Article: Top 10 Epic Chinese War Films

China has always been at the wartimes, bravely fighting for the nation and its purposes. China has dealt with many wars, such as World Wars, Sino-Japanese, and Indo-China. World Wars have gathered many countries to suffer devastating situations in post-war times. The alliances, the strategy, and the soldiers mattered a lot during the war periods. The killing of humanity over victory was always the end of these wars.

1. Assembly (2007)

Based on a true story, Assembly has shown the Chinese Civil War in the movie. The movie has war, action, and the braveness of the troops to stand up firmly in the line. The basic plot is that Captain-Gu, the lead, does not reach the assembly signal on time and finds himself alone, surviving in the hospital. With a feeling of guilt and to get recognition for the sacrifices of his late comrades, he attempts to plan a dangerous & risky move.

 

2. Operation Red Sea (2018)

Operation Red Sea is a civil war storyline-based film. A special commando force is assigned to save the lives of Chinese citizens in Yemen. It’s a Chinese-HongKong movie directed by  Dante Lam Chiu-Yin, a Hong Kong film director. His 2016 movie- Operation Mekong, is about the operation that led to the arrest drug cartel through the Mekong River.

 

3. Cow (2009)

Cow, the film portrays the Second Sino-Japanese War through black comedy. To take care of a Dutch cow is the take given to a villager, Huang Bo. The Second Sino-Japanese attack leaves only him and the cow alive. See how the film takes a turn with these two living beings.

 

4. Death And Glory In Changde (2010)

In this film, the 1943 Changde combat is portrayed, set during the Second Sino-Japanese War. When 30,000 Japanese soldiers attacked the city, a Chinese division of 8,000–9,000 soldiers defended it. The Chinese title of this movie can translate as 'bloodbath, isolated city.'

 

5. City Of Life And Death (2009)

Another title goes with- Nanjing! Nanjing! This black and white short, visual portrayal of the Chinese and Japanese war at Nanjing in 1937 will tell you the price of humanity. Major atrocities take place against the inhabitants and refugees. Directed by Lu Chuan, City of Life and Death will ride you through the worsts of wartime civilian situations.

 

6. Back To 1942 (2012)

This movie has set back in Henan village during 1942's China’s famine situation in the middle of an ongoing battle with Japan, the second Sino-Japanese War. The movie is an adaption based on the novel Remembering 1942 by Liu Zhenyun. This story has a landlord living in the Henan village and survival struggle with his family and villagers in this worst combination of situations.

 

7. The Eight Hundred (2020)

It’s a recent movie set against the backdrop of 1937 intense wartime. Based on historical events, director Guan Hu has tried to tell the four-day defense story of the Shanghai /Sihang warehouse by the Chinese troops. This battle is against the Japanese army during the Battle of Shanghai. Guan Hu directed this black comedy war film, which is also a worth-watching piece.

 

8. The Battle At Lake Changjin (2021)

It’s a recent wartime set movie with action and history with a fictionalized touch. Also known as the Battle of Chosin Reservoir, the concept got inspiration from the factual events of the real Chosin Reservoir Battle, fought between the Chinese and the U.S.A troops. A sequel film was released the following year in 2022, named- The Battle at lake Changjin II.

 

9. Battle Of Changsha (2014)

As an exception, this is not a film but a worth-watching drama set during the World War II period and the Sino-Japanese wartime, where the Japanese captured Wuhan Changsha. Along with the portrayals of these country's wars, this drama includes political and family conflicts/wars of the City tea Xiang Hu family. It has one season and 32 episodes to watch.

 

10. Red Cliff (2008)

Red Cliff, also known as Chibi, is a Chinese epic battle movie based on the Battle of Red Cliffs and the occasions at the end of the Han dynasty and just before the Three Kingdoms period in Imperial China. Hence, this film does not include the World War or later battles but the battles between dynasties.