Soul (2021)
Written by Cheng Wei-hao and Jin Bailun, ‘The Soul’ is a Chinese-Taiwanese neo-noir sci-fi movie that is based on Jiang Bo’s fictional novel ‘Yihun Youshu.’ The film revolves around the mysterious murder of Wang Shicong, the chairman of a powerful group who passed away in suspicious conditions at home. Liang Wenchao, the detective who is shouldering the responsibility of investigating the murder, learns several shocking facts about Wang’s past. As he delves deeper into his findings, he realizes that there is some connection between the victim’s ex-partner as well as his son to the brutal murder. You can watch the movie here.
3. Cities of Last Things (2018)
Featuring stand-out performances by Ho Wi Ding, Hu Chi Hsin, Winnie Lau, and Alexis Perrin, ‘Cities of Last Things’ is a drama movie directed by Ho Wi Ding himself. The film centers on the life of an ordinary man named Zhang Dong Ling, who kills himself in the opening sequence. The story then opens up in reverse chronological order and takes viewers back to the moment in his life when Zhang first encountered the alleged infidelity of his wife. As he loses his temper and violently confronts his wife’s lover, his life begins to spiral out of control as he makes one shocking choice after another as new challenges come his way. You can watch the film here.
2. A Chinese Odyssey Part One: Pandora’s Box (1995)
‘A Chinese Odyssey Part One: Pandora’s Box’ is a fantasy-comedy film directed by Jeffrey Lau. Serving as a loose adaptation of the classic Chinese literary work ‘Journey to the West,’ the film follows the misadventures of the mischievous Monkey King, played by Stephen Chow. With a blend of humor, romance, and supernatural elements, the movie explores Monkey King’s journey to obtain the “Pandora’s Box” and his encounters with gods, demons, and the innocent village girl Zixia. Filled with visual flair, witty dialogue, and creative storytelling, the film is a captivating and iconic entry in Hong Kong cinema’s fantasy genre. You can watch the film here.
1. A Sun (2019)
A powerful commentary on family dynamics underscored by the tension between Taiwan and the People’s Liberation Army (of the Chinese Communist Party) during the Taiwanese presidential election of 1996, ‘A Sun’ follows two brothers Jian-ho (Wu Chien-ho) and his elder brother Jian-hao (Greg Hsu) and their parents Wen (Chen Yi-wen) and Qin (Samantha Ko). How the whole family deals with adversities is portrayed brilliantly in this very personal Chung Mong-hong directorial. The sentencing of Jian-hao for assault after he took to self-destruction due to his father’s ignorance and Jian-ho’s struggle with being the light of the family, a weight put on him by his father that has cost him his personal “dark corner” these two aspects are what maneuver the plot to give us a socio-economic drama which is the first Taiwanese entry for Best International Feature Film at the Oscars (2021). You can stream ‘A Sun’ here.
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