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
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
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
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
The Road Home
(我的父亲母亲)
Prompted by his father’s death and his mother’s grief, a man recalls the story of how they met in flashback.
- ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
- China • 1999
- Director Zhang Yimou
- Cast Zhang Ziyi, Hao Zheng, Yulian Zhao, Sun Honglei, Bin Li
- Genre Drama, Romance
- Available on Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, Apple TV, Google Play Movies, Fandango At Home, Amazon Video, Microsoft Store, YouTube, The Roku 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
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
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
New from China
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
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
John Rabe
History needs extraordinary heroes.
- ✭ ✭ ✭
- France, China, Germany • 2009
- Director Florian Gallenberger
- Cast Ulrich Tukur, Dagmar Manzel, Steve Buscemi, Daniel Brühl, Zhang Jingchu, Teruyuki Kagawa
- Genre Drama, History, War
- Available on Curiosity Stream, CuriosityStream Apple TV Channel, 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
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
Pelswick
Children's television show about a teenage boy who uses a wheelchair.
- ✭ ✭ ✭
- Canada, China • 2000
- Creator John Callahan
- Cast David Arquette, Rob Tinkler, Chuck Campbell, David Huband, Peter Oldring, Tracey Moore
- Genre Animation, Comedy
- Available on Amazon Video, Tubi TV, Pluto TV
Shadow Magic
(西洋镜)
An ambitious young photographer partners with an Englishman to bring the film industry to Beijing.
- ✭ ✭ ✭
- China, Germany, Taiwan • 2000
- Director Ann Hu
- Cast Jared Harris, Xia Yu, Yufei Xing, Liu Peiqi, Lü Liping, Jingming Wang
- Genre Drama, History
- Available on Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, Apple TV, Google Play Movies, Fandango At Home, Amazon Video, YouTube, The Roku Channel, 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
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
Telescope Recommends
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
Ascension
An exploration of contemporary China through the lens of consumerism, innovation, and pursuit of the "Chinese Dream."
- ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
- China • 2021
- Director Jessica Kingdon
- Cast
- Genre Documentary
- Available on Paramount Plus, Paramount+ Amazon Channel, Paramount+ Roku Premium Channel, Paramount Plus Apple TV Channel , Apple TV, Google Play Movies, Fandango At Home, Amazon Video, YouTube
Ash Is Purest White
(江湖儿女)
The violent love story of a young dancer and a mobster spanning from 2001 to 2017.
- ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
- China, France, Japan • 2018
- Director Jia Zhangke
- Cast Zhao Tao, Liao Fan, Feng Xiaogang, Xu Zheng, Zhang Yibai, Diao Yi'nan
- Genre Crime, Drama, Romance
- Available on Apple TV, Google Play Movies, Fandango At Home, Amazon Video, YouTube, Tubi TV, Kanopy
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
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
Have a Nice Day
(大世界)
A darkly funny animated neo-noir following a young driver who steals a million dollars from a crime boss.
- ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
- China • 2018
- Director Liu Jian
- Cast Yang Siming, Cao Kou, Ma Xiaofeng, Zhu Changlong, Cao Ka
- Genre Animation, Crime
- Available on Metrograph, Apple TV, Google Play Movies, Fandango At Home, Amazon Video, YouTube, Tubi TV, VUDU Free, Kanopy
Shadow
(影)
A king attempts to lead his displaced people out of exile.
- ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
- China, Hong Kong • 2018
- Director Zhang Yimou
- Cast Deng Chao, Sun Li, Ryan Zheng Kai, Wang Qian-Yuan, Wang Jingchun, Hu Jun
- Genre Action, Drama
- Available on fuboTV, Peacock Premium, Peacock Premium Plus, Apple TV, Google Play Movies, Fandango At Home, Amazon Video, Microsoft Store, YouTube, AMC on Demand, Tubi TV, Pluto TV, VIX , Freevee, Kanopy, Hoopla, Plex, Plex Channel
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
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
Ai Weiwei: The Fake Case
While under house arrest, artist Ai Weiwei continues to challenge the Chinese government in his fight for human rights.
- ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
- Denmark, China, United Kingdom • 2013
- Director Andreas Johnsen
- Cast Ai Weiwei, Jerome A. Cohen, Feng Wang, Pan Haixia, Yunchang He
- Genre Documentary
- Available on Apple TV, Google Play Movies, Fandango At Home, 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
Maineland
In this documentary, two Chinese teenagers move to rural Maine and enroll in private school.
- ✭ ✭ ✭
- China, United States • 2017
- Director Miao Wang
- Cast
- Genre Documentary
- Available on Amazon Video
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
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
Human Flow
When there is nowhere to go, nowhere is home.
- ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
- Germany, United States, China • 2017
- Director Ai Weiwei
- Cast Boris Cheshirkov, Marin Din Kajdomcaj, Princess Dana Firas of Jordan, Abeer Khalid
- Genre Documentary
- Available on Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, FlixFling, Kanopy, Hoopla
Our Time Machine
When an influential Chinese artist realizes his father is suffering from Alzheimer's, he invites him to collaborate on an ambitious project.
- ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
- China, United States • 2019
- Director S. Leo Chiang, Yang Sun, Shuang Liang
- Cast Tong Zhengwei
- Genre Documentary, Drama, Family
- Available on Google Play Movies, YouTube, Eventive, Kanopy
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
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
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
Chinese Portrait
(我的镜头)
Wang Xiaoshuai's personal portrait of contemporary China.
- ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
- China • 2018
- Director Wang Xiaoshuai
- Cast
- Genre Documentary
- Available on OVID, Apple TV, Fandango At Home, Kanopy
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
Convergence: Courage in a Crisis
While Covid-19 exacerbates vulnerabilities worldwide, unsung heroes at all levels of society help turn the tide toward a brighter future.
- ✭ ✭ ✭
- United Kingdom, United States • 2021
- Director Orlando von Einsiedel
- Cast Wenhua Lin, Sara Khaki, Mohammad Rezi Eyni
- Genre Documentary
- Available on Netflix, Netflix basic with Ads
T-Rex
The story of Claressa "T-Rex" Shields and her quest to win the first ever Olympic gold medal in women's boxing.
- ✭ ✭ ✭
- United Kingdom, China, Canada • 2016
- Director Drea Cooper
- Cast Claressa Shields
- Genre Documentary
- Available on Apple TV, Google Play Movies, Fandango At Home, Amazon Video, YouTube