10 Best Chinese-Language Movies to Watch

By Vlad Zakh · August 25, 2025

China Action intense slow and atmospheric

Chinese-language cinema covers two traditions: the wuxia epics that made Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon a global crossover, and the interior dramas arthouse audiences found through Wong Kar-wai and Zhang Yimou. The Wandering Earth is a sci-fi spectacle about relocating the planet, Ash Is Purest White has a gangster’s girlfriend taking the fall, and A Touch of Sin links four stories of sudden violence. The Grandmaster, To Live, Raise the Red Lantern, Farewell My Concubine, Hero, In the Mood for Love and Crouching Tiger round out the list.

The Wandering Earth (2019)

TMDB ★ 6.8

A big-budget sci-fi spectacle about relocating the entire planet, and China's biggest crossover hit.

Directed by Frant Gwo · 2h 06m · Rated PG-13

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Ash Is Purest White (2018)

TMDB ★ 7.0

A gangster's girlfriend takes the fall for him, then spends years living with that choice.

Directed by Jia Zhangke · 2h 16m · Rated NR

Where to watch

Stream: Philo, Criterion Channel, Fandor Amazon Channel, Cohen Media Amazon Channel · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

A Touch of Sin (2013)

TMDB ★ 7.1

Four loosely linked stories of ordinary people pushed towards sudden violence.

Directed by Jia Zhangke · 2h 11m

Where to watch

Stream: AMC+ Amazon Channel, Kino Film Collection · Rent or buy: Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

The Grandmaster (2013)

TMDB ★ 6.6

A stylised account of Ip Man's life, more meditative than the usual martial-arts biopic.

Directed by Wong Kar-Wai · 2h 10m · Rated PG-13

Where to watch

Stream: Lionsgate+ Amazon Channel, Howdy Amazon Channel · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

To Live (1994)

TMDB ★ 8.3

One family's survival through decades of Chinese political upheaval, told with real restraint.

Directed by Zhang Yimou · 2h 13m

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Raise the Red Lantern (1991)

TMDB ★ 8.0

A young concubine navigates a household's brutal internal hierarchy.

Directed by Zhang Yimou · 2h 05m

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Farewell My Concubine (1993)

TMDB ★ 8.2

Two Peking Opera performers' friendship stretches across five decades of upheaval.

Directed by Chen Kaige · 2h 51m

Where to watch

Stream: Hoopla, MUBI, MUBI Amazon Channel, Film Movement Plus, BFI Player Amazon Channel, Film Movement Plus Amazon Channel · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Hero (2002)

TMDB ★ 7.9

An assassination story told from four contradicting perspectives, gorgeously staged.

Directed by Zhang Yimou · 1h 39m · Rated PG-13

Where to watch

Rent: Amazon Video, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home · Buy: Amazon Video, Google Play Movies, YouTube

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

In the Mood for Love (2000)

TMDB ★ 8.1

A repressed almost-affair between neighbours, told through glances more than dialogue.

Directed by Wong Kar-Wai · 1h 39m · Rated PG

Where to watch

Stream: HBO Max Amazon Channel, HBO Max · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000)

TMDB ★ 7.9

Two warriors and a stolen sword lead to a sweeping tale of honour, love and revenge in ancient China.

Directed by Ang Lee · 2h 00m · Rated PG-13

Where to watch

Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, FlixFling · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Streaming availability data from JustWatch, via TMDB. Availability changes often, so check the service before you plan a movie night.

Vlad Zakh

Founder, Movieix

Founder of Movieix. He started the site because most recommendation pages felt like noise. Here, lists are sorted by who's in the film, where it's from and what mood you're in tonight.

10 Best Chinese-Language Movies to Watch

The Wandering Earth (2019)

Ash Is Purest White (2018)

A Touch of Sin (2013)

The Grandmaster (2013)

To Live (1994)

Raise the Red Lantern (1991)

Farewell My Concubine (1993)

Hero (2002)

In the Mood for Love (2000)

Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000)

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