Skip to content
MovieCove
Benshan Zhao

Benshan Zhao

Actor · Born October 2, 1957 (69) · Tieling, Liaoning, China

Zhao Benshan is a Chinese skit and sitcom actor, comedian, television director, and businessman. Originally from Liaoning province, Zhao has appeared on the CCTV New Year's Gala, a widely watched performing arts program, every year from 1990 to 2011.

Biography from TMDB.

Born
October 2, 1957 (69)
From
Tieling, Liaoning, China
Works as
Actor
Titles
8 on MovieCove · 44 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 26Down 34% in 30 days

What are Benshan Zhao's films like?

Across their 8 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Morality and Power.

Genres

Comedy4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 89th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Comedy movies
Drama3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 3rd percentile
: browse their Drama 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
40%
Power
22%
Society
16%
Bonds
13%
Self
7%
Ideas
3%
Sacrifice3 titles, browse their movies with this themeBetrayal2 titles, browse their movies with this themeCommunity2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 8 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Stylized: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their stylized movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

Grounded 3 · Stylized 3 · Heightened 2

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

Gentle 1 · Charged 4 · Intense 3

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

Steady 2 · Shifting 5 · Whiplash 1

Some laughs: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their some laughs movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

A split, not a type: Straight-faced 4 · Some laughs 2 · Funny 2

Even-paced: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their even-paced movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

A split, not a type: Slow burn 5 · Even-paced 2 · Relentless 1

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

Casual 3 · Engaged 5 · Full focus 0

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 3 · Affecting 2 · Heavy 3

Open-ended: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their open-ended movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 3 · Open-ended 5 · Ambiguous 0

Roles they play

2 analyzed roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Melancholic
4
Contemplative
4
Absurd
2
Tense
3
Warm
2
Other
8

How their films linger

Bittersweet4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 1 with a twist

  • Happy1
  • Bittersweet6
  • Ambiguous1

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 Benshan Zhao's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 2 of their 8 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service.

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Benshan Zhao'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

44 credits, 8 with a MovieCove page.

  • Not Short of Money (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2024)

    Executive Producer

  • Good Folks of Xiangya Mountain (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2024)

    Show 30 episodes · as Wang Dana

  • Legend of the Undercover Chef (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2023)

    Show 80 episodes · Executive Producer · as Ximen Changhai / Ximen Changzai

  • The Northeast Wonderland (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2021)

    Producer

  • The New Year's Eve of Old Lee(2016)

    as Old Lee

    Midcredits score: 3rd percentile of all films

  • 爹妈满院 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    Show 50 episodes · Actor

  • 收获的季节 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)

    Show 38 episodes · Actor

  • 老兵 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)

    Show 66 episodes · Actor

  • 说书人 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2013)

    Show 34 episodes · as Liu Heizi

  • 第22条婚规 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2013)

    Show Creator

  • 樱桃红 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2013)

    Show 38 episodes · Actor

  • The Grandmaster(2013)

    as Ding Lianshan

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films

  • 不是钱的事 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2012)

    Show 3 episodes · Actor

  • The Lion Roars 2 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2012)

    as Wang Chengyan

  • 樱桃 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2012)

    Show 38 episodes · as Li Laowai

  • Just Call Me Nobody II (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2012)

    Actor

  • Flying Wooden Donkey (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2011)

    Show 69 episodes · as 怪老子

  • Beginning of the Great Revival(2011)

    as Duan Qirui

    Midcredits score: 3rd percentile of all films

  • Just Call Me Nobody (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2010)

    as Wu Di

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

    as Patrol Team Commander

    Midcredits score: 28th percentile of all films

  • 关东大先生 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    Show 47 episodes · as 千里眼

  • Getting Home(2007)

    as Zhao

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films

  • Happy New Year (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    Actor

  • Love Stories in the Countryside (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    Show 849 episodes · Director · Art Direction · Producer · Theme Song Performance · as 王大拿

  • Ma Dashuai (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    Show 91 episodes · Director · Creator · Writer · as 马大帅

  • Liu Lao Gen (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    Show 162 episodes · Director · Creator · as 刘老根

  • 家和万事兴之善意的谎言 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    Show 3 episodes · as 老黄

  • 卖拐 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    as Huyou

  • Happy Times(2000)

    as Lao Zhao

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all films

  • 家和万事兴之情归龙年 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    Show 3 episodes · Actor

  • Male Sorority Director (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    as 刘一本

  • The Emperor and the Assassin(1998)

    as Gao Jianli

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all films

  • 一乡之长 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    Show 18 episodes · as 郝运来

  • Keep Cool(1997)

    as Poet Reader

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films

  • 夜深人不静 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    Show 11 episodes · as 老乐

  • Whoever Comes is a Guest (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    as 肖望发

  • 现世活宝 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    Actor

  • 赵本山小品 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    Show 47 episodes · Actor

  • Bie jiao wo ba li (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    Actor

  • 摔三弦 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    as 张志

  • CCTV Spring Festival Gala: Crosstalk and Sketch (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    Show 21 episodes · Actor

  • Let's Go (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Show 1 episode · as Jia Guitian

  • 刘老根2 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Show 22 episodes · Creator · Actor

  • 马大帅2 马大帅Ⅱ (2005) (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Show Creator

Career shape

Star power in the 91st percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 44 titles, 41 of them dated from 1983 to 2024; peak year 1999.

Biggest box office

The Grandmaster (2013)

$74M worldwide

Highest rated

Getting Home (2007)

Midcredits 93rd

Most popular right now

The Grandmaster (2013)

Film career

19832024

Peak 1999 · back in prominent film roles after a quiet stretch. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.

  • 1997Screen debut· Keep Cool
  • 2000First top-billed film· Happy Times

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting40 of 44: 35 only acting, 5 with another role · typical Midcredits score78thDirecting3 of 44: 0 only directing, 3 with another roleWriting1 of 44: 0 only writing, 1 with another roleProducing4 of 44: 2 only producing, 2 with another roleOther crew6 of 44: 2 only other crew, 4 with another role

44 titles, 5 with more than one role — acting and other crew overlap on 4 of them.

By decade

1980s3 · acting1990s8 · acting2000s11 · 11 acting · 3 crew2010s15 · 14 acting · 1 crew2020s4 · 2 acting · 3 crew

Billing

usually 6th · top billed in 29% of 7 roles

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. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30.

How do Benshan Zhao's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 78th percentile, the median of all 8; across their 8 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 78th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

78thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 8

Approval · how many liked their films

76thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 8

Reach · how many have seen their films

67thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 8

Midcredits score across 8 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up4
  • 50th to 74th1
  • 25th to 49th1
  • Below 25th2

Shape of the crowd

4 of their 8 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved1
  • Universally Panned1
  • Crowd Pleaser4
  • Mixed2

Most divisive · actor

Beginning of the Great Revival (2011)

80th percentile spread · 79% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Getting Home (2007)

Midcredits 93rd · 82% liked

Reviewers score the acting 74/100 in their films, across 7 reviewed titles; fans 80, detractors 59. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

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.

Who does Benshan Zhao work with?

People who share at least 2 of Benshan Zhao's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Yimou Zhang shares the most, 3.

Directors

Actors

Producers

Mixed roles