Movie

The Movie Emperor

2024 · 125 min

A wry, slow-burning showbiz satire that finds quiet absurdity in vanity and cultural clash, more amusing than laugh-out-loud.

Directed by: Ning Hao
Genres: Comedy, Drama
Starring: Andy Lau Tak-wah, Pal Sinn Lap-Man, Rima Zeidan

Overview: In an attempt to win back the public's interest, has-been Hong Kong film star Lau Wai-chi makes a comeback film with a major director. To prepare for his role as a peasant farmer in the 1960s, he travels to the mainland China countryside to experience rural life there, but his arrogance triggers a series of farces.

Your rating is saved. See your suggestions, or find titles like this one below.

Rate it, and Mesmero finds titles that feel like it. You do not need an account.

Search YouTube for a trailer

In the UKNo streaming, rental or purchase options known.

Directed by: Ning Hao
Genres: Comedy, Drama
Starring: Andy Lau Tak-wah, Pal Sinn Lap-Man, Rima Zeidan

In your watch list

How it feels

Written by AI. It can be wrong.

Tone: satiricalstrength 3 of 3
absurdstrength 2 of 3
cynicalstrength 2 of 3
lightstrength 1 of 3
Pacing: measured, 2 of 4, from slow-burn to relentless
Attention: engaged, 3 of 4, from background-friendly to demanding
Themes: celebrity
identity
class
media
art
Places: countryside
big city
Era: contemporary
Audience: adult
Form: ensemble
Content intensity: Gore none
Language mild
Violence none
Sex mild

All scales, 0 to 10

Scales, 0 to 10
Scale	Value	0 to 10
Action	1
Horror	0
Humour	7
Realism	7
Romance	1
Tension	3
Darkness	3
Complexity	5
Emotional weight	4

Titles like The Movie Emperor

Movie

The Hutong Cowboy

2024

A rueful, gently funny character study about pride and middle age, watching a man try to rebuild dignity and finding it slip away.

Same writer: Wang Ang · Satirical · about identity

Also: Same writer: Wang Ang
Via: satirical
identity
Pacing: measured
Attention: engaged

Details

The Hutong CowboyHidden from your suggestions.

TV series

The Studio

2025

A cringe-inducing, fast-talking satire of Hollywood that makes you squirm and laugh at the absurdity of show business.

Satirical, absurd · about identity and media

Via: satirical
absurd
identity
media
Pacing: brisk
Attention: engaged
Seasons: 2

Details

The StudioHidden from your suggestions.

Movie

Reality Queen!

2020

A breezy, silly mockumentary-style spoof that coasts on celebrity cameos and easy laughs at fame's expense.

Satirical, absurd · about celebrity and identity · ensemble

Via: satirical
absurd
celebrity
identity
ensemble
Pacing: brisk
Attention: easy-watch
Runtime: 84 min

Details

Reality Queen!Hidden from your suggestions.

TV series

The Life and Movies of Erşan Kuneri

2022

A playful, joke-dense satire of filmmaking that feels like a chaotic, affectionate peek behind the camera.

Satirical, absurd · about celebrity and identity · ensemble

Via: satirical
absurd
celebrity
identity
ensemble
Pacing: brisk
Attention: engaged
Seasons: 2

Details

The Life and Movies of Erşan KuneriHidden from your suggestions.

TV series

The Other Two

2019–2023

A sharp, fast, joke-dense satire that skewers fame culture while staying oddly tender about sibling rivalry and insecurity. It's funny and mean in equal measure, easy to binge.

Satirical, absurd · about celebrity and identity · ensemble

Via: satirical
absurd
celebrity
identity
ensemble
Pacing: brisk
Attention: easy-watch
Seasons: 3

Details

The Other TwoHidden from your suggestions.

Movie

Hóllyweird

2019

A wry, low-key character study that mixes awkward comedy with quiet sadness about fitting in.

Satirical, cynical · about celebrity and identity

Via: satirical
cynical
celebrity
identity
Pacing: measured
Attention: engaged
Runtime: 86 min

Details

HóllyweirdHidden from your suggestions.

Movie

Mollywood Times

2026

A wry, affectionate look at chasing a dream inside a messy industry, funny and bittersweet in turns.

Satirical · about identity and media · ensemble

Via: satirical
identity
media
ensemble
Pacing: measured
Attention: engaged
Runtime: 167 min

Details

Mollywood TimesHidden from your suggestions.

Movie

Aberdeen

2014

It presents a humorous look at the complexities and contradictions within a traditional Hong Kong family structure.

Satirical · about identity and class · ensemble

Via: satirical
identity
class
ensemble
Pacing: measured
Attention: engaged
Runtime: 96 min

Details

AberdeenHidden from your suggestions.

Movie

Cocaína

1980

A wry, meandering curiosity that drifts between satire and self-indulgence, watching a wealthy man lose himself in his own experiment.

Satirical, absurd · about identity and class

Via: satirical
absurd
identity
class
Pacing: measured
Attention: engaged

Details

CocaínaHidden from your suggestions.

Movie

The Diary of a Chambermaid

2026

A wry, layered look at servitude and performance, mixing everyday work with theatrical play in a quietly pointed way.

Satirical, cynical · about identity and class · ensemble

Via: satirical
cynical
identity
class
ensemble
Pacing: measured
Attention: engaged
Runtime: 94 min

Details

The Diary of a ChambermaidHidden from your suggestions.

Movie

Aida, the Movie

2026

A playful, self-aware backstage comedy that blurs fiction and reality, keeping you amused while gently probing the vanity and craft of making jokes.

Satirical, absurd · about celebrity and media · ensemble

Via: satirical
absurd
celebrity
media
ensemble
Pacing: brisk
Attention: engaged
Runtime: 98 min

Details

Aida, the MovieHidden from your suggestions.

Movie

Tú eliges

2009

A breezy, chatty ensemble comedy that hops between oddball city characters, offering gentle laughs rather than deep stakes.}{.

Satirical, absurd · about celebrity and identity · ensemble

Via: satirical
absurd
celebrity
identity
ensemble
Pacing: brisk
Attention: easy-watch
Runtime: 87 min

Details

Tú eligesHidden from your suggestions.

Where to watch in the UK

No UK streaming, rental or purchase options are known.

Streaming data from JustWatch.TMDB

Details

Genres: comedy, drama
Directed by: Ning Hao
Written by: Liu Xiaodan, Wang Ang, Tianyou Zhao
Starring: Andy Lau Tak-wah, Pal Sinn Lap-Man, Rima Zeidan, Daniel Yu, Ning Hao, Kelly Lin Hsi-lei, Tony Leung Ka-fai, Miriam Yeung Chin-wah
Music: Raymond Wong Ying-Wah, Russell Chung Jung-Wong
Cinematography: Wang Boxue
Runtime: 125 min
Country: China
Languages: Cantonese, Mandarin

TMDB IMDb Letterboxd Wikipedia Wikidata

Something wrong on this page? Tell us.

The Movie Emperor

How it feels

More like this

Titles like The Movie Emperor

Where to watch in the UK

Details