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A Chinese Ghost Story poster

Movies that feel likeA Chinese Ghost Story (1987)

A naïve young tax collector for the imperial government winds up spending the night in a haunted temple. There he falls in love with a beautiful woman who, unfortunately, is dead. With the aid of a powerful Daoist Swordsman, he must defeat undead hordes, overcome a sinister Tree Demoness, and descend to the pits of hell, to fight for the spirit he loves.

If you loved A Chinese Ghost Story, the closest films we have are A Touch of Zen (1970), Hellboy II: The Golden Army (2008) and New Gods: Nezha Reborn (2021). All three share A Chinese Ghost Story's dreamlike and kinetic feel, which is what we rank on before quality.

Seen the big three already? The under-the-radar pick below is The Five Venoms (1978).

🍅 70% Rotten Tomatoes★ 7.3 IMDb ↗TMDB ↗dir. Tony Ching Siu-Tungdreamlikekinetic
11 of 12 streaming nowNetflix · HBO Max · Amazon Prime Video

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If A Chinese Ghost Story hit the spot, these will too

A Touch of Zen poster
A Touch of Zen
1970 · dir. King Hu
🍅 97%★ 7.5action · adventure · fantasy

The same mix in both: dream logic, then momentum

The difference: Critics rated this one higher still

Yang Hui-zhen, a mysterious princess on the run from corrupt government officials, is joined in her endeavors by skilled Buddhist monks and an unambitious painter named Gu Sheng-zhai.

Hellboy II: The Golden Army poster
Hellboy II: The Golden Army
2008 · dir. Guillermo del Toro
🍅 86%★ 7fantasy · actionStarz

Fantasy with a pulse of dream logic, in both cases

The difference: Made in the 2000s, in a different era of the craft

Hellboy, his pyrokinetic girlfriend, Liz, and aquatic empath, Abe Sapien, face their biggest battle when an underworld elven prince plans to reclaim Earth for his magical kindred. Tired of living in the shadow of humans, Prince Nuada tries to awaken an ancient force of killing machines, the all-powerful Golden Army, to clear the way for fantasy creatures to roam free. Only Hellboy can stop the dark prince and prevent humanity's annihilation.

New Gods: Nezha Reborn poster
New Gods: Nezha Reborn
2021 · dir. Zhao Ji
🍅 80%★ 6.8animation · fantasy · actionNetflix

Both lean on momentum more than on action

The difference: Leans harder into animation than A Chinese Ghost Story does

While living as an ordinary deliveryman and motor racing fan, Nezha encounters old nemeses and must rediscover his powers to protect his loved ones.

The Five Venoms poster
The Five Venoms
1978 · dir. Chang Cheh
🍅 80%★ 7action · drama · mystery

Dreamlike fantasy in both cases

A dying master sends his last student to check up on five former pupils, who each know a special style of kung-fu.

Highlander poster
Highlander
1986 · dir. Russell Mulcahy
🍅 70%★ 7adventure · action · fantasyPrime VideoPeacock

Action built on momentum, twice over

He fought his first battle on the Scottish Highlands in 1536. He will fight his greatest battle on the streets of New York City in 1986. His name is Connor MacLeod. He is immortal.

The Old Guard poster
The Old Guard
2020 · dir. Gina Prince-Bythewood
🍅 80%★ 6.7action · fantasyNetflix

Both know what they want from fantasy

Four undying warriors who've secretly protected humanity for centuries become targeted for their mysterious powers just as they discover a new immortal.

Mortal Kombat poster
Mortal Kombat
1995 · dir. Paul W. S. Anderson
🍅 44%★ 5.9action · fantasyMax

Cut from the same action cloth

For nine generations an evil sorcerer has been victorious in hand-to-hand battle against his mortal enemies. If he wins a tenth Mortal Kombat tournament, desolation and evil will reign over the multiverse forever. To save Earth, three warriors must overcome seemingly insurmountable odds, their own inner demons, and superhuman foes.

Night Watch poster
Night Watch
2004 · dir. Timur Bekmambetov
🍅 59%★ 6.4fantasy · action · thriller

Both play fantasy straight

Among normal humans live the "Others" possessing various supernatural powers. They are divided up into the forces of light and the forces of the dark, who signed a truce several centuries ago to end a devastating battle. Ever since, the forces of light govern the day while the night belongs to their dark opponents. In modern day Moscow the dark Others actually roam the night as vampires while a "Night Watch" of light forces, among them Anton, the movie's protagonist, try to control them and limit their outrage

Daredevil poster
Daredevil
2003 · dir. Mark Steven Johnson
🍅 42%★ 5.3fantasy · actionDisney+

Both are action through and through

By day, blind attorney Matt Murdock toils for justice in Hell's Kitchen. By night, he's Daredevil, The Man Without Fear - a powerful, masked vigilante stalking the dark streets with an uncanny "radar sense" that allows him to "see" with superhuman capabilities. But when the love of his life, fiery Elektra Natchios, is targeted by New York City's ruthless Kingpin of crime and his deadly assassin Bullseye, Daredevil may be about to meet his match.

Curse of the Golden Flower poster
Curse of the Golden Flower
2006 · dir. Zhang Yimou
🍅 65%★ 7action · drama · fantasy

Common ground: china

During China's Tang dynasty the emperor has taken the princess of a neighboring province as his wife. She has borne him two sons and raised his eldest. Now his control over his dominion is complete, including the royal family itself.

Conan the Barbarian poster
Conan the Barbarian
1982 · dir. John Milius
🍅 68%★ 6.9adventure · fantasy · actionNetflix

The same fantasy instincts

A horde of rampaging warriors massacre the parents of young Conan and enslave the young child for years on The Wheel of Pain. As the sole survivor of the childhood massacre, Conan is released from slavery and taught the ancient arts of fighting. Transforming himself into a killing machine, Conan travels into the wilderness to seek vengeance on Thulsa Doom, the man responsible for killing his family. In the wilderness, Conan takes up with the thieves Valeria and Subotai. The group comes upon King Osric, who wants the trio of warriors to help rescue his daughter who has joined Doom in the hills.

Dragon Blade poster
Dragon Blade
2015 · dir. Daniel Lee
🍅 38%★ 5.9adventure · history · action

The action is handled with the same confidence

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.

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The best-reviewed films that share A Chinese Ghost Story’s defining feeling.