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Zhangke Jia

Zhangke Jia

Director, producer, writer and actor · Born May 24, 1970 (56) · Fenyang, Shanxi, China

2 Cannes awards · 5 Venice awards · 2 Berlinale awards · 1 other major award body

Jia Zhangke (Chinese: 贾樟柯; pinyin: Jiǎ Zhāngkē, born 24 May 1970; Fenyang) is a Chinese film and television director, screenwriter, producer, actor and writer. He is the dean of the Shanxi Film Academy of Shanxi Media College and the dean of the Vancouver Film School of Shanghai University. He graduated from the Literature Department of Beijing Film Academy. He is generally regarded as a leading figure of the "Sixth Generation" movement of Chinese cinema, a group that also includes such figures as Wang Xiaoshuai, Lou Ye, Wang Quan'an and Zhang Yuan. Jia's early films, a loose trilogy based in his home province of Shanxi, were made outside of China's state-run film bureaucracy, and therefore are considered "underground" films. Beginning in 2004, Jia's status in his own country rose when he was allowed to direct his fourth feature film, The World, with state approval. Jia's films have received critical praise and have been recognized internationally, notably winning the Venice Film Festival's top award Golden Lion for Still Life. He received the Leopard of Honour at the Locarno Film Festival in 2010, the Carrosse d'Or lifetime achievement award at the Cannes Film Festival in 2015, and an honorary award at the Visions du Réel in 2024. Slovenian philosopher Slavoj Žižek hailed him as "one of the top directors in the world today.".

Read more

Biography from TMDB.

Born
May 24, 1970 (56)
From
Fenyang, Shanxi, China
Works as
Director, producer, writer and actor
Titles
20 on MovieCove · 97 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 156 days to Oct 27Up 15% in 30 days

What are Zhangke Jia's films like?

Across their 16 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Self and Society.

Genres

Drama7 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 81st percentile
: browse their Drama movies
Documentary5 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 77th percentile
: browse their Documentary movies
Crime2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 86th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Crime movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Self
31%
Society
30%
Bonds
14%
Survival
10%
Power
5%
Morality
5%
Ideas
4%
Memory6 titles, browse their movies with this themeCommunity6 titles, browse their movies with this themeDisplacement4 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity4 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds2 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love2 titles, browse their movies with this themeGrief2 titles, browse their movies with this themePurpose2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 16 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Stylized: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their stylized movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

A split, not a type: Grounded 9 · Stylized 4 · Heightened 3

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

Gentle 7 · Charged 7 · Intense 2

Steady: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their steady movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

Steady 13 · Shifting 0 · Whiplash 3

Straight-faced: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their straight-faced movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

Straight-faced 14 · Some laughs 1 · Funny 1

Slow burn: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their slow burn movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 14 · Even-paced 2 · Relentless 0

Engaged: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their engaged movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 3 · Engaged 8 · Full focus 5

Open-ended: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their open-ended movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

A split, not a type: Resolved 4 · Open-ended 4 · Ambiguous 8

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Melancholic
12
Contemplative
11
Tense
3
Elegiac
5
Bittersweet
3
Other
9

How their films linger

Thought-provoking11 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet8 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteWistful4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 2 with a twist

  • Bittersweet7
  • Ambiguous9

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Zhangke Jia's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 7 of their 20 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service.

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Zhangke Jia's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

97 credits, 20 with a MovieCove page; 11 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Filipiñana(2026)

    Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • Proudly Amateur (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2026)

    Director

  • Torino Shadow (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2026)

    Director · Executive Producer · Writer

  • Being Towards Death (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2026)

    Thanks · as Self

  • Jia Zhangke's Dance (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2026)

    Director · Producer

  • Heaven and Hell (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2025)

    Executive Producer

  • The Sun Rises on Us All(2025)

    Thanks

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

  • Mostly Sunny (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2025)

    as Dr. Cai

  • Crossroads with Luo Yonghao (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2025)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The Lychee Road(2025)

    as Zhong Shu Official

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • Art College 1994 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2025)

    as Gu Yongqing (voice)

  • Moonlight Madness(2024)

    Presenter · as Guest in room 622

    Midcredits score: 12th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Wheat Harvest (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2024)

    Director

  • Caught by the Tides(2024)

    Director · Executive Producer · Writer

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all films

  • A River Without Tears (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2024)

    Executive Producer

  • Black Dog(2024)

    as Uncle Yao

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all films

  • Out of Jungle (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2023)

    Director

  • The Best is Yet to Come (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2023)

    Executive Producer · Producer · as Coal Mine Owner

  • Jia's Talk (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2022)

    Show 8 episodes · Creator · as 自己

  • 不要回答 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2022)

    Show 8 episodes · Actor

  • Home (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2022)

    Executive Producer

  • Peacock, Peacock (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2022)

    Director

  • White Building(2021)

    Co-Producer

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films

  • The Great Director (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2021)

    Actor

  • Memoria(2021)

    Co-Producer

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films

  • Close-Up (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2021)

    Director

  • Swimming Out Till the Sea Turns Blue(2020)

    Director · Writer · as Self

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films

  • Tomorrow Will Be Fine (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2021)

    Executive Producer

  • Tracing Her Shadow (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2021)

    Executive Producer

  • Keep Rolling (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2020)

    Actor

  • A Song for You (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2020)

    Executive Producer · Producer

  • Visit (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2020)

    Director · Writer · Actor

  • The Calming (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2020)

    Executive Producer · Producer

  • Neighbors (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2019)

    Producer

  • Number One (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2019)

    Producer · Supervising Producer

  • Half the Sky (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2018)

    Executive Producer

  • Ash Is Purest White(2018)

    Director · Executive Producer · Writer

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all films

  • Dead Pigs(2018)

    Executive Producer · Producer

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films

  • Where Has Time Gone? (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2017)

    Director · Producer · Writer

  • One Night on the Wharf (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2017)

    Producer

  • Revive (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2017)

    Director · Writer

  • Life After Life (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2017)

    Executive Producer · Producer

  • Still Born (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2017)

    Producer

  • Thirteen Talks (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Beautiful 2016 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)

    Director

  • The Hedonists (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)

    Director · Writer · Actor

  • Everybody's Fine(2016)

    as (cameo)

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films

  • Mountains May Depart(2015)

    Director · Executive Producer · Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films

  • K (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    Producer

  • Smog Journeys (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    Director · Producer · Writer

  • Chen Ling (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    Producer

  • Our Time: A Decade of Daring (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    Director · Actor

  • Fidaï (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)

    Producer

  • Great Heat (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)

    Executive Producer

  • The Continent (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)

    as Su Mi's Uncle

  • Black Coal, Thin Ice(2014)

    Thanks

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all films

  • Lao Pan's Day and Night (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)

    Director

  • A Touch of Sin(2013)

    Director · Executive Producer · Writer · as Distinguished Guest

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all films

  • Venice 70: Future Reloaded (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2013)

    Director

  • Forgetting to Know You (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2013)

    Producer

  • Memories Look at Me (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2012)

    Producer

  • 3.11 A Sense of Home Films(2011)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • 3.11 A Sense of Home: Jia Zhang-ke (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2011)

    Director

  • Mr. Tree(2011)

    Executive Producer · Producer

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films

  • Cao Fei (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2011)

    Director

  • Pan Shiyi (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2011)

    Director

  • Yulu (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2011)

    Director · Executive Producer · Producer

  • I Wish I Knew(2010)

    Director · Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films

  • Plastic City(2008)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 8th percentile of all films

  • Perfect Life (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    Co-Producer

  • Remembrance (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    Director · Writer

  • Black Breakfast (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    Director · Editor

  • Stories on Human Rights (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    Director

  • 24 City (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    Director · Producer · Writer

  • Cry Me a River (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    Director · Writer

  • Useless (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    Director · Cinematographer

  • Our Ten Years (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    Director · Writer

  • Dong (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    Director · Cinematographer · Writer

  • Still Life(2006)

    Director · Co-Producer · Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all films

  • Karmic Mahjong (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    as Mobster

  • Walking on the Wild Side (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    Producer

  • This Moment (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    Director

  • The World (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    Director · Writer

  • All Tomorrow's Parties (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    Associate Producer · Producer

  • My Camera Doesn’t Lie (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    as Jia Zhangke

  • Unknown Pleasures (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    Director · Writer · as Man singing in street (uncredited)

  • Platform (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    Director · Writer

  • In Public (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    Director · Cinematographer · Editor · Writer

  • The Condition of Dogs (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    Director · Cinematographer · Editor

  • Pickpocket (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    Director · Producer · Writer

  • Du Du (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    Director · Screenplay

  • Xiao Shan Going Home (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    Director · Editor · Writer · Actor

  • One Day in Beijing (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    Director

  • In the Qing Dynasty (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Director · Screenplay

  • Mamma Dunhuang (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Director · Writer

  • Pseudo Idealist (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Actor

  • 在那里 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Director

Career shape

A full career of 97 titles, 93 of them dated from 1994 to 2026.

Biggest box office

Ash Is Purest White (2018)

$12M worldwide

Highest rated

Still Life (2006)

Midcredits 91st

Film career

MilestoneAward win
  • 2002Screen debut· Unknown Pleasures
  • 2013Cannes award win· A Touch of Sin

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting23 of 97: 14 only acting, 9 with another role · typical Midcredits score68thDirecting49 of 97: 16 only directing, 33 with another role · typical Midcredits score80thWriting27 of 97: 0 only writing, 27 with another role · typical Midcredits score81stProducing41 of 97: 28 only producing, 13 with another role · typical Midcredits score74thCinematography4 of 97: 0 only cinematography, 4 with another roleEditing4 of 97: 0 only editing, 4 with another roleOther crew5 of 97: 3 only other crew, 2 with another role

97 titles, 36 with more than one role — directing and producing overlap on 12 of them.

By decade

1990s4 · 1 acting · 4 crew2000s21 · 3 acting · 19 crew2010s35 · 6 acting · 32 crew2020s33 · 12 acting · 25 crew

Billing

usually 14th · top billed in 0% of 5 roles

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30.

Awards

9 major awards from 22 major nominations, 1998–2024.

WinNomination
  1. 2024
    • Cannes award, nominated
  2. 2020
    • Berlinale award, nominated
  3. 2018
    • Cannes award, nominated
  4. 2015
    • Cannes award, won
    • Cannes award, nominated
  5. 2014
    • Independent Spirit Award, nominated · Best International Film
  6. 2013
    • Cannes award, won
    • Cannes award, nominated
  7. 2010
    • Cannes award, nominated
  8. 2008
    • Cannes award, nominated
Show 6 earlier years
  1. 2007
    • Venice award, won
    • Venice award, nominated · Best Film
  2. 2006
    • Venice award, won ×3
    • Venice award, nominated · Best Film
  3. 2004
    • Venice award, nominated
  4. 2002
    • Cannes award, nominated
  5. 2000
    • Venice award, won
    • Venice award, nominated
  6. 1998
    • Berlinale award, won ×2

Major bodies only: the Oscars, Primetime Emmys, Golden Globes, BAFTAs and Screen Actors Guild Awards are named; Cannes, Venice, the Berlinale, Sundance, the directors', writers' and producers' guilds, the Grammys, Critics Choice and the Independent Spirit Awards count as other major bodies. Festival and regional prizes are not counted. Source: IMDb.

How do Zhangke Jia's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 70th percentile, the median of all 20; across their 16 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 80th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

80thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 16

Approval · how many liked their films

73rdpercentile
Typical film, the median of 16

Reach · how many have seen their films

66thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 16

Midcredits score across 20 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up7
  • 50th to 74th9
  • 25th to 49th2
  • Below 25th2

Shape of the crowd

13 of their 20 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Crowd Pleaser13
  • Broadly Agreed2
  • Mixed5

Most divisive · director

3.11 A Sense of Home Films (2011)

80th percentile spread · 40% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · director, writer, producer

Still Life (2006)

Midcredits 91st · 77% liked

Reviewers score the atmosphere 77/100 and the pacing 40/100 in their films, across 13 reviewed titles. The element that speaks to their work as a director.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Is Zhangke Jia's work okay for kids?

Across a limited sample of up to 3 MovieCove titles with content scores.

Their medianMedian of all films
Violence & Gore3 titlesmedian 60 · moderateMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity3 titlesmedian 17 · mildMedian of all films: 32

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted.

Who does Zhangke Jia work with?

People who share at least 2 of Zhangke Jia's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Tao Zhao shares the most, 7.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers, cinematographers and editors

Producers

Mixed roles