50 Chinese Films You must watch

The 50 films you must watch that made it into this list span throughout past 90 years, from 1922 to 2012, and offer a comprehensive view of the development of Chinese cinema.

As the list indicates, the post-80s sees a rise in mainland Chinese filmmaking. Chen Kaige and Zhang Yimou led the rise of the Fifth Generation directors, while the Sixth Generation director Jia Zhangke continues to make internationally acclaimed movies. The extended list of “100 Essential Chinese Films” includes works by other mainland directors, such as Tian Zhuangzhuang’s The Blue Kite, Jiang Wen’s In the Heat of the Sun, and Lou Ye’s Summer Palace.

Romance of a Fruit Peddler (aka Laborer’s Love) / 劳工之爱情 (Laogong zhi aiqing)
(1923, Zhang Shichuan, China) AW

*Little Toys / 小玩意 (Xiao wanyi)
(1933, Sun Yu, China) AW, HKFA #70, GHFF #91

*The Goddess / 神女 (Shennu)
(1934, Wu Yonggang, China) AW, HKFA #29, GHFF #23

*The Big Road (aka The Highway) / 大路 (Dalu)
(1935, Sun Yu, China) AW, HKFA #30, GHFF #50

*Song at Midnight / 夜半歌聲 (Yeban gesheng)
(1937, Ma Xu Weibang, China) AW, HKFA #77

*Street Angel / 馬路天使 (Malu tianshi)
(1937, Yuan Muzhi, China) AW, HKFA #11, GHFF #19

*Crossroads / 十字街頭 (Shizi jietou)
(1937, Shen Xiling, China) AW, GHFF #91

*Spring in a Small Town / 小城之春 (Xiao cheng zhi chun)
(1948, Fei Mu, China) AW, HKFA #1, GHFF #5

*The Spring River Flows East / 一江春水向东流 (Yi jiang chunshui xiang dong liu)
(1947, Cai Chusheng, Zheng Junli, China) AW, HKFA #27, GHFF #40

*Myriad of Lights / 萬家燈火 (aka The Lights of Ten Thousand Homes) (Wanjia denghuo)
(1948, Shen Fu, China) AW, HKFA #91

*This Life of Mine / 我这一辈子 (Wo zhe yibeizi)
(1950, Shi Hui, PRC) AW, HKFA #46

*In the Face of Demolition / 危樓春曉 (Weilou chunxiao)
(1954, Lee Tit, Hong Kong) AW, HKFA #18

*Mambo Girl / 曼波女郎 (Manbo guniang)
(1958, Yi Wen, Hong Kong) AW, HKFA #83

*The Love Eterne / 梁山伯與祝英台 (Liang Shanbo yu Zhu Yintai)
(1963, Li Han Hsiang, Hong Kong) HKFA #38, GHFF #11

*Stage Sisters / 舞台姐妹 (Wutai jiemei)
(1965, Xie Jin, China) AW, HKFA #53, GHFF #91

*One-Armed Swordsman / 獨臂刀 (Dubi dao)
(1967, Chang Cheh, Hong Kong) HKFA #15, GHFF #73

*Dragon Gate Inn / 龍門客棧 (Longmen kezhan)
(1967, King Hu, Taiwan) AW, HKFA #7, GHFF #9

*A Touch of Zen / 俠女 (Xia nu)
(1971, King Hu, Taiwan) AW, HKFA #9, GHFF #15

*The Arch / 董夫人 (Dong furen)
(1969, Tang Shu Shuen, Hong Kong) AW, HKFA #20, GHFF #44

*Execution in Autumn / 秋決 (1972, Lee Hsing, Taiwan)
(1972, Li Hsing, Taiwan) HKFA #85, GHFF #38

*Fist of Fury / 精武門 (Jingwu men)
(1972, Lo Wei, Hong Kong) AW, HKFA #16, GHFF #30

*The Private Eyes / 半斤八兩 (Banjin baliang)
(1976, Michael Hui, Hong Kong) AW, HKFA #13, GHFF #66

*Drunken Master / 醉拳 (Zhui quan)
(1978, Yuen Woo-ping, Hong Kong) AW, HKFA #33, GHFF #66

*Boat People / 投奔怒海 (Touben nuhai)

(1982, Ann Hui, Hong Kong) AW, HKFA #8, GHFF #83

*Zu: Warriors of the Magic Mountain / 新蜀山劍俠 (Xin shu shan jian xia)
(1982, Tsui Hark, Hong Kong) AW, HKFA #40, GHFF #66

*Yellow Earth / 黄土地 (Huang tudi)
(1984, Chen Kaige, PRC) AW, HKFA #4, GHFF #13

*A Time to Live and a Time to Die / 童年往事 (Tongnian wangshi)
(1985, Hou Hsiao-hsien, Taiwan) AW, HKFA #24, GHFF #3

*The Terrorizers / 恐怖分子 (Kongbu fenzi)
(1986, Edward Yang, Taiwan) AW, HKFA #41, GHFF #11

*A Better Tomorrow / 英雄本色 (Yingxiong bense)
(1986, John Woo, Hong Kong) AW, HKFA #2, GHFF #17

*A Chinese Ghost Story / 倩女幽魂 (Qiannu youhun)
(1987, Ching Siu-tung, Hong Kong) AW, HKFA #19, GHFF #35

*Red Sorghum / 红高粱 (Hong gaoliang)
(1987, Zhang Yimou, PRC) AW, HKFA #25, GHFF #21

*Rouge / 胭脂扣 (Yanzhi kou)
(1988, Stanley Kwan, Hong Kong) AW, HKFA #21, GHFF #27

*City of Sadness / 悲情城市 (Beiqing chengshi)
(1989, Hou Hsiao-hsien, Taiwan) AW, HKFA #1, GHFF #5

*A Brighter Summer Day / 牯嶺街少年殺人事件 (Gulingjie shaonian sharen shijian)
(1991, Edward Yang, Taiwan) AW, HKFA #12, GHFF #2

*Days of Being Wild / 阿飛正傳 (A fei zheng zhuan)
(1990, Wong Kar-Wai, Hong Kong) AW, HKFA #3, GHFF #4

*Center Stage / 阮玲玉 (Ruan Lingyu)
(1992, Stanley Kwan, Hong Kong) AW, HKFA #44, GHFF #30

*In the Heat of the Sun / 阳光灿烂的日子 (Yangguang canlan de rizi)
(1994, Jiang Wen, PRC) AW, HKFA #17, GHFF #19

*Vive L’Amour / 愛情萬歲 (Aiqing wansui)
(1994, Tsai Ming-liang, Taiwan) GHFF #13

*A Chinese Odyssey / 大話西遊 (Da hua xi you)
(1994, Jeffrey Lau, Hong Kong) HKFA #19, GHFF #73

*Comrades: Almost a Love Story / 甜蜜蜜 (Tian mimi)
(1996, Peter Chan, Hong Kong) AW, HKFA #28, GHFF #16

*Made in Hong Kong / 香港製造 (Xianggang zhizao)
(1997, Fruit Chan, Hong Kong) AW, HKFA #36, GHFF #58

Xiao Wu / Pickpocket / 小武 (Xiao Wu)
(1997, Jia Zhangke, PRC) GHFF #35

*The Mission / 鎗火 (Qiang huo)
(1999, Johnnie To, Hong Kong) HKFA #14, GHFF #44

*Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon / 臥虎藏龍 (Wo hu cang long)
(2000, Ang Lee, Taiwan/PRC/Hong Kong/US) HKFA #10, GHFF #6

Yi Yi: A One and a Two/ 一一 (Yi yi)
(2000, Edward Yang, Taiwan) HKFA #56, GHFF #7, dGF #4

*In the Mood for Love / 花樣年華 (Hua yang nian hua)
(2000, Wong Kar-Wai, Hong Kong) HKFA #22, GHFF #9, dGF #1

*Platform / 站台 (Zhantai)
(2000, Jia Zhangke, PRC) HKFA #63, GHFF #73, dGF #3

*Infernal Affairs / 無間道 (Wu jian dao)
(2002, Andrew Lau, Alan Mak, Hong Kong) HKFA #32, GHFF #18

*West of the Tracks / 铁西区 (Tie xi qu)
(2003, Wang Bing, PRC) dGF #2

*Oxhide / 牛皮 (Niu pi)
(2005, Liu Jiayin, PRC) dGF #7

*City of Life and Death / 南京! 南京! (Nanjing! Nanjing!)
(2009, Lu Chuan, PRC)

*Let the Bullets Fly / 让子弹飞 (Rang zidan fei)
(2011, Jiang Wen, PRC / Hong Kong)

The majority of these films are from Hong Kong. The 60s feature some major productions by the Shaw Brothers studio, who became well-known for their gritty kung fu, or wuxia, movies. Aside from wuxia, the list also includes their production The Love Eterne, the studio’s most successful attempt at opera films. The Love Eterne is a film adaptation of the Chinese classic story The Butterfly Lovers. It takes the form of huangmei opera, featuring fantastic sets, traditional Chinese clothing, and amazing performance by the two leading actresses. Starting from the 80s, on the list appears masterpieces by some of the greatest directors of Hong Kong and Taiwanese cinema: Edward Yang, Wong Kar-Wai, and Hou Hsiao-hsien.