Lunar New Year is almost here, and compared to the past two years, 2023 feels particularly cheerful, since most of us can now travel overseas or go back to our hometowns without a lot of travel restrictions. This means gatherings with loved ones, reunion dinners, card games, and of course – ang pao! But aside from the many get-togethers and feasts you’re about to enjoy, you can also look forward to all the heartwarming and captivating Chinese movies that are coming out this CNY.
Whether you’re celebrating CNY with firecrackers or just a cozy night-in with the fam, it’s always a good idea to put on a festive movie to keep you entertained, while also maintaining the cheerful vibes around the household. Here are 10 Chinese-language movies that you should watch this CNY to put you in the festive mood:
The King of Musang King (猫山王中王)
Following the success of their 2008 collaborative film “Money No Enough,” the legendary trio Henry Thia, Jack Neo, and Mark Lee rejoin in their latest film, “The King of Musang King”! The movie centres around Mao Shan (played by Jack Neo), a durian farmer who seeks to extend his business worldwide under threats from the “Three Heavenly Kings”. He then helps his neighbour, Mei Lian (played by Yeo Yann Yann), a durian farmer, to increase her harvests, while falling in love with her. Jin Shui attempts to turn Mei Lian’s children against Mao Shan, while Mao Shan attempts to salvage their businesses and win Mei Lian’s heart.
Opening Date: 22nd January 2023
Someday Or One Day (想见你)
“Someday Or One Day,” the widely-awaited film adaptation of the 2019 Taiwanese TV drama, is finally here! Directed by the same people who gave you the hit sci-fi fantasy romance drama: Huang Tien Jen, the film stars Alice Ko, Greg Hsu, Patrick Shih, Jin Shi Jia, Berry Kuo and Chang Chia-Hui. The movie takes place in 2009, and it revolves around Huang Yu Xuan, who is struggling to deal with the death of her boyfriend. A mysterious cassette gives her a special ability to travel back in time. The question remains: Will she be able to change his fate?
Opening Date: 26th January 2023
What The Heist (发财联盟)
This film, featuring household names such as Mark Lee, Jack Lim, Jaspers Lai, and Henry Thia, is a must-watch for Chinese New Year! The plot revolves around a criminal dubbed “Godfather” who sneaks out of jail to fulfil a mission labelled “Lottery Heist” assigned to him by his master. He then invites an unsuspecting actor to participate in an extraordinary criminal scheme to steal a RM100 million lottery grand prize. The plot involves swapping lotto balls in order to win the prize, but it soon becomes clear that Godfather’s employer intends to kill everyone once the operation is completed. As a result, the Godfather and his new recruit must devise a plan to save their lives while retaining the money for themselves.
Opening Date: 19th January 2023
Sakra (天龙八部之乔峰专)
“Sakra” is the latest film adaptation of the iconic wuxia novel “Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils” by Jin Yong. It’s directed and produced, and stars one of Hong Kong’s top-billing actors, Donnie Yen, who envisions Sakra as the start of a compelling franchise. The plot tells the story of protagonist Qiao Feng (played by Donnie Yen), the courageous leader of the “beggar clan”, who he is accused of being of Khitan descent and labelled as a traitor. The other two leading characters are Duan Yu, a cheerful young prince who avoids learning martial arts due to his hatred for conflict, and Xu Zhu, a Shaolin monk who is a skilled martial artist torn between two clans. As they make their way into each other’s lives, these three characters embark on a personal adventure.
Opening Date: 16th January 2023
Little Sunshine (小胖流浪记)
If you enjoyed the 2009 smash film “Little Sunshine,” you can now look forward to this heartwarming new adaptation. The story revolves around Xiao Pang, a young child with no interest in schoolwork and an insatiable appetite. In an effort to motivate him, his parents promise him a new phone if he performs well in his tests, which he accomplishes. His parents seek help from a child psychologist after he develops a phone addiction, but Xiao Pang goes missing just as they are about to leave for the appointment.
Opening Date: 19th January 2023
The Wandering Earth II (流浪地球2)
Following the popularity of “The Wandering Earth,” Frant Gwo has released “The Wandering Earth 2,” a prequel to the original film. The film, starring Andy Lau and Wu Jing, is set in a time when humanity has constructed massive engines on the earth’s surface to discover a new home. But, in order to save the earth, young people must once again step forward and begin a race against time.
Opening Date: 22nd January 2023
Ma, I Love You (真爱好妈)
Director Chiu Keng Guan returns with a new comedic drama, “Ma, I Love You”, after the release of “Think Big Big” in 2018. The film, which stars Malaysian actors Hazell Siow Li Xuan, Ong Ai Leng, and fellow influencer Phei Yong, delivers a fascinating story between a mother and her daughter. When Mei Ling (played by Ong Ai Leng) learns that her daughter Kiki (played by Hazell Siow Li Xuan) plans to continue her studies in France, she decides to learn French and earn more money in order to accompany Kiki.
Opening Date: 22nd January 2023
A Guilty Conscience (毒舌大壮)
“A Guilty Conscience” is a comedy drama directed by Jack Ng, who previously wrote for “Anita” and “Cold War 2.” It stars Dayo Wong, Tse Kwan-ho, Louise Wong, Fish Liew, and Wong Man-tak. Following the discovery that a famous model is abusing her daughter, the rich and famous, as well as the legal field, rush to take sides. Though a few renowned judges and lawyers try to help the mistreated daughter, the supermodel’s cover-up and her connections make it practically impossible.
Opening Date: 21st January 2023
Ride On (龙马精神)
“Ride On” is directed by Larry Yang, one of China’s top filmmakers, and stars the Kung Fu Master himself, Jackie Chan. In this new action comedy, Jackie Chan stars as a washed-up stuntman attempting to make ends meet while caring for his beloved stunt horse, Red Hare. When he learns that his horse will be auctioned off to pay his debts, he seeks assistance from his estranged daughter, (Liu Haocun) and her lawyer boyfriend. During a real-life brawl with debt collectors, however, they become overnight media sensations when their fight goes viral.
Opening Date: TBC
Five Hundred Miles (交换人生)
Another Chinese fantasy flick, “Five Hundred Miles” stars Lei Jiayin, Xiaofei Zhang, and Zhang Youhao. The film explores the question: If you could change your family, would you? When Zhong Da (Lei Jiayin) is placed into an arranged marriage with Jin Hao (Xiaofei Zhang), he unexpectedly switches bodies with one of Jin Hao’s admirers, a young man named Lu Xiao Gu (Zhang Youhao), while also switching families. This sets them on a life-changing journey full of joy and tears.
Opening Date: 22nd January 2023
