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Movies that feel like House of Flying Daggers (2004)

If you loved House of Flying Daggers, the closest films we have are The Assassin (2015), Hero (2002) and The Legend Is Born: Ip Man (2010). All three share House of Flying Daggers' epic and kinetic feel, which is what we rank on before quality. 9 of the 12 picks below are included with a subscription right now on Amazon Prime Video, Hulu and Peacock Premium and others, checked against today's data.

In 9th century China, a corrupt government wages war against a rebel army called the Flying Daggers. A romantic warrior breaks a beautiful rebel out of prison to help her rejoin her fellows, but things are not what they seem.

πŸ… 87% Rotten Tomatoesβ˜… 7.5 IMDb β†—TMDB β†—dir. Zhang Yimouepiccontemplativekinetic
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If House of Flying Daggers hit the spot, these will too

The Assassin poster
The Assassin
2015 Β· dir. Hou Hsiao-hsien
πŸ… 80%β˜… 6.3action Β· adventure Β· history

Two things both keep coming back to: martial arts and tang dynasty

The difference: None of the stillness House of Flying Daggers is built on

9th century China. Ten year old general’s daughter Nie Yinniang is abducted by a nun who initiates her into the martial arts, transforming her into an exceptional assassin charged with eliminating cruel and corrupt local governors. One day, having failed in a task, she is sent back by her mistress to the land of her birth, with orders to kill the man to whom she was promised – a cousin who now leads the largest military region in North China. After 13 years of exile, the young woman must confront her parents, her memories and her long-repressed feelings.

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Hero poster
Hero
2002 Β· dir. Zhang Yimou
β˜… 7.9drama Β· adventure Β· action

Zhang Yimou directing both, with the same fingerprints on each

The difference: Leans harder into history than House of Flying Daggers does

During China's Warring States period, a district prefect arrives at the palace of Qin Shi Huang, claiming to have killed the three assassins who had made an attempt on the king's life three years ago.

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The Legend Is Born: Ip Man poster
The Legend Is Born: Ip Man
2010 Β· dir. Herman Yau
β˜… 7drama Β· action Β· history

Both are built on the same subject: martial arts

The remarkable true story of the early life of Ip Man, the formidable kung fu genius who would become Bruce Lee's mentor; beginning at the start of his journey from his initial training through to the ultimate battle to become supreme master of the art of Wing Chun.

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Detective Dee and the Mystery of the Phantom Flame poster
πŸ… 80%β˜… 6.6action Β· adventure Β· drama

Both keep coming back to the same thing: wuxia

When the future empress Wu Zetian's two courtiers die in a mysterious fire, she gets Di Renjie, a former detective and rebel, released from prison to solve the mystery of the fire.

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Mulan: Rise of a Warrior poster
Mulan: Rise of a Warrior
2009 Β· dir. Jingle Ma Choh-Sing
β˜… 6.6adventure Β· drama Β· action

The same preoccupation in both: china

When barbarian hordes threaten her homeland, the brave and cunning Mulan disguises herself as a male soldier to swell the ranks in her aging father's stead. The warrior's remarkable courage drives her through powerful battle scenes and brutal wartime strategy. Mulan loses dear friends to the enemy's blade as she rises to become one of her country's most valuable leaders β€” but can she win the war before her secret is exposed?

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Curse of the Golden Flower poster
Curse of the Golden Flower
2006 Β· dir. Zhang Yimou
πŸ… 65%β˜… 7action Β· drama Β· fantasy

The same hand behind both of them: Zhang Yimou

The difference: Missing the scale of House of Flying Daggers

During China's Tang dynasty the emperor has taken the princess of a neighboring province as his wife. She has borne him two sons and raised his eldest. Now his control over his dominion is complete, including the royal family itself.

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13 Assassins poster
13 Assassins
2010 Β· dir. Takashi Miike
πŸ… 95%β˜… 7.5adventure Β· drama Β· action

The same mix in both: scale, then stillness

A bravado period action film set at the end of Japan's feudal era in which a group of unemployed samurai are enlisted to bring down a sadistic lord and prevent him from ascending to the throne and plunging the country into a war-torn future.

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Bodyguards and Assassins poster
Bodyguards and Assassins
2009 Β· dir. Teddy Chan Tak-Sam
πŸ… 50%β˜… 6.8drama Β· action Β· history

Drama built on momentum, twice over

The difference: Critics were much harder on this one

In 1905, revolutionist Sun Yat-sen came to Hong Kong to meet revolutionary comrades. The Qing government sent a group of killers to murder him. Ordinary citizens from all walks of life joined together, blocking the streets and fighting off the assassins to keep Sun Yat-sen safe.

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The Grandmaster poster
The Grandmaster
2013 Β· dir. Wong Kar-Wai
πŸ… 78%β˜… 6.6action Β· drama Β· history

Both lean on scale more than on action

The fall of China's last dynasty, a time of chaos, division and war, is the golden age of Chinese martial arts. Legendary kung fu master Ip Man, who will eventually train Bruce Lee, finds his peaceful life interrupted by vengeance.

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Deep Water poster
Deep Water
2006 Β· dir. Louise Osmond
πŸ… 96%β˜… 7.8documentary Β· adventure Β· drama

Contemplative adventure in both cases

DEEP WATER is the stunning true story of the fateful voyage of Donald Crowhurst, an amateur yachtsman who enters the most daring nautical challenge ever – the very first solo, non-stop, round-the-world boat race.

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Ip Man 2 poster
Ip Man 2
2010 Β· dir. Wilson Yip
πŸ… 97%β˜… 7.5action Β· history Β· drama

Drama with a pulse of momentum, in both cases

Having defeated the best fighters of the Imperial Japanese army in occupied Shanghai, Ip Man and his family settle in post-war Hong Kong. Struggling to make a living, Master Ip opens a kung fu school to bring his celebrated art of Wing Chun to the troubled youth of Hong Kong. His growing reputation soon brings challenges from powerful enemies, including pre-eminent Hung Gar master, Hung Quan.

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Ip Man 3 poster
Ip Man 3
2015 Β· dir. Wilson Yip
πŸ… 76%β˜… 7action Β· drama Β· history

Epic action, and it commits to that

When a band of brutal gangsters led by a crooked property developer make a play to take over the city, Master Ip is forced to take a stand.

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In the mood for more epic?

all epic movies β†’

The best-reviewed films that share House of Flying Daggers’ defining feeling.