15 Movies Like Life on a String

Loved Life on a String? Based on its unique Cinema DNA—including its pacing, themes, and emotional tone—we've curated the ultimate list of what you should watch next.

The Shadow's Edge
#1

The Shadow's Edge

Macau Police brings the tracking expert police officer out of retirement to help catch a dangerous group of professional thieves.

💡Why it's a match: A fantastic follow-up watch to Life on a String.

Blades of the Guardians
#2

Blades of the Guardians

Dao Ma, the "second most wanted fugitive," is entrusted by his benefactor, the chief of Mo family clan, to take on a mysterious escort mission-escorting the "most wanted fugitive" to Chang'an.

💡Why it's a match: A fantastic follow-up watch to Life on a String.

Lust, Caution
#3

Lust, Caution

During World War II, a secret agent must seduce and assassinate an official who works for the Japanese puppet government in Shanghai.

💡Why it's a match: A fantastic follow-up watch to Life on a String.

Dear You
#4

Dear You

Grandma Ye Shurou from Chaoshan lived a simple life, enjoying her twilight years. Her grandson, Xiaowei, burdened by debt, secretly traveled to Thailand to find his rumored billionaire grandfather, Zheng Musheng. However, Xiaowei returned with shocking news: his grandfather was long gone, and the person with whom Grandma had exchanged love letters was a complete stranger. As Xiaowei investigated, a love affair hidden for half a century suddenly surfaced, striking Grandma's heart.

💡Why it's a match: A fantastic follow-up watch to Life on a String.

Summer Palace
#5

Summer Palace

Yu Hong leaves her home village and starts university in Beijing, where she develops a consuming and compulsive relationship with another student. The student riots from 1989 then ensue and take a toll on their lives.

💡Why it's a match: A fantastic follow-up watch to Life on a String.

Farewell My Concubine
#6

Farewell My Concubine

In an epic tale of theater, gender, love and class, two Beijing opera actors navigate political turmoil as their friendship evolves over decades.

💡Why it's a match: A fantastic follow-up watch to Life on a String.

Lost in Beijing
#7

Lost in Beijing

A look at modern-day life in China's capital centered on a ménage-a-quatre involving a young woman, her boss, her husband and her boss's wife.

💡Why it's a match: A fantastic follow-up watch to Life on a String.

Fist of Fury
#8

Fist of Fury

During the Japanese occupation of Shanghai, Chen Zhen, the star pupil of a recently-deceased martial arts teacher battles a Japanese dojo which seeks the demise of his fighting school.

💡Why it's a match: A fantastic follow-up watch to Life on a String.

Hero
#9

Hero

During China's Warring States period, a district prefect arrives at the palace of Qin Shi Huang, claiming to have killed the three assassins who had made an attempt on the king's life three years ago.

💡Why it's a match: A fantastic follow-up watch to Life on a String.

To Live
#10

To Live

Married couple Fugui and Jiazhen endure tumultuous events in mid-20th century mainland China as their personal fortunes move from wealthy landownership to peasantry.

💡Why it's a match: A fantastic follow-up watch to Life on a String.

Train Dreams
#11

Train Dreams

A logger leads a life of quiet grace as he experiences love and loss during an era of monumental change in early 20th-century America.

💡Why it's a match: A highly-rated genre match based on the viewing habits of people who liked Life on a String.

Unknown Pleasures
#12

Unknown Pleasures

Two disaffected, unemployed Chinese youth drift through life on the streets of their industrial town, their paths crossing with that of a local young singer and dancer working for a liquor company as a spokesmodel.

💡Why it's a match: A fantastic follow-up watch to Life on a String.

Girl in the Box
#13

Girl in the Box

The true story of 20-year-old Colleen Stan, a hitchhiking woman abducted by a young couple and held captive for seven years, during which time she's tortured and forced to live as a slave to her captors.

💡Why it's a match: A highly-rated genre match based on the viewing habits of people who liked Life on a String.

A Brighter Summer Day
#14

A Brighter Summer Day

A boy experiences first love, friendships and injustices growing up in 1960s Taiwan.

💡Why it's a match: A fantastic follow-up watch to Life on a String.

Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
#15

Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon

Two warriors in pursuit of a stolen sword and a notorious fugitive are led to an impetuous, physically-skilled, teenage nobleman's daughter, who is at a crossroads in her life.

💡Why it's a match: A fantastic follow-up watch to Life on a String.