Skip to content
MovieCove
Dongyu Zhou

Dongyu Zhou

Actor · Born January 31, 1992 (34) · Shijiazhuang, Hebei Province, China

Zhou Dongyu is a celebrated Chinese actress, born on January 31, 1992, in Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China. She gained prominence for her role in Zhang Yimou's film "Under the Hawthorn Tree" (2010), which marked her debut in acting despite having no prior experience. Her performance earned her critical acclaim and several awards, establishing her as a rising star in Chinese cinema. Zhou has since starred in numerous successful films, including "Soul Mate" (2016), which won her the Golden Horse Award for Best Leading Actress, and "Better Days" (2019), which earned her both the Hong Kong Film Award for Best Actress and the Golden Rooster Award for Best Actress. She is recognized as one of the "Four Dan Actresses of the Post-90s Generation" in China, alongside Zheng Shuang, Guan Xiaotong, and Yang Zi.

Read more

Biography from TMDB.

Born
January 31, 1992 (34)
From
Shijiazhuang, Hebei Province, China
Works as
Actor
Titles
21 on MovieCove · 72 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 27Down 44% in 30 days

What are Dongyu Zhou's films like?

Across their 18 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Self.

Genres

Drama8 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 51st percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Action4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 48th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Action movies
Crime3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 32nd percentile
: 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
Bonds
34%
Self
15%
Survival
14%
Morality
12%
Society
10%
Power
9%
Ideas
6%
Romantic love6 titles, browse their movies with this themeFriendship5 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice2 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival2 titles, browse their movies with this themeTrauma2 titles, browse their movies with this themeCommunity2 titles, browse their movies with this themeIsolation3 titles, browse their movies with this themePurpose2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 17 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 8 · Stylized 7 · Heightened 2

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

Gentle 4 · Charged 11 · Intense 2

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

A split, not a type: Steady 9 · Shifting 7 · Whiplash 1

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

Straight-faced 13 · Some laughs 3 · Funny 1

Even-paced: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their even-paced movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 6 · Even-paced 10 · Relentless 1

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

Casual 7 · Engaged 8 · Full focus 2

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

A split, not a type: Easy watch 6 · Affecting 5 · Heavy 6

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

A split, not a type: Resolved 10 · Open-ended 4 · Ambiguous 3

Roles they play

12 analyzed roles

Usually the Hero: 8 of 12 analyzed roles.

Hero
8 of 12
Ally
3 of 12
Shapeshifter
1 of 12
Show the 12 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Melancholic
12
Tense
5
Contemplative
6
Bittersweet
5
Romantic
4
Other
13

How their films linger

Bittersweet12 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteCathartic2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 2 with a twist

  • Happy4
  • Bittersweet10
  • Tragic1
  • Ambiguous3

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 Dongyu Zhou's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 12 of their 21 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (6).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Dongyu Zhou'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

72 credits, 21 with a MovieCove page; 1 appearance as themselves is hidden until asked for.

  • 周五晚高疯 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2026)

    Show 22 episodes · Actor

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

    as Hao Lili (voice)

  • Fire on the Plain (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2025)

    as Li Fei

  • Strangers When We Meet (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2024)

    as Chang Juan

  • Trending Topic (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2023)

    as Chen Miao

  • Under the Light(2023)

    as Li Huilin

    Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films

  • Dancing Green(2023)

    as Zhou Ran

    Midcredits score: 20th percentile of all films

  • The Breaking Ice(2023)

    as Nana

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films

  • My Youth and I (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2023)

    as Zhou Xiaoyu

  • Born to Fly(2023)

    as Shen Tianran

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films

  • Tale of the Night (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2023)

    as Lanzhou Girl

  • 2022年中央广播电视总台中秋晚会 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2022)

    Actor

  • Ode to the Spring (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2022)

    Actor

  • Hello Saturday (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2022)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Embrace Again (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2021)

    as Xia Xiao

  • The Year of the Everlasting Storm(2021)

    Actor

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all films

  • The Break Away (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2021)

    Actor

  • Ancient Love Poetry(2021)

    Show 49 episodes · as Shang Gu / Hou Chi

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all shows

  • A Fangirl's Romance (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2021)

    as Gao Bei (young)

  • A New Awakening (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2021)

    Actor

  • Unspeakable Love (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2020)

    as Zhou Chun

  • New World (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2020)

    Show 70 episodes · as 贾小朵

  • The Protectors (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2019)

    Show 13 episodes · Actor

  • Life Choices (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2019)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Better Days(2019)

    as Chen Nian

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • My People, My Country(2019)

    as Hospital Nurse (segment "Passing By")

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films

  • Youth China hits headlines (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2019)

    as Journalist

  • On the Balcony (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2019)

    as Lu Shanshan

  • Behind the Scenes (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2019)

    Show 46 episodes · as Bu Xiao Gu

  • Kung Fu Monster(2018)

    as Bella

    Midcredits score: 11th percentile of all films

  • Goddesses In The Flames Of War (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2018)

    Actor

  • Animal World(2018)

    as Liu Qing

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • Us and Them(2018)

    as Fang Xiaoxiao

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all films

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

    Actor

  • The Thousand Faces of Dunjia(2017)

    as Circle

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all films

  • National Treasure (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2017)

    Show 1 episode · as 瑶

  • Youth Inn (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2017)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • City of Rock (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2017)

    as Tongtong

  • The Founding of an Army(2017)

    as Fan Guixia

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all films

  • The Chinese Restaurant (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2017)

    Show 11 episodes · Actor

  • Shall I Compare You To a Spring Day (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2017)

    Show 40 episodes · as Xiao Hong

  • Magic City (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2017)

    Show 50 episodes · as Xiao Yao

  • This Is Not What I Expected (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2017)

    as Gu Shengnan

  • A Nail Clipper Romance (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2017)

    as Emily

  • Love & Life & Lie (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2017)

    Show 41 episodes · as Liu Xintong

  • Soulmate(2016)

    as Li Ansheng

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films

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

    Show 69 episodes · as Xu Bicheng

  • Never Said Goodbye (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)

    as Xiao You

  • Lost in White (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)

    as Zhou Xinyi

  • Run for Love(2016)

    as Bai Qiezi

    Midcredits score: 8th percentile of all films

  • Mr. Nian (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)

    as 沙果 (voice)

  • The New Year's Eve of Old Lee(2016)

    Actor

    Midcredits score: 3rd percentile of all films

  • Trump Card (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Everybody's Fine(2016)

    as Taxi Passenger

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films

  • Go Fridge (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    Show 2 episodes · Actor

  • The Ark Of Mr. Chow (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    as Zhou Lan

  • Go Fighting (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Life Unplugged (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    Actor

  • We Are In Love (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    Show 12 episodes · Actor

  • Shanghai Noir (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    as Hui Lan

  • I Can I BB (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)

    Show 2 episodes · Actor

  • Breakup Buddies(2014)

    as Zhou Lijuan

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films

  • Chef Nic (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Divas Hit the Road (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)

    Show 20 episodes · Actor

  • My Old Classmate (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)

    as Zhou Xiao Zhi

  • The Palace(2013)

    as Chen Xiang

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

  • Miao Shan and the Minotaur (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2012)

    as Miao Shan

  • The Allure of Tears(2011)

    Actor

    Midcredits score: 12th percentile of all films

  • The Road Of Exploring (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2011)

    Actor

  • Under the Hawthorne Tree(2010)

    as Jing

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films

  • Animal World 2 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Actor

  • Secrets By the Sea (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Show 1 episode · as Tong Yan / Shen Shaojie

Career shape

Star power in the 98th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 72 titles, 70 of them dated from 2010 to 2026; peak year 2018.

Biggest box office

Better Days (2019)

$227M worldwide

Highest rated

Better Days (2019)

Midcredits 97th

Most popular right now

Ancient Love Poetry (2021)

Film career

20102026

Peak 2018 · steadily prominent in film for years. Top draw in 6 MovieCove titles. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.

  • 2010Screen debut· Under the Hawthorn Tree
  • 2010First top-billed film· Under the Hawthorn Tree
  • 2019Career best· Better Days
  • 2021Career best· Ancient Love Poetry

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting72 of 72: 72 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score55th

By decade

2010s48 · acting2020s22 · acting

Billing

usually 3rd · top billed in 27% of 15 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.

How do Dongyu Zhou's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 47th percentile, the median of all 20; across their 17 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 52nd percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

52ndpercentile
Typical film, the median of 17

Approval · how many liked their films

54thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 17

Reach · how many have seen their films

70thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 17

Midcredits score across 21 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up5
  • 50th to 74th6
  • 25th to 49th5
  • Below 25th5

Shape of the crowd

10 of their 21 titles are Mixed.

  • Universally Loved2
  • Universally Panned1
  • Divisive2
  • Crowd Pleaser4
  • Broadly Agreed2
  • Mixed10

Most divisive · actor

The Founding of an Army (2017)

92nd percentile spread · 40% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Better Days (2019)

Midcredits 97th · 85% liked

Reviewers score the acting 72/100 in their films, across 13 reviewed titles; fans 81, detractors 54. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

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 Dongyu Zhou work with?

People who share at least 2 of Dongyu Zhou's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Jing-Pin Yu shares the most, 4.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Cinematographers and editors

Producers

Mixed roles