Best movies like The Opium Wars
A unique, carefully handpicked, selection of the best movies like The Opium Wars Starring Zhao Dan, Gao Zheng, Xia Tian, Han Fei, and more. If you liked The Opium Wars then you may also like: 55 Days at Peking, Zulu, The Warlords, The Opium War, Rise of the Legend and many more popular movies featured on this list. You can further filter the list even more or get a random selection from the list of similar movies, to make your selection even easier.
China 1839. Because the British imports of opium into Southern China are creating such widespread medical and economic problems, the weak Manchu emperor Tao Kuang is forced to take action that precipitates the 'Opium War'.
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The Warlords
A heroic tale of three blood brothers and their struggle in the midst of war and political upheaval. It is based on "The Assassination of Ma," a Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) story about the killing of general Ma Xinyi.
The Opium War
The story of the Opium War between China, in the waning days of the Qing Dynasty, and the British Empire, in the 1830s, and the subsequent takeover of Hong Kong by Britain; through the eyes of the key figures, fiercely nationalistic Lin Zexu, and opportunistic British naval diplomat Charles Elliot.
Rise of the Legend
In 1868 during the late Qing Dynasty, rampant corruption on the Imperial Court inflicts much suffering in people's lives. For years, the Black Tiger’s fearsome boss Lei Gong has been trying to get rid of the leader of the Northern Sea. One of his latest recruits is Fei, a fearless fighter who takes the Northern Sea leader’s head after a fierce fight. Just as Lei Gong believes he has total control of the port, a new gang called the Orphans rises in power. Led by Fei’s childhood friend Huo, the Orphans are out to eliminate all the criminal power from the port…
The Bushido Blade
A steel samurai blade that was to be given to the American ambassador by the Emperor of Japan is stolen. American sailors and Japanese samurai are sent to find it.
The Castle of Fu Manchu
The evil mastermind Fu Manchu plots his latest scheme to basically freeze over the Earth's oceans with his diabolical new device. Opposing him is his arch-nemesis, Interpol's very British Nayland Smith.
Tai-Pan
The film begins following the British victory of the first Opium War and the seizure of Hong Kong. Although the island is largely uninhabited and the terrain unfriendly, it has a large port that both the British government and various trading companies believe will be useful for the import of merchandise to be traded on mainland China, a highly lucrative market.
The Grandmaster
Ip Man's peaceful life in Foshan changes after Gong Yutian seeks an heir for his family in Southern China. Ip Man then meets Gong Er who challenges him for the sake of regaining her family's honor. After the Second Sino-Japanese War, Ip Man moves to Hong Kong and struggles to provide for his family. In the mean time, Gong Er chooses the path of vengeance after her father was killed by Ma San.
The Mask of Fu Manchu
The villainous Dr. Fu Manchu races against a team of Englishmen to find the tomb of Ghengis Khan, because he wants to use the relics to cause an uprising in the East to wipe out the white race.
The Last Emperor
A dramatic history of Puyi, the last of the Emperors of China, from his lofty birth and brief reign in the Forbidden City, the object of worship by half a billion people; through his abdication, his decline and dissolute lifestyle; his exploitation by the invading Japanese, and finally to his obscure existence as just another peasant worker in the People's Republic.
The Sino-Dutch War 1661
Based on the story of Zheng Chenggong and focuses on his battle with the Dutch Empire for control of Taiwan at the Siege of Fort Zeelandia.
True Legend
Su Qi-Er, a wealthy man living during the Qing Dynasty who loses his fortune and reputation as a result of a conspiracy against him. After being forced out onto the streets, Su dedicates his life to martial arts and reemerges as a patriotic hero known as the "King of Beggars."
The Long Duel
An idealistic colonial police officer is sent to capture a rebel leader who threatens the stability of the Raj's north-west frontier. Despite his official colonial capacity, the policeman is impressed by the ingenuity and integrity of his enemy and is determined to arrest him alive rather than bring him in dead as his superiors might wish.
Confessions of an Opium Eater
Vincent Price stars in this early '60s adaptation of Thomas De Quincey's thriller about an opium addict trying to solve a mystery in San Francisco's Chinatown.
Wushu Warrior
China, 1862: Lord Lindsey rules the opium trade and enslaves the innocent. The only hope for the oppressed nation, is a covert group of trained Wushu Warriors - The Red Lotus Society – who will fight to restore justice to its people.
The Guillotines
In the time of the Qing Dynasty, the Emperor Yongzheng created a secret army known as the Guillotines. It was the job of the Guillotines to protect the Emperor by killing anyone who posed a threat to him or his rule. After 348 successful missions to eliminate their target, the 349th assignment proves to be their last.
One Arm Hero
In the third and Final film of the Exiting Martial Arts Trilogy, Sam the Iron Bridge is now Governor of Canton.
Master Of The Shadowless Kick: Wong Kei-Ying
A quiet physician from southern China masters martial arts to protect his son and stop a corrupt governor.
Tomb Robber
Yushan at the foot of a town, the old factory accident found an old tomb, the news spread, not only caused widespread concern in the archaeological community, but also attracted the attention of the Tomb of the gang.
Arhats in Fury
During the Sung Dynasty, there is an order of monks enforces their own regulations harshly. Even when the evil Jins attack, and martial arts supremo Zhi Xing helps fight them off, he is punished for practicing fu without permission. The local militia, loyal to the Emperor, is led by a sword fighting beautiful woman, who teams up with some of the monks. One of these monks also has the power to summon animals and birds to help in the fighting.
Visa to Canton
A former World War II pilot, now the owner of a travel agency in Hong Kong, gets involved in espionage trying to help a Chinese woman locate her son.
The Empress Dowager
Han Hsiang Li's lush epic re-creates the fascinating life and times of Tzu Hsi, the Manchu Qing dynasty empress who rose from the ranks of Emperor Xianfeng's many concubines to become the de facto ruler of China for nearly 50 years.
Hard to Believe
A documentary that examines the issue of forced live organ harvesting from Chinese prisoners of conscience, and the response - or lack of it - around the world. It's happened before: governments killing their own citizens for their political or spiritual beliefs. But it’s never happened like this. It’s happened so often that the world doesn’t always pay attention.
The Palace
In Qing Dynasty, Chen Xiang and Liuli became maids and friends in the imperial palace. Liuli wanted to be famous whereas Chen Xiang just wanted to live a normal life. Liuli attempted to change her life by knowing the prince, even at the cost of betraying Chen Xiang.
Samurai
A young Japanese-American orphan in California is taken in by a priest who is actually a Japanese secret agent and a samurai warrior. Due to the samurai's training, the boy murders his English teacher, kills the American parents who have adopted him, smuggles Japanese secret plans into the country, and eventually becomes the governor of California with plans to infiltrate Japanese spies into the state so they can take over.
Secret Post in Canton
A special agent of frontier force in Canton tries to find a spy called aunt Mei.
Time to Love
A single modern-day city girl name Zhang Xiaowen accidentally travels back in time to the Qing Dynasty and becomes Ruoxi, but gets caught up in a web of love and politics in the royal court of Emperor Kangxi.
Java Head
Gerrit Ammidon, despairing of any chance to marry his love, Nettie Vollar, because of a bitter feud between his father and her grandfather, sails to China to "get away from it all". While in Shanghai he rescues a beautiful young woman being attacked by a gang of street toughs. She turns out to be Taou Yuen, a Manchu princess. Gerrit discovers that, unless she finds a husband, she will be put to death, and he agrees to marry her. They return to Java Head, the Ammidon family home in Salem, Massachusetts, but Gerrit's "homecoming" has some unexpected consequences.
Whisper of Silent Body
A corpse that was accidentally discovered raises many questions. Using his blade, forensic doctor Qin Ming cuts through the shocking voice of the dead to find clues that will help track down the murderer. Hailed as the "corpse whisperer", Qin Ming has dissected more than 1000 corpses and never once made a single mistake. When a corpse that has been soaked in formalin for six year is discovered to have died of homicide, it causes widespread indignation and doubts about misjudgment. Guided by the clues, Qin Ming is assisted by intern Jia Jia and police captain Lin Tao in an investigation that leads them to a murder case from 16 years ago.
55 Days at Peking
Diplomats, soldiers and other representatives of a dozen nations fend off the siege of the International Compound in Peking during the 1900 Boxer Rebellion. The disparate interests unite for survival despite competing factions, overwhelming odds, delayed relief and tacit support of the Boxers by the Empress of China and her generals.