Top Ranked Films from China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan

[2011 Update]
© William L. Sinclair

China had just 6 films crack the top 1000, Hong Kong 8, and Taiwan 6 on our Top Ranked Films, 2011 Edition, based on all film polls. I extended the lists further to include more titles, 30 in all, and I have them separate first, then all together, the top 30 in all off the polls. I then include my own favorite 30, with 12 new unranked titles that include directors Zhang Yimou, Ang Lee, John Woo, and Chien Kaige.

Just one of many magical scenes in Hero

China (or Chinese directors)

1. Hero (2002) Yimou, Zhang #591 China - top-grossing film in Chinese history, exciting action and a terrific screenplay with a winding plot about assassins after the King of Q'in.
2. Farewell, My Concubine (1993) Chen Kaige #614 Hong Kong-China
3. House of Flying Daggers (2004) Yimou, Zhang #724 China
4. Spring in a Small Town (1948) Fei, Mu #909 China
5. Last Train Home (2009) Fan, Lixie #918 Can-China-UK
6. Flight of the Red Balloon, The (2007) Hou, Hsiao-hsien #922 China
7. Up the Yangtze (2007) Chang, Yung #1015 China
8. Springtime in a Small Town (2002) Tian, Zhuangzhuang #1076 China
9. Yellow Earth (1984) Kaige, Chen #1214 China
10. Red Sorghum (1987) Yimou, Zhang #1333 China
11. Ju Dou (1990) Yimou, Zhang #1402 China
12. King of the Children (1987) Kaige, Chen #1818 China



Hong Kong

1. In the Mood for Love (2001) Wong Kar-Wai #167 Hong Kong-France [photo rt]
2. Chungking Express (1994) Wong Kar-Wai #363 Hong Kong
3. Raise the Red Lantern (1991) Zhang Yimou #386 Hong Kong
4. Days of Being Wild (1990) Wong Kar-Wai #466 Hong Kong
5. Infernal Affairs (2002) Lau (Wai-keung), Mak (Alan) #662 Hong Kong
6. Killer, The (1989) Woo, John #670 Hong Kong
7. 2046 (2004) Wong Kar-Wai #790 Hong Kong
8. Happy Together (1997) Wong Kar-Wai #824 Hong Kong
9. Fallen Angels (1995) Wong Kar-Wai #1096 Hong Kong


Taiwan (alone or multinational)

1. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000) Lee, Ang #245 China-Taiwan-US [photo rt]
2. Yi yi (2000) Yang, Edward #249 Taiwan-Japan
3. Time to Live and the Time to Die, The (1985) Hou, Hsiao-Hsien #657 Taiwan
4. City of Sadness, A (1989) Hou, Hsiao-Hsien #672 Taiwan
5. Touch of Zen, A (1971) Hu, King #881 Taiwan
6. Brighter Summer Day, A (1991) Yang, Edward #937 Taiwan
7. Puppetmaster, The (1993) Hou, Hsiao-Hsien #1149 Taiwan
8. Flowers of Shanghai (1998) Hou, Hsiao-Hsien #1292 Taiwan
9. Vive L'Amour (1994) Tsai Ming-Liang #1573 Taiwan

All Lists Above Merged

1. In the Mood for Love (2001) Wong Kar-Wai #167 Hong Kong-France
2. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000) Lee, Ang #245 China-Taiwan-US
3. Yi yi (2000) Yang, Edward #249 Taiwan-Japan
4. Chungking Express (1994) Wong Kar-Wai #363 Hong Kong
5. Raise the Red Lantern (1991) Zhang Yimou #386 Hong Kong
6. Days of Being Wild (1990) Wong Kar-Wai #466 Hong Kong
7. Hero (2002) Yimou, Zhang #591 China
8. Farewell, My Concubine (1993) Chen Kaige #614 Hong Kong-China
9. Time to Live and the Time to Die, The (1985) Hou, Hsiao-Hsien #657 Taiwan
10. Infernal Affairs (2002) Lau (Wai-keung), Mak (Alan) #662 Hong Kong
11. Killer, The (1989) Woo, John #670 Hong Kong
12. City of Sadness, A (1989) Hou, Hsiao-Hsien #672 Taiwan
13. House of Flying Daggers (2004) Yimou, Zhang #724 China
14. 2046 (2004) Wong Kar-Wai #790 Hong Kong
15. Happy Together (1997) Wong Kar-Wai #824 Hong Kong
16. Touch of Zen, A (1971) Hu, King #881 Taiwan
17. Spring in a Small Town (1948) Fei, Mu #909 China
18. Last Train Home (2009) Fan, Lixie #918 Can-China-UK
19. Flight of the Red Balloon, The (2007) Hou, Hsiao-hsien #922 China
20. Brighter Summer Day, A (1991) Yang, Edward #937 Taiwan
21. Up the Yangtze (2007) Chang, Yung #1015 China
22. Springtime in a Small Town (2002) Tian, Zhuangzhuang #1076 China
23. Fallen Angels (1995) Wong Kar-Wai #1096 Hong Kong
24. Puppetmaster, The (1993) Hou, Hsiao-Hsien #1149 Taiwan
25. Yellow Earth (1984) Kaige, Chen #1214 China
26. Flowers of Shanghai (1998) Hou, Hsiao-Hsien #1292 Taiwan
27. Red Sorghum (1987) Yimou, Zhang #1333 China
28. Ju Dou (1990) Yimou, Zhang #1402 China
29. Vive L'Amour (1994) Tsai Ming-Liang #1573 Taiwan
30. King of the Children (1987) Kaige, Chen #1818 China

Ziyi Zhang amid posters for The Road Home

in the clothes she wore in the film

My Favorites (30)
Click links for our reviews at 1000 Dvds to See
* = unranked
1. Hero (2002) Yimou, Zhang #591 China
2. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000) Lee, Ang #245 China-Taiwan-US
3. To Live (1994) Yimou, Zhang * China
4. Chungking Express (1994) Wong Kar-Wai #363 Hong Kong
5. In the Mood for Love (2001) Wong Kar-Wai #167 Hong Kong-France
6. Together (2002) Kaige, Chen * China
7. Eat Drink Man Woman (1994) Lee, Ang * Taiwan
8. Devils On the Doorstep (2000) Wiang, Jen * China
9. The Road Home (1999) Yimou, Zhang * China - the audience award at Sundance
10. Fallen Angels (1995)Wong Kar-Wai #1096 Hong Kong
11. Farewell My Concubine (1993) Kaige, Chen #614 Hong Kong-China
12. Red Cliff (2008) Woo, John * China
13. House of Flying Daggers (2004) Yimou, Zhang #724 China
14. Raise the Red Lantern (1991)Yimou, Zhang #386 Hong Kong
15. King of Masks (1997) Lian, Bian * China-Hong Kong
16. The Emperor and the Assassin (1998) Kaige, Chen * China
17. Flowers of Shanghai (1998) Hou, Hsiao-Hsien #1292 Taiwan
18. Ashes of Time Redux (1994) Wong Kar-Wai * Hong Kong
19. The Kite Runner (2007) Forster, Marc * US-China
20. Not One Less (1999) Yimou, Zhang * China
21. Zhou Yu's Train (2004) Sun, Zhou * China
22. Spring in a Small Town (1948) Fei, Mu #909 China
23. Three Times (2005) Hou, Hsiao-hsien * Taiwan
24. Killer, The (1989) Woo, John #670 Hong Kong
25. 2046 (2004) Wong Kar-Wai #790 Hong Kong
26. The Promise (2005) Kaige, Chen * China
27. Days of Being Wild (1990) Wong Kar-Wai #466 Hong Kong
28. Lust, Caution (2007) * China
29. Ju Dou (1990) Yimou, Zhang #1402 China
30. Yi yi (2000) Yang, Edward #249 Taiwan-Japan


These are all worth seeing, Zhang Yimou and Wong Kar-Wai are among my favorite all-time directors, and Ang Lee never made a bad film in the east or west.  Two of Kar-Wai's best films were meant as one long film: Chungking Express, followed by Fallen Angels - together they inspired Tarantino's Pulp Fiction. Yimou's films got him the job of planning the ceremonies at the Beijing summer Olympics, which were mind-boggling.


The Hong Kong Film Awards
[complete list of best picture winners]

2009 - Ip Man (2008)
2008 - The Warlords (2007)
2007 - After This Our Exile (2006)
2006 - Election (2005)
2005 - Kung Fu Hustle (2004)
2004 - Running on Karma (2003)
2003 - Infernal Affairs (2002)
2002 - Shaolin Soccer (2001)
2001 - Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000)
2000 - Ordinary Heroes (1998)
1999 - Beast Cops (1998)
1998 - Made in Hong Kong (1997)
1997 - Comrades: Almost a Love Story (1996)
1996 - Summer Snow (1994)
1995 - Chungking Express (1994)
1994 - C'est la vie, mon chéri (1994)
1993 - Cageman (1992)
1992 - To Be Number One (1991)
1991 - Days of Being Wild (1991)
1990 - Beyond the Sunset (1989)
1989 - Rouge (1987)
1988 - An Autumn's Tale (1987)
1987 - A Better Tomorrow (1986)
1986 - Police Story (1985)
1985 - Homecoming (1984)
1984 - Banbianren (1983)
1983 - Boat People (1982)
1982 - Father and Son (1981)

Best 10 Films of China and Hong Kong

© William L. Sinclair
These rankings are from our compendium of all internet film polls, posted here..

Top ranked films on the net from China (7), Hong Kong (8), and Taiwan (8).

China
1. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon [Lee, Ang; 2000] #152 - China-Taiwan-US [photo above]
2. Spring in a Small Town [Fei Mu; 1948] #674 - China
3. House of Flying Daggers [Zhang Yimou; 2004] #710 - China
4. Yellow Earth [Chen Kaige; 1984] #854 - China
5. Red Sorghum [Zhang Yimou; 1987] #918 - China
6. Flight of the Red Balloon, The [Hsiao-hsien Hou; 2007] #943 - China
7. King of the Children [Chen Kaige; 1987] #1179 - China

Hong Kong
1. In the Mood for Love [Wong Kar-Wai; 2001] #272 - Hong Kong-France [photo rt]
2. Raise the Red Lantern [Zhang Yimou; 1991] #303 - Hong Kong
3. Farewell, My Concubine [Chen Kaige; 1993] #456 - Hong Kong-China
4. Chungking Express [Wong Kar-Wai; 1994] #534 - Hong Kong
5. Killer, The [Woo, John; 1989] #709 - Hong Kong
6. Happy Together [Wong Kar-Wai; 1997] #1085 - Hong Kong
7. Days of Being Wild [Wong Kar-Wai; 1990] #1118 - Hong Kong
8. Fallen Angels [Wong Kar-Wai; 1995] #1147 - Hong Kong

Taiwan
1. Yi yi [Yang, Edward; 2000] #223 - Taiwan-Japan
2. Time to Live and the Time to Die, The [Hou Hsiao-Hsien; 1985] #501 - Taiwan
3. City of Sadness, A [Hou Hsiao-Hsien; 1989] #509 - Taiwan
4. Touch of Zen, A [Hu, King; 1969] #660 - Taiwan
5. Brighter Summer Day, A [Yang, Edward; 1991] #721 - Taiwan
6. Puppetmaster, The [Hou Hsiao-Hsien; 1993] #817 - Taiwan
7. Flowers of Shanghai [Hou Hsiao-Hsien; 1998] #898 - Taiwan
8. Vive L'Amour [Tsai Ming-Liang; 1994] #1062 - Taiwan
[Unfortunately, the films of Hou Hsaio-Hsien are hard to find; the only films on this list I've seen are Flowers of Shanghai, reviewed, and  Yi Yi, not reviewed]

These are all worth seeing, Zhang Yimou and Wong Kar-Wai are among my favorite all-time directors, and Ang Lee never made a bad film in the east or west. [Of the Taiwan films, I've only seen Yi Yi] Two of Kar-Wai's best films were meant as one long film: Chungking Express, followed by Fallen Angels - together they inspired Tarantino's Pulp Fiction. Yimou's films got him the job of planning the ceremonies at the Beijing summer Olympics, which were mind-boggling.

Omissions:
Zhang Yimou's Hero, top-grossing film in Chinese history, exciting action and a terrific screenplay with a winding plot about assassins after the King of Q'in.

Zhang Yimou's To Live, grand prize winner at Cannes, a beautiful romantic epic about a Chinese family, covers about four decades in their lives.

Zhang Yimou's The Road Home, audience winner at Sundance, introduced Ziyi Zhang to the west; a story of a lifetime marriage from its beginnings, and the long road home at the end.

Ang Lee's Eat Drink Man Woman, from Taiwan; a delicious film about a master chef and his unmarried daughters.

Chien Kaige's The Emperor and the Assassin, a beautiful historical costume epic with a twisty plot.

Wong Kar-Wai's Ashes of Time Redux - a re-edited version of his samurai film about a wine that makes one forget

Combining all the above as just China, we get this list:
1. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon [Lee, Ang; 2000] #152 - China-Taiwan-US
2. Yi yi [Yang, Edward; 2000] #223 - Taiwan-Japan
3. In the Mood for Love [Wong Kar-Wai; 2001] #272 - Hong Kong-France
4. Raise the Red Lantern [Zhang Yimou; 1991] #303 - Hong Kong
5. Farewell, My Concubine [Chen Kaige; 1993] #456 - Hong Kong-China
6. Time to Live and the Time to Die, The [Hou Hsiao-Hsien; 1985] #501 - Taiwan
7. City of Sadness, A [Hou Hsiao-Hsien; 1989] #509 - Taiwan
8. Chungking Express [Wong Kar-Wai; 1994] #534 - Hong Kong
9. Touch of Zen, A [Hu, King; 1969] #660 - Taiwan
10. Spring in a Small Town [Fei Mu; 1948] #674 - China
11. Killer, The [Woo, John; 1989] #709 - Hong Kong
12. House of Flying Daggers [Zhang Yimou; 2004] #710 - China
13. Brighter Summer Day, A [Yang, Edward; 1991] #721 - Taiwan
14. Puppetmaster, The [Hou Hsiao-Hsien; 1993] #817 - Taiwan
15. Yellow Earth [Chen Kaige; 1984] #854 - China
16. Flowers of Shanghai [Hou Hsiao-Hsien; 1998] #898 - Taiwan
17. Red Sorghum [Zhang Yimou; 1987] #918 - China
18. Flight of the Red Balloon, The [Hsiao-hsien Hou; 2007] #943 - China
19. Vive L'Amour [Tsai Ming-Liang; 1994] #1062 - Taiwan
20. Happy Together [Wong Kar-Wai; 1997] #1085 - Hong Kong
21. Days of Being Wild [Wong Kar-Wai; 1990] #1118 - Hong Kong
22. Fallen Angels [Wong Kar-Wai; 1995] #1147 - Hong Kong
23. King of the Children [Chen Kaige; 1987] #1179 - China

Ziyi Zhang, star of Hero, The Road Home,

Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, House

of Flying Daggers, and Memoirs of a Geisha

My favorites from all the nations above

1. Hero (Zhang Yimou, 2002)
2. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (Ang Lee, 2000) China
3. To Live (Zhang Yimou, 1994)
4. Together (Chien Kaige, 2002)
5. Chungking Express (Wong Kar-Wai, 1994) Hong Kong
6. Fallen Angels (Wong Kar-Wai, 1995) Hong Kong
7. The Road Home (Zhang Yimou, 1999)
8. In the Mood for Love (Wong Kar-Wai, 2001) Hong Kong
9. Eat Drink Man Woman (Ang Lee, 1994) Taiwan
10. Raise the Red Lantern (Zhang Yimou, 1988) Hong Kong
11. Devils On the Doorstep (Wen Jiang, 2000), bw
12. Spring in a Small Town (Fei Mu, 1948)
13. King of Masks (Bian Lian, 1997) China-Hong Kong
14. Farewell My Concubine (Chen Kaige, 1993)
15. House of Flying Daggers (Zhang Yimou, 2004)
16. The Kite Runner (Marc Forster, 2007) US-China
17. Zhou Yu's Train (Zhou Sun, 2004) China
18. Not One Less (Zhang Yimou, 1999) China
19. Yi yi (Yang, Edward; 2000) #223 - Taiwan-Japan - not reviewed
20. Red Cliff (John Woo, 2008)

Special Mention
Himalaya (Eric Valli, 1999) Nepal [Listed as France-Switz.-UK-Nepal]

Others worth seeing
The Emperor and the Assassin (1998) China
Lust, Caution (2007) China
Ashes of Time Redux (Wong Kar-Wai, 1994) China
The Promise (Chien Kaige, 2005) China
The Killer (John Woo, 1989) Hong Kong (not reviewed)

Korea [unfortunately I haven't seen many, these are the best two]
Oldboy (2003) Korea
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter.. and Spring (2003) Korea

Wong Kar-Wai's Fallen Angels (1995)