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Yimou Zhang

Yimou Zhang

Director, actor, producer, writer and cinematographer · Born April 2, 1950 (76) · Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, China

Zhang Yimou (born November 14, 1950 or 1951)  is a Chinese film director, producer, writer and actor, and former cinematographer. He is counted amongst the Fifth Generation of Chinese filmmakers, having made his directorial debut in 1987 with Red Sorghum. Zhang has won numerous awards and recognitions, with Best Foreign Film nominations for Ju Dou in 1990 and Raise the Red Lantern in 1991, Silver Lion and Golden Lion prizes at the Venice Film Festival, Grand Jury Prize at the Cannes Film Festival, and the Golden Bear at the Berlin International Film Festival. One of Zhang's recurrent themes is the resilience of Chinese people in the face of hardship and adversity, a theme which has been explored in such films as, for example, To Live (1994) and Not One Less (1999). His films are particularly noted for their rich use of colour, as can be seen in some of his early films, like Raise the Red Lantern, and in his wuxia films like Hero and House of Flying Daggers.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
April 2, 1950 (76)
From
Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, China
Works as
Director, actor, producer, writer and cinematographer
Titles
34 on MovieCove · 74 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 37 days to Oct 26Up 8% in 30 days

What are Yimou Zhang's films like?

Across their 33 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Morality and Bonds.

Genres

Drama14 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 90th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Comedy7 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 85th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Comedy movies
Action5 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 82nd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Action movies
Crime3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 66th percentile
: browse their Crime movies
Documentary2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 82nd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Documentary movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Morality
28%
Bonds
19%
Power
17%
Self
11%
Society
10%
Survival
8%
Ideas
7%
Romantic love7 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice5 titles, browse their movies with this themeSacrifice6 titles, browse their movies with this themeOppression5 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds5 titles, browse their movies with this themeCorruption4 titles, browse their movies with this themeBetrayal4 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival3 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 33 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Serious: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their serious movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

A split, not a type: Light 9 · Serious 7 · Dark 17

Stylized: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their stylized movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

A split, not a type: Grounded 13 · Stylized 11 · Heightened 9

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

Gentle 5 · Charged 18 · Intense 10

Shifting: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their shifting movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

A split, not a type: Steady 15 · Shifting 12 · Whiplash 6

Straight-faced: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their straight-faced movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

Straight-faced 22 · Some laughs 8 · Funny 3

Slow burn: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their slow burn movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 20 · Even-paced 9 · Relentless 4

Engaged: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their engaged movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 6 · Engaged 21 · Full focus 6

Affecting: How much it costs you emotionally; whether you need recovery time. Browse their affecting movies.
Demand · Emotional cost
easyheavy

A split, not a type: Easy watch 6 · Affecting 10 · Heavy 17

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 25 · Open-ended 6 · Ambiguous 2

Roles they play

1 analyzed role

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
17
Melancholic
14
Contemplative
12
Warm
12
Romantic
5
Other
30

How their films linger

Bittersweet14 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking12 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting10 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful12 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteDevastating6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 4 with a twist

  • Happy7
  • Bittersweet17
  • Tragic7
  • Ambiguous2

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Yimou Zhang's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 9 of their 34 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (6).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Yimou Zhang's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

74 credits, 34 with a MovieCove page; 13 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • The Lead (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2026)

    Show 48 episodes · Creator · Executive Producer

  • Scare Out(2026)

    Director · Writer

    Midcredits score: 16th percentile of all films

  • The First Shot (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2024)

    Show 32 episodes · Producer

  • Article 20(2024)

    Director · Writer

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films

  • Under the Light(2023)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films

  • Beijing 2022 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2023)

    Executive Producer

  • Full River Red(2023)

    Director · Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films

  • Beijing 2022 Winter Paralympics Opening Ceremony (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2022)

    Director

  • Beijing 2022 Olympics Closing Ceremony (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2022)

    Director

  • Beijing 2022 Olympic Opening Ceremony (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2022)

    Director

  • Snipers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2022)

    Director

  • My Country, My Parents(2021)

    as TV Station Director (segment "Duck Prophet")

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all films

  • 极：《悬崖之上》电影纪录片 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2021)

    Show 5 episodes · Actor

  • Cliff Walkers(2021)

    Director · Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all films

  • One Second(2020)

    Director · Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all films

  • My People, My Homeland(2020)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • 庆祝中华人民共和国成立70周年联欢活动 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2019)

    Director

  • Shadow(2018)

    Director · Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films

  • The Great Wall(2016)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 34th percentile of all films

  • Suddenly Seventeen (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)

    Producer

  • 最忆是杭州 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)

    Director

  • Thirteen Talks (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Lady of the Dynasty(2015)

    Co-Director

    Midcredits score: 16th percentile of all films

  • Stories Through 180 Lenses (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)

    Director

  • Coming Home(2014)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films

  • The Flowers of War(2011)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all films

  • Making of "The Flowers of War" (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2011)

    Show 5 episodes · Actor

  • Under the Hawthorne Tree(2010)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films

  • A Woman, a Gun and a Noodle Shop(2009)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 28th percentile of all films

  • 60th Anniversary Of Founding Of The People's Republic Of China (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    Director

  • Zhang Yimou's 2008 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    Show 8 episodes · Actor

  • 激荡·1978-2008 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    Show 31 episodes · Actor

  • Beijing 2008 Olympic Closing Ceremony (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    Director

  • Beijing 2008 Olympic Opening Ceremony (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    Director

  • To Each His Own Cinema(2007)

    Director · Writer

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films

  • Curse of the Golden Flower(2006)

    Director · Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all films

  • Riding Alone for Thousands of Miles(2005)

    Director · Producer · Writer

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films

  • 图兰朵：法兰西体育场 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    Director

  • Turandot (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    Director

  • Making of House of Flying Daggers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    Producer · Writer · as Self

  • House of Flying Daggers(2004)

    Director · Producer · Writer

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films

  • Beauty and Pureness (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    Actor

  • Hero(2002)

    Director · Producer · Writer

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • The Grand Mansion Gate (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    Show 40 episodes · as 李莲英

  • Happy Times(2000)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all films

  • Not One Less(1999)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films

  • The Road Home(1999)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all films

  • Puccini: Turandot at the Forbidden City of Beijing (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    Director

  • 知识改变命运 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    Actor

  • Dragon Town Story (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    Producer

  • Keep Cool(1997)

    Director · as Junk Peddler

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films

  • Lumière and Company(1995)

    Director · as Self

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all films

  • Shanghai Triad(1995)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all films

  • The Great Conqueror's Concubine: Part I (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    Producer

  • To Live(1994)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • A Soul Haunted by Painting(1994)

    Producer · Writer

    Midcredits score: 63rd percentile of all films

  • The Story of Qiu Ju(1992)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films

  • Raise the Red Lantern(1991)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • Ju Dou(1990)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all films

  • A Terra-Cotta Warrior(1989)

    as General Meng Tianfang

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • Codename Cougar (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    Director

  • New Chinese Cinema (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    Actor

  • Celebrity Talk Show (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    Show 1 episode · as 张艺谋

  • Red Sorghum(1988)

    Director · Actor

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films

  • The Big Parade (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    Cinematographer · as Military Official

  • Old Well (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    Cinematographer · as 孙旺泉

  • Forced Take-off (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    Cinematographer

  • Yellow Earth(1984)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 84th percentile of all films

  • CMG Spring Festival Gala (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • One And Eight (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    Cinematographer

  • The Red Elephant (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    Cinematographer

  • Cliff Walkers 2 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Director

  • Sunshine Thief (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Executive Producer

  • The Three-Body Problem (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Director

Career shape

A full career of 73 titles, 70 of them dated from 1982 to 2026.

Biggest box office

Full River Red (2023)

$670M worldwide

Highest rated

To Live (1994)

Midcredits 99th

Most popular right now

The Great Wall (2016)

Film career

  • 1988Screen debut· Red Sorghum
  • 1989First top-billed film· A Terra-Cotta Warrior

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting17 of 73: 13 only acting, 4 with another roleDirecting45 of 73: 33 only directing, 12 with another role · typical Midcredits score88thWriting11 of 73: 0 only writing, 11 with another role · typical Midcredits score77thProducing11 of 73: 7 only producing, 4 with another roleCinematography6 of 73: 4 only cinematography, 2 with another roleOther crew1 of 73: 0 only other crew, 1 with another role

73 titles, 16 with more than one role — directing and acting overlap on 2 of them.

By decade

1980s12 · 7 acting · 8 crew1990s13 · 2 acting · 12 crew2000s17 · 4 acting · 13 crew2010s12 · 2 acting · 10 crew2020s16 · 2 acting · 14 crew

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored.

How do Yimou Zhang's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 85th percentile, the median of all 34; across their 33 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 84th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

84thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 33

Approval · how many liked their films

82ndpercentile
Typical film, the median of 33

Reach · how many have seen their films

82ndpercentile
Typical film, the median of 33

Midcredits score across 34 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up20
  • 50th to 74th8
  • 25th to 49th4
  • Below 25th2

Shape of the crowd

17 of their 34 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved9
  • Cult Classic1
  • Crowd Pleaser17
  • Broadly Agreed2
  • Mixed5

Most divisive · director

Lady of the Dynasty (2015)

88th percentile spread · 52% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · director

To Live (1994)

Midcredits 99th · 92% liked

Reviewers score the atmosphere 77/100 and the pacing 48/100 in their films, across 32 reviewed titles. The element that speaks to their work as a director.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Is Yimou Zhang's work okay for kids?

Across up to 9 MovieCove titles with content scores, violence & gore and frightening / intense run heavier than most films and profanity and alcohol & drugs lighter.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore8 titles45–83 · median 65 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity9 titles10–48 · median 32 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity6 titles6–43 · median 11 · minimallighter than most filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs6 titles6–44 · median 18 · mildlighter than most filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense8 titles34–90 · median 55 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 39

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted. The band's colour is the severity of their median, named beside it.

Who does Yimou Zhang work with?

People who share at least 2 of Yimou Zhang's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Xiaoding Zhao shares the most, 14.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers, cinematographers and editors

Producers

Mixed roles