A Starter’s Guide to Asian Cinema

A list of 108 recommended Asian films to get you started from 2000 to now

With thousands of Asian movies out there, how do you pick great movies to watch?

While Googling “best Asian movies” or going on YouTube and blindly searching for trailers is a
good start, we’ll help you one step further. We’ll give you a list of over 100 movies to check
out.

Here’s our quick Asian Filmist’s go-to guide for great movies. Like a good friend that tells other
friends “you need to check out this movie now,” we want to steer you in the right direction in
watching awesome Asian movies (while avoiding the terrible ones, and oh trust us, there’s
plenty!)

Whether you’re bored at home and need a good flick now, with your significant other, or are
hosting a movie party, we’re sure these recommended movies would help you.

Asian Filmist – A Starter’s Guide to Asian Cinema 1

Here is a quick rundown of the genres in this guide (12 movies per category):
 Comedy
 Romance / Romantic comedy
 Martial Arts
 Drama
 Action
 Thriller / Crime
 Horror
 Animation
 War

Our picks are movies we enjoyed the most. These picks are not based on high rating,
popularity, or if the film is the best thing since sushi.

Rather, we followed two simple criteria: Is the movie fun to watch and is the story good?

We also limited list to films released from 2000 and later. And we limited each director’s /
studio’s movies to two maximum, because if we didn’t, the animation section could easily be
filled with nothing but Hayao Miyazaki films.

With that being said, enjoy the guide!

Asian Filmist – A Starter’s Guide to Asian Cinema 2

 Comedy
1. Waterboys
(ウォーターボーイズ)
Japan| 2001
Five teenagers must
overcome various
obstacles in order to
become a champion
team of synchronized
swimmers.
3. Deadman Inferno
(Z アイランド)
Japan | 2015
A gangster and his allies
go to Z Island to retrieve
the daughter of his sworn
brother, but instead finds
creatures that are fast,
fierce, and hungry!
5. Sex is Zero
(색즉시공)
Korea | 2002
A shy Eun-shik just
finished his military
service and enrolls in
Sunjong University,
where few students
study and just think sex.
Asian Filmist – A Starter’s Guide to Asian Cinema
2. Oppai Volleyball
(おっぱいバレー)
Japan | 2009
A junior high school
teacher promises the
boys volleyball club that
if they work hard and
win, they can see her
boobs.
4. Ryuzo and the 7
Henchmen (龍三と七人の子分たち)
Japan | 2015
Ryuzo forms a new
yakuza family filled with
retired gangsters, with
their main goal to put
the local young gangsters
in their place.
6. Linda Linda Linda
(リンダ リンダ リンダ)
Japan | 2005
A group of Japanese
teenagers recruit a
Korean exchange student
to become the singer of
their rock band.
3
7. Swing Girls 8. I’m a Cyborg but that’s
(スウィングガールズ) OK (싸이보그지만 괜찮아)
Japan | 2004
Korea | 2006
When the school’s band
A girl who is convinced
gets food poisoning, the
that she is a combat
thirteen lazy school girls
cyborg finds love in a
responsible are forced to
psychiatric hospital.
try out to replace the
band.

9. Let the Bullets Fly 10. Sunny

(让子弹飞) (써니)
China | 2010 Korea | 2011
A hoodlum feels
Middle-aged Na-mi
threatened by his town's
bumps into her high
new governor, who is
school friend, Choo-hwa,
really a bandit in disguise.
in the hospital and starts
reminiscing about high
school 25 years ago.

11. Please Teach Me English 12. The Ghost of a Chance

(영어완전정복) (ステキな金縛り)
Korea | 2003 Japan | 2011

A Korean government A defense attorney finally

worker becomes finds a witness that can
infatuated with a prove her client innocent,
womanizing fellow but he's a 500-year old
student in her English- ghost.
language class.

Asian Filmist – A Starter’s Guide to Asian Cinema 4

 Romance / Romantic Comedy

1. Architecture 101 2. My Sassy Girl

(건축학개론) (아저씨)
Korea| 2012 Korea | 2001

Fifteen years after A college, unambitious

breaking up, Seung-Min is student becomes
hired against his wishes involved with a sassy
by an old flame to design young woman who
and build her new home humiliates him every
in Jeju Island. chance she gets.

3. The Classic 4. My Little Bride

(클래식) (어린 신부)
Korea | 2003 Korea | 2004

A college student finds a To fulfill her

diary detailing a long-ago grandfather's wish, a 17
love triangle involving her year-old female high-
mother, her future school student marries
father, and his best her older childhood
friend. friend.

5. Always 6. Hello Stranger

(오직 그대만) (กวน มึน โฮ)
Korea | 2011 Thailand | 2010

A love story blossoms A young Thai man and

between an ex-boxer woman meet randomly
and a blind while on vacation
telemarketer blossoms in Korea and decide to
when their past tour together without
intertwines. telling their names.

Asian Filmist – A Starter’s Guide to Asian Cinema 5

7. A Little Thing Called Love
(สิ่ งเล็กเล็กที่เรี ยกว่า...รัก)
Thailand | 2010
A 14-year-old girl, Nam,
falls in love with her
senior at school and tries
desperately to win his
attention.
9. Love in a Puff
(志明與春嬌)
China | 2010
When a 2007 HK law
prevents indoor smoking,
two smokers develop a
budding romance when
they meet during an
outdoor smoking session.
11. Heavenly Forest
(ただ、君を愛してる)
Japan | 2006
A shy, reserved
photographer travels to
New York and meets a
girl that slowly opens him
up.
Asian Filmist – A Starter’s Guide to Asian Cinema
8. You Are the Apple of my
Eye(那些年，我們一起追的女孩)
Taiwan | 2011
A group of close friends
who attend a private
school all have a huge
crush on the sunny star
pupil, Shen Jiayi.
10. A Moment to Remember
(내 머리 속의 지우개)
Korea | 2004
A young couple receives
terrible news when 27
year-old Sun-jin is
diagnosed with a rare
form of Alzheimer’s
disease.
12. Be With You
(いま、会いにゆきます)
Japan | 2004
Mio suddenly passes
away, leaving her
husband Takumi and 6
year-old son behind, but
the two meet a woman
that resembles Mio.
6
 Drama

1. The Attorney 2. Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter…

(현호인) and Spring (봄 여름 가을 겨울 그리고 봄)
Korea| 2013 Korea | 2003

After a friend's son is A young Buddhist

abducted and tortured, a apprentice is mentored
tax attorney becomes the by an aging monk at a
defense lawyer for a secluded monastery, but
group of young men in a one day meets a girl that
case against the gov’t. he falls in love with there.

3. 3-Iron 4. Miss Granny

(빈집) (수상한 그녀)
Korea | 2004 Korea | 2014

A squatter lives from A granny magically

house to house to one transforms into her 20-
day meet an abused year old self, and sets off
housewife that’s in need on an adventure doing
of his intervention. things she never had the
chance to do.

5. Sad Movie 6. The King and the Clown

(새드무비) (왕의 남자)
Korea | 2005 Korea | 2006

Four interlocking tales Arrested for satirizing the

explore love, king, the two clowns will
separation, heartbreak, be executed unless they
and loss. can make him laugh.

Asian Filmist – A Starter’s Guide to Asian Cinema 7

7. The Masquerade
(좋은 놈, 나쁜 놈, 이상한 놈)
Korea | 2008
Two outlaws and a
bounty hunter are
searching for a treasure
map in Manchuria in
1940 while being pursued
by the Japanese army.
9. Nobody Knows
(誰も知らない)
Japan | 2004
A teenager, Akira, and
his three siblings
struggles in their new life
in Tokyo with little
money as their mother
abandons them.
11. Departures
(おくりびと)
Japan | 2008
A cellist is saddened
when his orchestra
breaks up, but soon
discovers his true calling
working as a mortician.
Asian Filmist – A Starter’s Guide to Asian Cinema
8. Ode to my Father
(국제시장)
Korea | 2014
Separated during the
Korean War, a man longs
to reunite with his father
and sister.
10. Always Sunset on 3rd
Street (ALWAYS 三丁目の夕日)
Japan | 2005
A small neighborhood in
Tokyo adjusts to post-war
life in 1958, while a new
girl from Hokkaido moves
in them with.
12. Still Walking
(歩いても 歩いても)
Japan | 2008
Twelve years after their
eldest son, Junpei,
drowned while saving a
stranger's life, Kyohei and
Toshiko have a reunion
with their other children.
8
 Martial Arts

1. Ip Man 2. Fearless
(葉問) (霍元甲)
Hong Kong| 2008 Hong Kong | 2006

Yip Man, the first teacher Huo Yuanjia, a Chinese

of Wing Chun and master martial artist, attempts to
of Bruce Lee, faces off restore Chinese pride by
against the Japanese challenging foreigners in
during their occupation highly publicized events.
of China in the 1930s.

3. Ong Bak 4. Chocolate

(องค์บาก) (ช็อคโกแลต)
Thailand | 2003 Thailand | 2008

When a Buddha statue A gangster's autistic

stolen from the temple in daughter uses her
a small village, one of its amazing martial arts
residents skilled in Muay skills to collect past debts
Thai goes on a quest to owed to her mother.
recover the statue.

5. Hero 6. House of Flying Daggers

(英雄) (十面埋伏)
China | 2002 China | 2004

A powerful ruler, Qin, Two policemen chase a

has his three main rebel group, who steals
enemies vanished by a from the rich and gives to
minor official, so Qin the poor, but they soon
summons him to tell his become sympathetic to
surprising victory. their cause.

Asian Filmist – A Starter’s Guide to Asian Cinema 9

7. Crouching Tiger, Hidden 8. Arahan
Dragon (臥虎藏龍) (아라한 장풍 대작전)
China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, US | 2000 Korea | 2004

A warrior gives his sword, When a rookie, eager cop

Green Destiny, to his is defeated by a young
lover to keep it safe, but martial artist, Wi-jin, Wi-
it is stolen, and the chase jin determines the cop
is on to find retrieve it. has the makings of a
great warrior to fight evil.

9. The Raid 1 & 2 10. Kung Fu Hustle

(Serbuan Maut) (功夫)
Indonesia | 2011 Hong Kong | 2004

When a crime lord, A wannabe gangster

Rama, ambushes and pretending to be in the
foils a plan a commando "Axe Gang" threatens
raid, a rookie and the residents who have
surviving members must extraordinary fighting
capture Rama. skills.

11. Shaolin Soccer 12. The Golden Cane

(少林足球) Warrior (Pendekar Tongkat Emas)
Hong Kong | 2001
Indonesia | 2014

A young Shaolin follower When an aging martial

reunites with his brothers arts master chooses two
to form a soccer team of her weaker students to
using their martial art be her successors, two
skills to compete in a $1 older students steal her
million tournament. mystical cane instead.

Asian Filmist – A Starter’s Guide to Asian Cinema 10

 Action

1. Snowpiercer 2. The Man From

(설국열차) Nowhere (아저씨)
Korea| 2013 Korea | 2010
In a post-apocalyptic A former secret agent
world, one man sparks a goes to rescue a
revolt on a train, which kidnapped girl, leaving a
houses the last of trail of bodies and blood
humanity, to take control in his path.
of the engine room.

3. Azumi 4. Goemon
(あずみ) (五右衛門)
Japan | 2003 Japan | 2009

Orphan Azumi trains with A young boy’s family is

10 orphans to become an killed, but when bandits
assassin to kill two are about to kill him, Oda
warlords, but her final Nobunaga saves him and
test involves killing her trains him to become a
sparring partner. ninja in his army.

5. A Hard Day 6. Why Don’t You Play in

(끝까지 간다) Hell (着信アリ)
Korea | 2014 Japan | 2013

After trying to cover up A renegade film crew

a car accident that left a becomes embroiled with
man dead, a crooked a yakuza clan feud and
homicide detective is starts recording the
stalked by a mysterious ensuing gang war.
man that witnessed it.

Asian Filmist – A Starter’s Guide to Asian Cinema 11

7. The Good, Bad, and the 8. K-20
Weird (좋은 놈, 나쁜 놈, 이상한 놈) (K-20 怪人二十面相・伝)
Japan | 2008
Korea | 2008
Two outlaws and a Set in a fictional Japanese
bounty hunter are city in 1949 where World
searching for a treasure War II never happens, a
map in Manchuria in master criminal named K-
1940 while being pursued 20 frames a circus
by the Japanese army. acrobat.

9. Kikaider Reboot 10. Rurouni Kenshin

(キカイダー REBOOT) (るろうに剣心)
Japan | 2014 Japan | 2012

To save Dr. Kohmyoji's A former samurai now-

project after his death, turned ronin promises to
the android Kikaider defend the innocent
saves his children so they without killing, but tests
can complete his work. his vow when his past
catches up to him.

11. Battle Royale 12. 13 Assassins

(バトル・ロワイアル) (十三人の刺客)
Japan | 2000 Japan | 2010

When 42 9th graders are A group of assassins

stuck on an island, they come together for a
are given weapons and suicide mission to kill an
food and told to kill each evil lord.
other to escape.

Asian Filmist – A Starter’s Guide to Asian Cinema 12

 Thriller / Crime

1. Cold Eyes 2. Silent Witness

(감시자들) (全民目击)
Korea| 2013 Hong Kong | 2013

A high-tech police A prosecutor is involved

surveillance team in finding the true
attempts to take down a murderer and the truth
gang of ruthless bank while sorting through a
robbers. series of she-said-he-said
testimonies.

3. The Chaser 4. Confessions

(추격자) (告白)
Korea | 2008 Japan | 2010

A cash-strapped pimp A grieving mother and

and former police teacher who lost her
detective draws uses his daughter plots revenge
intuition to track down against some of her
his missing stable of students who are
prostitutes. responsible.

5. Memories of Murder 6. Solomon’s Perjury 1 & 2

(살인의 추억) (ソロモンの偽証)
Korea | 2003 Japan | 2015

A paranormal expert is When a dead student is

making his documentary, found on school campus,
The Curse, when he the student body decides
disappears and leaves to hold a trial to find the
only his video recordings murderer with the
behind. students as judges.

Asian Filmist – A Starter’s Guide to Asian Cinema 13

7. I Saw the Devil 8. Oldboy
(악마를 보았다) (올드보이)
Korea | 2010 Korea | 2003

When a secret agent ‘s After being kidnapped

wife is brutally murder, and imprisoned for 15
he exacts revenge on the years, Oh Dae-Su is
serial killer by tracking released, only to find that
him and toying with the he must find his captor in
murderer. five days.

9. The Snow White Murder Case 10. Infernal Affairs

(白ゆき姫殺人事件) (无间道)
Japan | 2014 Hong Kong | 2002

When a popular, pretty A mole in the police

employee is found department and an
murdered in the woods, undercover cop are after
suspicion immediately the same goal: identifying
falls on a jealous co- each other while
worker. cancelling themselves.

11. The Thieves 12. Outrage

(도둑들) (アウトレイジ)
Korea | 2012 Japan | 2010

A joint Hong Kong and After his men go too far

Korean group of thieves in confronting a rival
plan to steal a valuable gang, a yakuza henchman
treasure, but each thief gets caught up in an
has their own agenda. escalating mob war.

Asian Filmist – A Starter’s Guide to Asian Cinema 14

 Horror

1. A Tale of Two Sisters 2. Killer Toon

(장화 홍련) (더 웹툰: 예고살인)
Korea| 2003 Korea | 2013

After staying in a mental A web comic artist

hospital, Su-mi moves becomes the main
back home with her suspect in two deaths
family in the countryside when police discover her
and starts seeing strange drawings resemble the
things. crime scenes accurately.

3. Ju-On: The Grudge 4. Pulse

(呪怨) (回路)
Japan | 2002 Japan | 2001

A haunted house that When a large number of

anyone visits becomes young adults witness
instantly cursed and will terrifying visions online,
be haunted by ghosts. three people attempt to
solve the ghostly visions
on the net.

5. Noroi 6. One Missed Call

(ノロイ) (着信アリ)
Japan | 2005 Japan | 2003

A paranormal expert is A college student

making his documentary, receives a voice call
The Curse, when he dated two days in the
disappears and leaves future recording her
only his video recordings death before she dies.
behind.

Asian Filmist – A Starter’s Guide to Asian Cinema 15

7. Shutter 8. The Eye
(ชัตเตอร์ กดติดวิญญาณ) (見鬼)
Thailand | 2004 Hong Kong & Singapore | 2002

A photographer and his After 18 years of

girlfriend discover blindness, a 20 year-old
mysterious shadows and violinist gets new eye
images in their transplants, but soon
photographs after a experiences seeing
tragic accident. ghosts.

9. Feng Shui 10. Suicide Club

(Feng Shui) (自殺サークル)
Philippines | 2004
Japan | 2001

Joy receives a mirror on When a seemingly

day, believed to chase unconnected chain of
away evil spirits and give suicides take place in
good luck, but actually Japan, the police
starts killing the people investigate the reasons
around her. behind this trend.

11. The Maid 12. Dark Water

(The Maid) (仄暗い水の底から)
Singapore | 2005
Japan | 2002

A maid from the A recently divorced

Philippines recently woman moves into a new
moves to Singapore to apartment with her
help the Teo family, but young daughter, but both
soon discovers a dark start seeing a ghost of a
secret. girl.

Asian Filmist – A Starter’s Guide to Asian Cinema 16

 Animation

1. Howl’s Moving Castle 2. The Case of Hana & Alice

(ハウルの動く城) (花とアリス殺人事件)
Japan | 2004 Japan | 2015

A young girl is happy A 14-year old student

when meeting the named Tetsuko moves in
handsome Howl the a new town and gets the
wizard, but is cursed by a desk of a murdered
witch and becomes an student, so she
old lady. investigates the death.

3. Summer Wars 4. 5 Centimeters Per Second

(サマウォズ) (秒速 5 センチメートル)
Japan | 2009 Japan | 2007

A young math genius A story follows the lives

solves a complex of a guy and girl who
equation, but in doing so, meet as kids in the
a virtual world AI called 1990s, move far away in
OZ, threatens to destroy junior high, but briefly
Earth. meet as adults in 2008.

5. Metropolis 6. Spirited Away

(メトロポリス) (千と千尋の神隠し)
Japan | 2001 Japan | 2001

A detective and young A witch turns a girl’s

nephew track down a parents into pigs, so she
dangerous scientist who plans to free her family
creates an invention that and escape to the human
could control the future world.
of humanity.

Asian Filmist – A Starter’s Guide to Asian Cinema 17

7. Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust 8. The Girl Who Leapt Through
(バンパイアハンターD ブラッドラスト) Time (時をかける少女)
Japan | 2000 Japan | 2006

When a girl is abducted A teenage girl gains the

by a vampire, a legendary ability to time travel and
bounty hunter is hired to uses her newfound
bring her back. powers to change key
moments in her life.

9. Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children 10. Paprika

(ファイナルファンタジーVII アドベントチルドレン) (パプリカ)
Japan | 2005 Japan | 2006

Taking place after Final A scientist, codenamed

Fantasy VII, the city of “Paprika”, creates a
Midgar was destroyed device called DC Mini,
and Cloud goes into which views people’s
seclusion away from dreams and help
anyone. psychiatric patients

11. Yobi, the Five Tailed Fox 12. Dead Leaves

(천년여우 여우비) (デッド リーブス)
Korea | 2007 Japan | 2004

A young fox that is raised Retro and Pandy are two

by aliens disguises herself renegades who wake up
as a human to blend in on Earth naked with no
with humanity. memories of their past,
but have great physical
abilities.

Asian Filmist – A Starter’s Guide to Asian Cinema 18

 War

1. Silmido 2. Taegukgi
(실미도) (대극기 휘날리며)
Korea | 2003 Korea | 2004

Based on a true story in Two brothers are forcibly

1968, 31 criminals are drafted during the
turned into special forces Korean War, as they
to one day assassinate struggle to survive while
North Korean leader Kim having their brotherhood
Il-sung. tested during the war.

3. Letters from Iwo Jima 4. Roaring Currents

(硫黄からの手紙) (명량)
Japan & US | 2006 Korea | 2014

Faced with a hopeless Admiral Yi Sun-sin

situation, the Japanese engages the Japanese
defenders at Iwo Jima are navy with only 12 ships
ordered to fight to the against over 300
death against the Japanese boats.
impending US forces.

5. Isoroku Yamamoto 6. Red Cliff 1 & 2

(聯合司令官 山本五十六 -太平洋争 70 年目の真) (心・戰)
Japan | 2011 China | 2008-2009

Despite his deep The Battle of Red Cliff

reservations to fight the was a decisive battle to
US, Admiral Yamamoto reunite China and pitted
launches a surprise attack Liu Bei and Sun Quan
on the US naval base at against the forces of Cao
Pearl Harbor. Cao.

Asian Filmist – A Starter’s Guide to Asian Cinema 19

7. Warlords 8. Welcome to Dongmokgol
(投名狀) (웰컴 투 동막골)
China | 2007 Korea | 2005

Three men sworn to North Koreans, South

brotherhood have their Koreans, an American,
loyalties questioned and an innocent girl all
towards one another bond in a secluded village
during the Taiping during the Korean War.
Rebellion.

9. War of the Arrows 10. 71 Into the Fire

(최종병기 활) (포화 속으로)
Korea | 2011 Korea | 2011

A skilled archer is on a Based on a true story, 71

mission to save his sister students face impossible
from slavery from Prince odds against hundreds of
Dorgon of the Qing North Korean soldiers.
Dynasty.

11. The Eternal Zero 12. General Luna

(永遠の 0) (Heneral Luna)
Japan | 2013 Philippines | 2015

A brother and sister One of the Philippines’

learned that their greatest commanders
biological grandfather wages a bloody uprising
served during World War against the US forces
II, but get conflicting during the Philippine-
stories from survivors. American War.

Asian Filmist – A Starter’s Guide to Asian Cinema 20

 What’s your Take?

Which genres do you enjoy the most? Which movies from the list did you like (if you’ve
already seen them or not)? Which films did we miss and what are some films you would
recommend instead?

Let us know at contact.us@asianfilmist.com

We hope this quick guide helped you to discover more movies and become a fan of Asian
films.

Asian Filmist – A Starter’s Guide to Asian Cinema 21