Chinese films about the beginning of the 20th century

List of the best Chinese films about the beginning of the 20th century according to the audience: Once Upon a Time in Shanghai, Ne Zha, Railroad Tigers, The Butcher, the Chef, and the Swordsman, The Taking of Tiger Mountain, The Silent War, The Sorcerer and the White Snake, Little Big Soldier, Legend of the Demon Cat, Love O2O.

In the top there are new films of 2023, a plot description and trailers for films that have already been released.

Country
Markimdb: 6.8
Genreaction, crime
CountryChina, Hong Kong

A laborer moves to Shanghai in the hope of becoming rich. But ends up using his kung fu skills to survive. Remake of The Boxer From Shantung.

Markimdb: 7.4
Genreaction, fantasy, comedy, cartoon
CountryChina

The Primus extracts a Mixed Yuan Bead into a Spirit Seed and a Demon Pill. The Spirit Seed can be reincarnated as a human to help King Zhou establish a new dynasty, whereas the Demon Pill will create a devil threatening humanity. Ne Zha is the one who is destined to be the hero, but instead he becomes a devil incarnate, because the Spirit Seed and a Demon Pill are switched.

Markimdb: 5.7
Genreaction, comedy, adventure, family, military, history
CountryChina
Duration01:54

A railroad worker in China in 1941 leads a team of freedom fighters against the Japanese in order to get food for the poor.

Markimdb: 5.6
Genreaction, comedy
CountryChina, Hong Kong, USA

A tale of revenge, honor and greed follows a group of misfits that gets involved with a kitchen cleaver made from the top five swords of the martial arts world in this wild and brash action comedy.

Markimdb: 6.4
Genreaction, military, history
CountryChina, Hong Kong
Duration02:21

Based on the real life story of an incident in 1946 during the Chinese Civil War, the film involves a communist reconnaissance team soldier Yang Zirong who disguised himself as a bandit to infiltrate a local gang of bandits, eventually helping the main communist force to destroy the bandits. Based on the novel "Tracks in the Snowy Forest" by Qu Bo.

Markimdb: 6.2
Genrethriller, drama, crime, detective, history
CountryHong Kong, China
Duration02:00

An espionage thriller set in the 1950s and adapted from the novel "Year Suan/Plot Against" by May Jia. Tony Leung Chiu Wai plays a blind man who works for a piano tuner. He is recruited for a spy mission because of his exceptional hearing.

Markimdb: 5.8
Genreaction, fantasy, melodrama
CountryChina, Hong Kong
Duration01:38

The Sorcerer and the White Snake is an ancient Chinese fable about a woman demon who falls in love with a mortal is brought to life through the latest advances in CGI and action techniques.

Markimdb: 6.9
Genreaction, comedy, adventure, military, history
CountryChina, Hong Kong
Duration01:32

The story of a farmer forced into conscription, who has been looking to get out of the army ever since. His great chance arrives when he stumbles upon a wounded general from an enemy state, and he kidnaps him, intending to claim credit for the capture, which includes five "mu" of land, and most importantly, honorable discharge from the army.

Markimdb: 6.2
Genrefantasy, melodrama, detective, biography, history
CountryChina, Japan, Hong Kong
Duration02:03

During the Late Tang Dynasty, a manor is invaded by a demon cat and a sense of unrest befalls the capital of Changan. A poet is charged with investigating the case and meets up with a monk. The two work together and pull apart the thread of clues to reveal a history of truths leading to the events.

Markimdb: 6.4
Genremelodrama
CountryChina
Duration01:15

What is it that makes a man fall in love with a woman at first sight? Appearance? Aura? Wealth? NO, when campus prince and gaming expert, student Xiao Nai first saw Bei Wei Wei, what made him fall in love was not her extraordinary beauty, but her slim and slender fingers that were flying across the keyboard and her calm and composed manner!!! Embarrassing, no? At the same time, gaming expert Bei Wei Wei, at this time and place is on the computer, methodically commanding a guild war, and won a perfect and glorious victory despite being at a disadvantage, and was completely unaware that cupid is nearby. Soon after basketball player, swimmer, all-around excellent student, and game company president, Xiao Nai, uses both tactics on and off-line to take this beauty’s heart. Therefore this romance slowly bloomed. ~~ Drama adapted from the novel by Gu Man.

Markimdb: 6.8
Genreaction, adventure
CountryChina, Taiwan, Hong Kong
Duration01:57

Set in ancient China, Zeng Jing is a skilled assassin who finds herself in possession of a mystical Buddhist monk's remains. She begins a quest to return the remains to its rightful resting place, and thus places herself in mortal danger because a team of assassins is in a deadly pursuit to possess the remains which holds an ancient power-wielding secret.

Markimdb: 6.5
Genreaction, thriller, crime, detective
CountryHong Kong, China
Duration01:27

Picking up some time after the events in the first movie, Sean Lau is now the Commissioner of Police after the successful rescue operation. However, things turn bad when his wife and daughter are kidnapped. Sean has to seek help from former rival and retired DCP, Waise Lee, to return to his job to help save Sean`s wife and child.

Markimdb: 4.9
Genrefantasy, drama
CountryChina

Based on Keigo Higashino's international bestseller The Miracles of the Namiya General Store comes director Han Jie's take on the fantastical novel. TFBoys' Karry Wang stars as Xiao Bo, one of three orphans on the run who take refuge in a derelict corner store. Once there, they find a mysterious letter seeking advice, leading to an emotional adventure through time and unexpected connections with their own past.

Mark
Genreaction, melodrama, drama, military
CountryChina
Duration01:26

The film centers on the relationship between two brothers who used to have a bond for life but it is ripped apart through a civil war in 1936.

Markimdb: 6.1
Genredrama, history
CountryChina, USA
Duration02:00

A story set in 19th century China and centered on the lifelong friendship between two girls who develop their own secret code as a way to contend with the rigid cultural norms imposed on women.

Markimdb: 4.9
Genremelodrama, drama
CountryChina

Xia Mu is a troubled child whose salvation comes in the form of Shu Yawang. When something terrible happens to her, he seeks revenge. Nothing is the same in their lives after that.

Markimdb: 6.4
Genrethriller, melodrama, drama, detective, military
CountryChina, USA
Duration01:43

An American man returns to a corrupt, Japanese-occupied Shanghai four months before Pearl Harbor and discovers his friend has been killed. While he unravels the mysteries of the death, he falls in love and discovers a much larger secret that his own government is hiding.

Markimdb: 7.2
Genreaction, fantasy, comedy, drama, adventure, family, cartoon
CountryUSA, China
Duration01:31

Po is now living his dream as The Dragon Warrior, protecting the Valley of Peace alongside his friends and fellow kung fu masters, The Furious Five - Tigress, Crane, Mantis, Viper and Monkey. But Po’s new life of awesomeness is threatened by the emergence of a formidable villain, who plans to use a secret, unstoppable weapon to conquer China and destroy kung fu. It is up to Po and The Furious Five to journey across China to face this threat and vanquish it. But how can Po stop a weapon that can stop kung fu? He must look to his past and uncover the secrets of his mysterious origins; only then will he be able to unlock the strength he needs to succeed.

Markimdb: 5.7
Genreaction, drama
CountryChina

Based on real life events, the film revolves around the heroic efforts of a team of firefighters as they attempt to deal with a fire that breaks out at an oil refinery in Dalian

Markimdb: 7.1
Genredrama
CountryChina

At her 70th birthday celebration, the aged mother of the Gu family suffers from a stroke, which precipitates her decline into dementia. Who will take care of her? The four brothers face crucial changes in their relationships to one another, as they deal with their own family problems. Their destinies, linked by love and challenged by questions and dilemmas, unfold over the course of the four seasons, as it would in an ancient Chinese scroll painting.

Markimdb: 5.3
Genrefantasy
CountryChina
Duration01:44

In the twilight of the Ming Dynasty, the Imperial court is plagued by corruption as tyrants rule over the land. With the Manchurians preying on a weakened empire, war is imminent. To save the victims from their suffering, sorceress Jade Raksha fights the soldiers that oppress people for their own gain. As payback, local government officials decide to pin the murder of Governor Zhuo Zhonglian on Jade, turning her and the members of her cult into wanted fugitives for a crime they didn't commit.

Markimdb: 6.6
Genredrama, adventure
CountryChina, France
Duration02:25

In 1969, a young Beijing student, Chen Zhen, is sent to live among the nomadic herdsmen of Inner Mongolia. Caught between the advance of civilization from the south and the nomads' traditional enemies - the marauding wolves - to the north; humans and animals, residents and invaders alike, struggle to find their true place in the world

Markimdb: 6.7
Genreaction, drama, crime, biography, history
CountryHong Kong, China
Duration00:59

An illegal immigrant from Mainland China sneaks into the corrupt British-colonized Hong Kong in 1963, transforming himself into a ruthless drug lord.

Markimdb: 6.4
Genreaction, drama, biography
CountryHong Kong, China
Duration02:11

In 1868 during the late Qing Dynasty, rampant corruption on the Imperial Court inflicts much suffering in people's lives. For years, the Black Tiger’s fearsome boss Lei Gong has been trying to get rid of the leader of the Northern Sea. One of his latest recruits is Fei, a fearless fighter who takes the Northern Sea leader’s head after a fierce fight. Just as Lei Gong believes he has total control of the port, a new gang called the Orphans rises in power. Led by Fei’s childhood friend Huo, the Orphans are out to eliminate all the criminal power from the port…

Markimdb: 6
Genremelodrama, drama, detective
CountrySouth Korea, China, Singapore
Duration01:50

Dangerous Liaisons is a Chinese film by Hur Jin-ho based on the novel with the same title by Pierre Choderlos de Laclos.

Markimdb: 4.6
Genrehorror, drama, detective
CountryChina
Duration01:27

A killing spree takes place in a northern China's hospital, an old elevator goes to the 18th floor - underground.

Markimdb: 7.2
Genredrama, detective
CountryChina

In the subtropical province of Guizhou, Chen Sheng embarks on a journey to find his nephew.

Markimdb: 5.9
Genrecomedy
CountryChina
Duration01:37

When Zhang Hui is told by long-time best friend Xiao Gong that he has a new girlfriend, she is determined to learn new tricks to gain him back. Based on the novel written by Luo Fuman, "Everyone Loves Tender Women".

Markimdb: 7
Genremelodrama, drama, crime
CountryChina, France, Japan
Duration01:17

Set in China's underworld, this tale of love and betrayal follows a dancer who fired a gun to protect her mobster boyfriend during a fight. On release from prison 5 years later, she sets out to find him.

Markimdb: 6.1
Genreaction, drama, history
CountryChina
Duration02:15

White Vengeance tells the story of two brothers contending for supremacy during the fall of the Qin Dynasty, which ruled Imperial China from 221 to 206 BC. As rebels rose, the nation fell into chaos. Liu Bang and Xiang Yu, became leaders of the rebellious army, and also became sworn brothers in battle.Xiang Yu and Liu Bang are close friends who both serve King Huai of Chu. King Huai uses a plot, saying that whoever can subvert the Qin kingdom in Guanzhong would be the Lord Qin, in order to benefit from the competition between Xiang Yu and Liu Bang. Xiang Yu is over-confident. He fights against the main force of Qin army, and entrusts Liu Bang with Yu Ji, the woman he loves.Liu Bang expresses his love to Yu Ji and takes the chance to invade Guanzhong first when most of Qin army is outside fighting against Xiang Yu’s army.

Markimdb: 5.9
Genreaction, fantasy, drama, adventure, history
CountryChina, Hong Kong
Duration02:01

Huo An, the commander of the Protection Squad of the Western Regions, was framed by evil forces and becomes enslaved. On the other hand, a Roman general escapes to China after rescuing the Prince. The heroic duo meet in the Western Desert and a thrilling story unfolds.

Markimdb: 4.6
Genreaction, adventure
CountryChina, Canada, France
Duration01:39

A mysterious warrior teams up with the daughter and son of a deposed Chinese Emperor to defeat their cruel Uncle, who seeks their deaths.

Markimdb: 5.5
Genreaction, fantasy
CountryChina, Hong Kong
Duration01:33

The third installment of the blockbuster fantasy series sees the return of the Monkey King (Aaron Kwok) in his most action-packed adventure yet! While continuing their epic journey to the West, the Monkey King and his companions are taken captive by the Queen of an all-female land, who believes them to be part of an ancient prophecy heralding the fall of her kingdom. With a lot of sorcery and a little bit of charm, the travelers devise a plan to escape. But when their trickery angers the mighty River God, they realize they might just bring about the foretold destruction - unless they can find a way to quell her wrath.

Markimdb: 5.2
Genreaction, comedy
CountryChina

When a professional thief sees his lifetime goal of being the best potentially realized in stealing a rare artifact, he finds himself entangled in a worldwide plot involving the Soviets, the Japanese and a band of outsiders. It’s up to him and a special agent to save the world!

Markimdb: 5.9
Genreaction, thriller, crime
CountryHong Kong, China
Duration01:27

Realising that he will be defeated in no time during a police showdown, a thug shoots himself to force the cops to cease fire and take him to the hospital. In the hospital, he claims human rights to refuse immediate treatment in order to buy time for his underlings to rescue him. The detective in charge sees through his scheme but decides to play along so as to capture his whole gang once and for all.

Markimdb: 4.4
Genreaction
CountryChina

The film is set in early 11th century China during the reign of Emperor Renzong of the Song Dynasty. The emperor neglects state affairs and indulges in personal pleasures, while the government sinks into corruption and war continues to rage on at the borders of the Song Dynasty. The Song Dynasty is being invaded by the armies of the rival state of Western Xia. Yang Zongbao is the last man standing in the Yang clan, a family of generals who have dedicated their lives to defending the Song Dynasty from foreign invaders. He apparently dies in battle tragically when the treacherous Imperial Tutor Pang refuses to send reinforcements to aid him. Yang Zongbao's widowed wife Mu Guiying leads the other widows of the Yang clan into battle to continue the legacy of their husbands.

Markimdb: 6.8
Genredrama
CountryChina
Duration02:26

In 1942, Henan Province was devastated by the most tragic famine in modern Chinese history, resulting in the deaths of at least three million men, women and children. Although the primary cause of the famine was a severe drought, it was exacerbated by locusts, windstorms, earthquakes, epidemic disease and the corruption of the ruling Kuomintang government.

Markimdb: 3.8
Genreaction, fantasy, comedy
CountryChina, Hong Kong

In the waning years of the Ming Dynasty, the Bruneian Empire offers a rare creature to the nation as a gift. Ocean, a member of the Imperial Secret Police, has been tasked to tame the beast. Though the furry beast appears ferocious on the outside, Ocean discovers that it is kind by nature. Not wanting to turn the beast into a killing machine on the battlefield, Ocean secretly releases the beast into the wild and elopes with Frigid, the daughter of a man executed on false charges.

Markimdb: 6.7
Genrefantasy, comedy, adventure
CountryChina, Hong Kong
Duration01:50

In a world plagued by demons who cause great human suffering, young demon hunter Xuan Zang risks his all to conquer a water demon, a pig demon and the demon of all demons, Sun Wukong.

Markimdb: 7.6
Genredrama
CountryUSA, China
Duration02:27

A headstrong Chinese-American woman returns to China when her beloved grandmother is given a terminal diagnosis. Billi struggles with her family's decision to keep grandma in the dark about her own illness as they all stage an impromptu wedding to see grandma one last time.

Markimdb: 5.8
Genreaction, fantasy
CountryChina
Duration01:58

An undercover agent is assigned by his corrupt chief to infiltrate a rival department and sabotage their investigation of counterfeit currency. What he discovers is the counterfeiter's real plan. To overthrow the capital. Not by flooding it with funny money, but with an army of undead.

Markimdb: 6.9
Genremelodrama, drama
CountryChina, France, Japan
Duration02:07

The life of Tao, and those close to her, is explored in three different time periods: 1999, 2014, and 2025.

Markimdb: 5.5
Genreaction, crime
CountryChina

A cop and his team of comrades go undercover in one of China's most ruthless underworld organizations to stop a gang leader, only to put themselves in great danger after being exposed one by one.

Markimdb: 6.1
Genreaction, fantasy, melodrama, drama, adventure
CountryTaiwan, Hong Kong, USA, China
Duration02:21

A story of lost love, young love, a legendary sword and one last opportunity at redemption.

Markimdb: 4.3
Genrefantastic, action, melodrama
CountryChina
Duration02:10

Set in the future, the city of Shanghai battle to defend itself against an ongoing attack by an alien force that has attacked and laid siege to numerous cities around the globe in it's quest to harvest a hidden energy only found on earth.

Markimdb: 6.6
Genrethriller, drama, history
CountryChina

In the puppet state of Manchukuo in the 1930s, four Communist party special agents, after returning to China, embark on a secret mission. Sold out by a traitor, the team find themselves surrounded by threats on all sides.

Markimdb: 6.2
Genrecomedy, melodrama, drama
CountryUSA, China

When ambitious New York attorney Sam is sent to Shanghai on assignment, he immediately stumbles into a legal mess that could end his career. With the help of a beautiful relocation specialist, a well-connected old-timer, a clever journalist, and a street-smart legal assistant, Sam might just save his job, find romance, and learn to appreciate the beauty and wonders of Shanghai. Written by Anonymous (IMDB.com).

Markimdb: 5.7
Genrefantastic, action
CountryUSA, China
Duration02:07

Ageing assassin, Henry Brogen tries to get out of the business but finds himself in the ultimate battle—fighting his own clone who is 25 years younger than him, and at the peak of his abilities.

Markimdb: 6.8
Genreaction, drama, history
CountryChina, Hong Kong
Duration02:19

In 1905, revolutionist Sun Yat-Sen visits Hong Kong to discuss plans with Tongmenghui members to overthrow the Qing dynasty. But when they find out that assassins have been sent to kill him, they assemble a group of protectors to prevent any attacks.

Markimdb: 7.5
Genredrama, history
CountryChina, Hong Kong
Duration02:16

Based on the Tangshan Earthquake in 1976 that took the lives of 240,000 people.




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