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Nien-Jen Wu

Nien-Jen Wu

Writer and actor, also director · Born August 5, 1952 (74) · Juifang, Taipei, Taiwan

Wu Nien-jen (Chinese: 吳念真; born 5 August, 1952) is a Taiwanese screenwriter, director, and writer. He is one of the most prolific and highly regarded scriptwriters in Taiwan and a leading member of the New Taiwanese Cinema, although he has also acted in a number of films, like Edward Yang's film Yi Yi (2000).

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
August 5, 1952 (74)
From
Juifang, Taipei, Taiwan
Works as
Writer and actor, also director
Titles
6 on MovieCove · 100 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 38 days to Oct 27Up 48% in 30 days

What are Nien-Jen Wu's films like?

Across their 5 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Self and Bonds.

Themes

share of theme weight
Self
31%
Bonds
26%
Society
20%
Survival
17%
Power
7%
Family bonds3 titles, browse their movies with this themeGrief2 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 5 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Dark: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their dark movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

Light 1 · Serious 0 · Dark 4

Grounded: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their grounded movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

Grounded 5 · Stylized 0 · Heightened 0

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

Gentle 2 · Charged 3 · Intense 0

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

Steady 5 · Shifting 0 · Whiplash 0

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

Straight-faced 5 · Some laughs 0 · Funny 0

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

Slow burn 5 · Even-paced 0 · 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 0 · Engaged 5 · Full focus 0

Heavy: How much it costs you emotionally; whether you need recovery time. Browse their heavy movies.
Demand · Emotional cost
easyheavy

Easy watch 0 · Affecting 1 · Heavy 4

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

Resolved 2 · Open-ended 3 · Ambiguous 0

Roles they play

1 analyzed role

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Melancholic
5
Contemplative
5
Warm
3
Bittersweet
1

How their films linger

Bittersweet5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end

  • Bittersweet3
  • Tragic2

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 Nien-Jen Wu's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 3 of their 6 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, on The Criterion Channel (3).

Subscription and free streaming for Nien-Jen Wu'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

100 credits, 6 with a MovieCove page; 1 appearance as themselves is hidden until asked for.

  • Fly! Mountain Hawk-Eagle (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2026)

    as (narrator)

  • Free Beats: The Musical Journey of CHEN Ming Chang (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2023)

    Actor

  • Caring for Black-Faced Spoonbill (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2023)

    as (narrator)

  • Day Off (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2023)

    Executive Producer

  • Twelve Nights 2: Back to Day Zero (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2020)

    as Narrator

  • 36 Questions (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2020)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Why Watch Yi Yi: A One and a Two... (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2020)

    as N.J. (archive footage) (uncredited)

  • My Egg Boy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)

    as Old Egg Boy

  • Fly, Kite Fly (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    as Narrator

  • The Boar King (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)

    Actor

  • Beyond Beauty: Taiwan from Above (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2013)

    as Narrator

  • Zone Pro Site: The Moveable Feast (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2013)

    as Master Silly Mortal

  • Beautiful 2013 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2013)

    Director

  • 10 Plus 10 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2011)

    Director

  • Somewhere I Have Never Travelled (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    Executive Producer

  • The Year of Happiness and Love (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    Show 33 episodes · as Chen Ding He

  • Island Etude (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    as Tour Bus Driver

  • Pure Accidents (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    Actor

  • Yi Yi(2000)

    as NJ

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all films

  • Chivalrous Legend (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    Writer

  • Mahjong(1996)

    as Gangster in Black Suit

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all films

  • Buddha Bless America (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    Director · Writer

  • Super Citizen Ko (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    Screenplay

  • A Borrowed Life(1994)

    Director · Writer

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all films

  • Forever Friends (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    Screenplay

  • Kangaroo Man (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    as An Chen-li

  • The Puppetmaster (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    Writer

  • End of the Road (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    Screenplay

  • Hill of No Return (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    Writer

  • Joe-Goody (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    Writer

  • My American Grandson (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    Writer

  • Zodiac Killers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    Writer

  • Fatal Recall (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    Screenplay

  • Song of the Exile (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    Writer

  • Sunless Days (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    Writer

  • A City of Sadness(1989)

    Writer · as Mr. Wu

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films

  • The Dull-Ice Flower (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    Writer

  • Honor Thy Father (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    Screenplay

  • Lessons of the Playground (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    Screenplay

  • Two Painters (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    Screenplay

  • Winter Break (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    Screenplay

  • All for Tomorrow (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    Screenplay

  • I Love Mary (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    Actor

  • Lao ke de zui hou yi ge chun tian (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    Writer

  • Gangland Odyssey (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    Screenplay · Script Consultant

  • The Third Bridge (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    Writer

  • Autumn Tempest (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    Screenplay

  • Sir, Tell Me Why? (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    Screenplay

  • Young and Happy School Music (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    Screenplay

  • Daughter of the Nile (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    as Tutor

  • Be My Lovely Child Again (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    Writer

  • Osmanthus Alley (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    Writer

  • Love Is Grown with Flower (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    Writer

  • The Two of Us (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    Screenplay

  • Dust in the Wind (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    Writer

  • The Campus Incidents (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    Screenplay

  • Myth of a City (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    Writer

  • Ghost Chasers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    Screenplay

  • Taipei Story(1985)

    as Chen

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films

  • My Favorite Season (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    as Bi Bao-liang's brother-in-law

  • A Time to Live and a Time to Die(1985)

    Writer

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films

  • One Bright Day (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    Screenplay

  • Story of a Bride (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    Screenplay

  • Taste of Mercy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    Writer

  • The Loser, the Hero (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    Screenplay

  • Wu Nu (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    Screenplay

  • The First Stitch (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    Screenplay

  • The Woman of Wrath (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    Writer

  • Old Mao's Second Spring (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    Writer

  • Impending War (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    Screenplay

  • Nature Is Quietly Beautiful (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    Screenplay

  • North South West East (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    Screenplay

  • Wanpi Nansheng Qiao Nusheng (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    Screenplay

  • All the King's Men (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    Screenplay

  • The Sandwich Man (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    Writer

  • That Day, on the Beach (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    Writer · as Piano Tuner

  • Papa, Can You Hear Me Sing? (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    Writer

  • Send in the Clowns (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    Screenplay

  • Is Q Still Alive? (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    Screenplay

  • Traveller (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    Screenplay

  • Portrait of a Fanatic (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    Story

  • I Shall Return (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    Screenplay

  • The Switch (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    Screenplay

  • A Lily in the Valley (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    Screenplay

  • Dangerous Seventeen (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    Screenplay

  • Return of the Electric Love (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    Screenplay

  • Super Warrior (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    Screenplay

  • Taipei Sweet Heart (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    Screenplay

  • The City (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    Screenplay

  • The Graduation Trip (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    Screenplay

  • Spring Fever (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    Screenplay

  • The Merry Couple (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    Screenplay

  • Classmate (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    Screenplay

  • Kuo-Hao Crams for College (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    Screenplay

  • Once We Were Together (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    Screenplay

  • Young People's Desire (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    Screenplay

  • Sailing for Tomorrow (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    Screenplay

  • Gone with Honor (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    Screenplay

  • The Blind Love (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    Screenplay

  • The Fellow Who Rejected College (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    Screenplay

Career shape

A full career of 99 titles from 1979 to 2026.

Biggest box office

Yi Yi (2000)

$1.8M worldwide

Highest rated

Yi Yi (2000)

Midcredits 98th

Film career

  • 1983Screen debut· That Day, on the Beach
  • 2000First top-billed film· Yi Yi
  • 2000Career best· Yi Yi

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting23 of 99: 21 only acting, 2 with another roleDirecting4 of 99: 2 only directing, 2 with another roleWriting74 of 99: 70 only writing, 4 with another roleProducing2 of 99: 2 only producing, 0 with another role

99 titles, 4 with more than one role — writing and acting overlap on 2 of them.

By decade

1970s3 · crew1980s61 · 6 acting · 57 crew1990s16 · 2 acting · 14 crew2000s5 · 4 acting · 1 crew2010s7 · 5 acting · 2 crew2020s7 · 6 acting · 1 crew

Billing

usually 7th · top billed in 17% of 6 roles

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30.

How do Nien-Jen Wu's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 94th percentile, the median of all 6; across their 5 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 94th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

94thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 5

Approval · how many liked their films

91stpercentile
Typical film, the median of 5

Reach · how many have seen their films

89thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 5

Midcredits score across 6 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up6

Shape of the crowd

None of their 6 titles divides audiences: 3 are Universally Loved.

  • Universally Loved3
  • Crowd Pleaser3

Most loved · actor

Yi Yi (2000)

Midcredits 98th · 87% liked

Reviewers score the dialogue 55/100 and the plot and story 59/100 in their films, across 5 reviewed titles. The element that speaks to their work as a writer.

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.

Who does Nien-Jen Wu work with?

People who share at least 2 of Nien-Jen Wu's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Hsiao-Hsien Hou shares the most, 4.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Editors