Netflix has become a great source of entertainment these days. It not only features a good collection of English movies but also movies from other nations. Specifically, we are talking about Chinese movies on Netflix.
Chinese movies are usually full of action, thrill, and suspense. Moreover, these movies contain amazing acting and are usually produced with a very high budget.
Watching movies from other countries gives you an outlook on their culture and lifestyle. However, due to a large number of Chinese movies on Netflix being released each year, it is hard to keep track.
So, we are presenting to you our top 18 best Chinese movies on Netflix that you can watch right now.
Chinese Movies On Netflix
We have carefully picked the most entertaining Chinese movies on Netflix. These movies will cater to everyone’s taste. Furthermore, the movies on this list aren’t ranked in any specific order.
So without any further ado, let’s jump right into our list.
18. Finding Mr. Right (2013)
Finding Mr. Right is a comedy-romance film. It revolves around a woman from Beijing traveling to Seattle to give birth to the child of her wealthy boyfriend. However, she meets another Chinese immigrant man working as a driver there, who gives her a unique outlook on life.
This is probably one of the cutest Chinese movies on Netflix. It portrays the feelings of people who are moving to America to experience “The American Dream.”
At first glance, the film may look like a generic romcom. However, it shines because of the strong writing and convincing romantic chemistry between the two main characters.
17. Gatao: the Last Stray (2021)
Gatao: the Last Stray is the third entry in the Gatao film franchise. This film is an action romantic film. It revolves around a photographer, Chi, who falls in love with lieutenant Qing, an orphan who has grown up among his gatao brothers. As things get heated between rival gangs, Qing must find a way to help his boss while keeping Chi safe.
Gatao: the Last Stray is different from the other Gatao films. It blends in various elements like romance, politics, and action to provide an engaging experience. The entire storyline is quite interesting and will keep you guessing till the end.
Overall, Gatao: the Last Stray is definitely one of the best Chinese movies on Netflix right now.
16. A Beautiful Life (2011)
A Beautiful Life is a drama romance film. This film revolves around a woman who comes to Beijing for a fresh start. She falls in love with a tradition-bound policeman. It soon becomes clear that he is diagnosed with an illness that is depriving him of his mental functions.
When it comes to making a romantic film, the most important thing is the chemistry between the actors. A Beautiful Life perfectly nails that aspect and the chemistry between both the leads feels genuine. Moreover, the natural progression of their relationship is also worth mentioning.
Overall, A Beautiful Life is an amazing and highly-emotional film. It will take you on a rollercoaster of emotions.
15. Animal World (2018)
Animal World is a fantasy action film. In this film, a man is deeply in debt and is forced to board a ship that is hosting a high-risk gambling party.
So Animal World is basically a crazier, surreal version of Squid Game. The film has decent VFX and some amazing action sequences. It is definitely one of the most unique Chinese movies on Netflix.
Furthermore, the film features Micheal Douglas. His character is my personal favorite in the film. His presence on-screen is quite menacing. Moreover, the film has a very gripping storyline and you won’t be bored.
14. Next Gen (2018)
While this movie may be a mixed production it certainly caters to the Chinese audience more. Next Gen revolves around a lonely girl whose life is turned upside down when she befriends a top-secret robot.
It is one of the best animated Chinese movies on Netflix. Next Gen features some beautiful animation. Moreover, it features a star-studded cast including John Krasinsky, Michael Peña, Constance Wu, and other big-name actors.
This film is very fun to watch. It is a light-hearted movie with some good messaging. You will have a lot of fun watching this movie with your family and kids.
13. Manhunt (2017)
Manhunt is a crime thriller movie, directed by John Woo. Yes, the director of classics like Red Cliff, Face/Off, and many more. In this film, an attorney embarks on a quest to clear his name when he is charged with crimes he didn’t commit.
If you are a fan of John Woo’s previous works then this movie might be a little underwhelming for you. That is because it is different from his previous works. However, this film is full of his signature style and thrilling action.
Overall, this film is a lot of fun. It has good pacing and amazing visuals. Moreover, the film is a throwback to many earlier films of John Woo.
12. Cities of Last Things (2018)
Cities of Last Things is a sci-fi and crime drama film. It revolves around a normal individual who experiences remarkable happenings in his everyday existence. The film recounts the protagonist’s activities in three periods, three seasons, and three nights in the same city.
When it comes to Chinese movies on Netflix this film is probably one of a kind. It uses a reverse chronological order to tell the story.
Cities of Last Things is a very thought-provoking movie. This movie has amazing writing and an overall great visual style. It is highly recommended.
11. The Yin-Yang Master: Dream of Eternity (2020)
This entry on our list is a sequel to The Ying-Yang Master. It is a fantasy film just like its predecessor.
This film revolves around Qing Ming, the Yin-Yang Master, who fulfilled his master’s final desire and traveled to Capital Tiandu City to attend the heaven ceremony. He joins forces with Boya to unearth a century-old secret and free the planet from a dark power.
Dream of Eternity is 2 hours long yet the swift pacing never lets it feel boring. In addition, the CGI is wonderful and the characters are extremely likable. Overall, it is definitely one of the better Chinese movies on Netflix.
10. New Gods: Nezha Reborn (2021)
Kicking off our top 10 entries, we have another animated Chinese movie on Netflix. Nezha Reborn revolves around Li Yunxiang, a deliveryman from the slums living a happy life until the arrogant affluent son of Boss knocks him down, igniting his inner rage into a burst of Truth Fire.
New Gods: Nezha Reborn is an action-packed animated film. It has a beautiful art style and smooth animation. In addition, the film features some jaw-dropping action sequences. The facial expressions of characters can be off-putting sometimes but it isn’t too distracting.
In short, this film is a complete package of entertainment. It beautifully blends ancient Chinese folklore with steampunk aesthetics. This movie is worth watching.
9. This Is Not What I Expected (2017)
This Is Not What I Expected is a comedy-drama film. In this film, a company’s obsessive CEO meets a ragged cook by coincidence. They are brought together by their shared love of gourmet, however, their egos clash severely.
This film is very sweet (no pun intended). It is funny and has an intriguing plot. The story itself may not be very original but the execution is what makes it stand out. Zhou Dongyu is the highlight of this movie. She steals all the scenes she’s in.
Overall, This Is Not What I Expected is one of the funniest Chinese movies on Netflix. Give it a watch and you won’t feel bored.
8. Rise of the Legend (2014)
Wong Fei Hung is one of the most celebrated heroes. His life story has been adapted many times. Rise of the Legend is one of those adaptations. This film revolves around an orphan (Fei)
whose father was murdered by a sinister entity. He now strives to restore justice to his village.
This isn’t your regular martial-arts action movie. It features fights that actually feel real. These fights may appear a little slow for fans of the genre but they’re natural.
Moreover, this film actually focuses on the earlier part of Wong Fei’s life. You might need to revise your knowledge of Chinese history to fully grasp the storyline. Apart from that, the story is quite brilliant and engaging. I highly recommend this film.
7. Double World (2020)
Double World is an action fantasy film. The story of this film takes place in a fictitious timeline with 10 neighboring nations. As the neighboring country grows in strength, a warlord organizes a tournament to find the strongest soldiers.
Double World is a blend of Martial Arts with high flying effects and lots of CGI mythical creatures. What more can you ask from a film? It has all the necessary elements to become an entertaining flick.
This movie may be a little simplistic when it comes to the storyline but overall, it is pretty good. If you’re looking for easy-to-understand Chinese movies on Netflix then go ahead and watch Double World.
6. The Wandering Earth (2019)
The Wandering Earth is a sci-fi thriller film. When the sun dies, the inhabitants of Earth construct massive thrusters to lift the planet out of orbit and sail it to a new star system. After 2,500 years, young people are still fighting for the survival of everyone.
This film is an adaptation of a novel by award-winning novelist Cixin Liu. It won’t be wrong to call this movie one of the best sci-fi Chinese movies on Netflix.
In terms of the sci-fi genre, this movie is brilliant. It has amazing visuals and VFX. Furthermore, the story is thrilling and entertaining as well. The Wandering Earth also has a strong cast of actors and actresses who did an excellent job portraying their respective characters.
5. Your Name Engraved Herein (2020)
Your Name Engraved Herein is a drama romance movie. This film is set in 1987 when Taiwan’s martial law finally ends. Jia-han and Birdy fall in love amidst societal pressure and widespread homophobia.
This film deals with a very sensitive topic. However, this topic is dealt with care and the result is simply beautiful.
Your Name Engraved Herein is a very powerful and thought-provoking film. It captures the life of the protagonists perfectly. Moreover, this film features some great acting and the music is also very good.
Your Name Engraved is definitely one of the boldest Chinese movies on Netflix.
4. Big Fish & Begonia (2016)
Big Fish & Begonia is an animated Chinese movie on Netflix. The film revolves around a 16-year-old girl who travels to the human world as a dolphin and strikes up a friendship with a boy.
Big Fish & Begonia is a simply beautiful movie. It is not only visually stunning but is also beautiful in terms of storyline. This animated movie is on-par with movies like Spirited Away and Howl’s Moving Castle.
The overall feel of the movie is spectacular. All the emotions this movie tries to convey are on point. I would highly recommend this movie to all the people who love emotional anime movies.
Speaking of anime movies, if you are interested in them then check out our list of sad anime movies.
3. Secret (2007)
Secret is a romance drama film. It revolves around Ye Xiang Lun, a gifted pianist and new student at the elite Tamkang School. On his first day, he encounters Lu Xiao Yu, a beautiful girl who is performing a mystery piece of music.
The way this film’s plot unfolds is very engaging. Additionally, the gripping storyline and marvelous performances will keep you glued to your seat. It provides a very unique experience.
As you might’ve guessed, there’s a lot of emphasis on music in this film so it is safe to say that the soundtrack is phenomenal. It adds an extra layer of uniqueness to the movie. Aside from the plot and music, the film’s cinematography was also good. In summary, it’s a beautifully packaged picture with solid story elements.
2. A Sun (2019)
A Sun is a family drama movie. This movie features a struggling family that is torn apart by unmet expectations, unshakable pride, and unforeseen tragedy.
The start of this movie is enough to disturb the viewer. However, the starting scene actually works well in establishing the tone of the film. It has no graphic or violent scenes but the way it has been filmed is purely chilling.
None of this would’ve been possible if it weren’t for the amazing performances given by all the actors. In addition to the brilliant acting, the film features beautiful cinematography and music. The biggest critique this movie faces is that it is too long, however, once you’re invested there is rarely any slow moment.
Overall, A Sun is full of meaningful dialogues, a hard-hitting narrative, and brilliant cinematography. It is definitely one of the best Chinese movies on Netflix.
1. Us and Them (2018)
Us and Them is another drama romance movie on our list of best Chinese movies on Netflix. In this film, Two strangers meet on a train and establish a friendship that becomes stronger over time. After a period of separation, they reunite and ponder on their feelings for one another.
Out of all the romantic movies we’ve discussed so far, this one is probably the most emotional one. You might need a box of tissues nearby to watch this movie. I highly suggest that you watch this movie in its original language or else you might not get the experience you deserve.
There’s a lot to be said about Us and Them. The film has a 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. All the actors have gracefully portrayed their roles. Moreover, the chemistry between all the main cast members is amazing.
In short, Us and Them is an emotionally powerful and moving film. You shouldn’t miss this one out.
Conclusion
So this was our list of the top 18 best Chinese movies on Netflix. We hope you’ll have a great time watching these movies if you’re interested in Chinese cinema.