Popular from China
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
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
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, Plex, Plex Channel
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
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 Amazon Prime Video, Fandor Amazon Channel, Peacock Premium, Peacock Premium Plus, Hi-YAH, Midnight Pulp, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, Rakuten Viki, Apple TV, Google Play Movies, Fandango At Home, Amazon Video, Microsoft Store, YouTube, Tubi TV, YouTube Free, Pluto TV, VIX , AsianCrush, Cineverse, Kanopy
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 Netflix, Netflix basic with Ads, Apple TV, Google Play Movies, Fandango At Home, Amazon Video, YouTube, Pluto TV
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, YouTube, The Roku Channel
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
New from China
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 Apple TV, Google Play Movies, Fandango At Home, Amazon Video, YouTube, Tubi TV, VUDU Free, 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, Hoopla
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
Here
Before moving home, Stefan, a Romanian construction worker, meets Shuxiu, a Belgian-Chinese doctorate student, and a connection forms.
- ✭ ✭ ✭
- Belgium, China • 2023
- Director Bas Devos
- Cast Stefan Gota, Liyo Gong
- Genre Drama
- Available on Criterion Channel, Apple TV
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
Dragon Tiger Gate
(龍虎門)
Two martial artists discover they are half-brothers and use their skills to fight injustice.
- ✭ ✭ ✭
- Hong Kong, China • 2006
- Director Wilson Yip
- Cast Donnie Yen, Nicholas Tse, Shawn Yue, Dong Jie, Li Xiaoran, Yuen Wah
- Genre Action, Thriller
- Available on Amazon Prime Video, Peacock Premium, Peacock Premium Plus, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, Fandango At Home, Amazon Video, Tubi TV, Pluto TV, VUDU Free, Plex, Plex Channel
The Foreigner
When a man loses his daughter to an act of senseless political violence, he must fight for justice.
- ✭ ✭ ✭
- United Kingdom, China, United States • 2017
- Director Martin Campbell
- Cast Pierce Brosnan, Jackie Chan, Rory Fleck-Byrne, Ray Fearon, Charlie Murphy, Orla Brady
- Genre Action, Thriller
- Available on Netflix, Netflix basic with Ads, Apple TV, Google Play Movies, Fandango At Home, Amazon Video, Microsoft Store, YouTube
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
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
Telescope Recommends
An Elephant Sitting Still
(大象席地而坐)
In the northern Chinese city of Manzhouli, they say there is an elephant that simply sits and ignores the world.
- ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
- China • 2018
- Director Hu Bo
- Cast Zhang Yu, Peng Yuchang, Wang Yu Wen, Congxi Li, Xiang Rong Dong
- Genre Drama
- Available on Fandor, Fandor Amazon Channel, OVID, AsianCrush, Apple TV, Amazon Video, 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
Mountains May Depart
(山河故人)
The life of Tao, and those close to her, is explored over the course of two decades.
- ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
- China, France, Japan • 2015
- Director Jia Zhangke
- Cast Zhao Tao, Sylvia Chang, Dong Zijian, Zhang Yi, Liang Jingdong
- Genre Drama, Romance
- Available on Kino Film Collection, 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
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 Apple TV, Google Play Movies, Fandango At Home, Amazon Video, YouTube, The Roku Channel
Long Day's Journey Into Night
(地球最后的夜晚)
A man returns to his hometown, where he is haunted by memories of his long-lost love.
- ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
- China • 2018
- Director Bi Gan
- Cast Huang Jue, Tang Wei, Sylvia Chang, Lee Hong Chi, Chen Yongzhong
- Genre Drama, Mystery
- Available on OVID, Kino Film Collection, Apple TV, Google Play Movies, Fandango At Home, Amazon Video, YouTube, Kanopy
House of Flying Daggers
(十面埋伏)
A blind dancer finds herself torn between love and duty as she fights acrobatic warriors in dazzlingly choreographed treetop battles.
- ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
- China, Hong Kong • 2004
- Director Zhang Yimou
- Cast Takeshi Kaneshiro, Andy Lau, Zhang Ziyi, Song Dandan, Zhao Hongfei, Guo Jun
- Genre Action, Adventure, Drama, Romance
- Available on Netflix, Netflix basic with Ads, Apple TV, Google Play Movies, Fandango At Home, Amazon Video, Microsoft Store, YouTube
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
Balloon
(དབུགས་ལྒང་།)
Following the death of a grandparent, a family grapples with whether to treat a surprise (and unwanted) pregnancy as the reincarnation of their lost relative.
- ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
- China • 2019
- Director Pema Tseden
- Cast Sonam Wangmo, Jinpa, Yangshik Tso, Konchok, Dudul
- Genre Drama
- Available on iQIYI
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 Tubi TV, Amazon Video, Amazon Prime Video, The Roku Channel, Rakuten Viki, iQIYI, Freevee, Amazon Prime Video with Ads
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, OnDemandKorea, 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 Tubi TV, Amazon Video, Amazon Prime Video, Rakuten Viki, Peacock Premium, Plex, Plex Channel, Amazon Prime Video with Ads
Documentaries from China
Genesis 2.0
After the discovery of a well-preserved mammoth carcass, scientists hope it could be a major step forward in bioengineering.
- ✭ ✭ ✭
- Switzerland, China, Russia • 2018
- Director Christian Frei, Maxim Arbugaev
- Cast Peter Grigoriev, Semyon Grigoriev, George Church, Spira Sleptsov, Woo Suk Hwang
- Genre Documentary
- Available on Kanopy
China Heavyweight
In southwestern China, state athletic coaches scour the countryside to recruit poor, rural teenagers who can throw a good punch.
- ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
- Canada, China, Finland • 2012
- Director Yung Chang
- Cast
- Genre Documentary
- Available on Apple TV, 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
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
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
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
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
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
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, Amazon Video, YouTube, Kanopy
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
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
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, YouTube, Tubi TV, VUDU Free, Filmzie, Kanopy, Hoopla, Plex, Plex Channel
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, Amazon Video, YouTube, Eventive, Kanopy, Plex, Plex Channel
I Wish I Knew
(海上传奇)
The stories of Shanghai – its history, its people, and its architecture -- 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
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