Best Mandarin-Language Movies & TV Series of the 1980s

3eyedraven's 50 top-rated Mandarin-language movies and TV series of the 1980s — ordered by how strongly audiences rate them and how many actually voted, so the ranking reflects real consensus. Full details on each.

Journey to the West 1986 ★ 8.4
The Last Emperor 1987 ★ 7.6
The Killer 1989 ★ 7.6
Empire of the Sun 1987 ★ 7.5
Dream in Red Mansions 1987 ★ 9.5
Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom 1984 ★ 7.3
Dust in the Wind 1986 ★ 7.6
A City of Sadness 1989 ★ 7.5
Calabash Brothers 1986 ★ 8.7
Taipei Story 1985 ★ 7.4
Wreaths at the Foot of the Mountain 1984 ★ 8.4
Secrets of the Heavenly Book 1983 ★ 7.7
That Day, on the Beach 1983 ★ 7.6
Eastern Condors 1987 ★ 7.3
The Legend of the Condor Heroes 1983 ★ 8.2
Red Sorghum 1988 ★ 7.1
A Better Tomorrow II 1987 ★ 7.1
Polyester 1981 ★ 7.0
Yellow Earth 1984 ★ 7.2
Peking Opera Blues 1986 ★ 7.1
Shaolin Temple 1982 ★ 7.0
Return to the 36th Chamber 1980 ★ 6.9
Year of the Dragon 1985 ★ 6.8
The Troubleshooters 1988 ★ 7.3