Note: All film titles, limited 10 titles each decade in each category, are available in one format or another, regardless of whether they carry English subtitles. Geopolitical designations are based on the origins of directors rather than production companies. Consult Recommended Films for titles with English subtitles.

1920s

• Laborer's Love (Laogong zhi aiqing), Zhang Shichuan, 1922
• Mulan Joins the Army (Mulan congjun), Hou Yao, 1928
• Romance of the Western Chamber (Xixiang ji), Hou Yao, 1927

• Big Road (Dalu), Sun Yu, 1934
• Children of Troubled Time (Fengyu ernü), Xu Xingzhi, 1935
• Crossroads (Shizi jietou), Shen Xiling, 1937
• Fishermen's Song (Yuguang qu), Cai Chusheng, 1934
• Goddess (Shengnü), Wu Yonggang, 1934
• New Woman (Xin nüxing), Cai Chusheng, 1934
• Plunder of Peach and Plum (Tao li jie), Ying Yunwei, 1934
• Singing at Midnight (Yeban gesheng), Ma-Xu Weibang, 1937
• Street Angel (Malu tianshi), Yuan Muzhi., 1937
• Twin Sisters (Zimei hua), Zheng Zhengqiu. 1933

• Crows and Sparrows (Wuya yu maque), Zheng Junli et al., 1949
• Daughters of China (Zhonghua ernü). Ling Zifeng, 1949
• Eight Thousand Li of Cloud and Moon (Baqianli lu yun he yue), Shi Dongshan, 1947
• Eternity (Wanshi liufang), Bu Wancang, 1943
• Myriad of Lights (Wanjia denghou), Shen Fu, 1948
• Love Live the Mistress! (Taitai wansui), Sang Hu, 1947
• Sorrows and Joys of a Middle-Aged Man (Aile zhongnian), Sang Hu, 1949
• Spring in a Small Town (Xiaocheng zhichun), Fei Mu, 1948
• Spring River Flows East (Yijiang chunshui xiangdong liu), Cai Chusheng, Zheng Junli, 1947
• Three Women (Liren xing), Chen Liting, 1949

• The City That Never Sleeps (Buye cheng), Tang Xiaodan, 1957
• It's My Day Off (Jintian wo xiuxi), Lu Ren, 1959
• The Lin Family Shop (Linjia puzi), Shui Hua, 1959
• Lin Tze-hsu (Lin Zexu), Zheng Junli, 1959
• The Story of Liu Bao Village (Liubao de gushi), Wang Ping, 1957
• Song of Youth (Qingchun zhige), Cui Wei, Chen Huaiai, 1959
• The White-Haired Woman, (Baimao nü), Wang Bin, Shui Hua, 1950
• This Life of Mine (Wo zhe yibeizi), Shi Hui, 1950
• Woman Basketball Player No. 5 (Nülan wuhao), Xie Jin, 1957; VHS: Nan Hai

• In the Face of Demolition (Weilou chunxiao), Lee Tit, 1953

• Beautiful Duckling (Yangya renjia), Li Xing, 1964
• Oyster Girl (Kenü), Li Xing, Li Jia, 1964

• Li Shuangshuang (Li Shuangshuang), Lu Ren, 1962
• Red Detachment of Women (Hongse niangzi jun), Xie Jin, 1960
• Third Sister Liu (Liu sanjie), Su Li, 1960
• Stage Sisters (Wutai jiemei), Xie Jin, 1964
• Serfs (Nongnu), Li Jun, 1963

• Come Drink With Me (Da zuixia), King Hu, 1966
• Hong Kong Nocturne (Xiangjiang huayue ye), Inoue Umetsugu, 1967
• One-Armed Swordsman (Dubi dao), Zhang Che, 1967

• Early Train from Taipei (Taibei fade zaoban che), Liang Zhefu, 1964
• The Winter (Dongnuan), Li Hanxiang, 1969

• Breaking with Old Ideas (Juelie), Li WeNan Haiua, 1975
• Red Detachment of Women (Hongse niangzi jun), Cheng Yin, 1971, ballet
• The Pioneers (Chuangye), Yu Yanfu; 1974

• The Arch (Dong furen), Tang Shuxuan, 1970
• The Chinese Connection (Jingwu men), Lo Wei, 1972
• The House of Seventy-two Tenants (Qishier jia fangke, 1973)
• The Warlord (Da junfa), Li Hanxiang, 1972

• Home, Sweet Home (Jia zai Taibei), Bai Jingrui, 1970
• Legend of the Mountain (Shanzhong chuanqi), King Hu, 1979
• A Touch of Zen (Xianü), King Hu, 1970

• Army Nurse (Nüer lou), Hu Mei, 1985
• Black Cannon Incident (Heipao shijian), Huang Jianxin, 1985
• Evening Bell (Wanzhong), Wu Ziniu, 1988
• A Girl from Hunan (Xiangnü Xiaoxiao), Xie Fei, 1985
• Hibiscus Town (Furong zhen), Xie Jin, 1986
• Horse Thief (Daoma zei), Tian Zhuangzhuang, 1986
• Ju Dou (Ju Dou), Zhang Yimou, 1989
• Sacrificed Youth (Qingchun ji), Zhang Nuanxin, 1985
• Woman Demon Human (Ren gui qing), Huang Shuqin, 1989
• Yellow Earth (Huang tudi), Chen Kaige, 1984

• A Better Tomorrow (Yingxiong bense), John Woo, 1986
• The Killer (Diexue shuangxiong), John Woo, 1989
• Love in a Fallen City (Qingcheng zhilian), Ann Hui, 1984
• Peking Opera Blues (Daoma dan), Tsui Hark, 1987
• The Reincarnation of Golden Lotus (Pan Jinlian zhi qianshi jinsheng), Clara Law, 1989
• Rouge (Yanzhi kou), Stanley Kwan, 1987

• City of Sadness (Beiqing chengshi), Hou Hsiao-hsien, 1989
• Dust in the Wind (Lianlian fengchen), Hou Hsiao-hsien, 1987
• In Our Time (Guangyin de gushi), Edward Yang et al., 1982
• Sandwich Man (Erzi de da wan'ou), Hou Hsiao-hsien et al., 1983
• Taipei Story (Qingmei zhuma), Edward Yang, 1985
• Terrorizer (Kongbu fenzi), Edward Yang, 1986
• That Day on the Beach (Haitan de yitian), Edward Yang, 1983
• A Time to Live and a Time to Die (Tongnian wangshi), Hou Hsiao-hsien, 1985

• The Blue Kite (Lan fengzheng), Tian Zhuangzhuang, 1993
• The Days (Dong Chun de rizi), Wang Xiaoshuai, 1993
• East Palace, West Palace (Donggong xigong), Zhang Yuan, 1997
• Ermo (Ermo), Zhou Xiaowen, 1994
• Farewell My Concubine (Bawang bieji), Chen Kaige, 1993
• For Fun (Zhaole), Ning Ying, 1992
• In the Heat of the Sun (Yangguang canlan de rizi), Jiang Wen, 1995
• Lunar Eclipse (Yueshi), Wang Quanan, 1999
• Raise the Red Lantern (Dahong denglong gaogao gua), Zhang Yimou, 1991
• Shower (Xizao), Zhang Yang, 1999

• Autumn Moon (Qiuyue), Clara Law, 1992
• Centre Stage, aka Actress (Ruan Lingyu), Stanley Kwan, 1992
• Chungking Express (Chongqing senlin), Wong Kar-Wai, 1994
• Comrades, Almost a Love Story (Tian mimi), Peter Chan, 1996
• The Day the Sun Turned Cold (Tianguo nizi), Yim Ho, 1994
• Little Chueng (Xilu Xiang), Fruit Chan, 1999
• The Mission (Qianghuo), Johnnie To, 1999’
• Once Upon a Time in China (Huang Feihong), Tsui Hark, 1991
• Song of the Exile (Ketu qiuhen), Ann Hui, 1990
• Swordsman III: The East Is Red (Fengyun zaiji), Ching Siu Tung, 1993

• A Brighter Summer Day (Gulingjie shaonian sharen shijian), Edward Yang, 1991
• Buddha Bless America (Taiping tianguo), Wu Nien-chen, 1996
• A Confucian Confusion (Duli shidai), Edward Yang, 1995
• Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (Wohu canglong), Ang Lee, 1999
• Eat Drink Man Woman (Yinshi nannü), Ang Lee, 1994
• Good Men, Good Women (Haonan haonü), Hou Hsiao-hsien, 1995
• The Hole (Dong), Tsai Ming-liang, 1998
• The Personals (Zhenghun qishi), Chen Guofu, 1999
• Vive l'amour (Aiqing wansui), Tsai Ming-liang

• Beijing Bicycle (Shiqisui de danche), Wang Xiaoshuai, 2001
• Big Shot's Funeral (Dawan), Feng Xiaogang, 2001
• Platform (Zhantai), Jia Zhangke, 2000
• The Suzhou River (Suzhou he), Lou Ye, 2000

• Lan Yu (Lan Yu), Stanley Kwan, 2001
• Shaolin Soccer (Shaolin zuqiu), Stephen Chiau, 2001

• Hidden Whisper (Xiaobai wu jiyi), Vivian Chang, 2000
• Mirror Image (Mingdai zhuizhu), Hsiao Ya Chuan, 2000
• What Time Is It There? (Ni na er jidian le), Tsai Ming-liang, 2001
• Yiyi, aka A One and a Two (Yiyi), Edward Yang, 2000

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