Four movies to watch during Chinese new year
Last updated: February 16, 2026
It’s February and the Chinese new year is upon us, making the transition from the year of the rat to the year of the horse. Whether you already have a tradition of celebrating every year, or if you just want to dip your toes in this cultural celebration, here are four films to get you in the mood and learn about the holiday.
The Joy Luck Club
Four pairs of daughters and mothers try to navigate their relationships to each other as well as their Chinese heritage together. The mothers immigrated from China to America for different reasons and founded the Joy Luck Club. A space for them to play mahjong, tell stories, laugh and cry. Meanwhile their daughters, having grown up in America, try their best to live up to their mothers expectations. When one of the women, Suyuan, passes away her daughter June is expected to take her place at the mahjong table. At a farewell party the latest game of mahjong starts and June gets to witness a night full of reminiscing of the older women’s struggles and victories.
All’s Well, Ends Well
Three selfish and quite immature brothers go through different romantic tribulations. Oldest brother Moon gets so sick of his ugly wife Leng that he throws her out one day, deciding to be with his lover instead. But while being heartbroken, Leng gets a job as an entertainer at a karaoke bar, improving both her singing and her looks. This causes Moon to fall in love all over again, making his relationship with his lover decline while Leng also gives rebuttals at his attempts of reconciling. The middle brother So’s only struggle is him being feminine and his bickering with their second cousin Mo-seung. Foon the youngest brother is on the other hand a playboy radio dj. But when a woman named Holli-yuk asks him out on air he has to fight his playboy instincts to get her to stay with him. The brother’s problems come to an explosive conclusion at a birthday party.
Crazy Rich Asians
Rachel and Nick have been dating for a while when Nick invites her to go to Singapore with him for his best friend's wedding. But while flying first class Nick confesses that his family is quite wealthy, one of the richest families in Singapore in fact, and also very traditional. But he assures Rachel they will love her. But as soon as they arrive to the family’s giant mansion Rachel starts getting criticised both for being too American and a gold digger. While going to extravagant bachelorette parties and other gatherings Rachel gets more and more worried that Nick’s family is right, and that they shouldn’t be together. While she struggles with that Nick also struggles with his family’s expectations.
Last Train Home
A documentary on what the Chinese new year celebrations represent for many migrant workers. The film follows the two factory workers, Changua Zhang and Yang Zhang who both left their home village to get jobs. They also left behind their infant daughter which is why they, as many other workers, travel back home once every year for the new year celebrations. Through bustling crowds and packed to the brim trains they make the long journey back home, to a now resentful teenage daughter who feels abandoned by her parents. Like many others the parents struggle to make a better future for their child while the child struggles to understand the sacrifices their parents has made.
For more interesting movie suggestions, take a look here!
