10 Best Chinese Movies to Watch on Netflix Right Now

Chinese cinema has a lot more to offer than kung fu classics. From big-budget space adventures and sword-fighting epics to quiet family dramas and scary folk horror, Chinese-language films are some of the most exciting titles on Netflix today. Many of them have been huge hits in China and Taiwan, yet they often get missed by viewers in India.

If you are looking for something new this weekend, here are the 10 best Chinese movies to watch on Netflix right now. The list includes films from mainland China and Taiwan, across action, romance, thriller, comedy and horror.

Best Chinese Movies on Netflix: Quick List

1. The Wandering Earth (2019)

This is the film that showed the world China could make a space blockbuster on a Hollywood scale. Directed by Frant Gwo and starring Wu Jing, it is set in a future where the Sun is dying. To survive, humanity builds giant engines to push the entire Earth out of the solar system. Things go wrong when the planet is pulled towards Jupiter.

The visuals are stunning, the stakes are huge and the story has a strong emotional core about family and sacrifice. If you like films such as Interstellar or Gravity, start here.

2. A Sun (2019)

Often called one of the best Taiwanese films of the last decade, A Sun is a slow-burning family drama directed by Chung Mong-hong. It follows a family that begins to fall apart after the younger son is sent to a juvenile detention centre, while the elder son, the pride of the family, hides his own pain.

It is not a light watch, but it is beautifully acted and deeply moving. The film was Taiwan’s official entry for the Oscars and made the shortlist for Best International Feature.

3. Us and Them (2018)

Us and Them is a bittersweet love story that will stay with you. Directed by Rene Liu, it stars Jing Boran and Zhou Dongyu as two strangers who meet on a train home for Chinese New Year. They fall in love while chasing their dreams in Beijing, but money troubles and ambition slowly pull them apart.

The film moves between their past and a chance meeting years later, and it captures young love and regret in a very honest way. Keep tissues nearby.

4. The Pig, the Snake and the Pigeon (2023)

This gritty Taiwanese thriller became a surprise sensation across Asia. Ethan Juan plays a gangster on the run who learns he does not have long to live. When he finds out he is only the third most-wanted criminal in Taiwan, he decides to hunt down the two men ranked above him to leave his mark.

Directed by Wong Ching-po, the film is violent, darkly funny and full of unexpected turns. It is best suited for mature viewers.

5. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: Sword of Destiny (2016)

For fans of classic martial arts cinema, this Netflix sequel to Ang Lee’s Oscar-winning film is an easy pick. Michelle Yeoh returns as the warrior Yu Shu Lien, who must protect the legendary Green Destiny sword from a ruthless warlord. Donnie Yen joins her as a swordsman from her past.

The action is choreographed by the legendary Yuen Woo-ping, who also directs. It may not match the original, but the sword fights and scenery make it a satisfying watch.

6. The Yin-Yang Master: Dream of Eternity (2020)

This is a grand fantasy adventure packed with demons, magic and gorgeous costumes. Mark Chao and Deng Lun play two masters of the mystic arts who are called to the imperial city to stop a serpent demon from waking up. As they investigate, they uncover a conspiracy inside the palace.

Directed by Guo Jingming, the film is a visual treat and a good entry point into Chinese fantasy, a genre known as xianxia.

7. Marry My Dead Body (2022)

One of the most fun films on this list, Marry My Dead Body is a Taiwanese comedy with a wild premise. A tough police officer picks up a red envelope on the street and, according to an old custom, ends up “married” to the ghost of a young man. The two must then work together to solve the ghost’s death.

Greg Hsu and Austin Lin are excellent together, and the film mixes laughs, action and a surprisingly emotional ending.

Also Read: How to Get a Free Netflix Subscription

8. Incantation (2022)

If you enjoy horror, Incantation is a must-watch. Directed by Kevin Ko, this found-footage film follows a mother who broke a religious taboo years ago and now has to protect her young daughter from the curse that followed.

The film became Taiwan’s highest-grossing horror movie and is known for the way it pulls the viewer into the story. It is truly creepy, so do not watch it alone at night.

9. Lighting Up the Stars (2022)

This heartwarming drama was a huge hit in China. Zhu Yilong plays a short-tempered funeral director who has just come out of prison. His life changes when he meets a little girl searching for her grandmother, who has passed away.

The bond between the two is the heart of the film. It deals with death and grief, but does so with warmth and humour, and child actor Yang Enyou steals every scene.

10. No More Bets (2023)

No More Bets is a gripping crime thriller based on real cases of online fraud. A computer programmer and a model are tricked by fake job offers abroad and end up trapped inside a scam factory in Southeast Asia, forced to cheat people online.

Starring Lay Zhang and Gina Jin, the film is tense and eye-opening. With cyber fraud and job scams making news in India too, it feels very relevant.

Which Chinese Movie Should You Watch First?

It depends on your mood. For big-screen spectacle, go for The Wandering Earth or The Yin-Yang Master: Dream of Eternity. If you want something emotional, pick A Sun, Us and Them or Lighting Up the Stars. For thrills, The Pig, the Snake and the Pigeon and No More Bets are great choices, while Marry My Dead Body is perfect for a light evening and Incantation for a scary one.

Most of these films are available with English subtitles. Netflix’s library can differ from country to country, so a few titles may not be available everywhere.

Also read: New OTT releases this week.