Popular from China
Us and Them
(后来的我们)
Fate brings Xiaoxiao and Jianqing together, but eventually, the harsh realities of life make them drift apart. Ten years later, they run into each other again.
- ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
- China • 2018
- Director René Liu
- Cast Jing Boran, Zhou Dongyu, Tian Zhuangzhuang, Qu Zheming
- Genre Drama, Romance
- Available on Netflix, Netflix basic with Ads
Hero
(英雄)
After surviving an assassination attempt, King of Qin summons a renowned warrior in hopes of uniting the Warring States of ancient China.
- ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
- China, Hong Kong • 2002
- Director Zhang Yimou
- Cast Jet Li, Tony Leung Chiu-Wai, Maggie Cheung, Donnie Yen, Zhang Ziyi, Chen Dao-Ming
- Genre Action, Adventure, Drama, History
- Available on Apple TV, Google Play Movies, Fandango At Home, Amazon Video, YouTube, Pluto TV
Kung Fu Hustle
(功夫)
Sing and his friend Bone pretend to be members of the Axe Gang in order to gain respect.
- ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
- Hong Kong, China • 2004
- Director Stephen Chow
- Cast Stephen Chow, Yuen Wah, Yuen Qiu, Lam Tze-chung, Bruce Leung Siu-Lung, Eva Huang
- Genre Action, Comedy, Crime, Fantasy
- Available on Apple TV, Google Play Movies, Fandango At Home, Amazon Video, Microsoft Store, YouTube, AMC on Demand
Still Life
(三峡好人)
A man and woman witness societal changes in their hometown, which is headed for demolition.
- ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
- China, Hong Kong • 2006
- Director Jia Zhangke
- Cast Han Sanming, Zhao Tao, Wang Hongwei, Zhubin Li, Haiyu Xiang, Lin Zhou
- Genre Drama
- Available on Apple TV, Google Play Movies, Fandango At Home, YouTube, Kanopy
Farewell My Concubine
(霸王别姬)
When one member of an acting duo gets married their explosive breakup and tragic fall begin to take root.
- ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
- China, Hong Kong • 1993
- Director Chen Kaige
- Cast Leslie Cheung, Zhang Fengyi, Gong Li, Jiang Wenli, Ge You, Lu Qi
- Genre Drama
- Available on Criterion Channel, Apple TV, Google Play Movies, Fandango At Home, Amazon Video, YouTube
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
(卧虎藏龙)
In another time, in a distant place... an epic adventure is about to unfold.
- ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
- Taiwan, Hong Kong, United States • 2000
- Director Ang Lee
- Cast Chow Yun-Fat, Michelle Yeoh, Zhang Ziyi, Chang Chen, Cheng Pei-Pei, Sihung Lung
- Genre Action, Adventure, Drama, Romance
- Available on Max Amazon Channel, Max, Apple TV, Google Play Movies, Fandango At Home, Amazon Video, Microsoft Store, YouTube, Spectrum On Demand, AMC on Demand
Better Days
(少年的你)
A bullied teen gangs up with a mysterious criminal who uses violence to protect her.
- ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
- China • 2019
- Director Derek Tsang
- Cast Zhou Dongyu, Jackson Yee, Huang Jue, Yin Fang
- Genre Drama
- Available on Fandor Amazon Channel, Hoopla, Apple TV, Google Play Movies, Fandango At Home, Amazon Video, Spectrum On Demand, Tubi TV, Pluto TV, AsianCrush, Freevee, Cineverse, Kanopy
The Assassin
(刺客聶隱娘)
Whether it is love or loyalty, for her next mission... a sacrifice will be made.
- ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
- Taiwan, China, Hong Kong • 2015
- Director Hou Hsiao-hsien
- Cast Shu Qi, Chang Chen, Nikki Hsieh, Sheu Fang-Yi, Ethan Juan, Tetsuya Komuro
- Genre Action, Drama, History
- Available on Fandor Amazon Channel, Peacock, Hi-YAH, Midnight Pulp, Rakuten Viki, Apple TV, Google Play Movies, Fandango At Home, Amazon Video, YouTube, Tubi TV, YouTube Free, Pluto TV, VIX , AsianCrush, Freevee, Cineverse, Kanopy
New from China
Suzhou River
(苏州河)
Is it possible to relive a past love?
- ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
- Germany, China, France • 2000
- Director Lou Ye
- Cast Zhou Xun, Jia Hongsheng, Zhongkai Hua, Nai An, Yao Anlian, Zhang Ming Fang
- Genre Drama, Romance
- Available on Criterion Channel, Strand Releasing Amazon Channel, Apple TV, Google Play Movies, Fandango At Home, Amazon Video, YouTube
The Wild Goose Lake
(南方车站的聚会)
A gangster, recently freed from prison, finds trouble amid Wuhan's shadows and neon.
- ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
- China, France • 2019
- Director Diao Yi'nan
- Cast Hu Ge, Gwei Lun-mei, Liao Fan, Wan Qian, Qi Dao, Huang Jue
- Genre Crime, Drama
- Available on Apple TV, Google Play Movies, Fandango At Home, Amazon Video, Microsoft Store, YouTube, Kanopy, Hoopla
Farewell My Concubine
(霸王别姬)
When one member of an acting duo gets married their explosive breakup and tragic fall begin to take root.
- ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
- China, Hong Kong • 1993
- Director Chen Kaige
- Cast Leslie Cheung, Zhang Fengyi, Gong Li, Jiang Wenli, Ge You, Lu Qi
- Genre Drama
- Available on Criterion Channel, Apple TV, Google Play Movies, Fandango At Home, Amazon Video, YouTube
The Story of Qiu Ju
(秋菊打官司)
When her husband is injured by a village elder, a peasant woman travels far and wide seeking justice.
- ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
- China, Hong Kong • 1992
- Director Zhang Yimou
- Cast Gong Li, Peiqi Liu, Liuchun Yang, Lei Kesheng, Ge Zhijun
- Genre Comedy, Drama
- Available on Plex, Plex Channel
Over the Moon
An adventurous young girl builds a rocket to take her to the moon, where she hopes to meet a mythical goddess.
- ✭ ✭ ✭
- United States, China • 2020
- Director Glen Keane
- Cast Cathy Ang, Phillipa Soo, Ken Jeong, John Cho, Sandra Oh, Ruthie Ann Miles
- Genre Adventure, Animation, Family, Fantasy
- Available on Netflix, Netflix basic with Ads
Pegasus
(飞驰人生)
Zhang Chi dreams of his former life in the racing world. With no car, money, or teammates and an expiring license, he vows to return to driving.
- ✭ ✭ ✭
- China • 2019
- Director Han Han
- Cast Shen Teng, Johnny Huang, Yin Zheng, Winston Chao, Tian Yu, Yin Fang
- Genre Comedy, Action, Adventure
- Available on Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Netflix basic with Ads, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, Flix Premiere, Amazon Video, Tubi TV, Plex, Plex Channel
Better Days
(少年的你)
A bullied teen gangs up with a mysterious criminal who uses violence to protect her.
- ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
- China • 2019
- Director Derek Tsang
- Cast Zhou Dongyu, Jackson Yee, Huang Jue, Yin Fang
- Genre Drama
- Available on Fandor Amazon Channel, Hoopla, Apple TV, Google Play Movies, Fandango At Home, Amazon Video, Spectrum On Demand, Tubi TV, Pluto TV, AsianCrush, Freevee, Cineverse, Kanopy
Full River Red
(满江红)
When an envoy dies right before an important political meeting, a soldier must discover the truth about the conspiracy.
- ✭ ✭ ✭
- China • 2023
- Director Zhang Yimou
- Cast Shen Teng, Jackson Yee, Zhang Yi, Lei Jiayin, Yunpeng Yue, Guo Jingfei
- Genre Comedy, Drama, Mystery
- Available on Rakuten Viki
A First Farewell
(第一次的离别)
A coming of age film about three Uyghur children living in Mandarin-language China.
- ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
- China • 2020
- Director Lina Wang
- Cast Isa Yasan, Kalbinur Rahmati, Alinaz Rahmati
- Genre Drama, Family
- Available on Amazon Prime Video, Rakuten Viki, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, Amazon Video, Kanopy
Telescope Recommends
Better Days
(少年的你)
A bullied teen gangs up with a mysterious criminal who uses violence to protect her.
- ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
- China • 2019
- Director Derek Tsang
- Cast Zhou Dongyu, Jackson Yee, Huang Jue, Yin Fang
- Genre Drama
- Available on Fandor Amazon Channel, Hoopla, Apple TV, Google Play Movies, Fandango At Home, Amazon Video, Spectrum On Demand, Tubi TV, Pluto TV, AsianCrush, Freevee, Cineverse, Kanopy
In the Mood for Love
(花樣年華)
Longing and loneliness collide in this understated romance.
- ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
- Hong Kong, China • 2000
- Director Wong Kar-wai
- Cast Tony Leung Chiu-Wai, Maggie Cheung, Rebecca Pan, Kelly Lai Chen, Siu Ping-Lam, Mama Hung
- Genre Drama, Romance
- Available on Criterion Channel, Max Amazon Channel, Max, Apple TV, Google Play Movies, Fandango At Home, Amazon Video, YouTube
Hooligan Sparrow
Maverick activist Ye Haiyan and her colleagues protest the sexual abuse of six elementary school girls by their principal.
- ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
- China, United States • 2016
- Director Nanfu Wang
- Cast Ye Haiyan
- Genre Documentary
- Available on Apple TV, Google Play Movies, Fandango At Home, YouTube, Kanopy
Mountain Patrol
(Kekexili)
Inspired by real life, a depiction of the struggle between vigilante rangers and bands of poachers in a remote region of Tibet.
- ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
- China, Hong Kong • 2004
- Director Lu Chuan
- Cast Duobujie, Zhang Lei, Qi Dao, Xueying Zhao, Zhanlin Ma, Xueying Zhao
- Genre Action, Drama
- Available on Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, Apple TV, Google Play Movies, Fandango At Home, Amazon Video, YouTube
Not One Less
(一个都不能少)
A 13 year-old substitute teacher in the Chinese countryside goes looking for one of her lost pupils in the city.
- ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
- China • 1999
- Director Zhang Yimou
- Cast Wei Minzhi, Zhang Huike, Tian Zhenda, Gao Enman, Sun Zhimei, Feng Yuying
- Genre Drama
- Available on Apple TV, Fandango At Home, Amazon Video
Mountains May Depart
(山河故人)
The life of Tao, and those close to her, is explored in three different time periods.
- ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
- China, France, Japan • 2015
- Director Jia Zhangke
- Cast Zhao Tao, Sylvia Chang, Dong Zijian, Zhang Yi, Liang Jingdong
- Genre Romance, Drama
- Available on Kino Film Collection, Apple TV, Google Play Movies, Fandango At Home, Amazon Video, YouTube, Kanopy
Lunana: A Yak in the Classroom
(ལུང་ནག་ན)
A teacher in search of inspiration travels to the most remote school in the world.
- ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
- Bhutan, China • 2019
- Director Pawo Choyning Dorji
- Cast Sherab Dorji, Ugyen Norbu Lhendup, Keldon Lhamo Gurung, Pem Zam, Chimi Dem
- Genre Drama
- Available on Apple TV, Google Play Movies, Fandango At Home, YouTube, Amazon Video, Tubi TV, The Roku Channel, Pluto TV, Kanopy, Hoopla
The Wild Goose Lake
(南方车站的聚会)
A gangster, recently freed from prison, finds trouble amid Wuhan's shadows and neon.
- ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
- China, France • 2019
- Director Diao Yi'nan
- Cast Hu Ge, Gwei Lun-mei, Liao Fan, Wan Qian, Qi Dao, Huang Jue
- Genre Crime, Drama
- Available on Apple TV, Google Play Movies, Fandango At Home, Amazon Video, Microsoft Store, YouTube, Kanopy, Hoopla
2046
Reality and fiction blend for a grieving sci-fi writer desperate to understand — and forget.
- ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
- Hong Kong, China, France • 2004
- Director Wong Kar-wai
- Cast Tony Leung Chiu-Wai, Gong Li, Faye Wong, Takuya Kimura, Zhang Ziyi, Carina Lau
- Genre Drama, Fantasy, Romance, Science Fiction
- Available on Google Play Movies, Fandango At Home, Amazon Video, Microsoft Store, YouTube, Spectrum On Demand, Tubi TV
China Series
Nirvana in Fire
(琅琊榜)
A story of family honor, political betrayal, and warring dynasties set against the unrest of 4th-century China.
- ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
- China • 2015
- Creator Kong Sheng, Li Xue
- Cast Huang Xiaoming, Liu Haoran, Tong Liya
- Genre Drama
- Available on Rakuten Viki
Crayon Shin-chan Spin-off
(クレヨンしんちゃん外伝)
This spin-off of “Crayon Shin-Chan” is set 100 years in the future.
- ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
- China, Spain, Japan • 2016
- Creator Michio Mihara
- Cast Akiko Yajima, Miki Narahashi, Toshiyuki Morikawa, Satomi Korogi, Mari Mashiba
- Genre Animation, Comedy
- Available on Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads
My Story For You
(为了你我愿意热爱整个世界)
A young man is determined to write his way to success, to be with the woman he loves.
- ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
- China • 2018
- Creator Lin Yan
- Cast Luo Jin, Zheng Shuang, Zhang Yishang, Pang Han Chen
- Genre Drama
- Available on Rakuten Viki
Story of Yanxi Palace
(延禧攻略)
When her older sister dies under mysterious circumstances while working at Yanxi Palace, Wei Yingluo is determined to find out the truth.
- ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
- China • 2018
- Creator De-Guang Wen, Kaidong Hui
- Cast Wu Jinyan, Nie Yuan, Charmaine Sheh, Qin Lan, Xu Kai, Wang Yuanke
- Genre Drama
- Available on Amazon Video, Tubi TV, The Roku Channel, Rakuten Viki, iQIYI, Freevee
The Rise of Phoenixes
(天盛長歌)
An intense political drama set in the early years of the fictional Tiansheng dynasty.
- ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
- China • 2018
- Creator
- Cast Chen Kun, Ni Ni, Ni Dahong, Qu Gaowei, Bai Jing Ting, Wang Ou
- Genre Drama
- Available on Rakuten Viki
The Untamed
(陈情令)
In a land dominated by the mighty Wen clan, two young men decide to take action against the clan's chief when they discover his evil plan.
- ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
- China • 2019
- Creator Mo Xiang Tong Xiu
- Cast Xiao Zhan, Wang Yibo, Wang Zhuocheng, Xuan Lu, Meng Ziyi, Liu Haikuan
- Genre Action & Adventure, Drama, Mystery
- Available on Amazon Video, Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Rakuten Viki, KoreaOnDemand, Netflix basic with Ads, Amazon Prime Video with Ads
Three-Body
(三体)
Based on the critically-acclaimed novel by Cixin Liu, this universe-spanning tale concerns scientists making first contact with alien civilization.
- ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
- China • 2023
- Creator
- Cast Zhang Luyi, Yu Hewei, Chen Jin, Wang Ziwen, Lin Yongjian, Li Xiaoran
- Genre Drama, Sci-Fi & Fantasy
- Available on Amazon Video, Amazon Prime Video, Tubi TV, Rakuten Viki, Peacock, Plex, Plex Channel, Amazon Prime Video with Ads
Documentaries from China
Last Train Home
(归途列车)
A documentary portrait of a Chinese family where the parents status as migrant workers only allow them to travel to their children once a year.
- ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
- Canada, China, United Kingdom • 2009
- Director Lixin Fan
- Cast Changhua Zhang, Suqin Chen, Qin Zhang, Yang Zhang, Tingsui Tang
- Genre Documentary, Drama
- Available on Apple TV, Kanopy
Goodnight Nobody
A look at the lives of four insomniacs from around the world as they navigate another sleepless night.
- ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
- Switzerland, Burkina Faso, China • 2010
- Director Jacqueline Zünd
- Cast Mila Dean, Jeremie Kafando, Fedir Nesterchuck, Lin Yao
- Genre Documentary
- Available on DocAlliance Films
Paths of the Soul
(གངས་རིན་པོ་ཆེ)
A journey into humanity and faith.
- ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
- China • 2015
- Director Zhang Yang
- Cast Yang Pei, Nyima Zadui, Tsewang Dolkar, Tsring Chodron, Seba Jiangcuo
- Genre Adventure, Drama, Documentary
- Available on OVID, Amazon Video, Hoopla
People's Republic of Desire
What Will You Find If You Pin All Your Hopes Online?
- ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
- China • 2018
- Director Hao Wu
- Cast
- Genre Documentary
- Available on Apple TV, Google Play Movies, Amazon Video, YouTube
Web Junkie
An uninhibited look at what goes on in a Beijing treatment center tasked with “deprogramming” internet-addicted minors.
- ✭ ✭ ✭
- Israel, United States, China • 2014
- Director Shosh Shlam
- Cast
- Genre Documentary
- Available on Kino Film Collection, Apple TV, Google Play Movies, Fandango At Home, Amazon Video, YouTube, Kanopy
Hooligan Sparrow
Maverick activist Ye Haiyan and her colleagues protest the sexual abuse of six elementary school girls by their principal.
- ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
- China, United States • 2016
- Director Nanfu Wang
- Cast Ye Haiyan
- Genre Documentary
- Available on Apple TV, Google Play Movies, Fandango At Home, YouTube, Kanopy
Swimming Out Till the Sea Turns Blue
(一直游到海水变蓝)
A deeply insightful portrait of four important Chinese authors and the forces that shaped them.
- ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
- China • 2020
- Director Jia Zhangke
- Cast Huifang Duan, Liang Hong, Pingwa Jia, Hua Yu
- Genre Documentary
- Available on OVID, Apple TV, Google Play Movies, Amazon Video, YouTube
Twenty Two
(二十二)
Hear the inspiring, chilling story of the survivors who were forced into sex slavery by the Japanese during World War II ---- told by themselves.
- ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
- China • 2017
- Director Ke Guo
- Cast
- Genre History, Documentary
- Available on Amazon Video
Summer Pasture
A young Tibetan family struggles to reconcile their traditional way of life with a rapidly modernizing world.
- ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
- China, United States • 2011
- Director Nelson Walker
- Cast Locho, Yama
- Genre Documentary, Drama
- Available on OVID, Amazon Video, Hoopla, myfilmfriend
On the Way to School
(Sur le chemin de l'école)
Children from four different corners of the Earth travel great distances to get to school in this inspiring documentary.
- ✭ ✭ ✭
- France, China, South Africa • 2013
- Director Pascal Plisson
- Cast Noura Azzagagh, Zahira Badi, Carlito, Zineb Elkabi, Emmanuel J. Esther
- Genre Documentary
- Available on OVID, Apple TV, Google Play Movies, Fandango At Home, Amazon Video, Microsoft Store, YouTube, Tubi TV, VUDU Free, Kanopy, Hoopla
The Human Scale
Humanity's rapid shift toward urbanization may not be entirely positive.
- ✭ ✭ ✭
- Denmark, Bangladesh, China • 2013
- Director Andreas Dalsgaard
- Cast
- Genre Documentary
- Available on OVID, Apple TV, Google Play Movies, Fandango At Home, Amazon Video, YouTube, Kanopy, Hoopla
I Wish I Knew
(海上传奇)
The stories of Shanghai, spanning over more than a century.
- ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
- China • 2010
- Director Jia Zhangke
- Cast Zhao Tao, Chen Danqing, Toon Wang, Hou Hsiao-hsien, Wei Wei, Rebecca Pan
- Genre Documentary, History
- Available on Apple TV, Google Play Movies, Fandango At Home, Amazon Video, YouTube, Kanopy
Behemoth
(悲兮魔兽)
A sobering Chinese documentary about the environmental, sociological, and public health effects of coal-mining in China and Inner Mongolia.
- ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
- China, France • 2015
- Director Zhao Liang
- Cast
- Genre Documentary
- Available on Fandor, Metrograph, Apple TV, Kanopy
High Tech, Low Life
Two Chinese bloggers, one self-interested and the other motivated by change, each cover stories not reported on by official media.
- ✭ ✭ ✭
- China, United States • 2012
- Director Stephen T. Maing
- Cast Shuguang Zhou, Shihe Zhang
- Genre Documentary
- Available on Apple TV, Google Play Movies, Amazon Video, YouTube
Yellow Is Forbidden
Chinese fashion designer Guo Pei works towards becoming a guest member of the Chambre Syndicale de la Haute Couture.
- ✭ ✭ ✭
- New Zealand, China, France • 2018
- Director Pietra Brettkelly
- Cast Guo Pei, Wendi Murdoch, Philip Treacy, Jack Tsao
- Genre Documentary
- Available on Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, Flix Premiere, Amazon Video, Tubi TV, Freevee, Kanopy, Plex, Plex Channel