Best movies like The Emperor and the Assassin
Last updated March 2024
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Plot Summary:
In pre-unified China, the King of Qin sends his concubine to a rival kingdom to produce an assassin for a political plot, but as the king's cruelty mounts she finds her loyalty faltering.
IMDB Rating: 7.2
IMDB Votes: 6000
Genere: Drama, History, Romance
Country: China, France, Japan
Duration: 162 min
Plot tags: epic, thought provoking, heroic, serious, captivating, realistic, philosophical, atmospheric, sexy, clever
Best tv shows and movies like The Emperor and the Assassin (1998):
Similar in 78%
Quo Vadis (2001)
Plot Summary:
Ancient Rome, during the time of Emperor Nero. Vinicius, a young patrician, falls in love with the beautiful Lygia, the daughter of a Barbarian commander who was killed in battle, and wants her for his concubine. For Lygia, a Christian, being a pagan's concubine is a severe sin and disgrace. However, when Vinicius is wounded, Lygia cares for him, and starts to reciprocate his feelings. Vinicius, in return, becomes interested in Christian learning and asks Apostle Peter to teach him. In the meantime, Emperor Nero accuses Christians of having started a great fire in Rome. He encourages the imprisonment, torture and murder of his Christian subjects.
IMDB Rating: 5.7
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Drama, History, Romance
Country: Poland, USA
Duration: 165 min
Plot tags: sincere, serious, captivating, epic, tragic
Similar in 83%
Shanghai Triad (1995)
Plot Summary:
A provincial boy related to a Shanghai crime family is recruited by his uncle into cosmopolitan Shanghai in the 1930s to be a servant to a ganglord's mistress.
IMDB Rating: 7.1
IMDB Votes: 6000
Genere: Crime, Drama, History, Romance, Thriller
Country: France, China
Duration: 108 min
Plot tags: atmospheric, clever, stylized, crime drama, mind blowing, tense, serious, captivating, realistic, suspenseful
Similar in 88%
Sword in the Moon (2003)
Plot Summary:
A series of high-ranking officials are being systematically eliminated by a sleek assassin and his female assistant, and arrogant master swordsman General Choi (Jo Jae-Hyeon) is charged with putting an end to the carnage. During a previous time of political upheaval, the Clear Wind, Shining Moon martial arts school was caught in the middle and its members ruthlessly slaughtered. Top student Choi swore allegiance to the usurpers and was spared; now, his former friend, Yun (Choi Min-Soo) is exacting vengeance on behalf of the victims.
IMDB Rating: 5.7
IMDB Votes: 1000
Genere: Action, Drama, Adventure
Country: South Korea
Duration: 102 min
Plot tags: rough, serious, suspenseful, bleak, realistic
Similar in 81%
Temptress Moon (1996)
Plot Summary:
Set in the decadent 1920s, Temptress Moon tells the very complicated story of a wealthy family living on the outskirts of Shanghai. Their youngest daughter, Ruyi, is brought up as a servant to her opium-addicted father and brother. Meanwhile, her brother-in-law Zhongliang has a successful, if illegal, career seducing and blackmailing married women in the city. When he comes to Ruyi's home the two fall in love, and trouble ensues.
IMDB Rating: 6.7
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Drama, Romance
Country: China, Hong Kong
Duration: 130 min
Plot tags: stylized, serious, captivating, realistic, suspenseful, gloomy, epic, erotic, atmospheric, sexy
Similar in 82%
The Hidden Blade (2004)
Plot Summary:
Set in 19th Century Japan a young samurai who finds himself in love with a farm girl leaves his home to begin a new life. He has to take stock of his new life when he is put to the test and ordered to kill a traitor who just happens to be his dearest friend.
IMDB Rating: 7.7
IMDB Votes: 7000
Genere: Drama, History, Romance
Country: Japan
Duration: 132 min
Plot tags: sentimental, serious, stylized, romantic, epic, jidai geki, realistic, gloomy, period drama
Similar in 84%
The Banquet (2006)
Plot Summary:
907 AD, the Tang Dynasty in China. The movie is set in an empire in chaos. The Emperor, the Empress, the Crown Prince, the Minister and the General all have their own enemies.
IMDB Rating: 6.4
IMDB Votes: 7000
Genere: Action, Drama, Fantasy, Romance
Country: China
Duration: 131 min
Plot tags: atmospheric, captivating, stylized, costume drama, serious, surprise ending, epic
Similar in 76%
14 Blades (2010)
Plot Summary:
Trained in clandestine combat from childhood, the Jinyiwei were masters of the 14 Blades; eight being for torture, five for killing, and the last blade reserved for suicide when a mission failed. An elite force of secret agents with a license to kill, the Jinyiwei devoted their lives and lethal prowess to the service of the Emperor alone. When the Imperial Court is taken over by evil eunuch Jia (Law Kar Ying), the best of the Jinyiwei, Qinglong (Donnie Yen) is assigned to steal a list identifying those still loyal to the Emperor. However unbeknownst to Qinglong, the Jinyiwei have fallen under the control of Jia, and during the mission Qinglong is betrayed and barely escapes with his life. Now as the most wanted man in the land, Qinglong must seek out and rally the loyalists to rise against Jia and restore the Emperor to power. In his way are the deadliest assassins in the land, his former brethren, the Jinyiwei.
IMDB Rating: 6.3
IMDB Votes: 8000
Genere: Action, History, Thriller
Country: Hong Kong, China, Singapore
Duration: 114 min
Plot tags: exciting, suspenseful, stylized, serious, epic
Similar in 89%
An Empress and the Warriors (2008)
Plot Summary:
After the death of her father, a woman is forced to take over as empress and fight to save her kingdom.
IMDB Rating: 5.8
IMDB Votes: 4000
Genere: Action, Drama, History, Romance
Country: Hong Kong, China
Duration: 99 min
Plot tags: captivating, stylized, tense, serious, epic
Similar in 87%
Sacrifice (2010)
Plot Summary:
For generations the Zhao family has wielded power, until their mortal enemy TU’AN GU slaughters the entire clan, determined to wipe out their influence forever. But one Zhao baby survives hidden by CHENG YING the doctor who delivered him. When Tu’an Gu learns of the baby’s escape he seizes every infant in the city, vowing to kill them all unless the Zhao baby is surrendered. As the tyrant’s soldiers arrive at Cheng Ying’s home the frantic doctor hides his wife with their own baby whilst surrendering the Zhao child as his own. But his family is discovered; his baby is presumed to be the Zhao heir and murdered along with his wife for harboring the infant. Now set on revenge Cheng Ying enrolls the Zhao orphan into the service of the Tu’an Gu household, plotting to use him as an instrument of vengeance when he comes of age.
IMDB Rating: 6.2
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Drama, History
Country: China
Duration: 122 min
Plot tags: exciting, atmospheric, serious, suspenseful, captivating, stylized, epic, realistic, costume drama
Similar in 81%
White Vengeance (2011)
Plot Summary:
White Vengeance tells the story of two brothers contending for supremacy during the fall of the Qin Dynasty, which ruled Imperial China from 221 to 206 BC. As rebels rose, the nation fell into chaos. Liu Bang and Xiang Yu, became leaders of the rebellious army, and also became sworn brothers in battle.Xiang Yu and Liu Bang are close friends who both serve King Huai of Chu. King Huai uses a plot, saying that whoever can subvert the Qin kingdom in Guanzhong would be the Lord Qin, in order to benefit from the competition between Xiang Yu and Liu Bang. Xiang Yu is over-confident. He fights against the main force of Qin army, and entrusts Liu Bang with Yu Ji, the woman he loves.Liu Bang expresses his love to Yu Ji and takes the chance to invade Guanzhong first when most of Qin army is outside fighting against Xiang Yu’s army.
IMDB Rating: 6.1
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Action, Drama, History
Country: China
Duration: 135 min
Plot tags: exciting, suspenseful, rough, serious, realistic, epic
Similar in 77%
The Kingdom of the Winds (2008)
Plot Summary:
The Kingdom of The Winds, also known as The Land of The Wind, is a 2008 South Korean historial drama, broadcast on KBS from 10 September 2008 to 15 January 2009. It was directed by Kang Il-soo, written by Choi Wan-gyu, Jung Jin-ok, Park Jin-woo; adapted from manhwa by Kim Jin.
IMDB Rating: 7.6
IMDB Votes: 1000
Genere: Drama, Fantasy, History
Country: South Korea
Duration:
Plot tags: sageuk, exciting, serious, captivating, suspenseful
Similar in 80%
Raise the Red Lantern (1991)
Plot Summary:
China in the 1920s. After her father's death, 19 year old Songlian is forced to marry the much older lord of a powerful family. With three wives already, each living in a separate house within the great castle, there is fierce competition for his attention and the privileges that are gained. This competition gets out of hand.
IMDB Rating: 8.1
IMDB Votes: 35000
Genere: Drama, Romance
Country: Hong Kong, China
Duration: 125 min
Plot tags: atmospheric, depressing, stylized, visually stunning, intense, serious, realistic, poignant, cerebral, independent film
Similar in 84%
Constantine and the Cross (1961)
Plot Summary:
Constantin is fighting against Barbarians with his father when he is called to Rome. In his way to Rome, he falls in an ambush planned by Maxence, who wants to become emperor.
IMDB Rating: 5.8
IMDB Votes: 550
Genere: Adventure, Drama, History, Romance, War
Country: Italy, Yugoslavia
Duration: 120 min
Plot tags: epic, serious, realistic, saga, christian film, independent film
Similar in 88%
The Assassins (2012)
Plot Summary:
In the year 198 BC, Cao Cao (Chow Yun Fat), Prime Minister of the Han Dynasty, ventured to the east and defeated China's greatest warrior Lu Bu, terrifying every ambitious warlord across the country. Several years later, after taking the Han Emperor under his wing, Cao crowns himself King of Wei. He built a magnificent Bronze Sparrow Island to symbolize his power and rumors spread that he would replace the Emperor. Meanwhile, young lovers Mu Shun (Hiroshi Tamaki) and Ling Ju (Liu Yi-Fei) are taken from a prison camp to a hidden tomb, where they spend five cruel years together, training as assassins for a secret mission. In the year 220 BC astronomical signs predict dramatic change. As a result, Cao's son Cao Pi (Yau Sam-Chi) and Cao's followers urge Cao to become the new Emperor - but unknown opposing forces plot against him.
IMDB Rating: 5.5
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Drama, History
Country: China
Duration: 107 min
Plot tags: exciting, serious, epic, realistic, captivating, stylized
Similar in 83%
The Warlords (2007)
Plot Summary:
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.
IMDB Rating: 7.0
IMDB Votes: 28000
Genere: Action, Adventure, Drama, History, Romance, War
Country: Hong Kong, China
Duration: 126 min
Plot tags: sincere, suspenseful, epic, rough, serious, cult classic, exciting, realistic
Similar in 80%
Curse of the Golden Flower (2006)
Plot Summary:
During China's Tang dynasty the emperor has taken the princess of a neighboring province as wife. She has borne him two sons and raised his eldest. Now his control over his dominion is complete, including the royal family itself.
IMDB Rating: 7.0
IMDB Votes: 46000
Genere: Action, Drama, Romance
Country: Hong Kong, China
Duration: 114 min
Plot tags: costume drama, visual, colorful, absurd, serious, captivating, visually stunning, stylized, action adventure, sexy
Similar in 85%
Dragon Blade (2015)
Plot Summary:
Huo An, the commander of the Protection Squad of the Western Regions, was framed by evil forces and becomes enslaved. On the other hand, a Roman general escapes to China after rescuing the Prince. The heroic duo meet in the Western Desert and a thrilling story unfolds.
IMDB Rating: 5.9
IMDB Votes: 21000
Genere: Action, Drama, Fantasy, History
Country: China, Hong Kong
Duration: 127 min
Plot tags: realistic, exciting, serious, scenic, cult classic, action adventure, epic
Similar in 90%
Red Cliff II (2009)
Plot Summary:
The battle of Red Cliff continues and the alliance between Xu and East Wu is fracturing. With Cao Cao's massive forces on their doorstep, will the kingdoms of Xu and East Wu survive?.
IMDB Rating: 7.5
IMDB Votes: 25000
Genere: Action, Adventure, Drama, History, War
Country: China, Hong Kong, Japan, Taiwan, South Korea, USA
Duration: 142 min
Plot tags: epic, saga, stylized, scenic, visual, tense, brutal, enigmatic, suspense, exciting
Similar in 82%
The Lost Bladesman (2011)
Plot Summary:
During the warring period of the three kingdoms, ancient China is in turmoil. To unify the country, general Cao Cao (Jiang Wen), the real power behind the Emperor, enlists the aid of the greatest warrior in the land, Guan Yu (Donnie Yen). However, Guan Yu is a loyal friend of Cao Cao's enemy Liu Bei (Alex Fong) so to persuade the peerless warrior to fight, Cao Cao takes his beloved Qi Lan (Sun Li) hostage. After leading Cao Cao's forces to victory Guan Yu sets out with Qi Lan to rejoin Liu Bei. But now Cao Cao has deemed him too great a threat to live, and on the journey he must face all the forces at the Emperor's command sent to destroy him.
IMDB Rating: 6.0
IMDB Votes: 4000
Genere: Action, Biography, Drama, History
Country: China, Hong Kong
Duration: 109 min
Plot tags: exciting, emotional, stylized, action packed, serious, realistic, epic
Similar in 90%
Antony and Cleopatra (1972)
Plot Summary:
Adaptation of Shakespeare's Antony and Cleopatra, a historical drama that attempts to bring an epic visual style to the Bard's original stage play. The story concerns Marc Antony's attempts to rule Rome while maintaining a relationship with the queen of Egypt (Hildegarde Neil), which began while Antony was still married. Now he is being forced to marry the sister of his Roman co-leader, and soon the conflict leads to war.
IMDB Rating: 5.8
IMDB Votes: 1000
Genere: Drama, History
Country: UK, Spain, Switzerland
Duration: 138 min
Plot tags: epic, serious, captivating, emotional, realistic, gloomy, independent film
Similar in 88%
Three Kingdoms (2008)
Plot Summary:
The aging Zhao embarks on his final and greatest campaign, a road to adventure that will crown his name in glory for all time.
IMDB Rating: 6.1
IMDB Votes: 7000
Genere: Action, Drama, History, War
Country: China, South Korea, Hong Kong
Duration: 102 min
Plot tags: exciting, realistic, atmospheric, serious, stylized, epic
Similar in 90%
Ashoka the Great (2001)
Plot Summary:
In India, about 260 BC in the Empire of Magadha, the Prince Asoka (Shah Rukh Khan) survives to many betrayals of his brothers, leaded by the evil Susima (Ajit Kumar), who wants to kill him to inherit the throne. His mothers orders Asoka to leave Magadha, and while traveling, he meets Princess Kaurwaki (Karriena Kapoor) and her brother, Prince Aryan (Sooraj Balaji) from Kalinga, who are undercover and protected by General Bheema (Rahul Dev). Asoka and Kaurwaki falls in love for each other, but the mother of Asoka calls him back to Magadha. When he returns, he does not find Kaurwaki, who was attacked by traitors of Kalinga. When Asoka's mother is killed by a man of Susima, Asoka becomes mad, kills all his evil brothers but Sugatra, who escapes to Kalinga. Asoka decides to conquer Kalinga, but in the end, he concludes that he has not built an empire, but conquered only corpses and destroyed everything, and he decides to spread love and the Buddhism.
IMDB Rating: 6.4
IMDB Votes: 15000
Genere: Action, Biography, Drama, History, Romance, War
Country: India
Duration: 180 min
Plot tags: epic, exciting, suspense, intense, period piece, romantic, realistic, lyrical, patriotic, historical drama
Similar in 76%
The War Lord (1965)
Plot Summary:
A knight in the service of a duke goes to a coastal villiage where an earlier attempt to build a defensive castle has failed. He begins to rebuild the duke's authority in the face of the barbarians at the border and is making progress until he falls in love with one of the local women.
IMDB Rating: 6.6
IMDB Votes: 4000
Genere: Drama, History, Romance, War
Country: USA
Duration: 123 min
Plot tags: technicolor, epic, sincere, atmospheric, serious, captivating, realistic, period drama
Similar in 85%
Julius Caesar (1970)
Plot Summary:
All star cast heads up this 1970 remake of the William Shakespeare classic tale of the betrayal of the the Roman senate against their emperor, the plotting and scheming that led up to the assassination of the title charecter, and all of Romes' fickleness towards the events.
IMDB Rating: 6.1
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Drama, History, War
Country: UK
Duration: 117 min
Plot tags: epic, cult classic, tense, serious, realistic, suspenseful, psychotronic, independent film
Similar in 87%
Druids (2001)
Plot Summary:
In the year 60 B.C. a group of Druids, including the arch-druid Guttuart (Max von Sydow), witness the passing of a comet and interpret it as the sign of the coming of a king for their country Gaul, which has not had a king for a long time. Guttuart goes to Gergovia, the capital of the Arvenes tribe, to attend a meeting of Gallic tribal chieftains. The young boy Vercingetorix, along with his friend the young girl Eponia, sneak into a large cavern where Celtill, Vercingetorix's father and chieftain of the Arvenes, hosts the meeting of chieftains with the intention of proclaiming himself king of all Gauls. When Celtill shows off the crown once worn by the old kings of Gaul, an arrow from two Roman spies (dressed as Gauls) hits Celtill in the back.
IMDB Rating: 2.7
IMDB Votes: 5000
Genere: Adventure, Biography, Drama, History, War
Country: France, Belgium, Canada
Duration: 120 min
Plot tags: rough, exciting, serious, epic, captivating, realistic
Similar in 89%
Augustus: The First Emperor (2003)
Plot Summary:
Caesar Augustus tells of how he became the emperor to his reluctant daughter, Julia following the death of her husband Agrippa.
IMDB Rating: 6.2
IMDB Votes: 1000
Genere: Drama, History, Romance, War
Country: Italy, Germany, France, Spain, Austria
Duration: 200 min
Plot tags: epic, serious, realistic, stylized, exciting, political, political thriller, costume drama, historical drama, crying
Similar in 84%
Farewell My Concubine (1992)
Plot Summary:
Abandoned by his prostitute mother in 1920, Douzi was raised by a theater troupe. There he meets Shitou and over the following years the two develop an act entitled, "Farewell My Concubine," that brings them fame and fortune. When Shitou marries Juxian, Doutzi becomes jealous, the beginnings of the acting duo's explosive breakup and tragic fall take root.
IMDB Rating: 8.1
IMDB Votes: 32000
Genere: Drama, Music, Romance
Country: China, Hong Kong
Duration: 171 min
Plot tags: visual, epic, visually stunning, atmospheric, emotional, realistic, stylized, depressing, controversial, retro
Similar in 80%
Macbeth (1971)
Plot Summary:
A ruthlessly ambitious Scottish lord siezes the throne with the help of his scheming wife and a trio of witches.
IMDB Rating: 7.4
IMDB Votes: 15000
Genere: Drama, History
Country: UK, USA
Duration: 140 min
Plot tags: disturbing, visual, atmospheric, bleak, spiritual, existential, fairy tale, emotional, political thriller, controversial
Similar in 83%
Confucius (2010)
Plot Summary:
In 500 B.C., during Chinas famed 'Spring and Autumn Period', Kong Ze (Confucius), a commoner reverred for his outstanding wisdom, is made Minister of Law in the ancient Kingdom of Lu. Under his inspired leadership, Lu ascends to new heights but becomes a target of conquest for the warlike nation of Qi. Threatened with annihilation by their powerful neighbour, a desperate people turn to their greatest teacher to lead their most powerful army. When Confucius delivers a stunning victory against all odds, a jealous aristocracy sets out to destroy him, but they should never under-estimate a remarkable man whose wisdom is more powerful than the sword.
IMDB Rating: 6.1
IMDB Votes: 4000
Genere: Biography, Drama, History
Country: China
Duration: 125 min
Plot tags: contemplative, atmospheric, epic, serious, captivating, realistic, inspirational, art film
Similar in 84%
Red Cliff (2008)
Plot Summary:
In 208 A.D., in the final days of the Han Dynasty, shrewd Prime Minster Cao convinced the fickle Emperor Han the only way to unite all of China was to declare war on the kingdoms of Xu in the west and East Wu in the south. Thus began a military campaign of unprecedented scale. Left with no other hope for survival, the kingdoms of Xu and East Wu formed an unlikely alliance.
IMDB Rating: 7.3
IMDB Votes: 48000
Genere: Action, Adventure, Drama, History, War
Country: China, Hong Kong, Japan, Taiwan, South Korea, USA
Duration: 145 min
Plot tags: epic, realistic, breathtaking, brutal, visual, intense, exciting, serious, action packed, saga