15 Movies Like City of Life and Death

Loved City of Life and Death? Based on its unique Cinema DNA—including its pacing, themes, and emotional tone—we've curated the ultimate list of what you should watch next.

The Shadow's Edge
#1

The Shadow's Edge

Macau Police brings the tracking expert police officer out of retirement to help catch a dangerous group of professional thieves.

💡Why it's a match: A fantastic follow-up watch to City of Life and Death.

Dear You
#2

Dear You

Grandma Ye Shurou from Chaoshan lived a simple life, enjoying her twilight years. Her grandson, Xiaowei, burdened by debt, secretly traveled to Thailand to find his rumored billionaire grandfather, Zheng Musheng. However, Xiaowei returned with shocking news: his grandfather was long gone, and the person with whom Grandma had exchanged love letters was a complete stranger. As Xiaowei investigated, a love affair hidden for half a century suddenly surfaced, striking Grandma's heart.

💡Why it's a match: A fantastic follow-up watch to City of Life and Death.

Lust, Caution
#3

Lust, Caution

During World War II, a secret agent must seduce and assassinate an official who works for the Japanese puppet government in Shanghai.

💡Why it's a match: A fantastic follow-up watch to City of Life and Death.

Apocalypse Now
#4

Apocalypse Now

At the height of the Vietnam war, Captain Benjamin Willard is sent on a dangerous mission that, officially, "does not exist, nor will it ever exist." His goal is to locate - and eliminate - a mysterious Green Beret Colonel named Walter Kurtz, who has been leading his personal army on illegal guerrilla missions into enemy territory.

💡Why it's a match: A highly-rated genre match based on the viewing habits of people who liked City of Life and Death.

Per Aspera Ad Astra
#5

Per Aspera Ad Astra

Set in the near future, the story revolves around the emergence of the virtual dream reality technology "Good Dreams", which allows people to do whatever they desire within their self-created dreams. However, a crisis triggered by these dreams quietly unfolds.

💡Why it's a match: A fantastic follow-up watch to City of Life and Death.

Hero
#6

Hero

During China's Warring States period, a district prefect arrives at the palace of Qin Shi Huang, claiming to have killed the three assassins who had made an attempt on the king's life three years ago.

💡Why it's a match: A fantastic follow-up watch to City of Life and Death.

Lost in Beijing
#7

Lost in Beijing

A look at modern-day life in China's capital centered on a ménage-a-quatre involving a young woman, her boss, her husband and her boss's wife.

💡Why it's a match: A fantastic follow-up watch to City of Life and Death.

Farewell My Concubine
#8

Farewell My Concubine

In an epic tale of theater, gender, love and class, two Beijing opera actors navigate political turmoil as their friendship evolves over decades.

💡Why it's a match: A fantastic follow-up watch to City of Life and Death.

Big Brother
#9

Big Brother

A soldier-turned-high school teacher uses unusual methods to reach to a class of poor students, while dealing with a greedy entrepreneur and his gang of fighters as well as the government.

💡Why it's a match: A fantastic follow-up watch to City of Life and Death.

Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
#10

Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon

Two warriors in pursuit of a stolen sword and a notorious fugitive are led to an impetuous, physically-skilled, teenage nobleman's daughter, who is at a crossroads in her life.

💡Why it's a match: A fantastic follow-up watch to City of Life and Death.

Striking Rescue
#11

Striking Rescue

A veteran Muay Thai expert goes on a take-no-prisoners mission of revenge after his wife and daughter are brutally murdered by mysterious forces.

💡Why it's a match: A fantastic follow-up watch to City of Life and Death.

Fist of Fury
#12

Fist of Fury

During the Japanese occupation of Shanghai, Chen Zhen, the star pupil of a recently-deceased martial arts teacher battles a Japanese dojo which seeks the demise of his fighting school.

💡Why it's a match: A fantastic follow-up watch to City of Life and Death.

14 Blades
#13

14 Blades

Commander Qinglong is the loyal leader of the assassin group that serves the emperor. But when his allies plan a rebellion against the ruler, he finds himself in danger.

💡Why it's a match: A fantastic follow-up watch to City of Life and Death.

Creation of the Gods I: Kingdom of Storms
#14

Creation of the Gods I: Kingdom of Storms

Based on the most well-known classical fantasy novel of China, Fengshenyanyi, the trilogy is a magnificent eastern high fantasy epic that recreates the prolonged mythical wars between humans, immortals and monsters, which happened more than three thousand years ago.

💡Why it's a match: A fantastic follow-up watch to City of Life and Death.

Summer Palace
#15

Summer Palace

Yu Hong leaves her home village and starts university in Beijing, where she develops a consuming and compulsive relationship with another student. The student riots from 1989 then ensue and take a toll on their lives.

💡Why it's a match: A fantastic follow-up watch to City of Life and Death.