Few stories in world history are as famous or as often told as the story of Sun Wukong. In fact, there is a new adaptation of the story, Black Myth: Wukongis currently taking the world by storm, racking up record-breaking numbers on Steam. The game is a beautiful retelling of the Chinese legend, complete with some of the best action RPG gameplay of the year so far. But if after playing the game you’re curious about how this particular legend was told in other ways, there are plenty of movies to go along with it.
We’ve compiled a list of some of the best retellings of the Sun Wukong legend, as well as a few other films that fit thematically with Black Myth perfectly, so you can stay immersed in this legendary world long after the game ends.
For more films with a mythical fantasy atmosphere, see our list of films like Fire ringFor more adaptations of Chinese folklore, check out our list of donghua worth watching – many of them are based on Chinese mythical tales.
Monkey King: The hero is back
Image: United Entertainment Partners via Everett Collection
What it is: A crowdfunded animated film that became China’s highest-grossing animated film of 2015. The hero is back follows Sun Wukong’s downfall and his road trip with a child monk obsessed with the Monkey King’s famous exploits.
Where to see it: Free with a library card on Hoopla, free with advertising on Tubi, or for digital borrowing/purchase on Amazon
Image: Choi Sing Film Company
What it is: The great action comedy star Stephen Chow plays Sun Wukong in this loose adaptation of Journey to the West. It consists of two parts – Pandora’s Box And Cinderellafollowed by a very delayed Part Three in 2016.
Where to see it: Netflix, free with ads on Tubi or Plex or for digital purchase on Amazon
Journey to the West: Defeating the Demons
What it is:
Where to see it: Prime Video, free with library card on Kanopy, free with ads on Tubi and Pluto TV, or for digital rental/purchase on Amazon and Apple
What it is: Director Soi Cheang (SPL 2: Time for consequences; Dawn of the Warriors: Walled in) Trilogy of Sun Wukong films. The first film stars Donnie Yen, and the other two feature Aaron Kwok. The first is not Cheang’s best work, but they are modern, high-budget adaptations of the story, and the series gets better as it goes along.
Where to see it: Free with a library card on Hoopla, free with ads on Tubi and Plex, or available to borrow or purchase digitally on Apple and Amazon. The Monkey King 2 And 3 are both on Prime Video.
What it is: The rare “Hollywood Wuxia”, Forbidden Kingdom with Jet Li as the Monkey King and Jackie Chan as Lu Yan. It is also primarily about a boy from Boston who is obsessed with Journey to the West and Wuxia, so it may be different for you.
Where to see it: Available free with ads on Pluto TV and Freevee or to rent on Amazon and Apple
What it is: Based on another 16th century Chinese novel, Ne Zha was a huge success at the Chinese box office and spawned a sequel, Legend of DeificationThe film is about a boy with supernatural powers who becomes the feared protector of his community and features breathtaking action sequences.
Where to see it: Free with a library card on Hoopla, free with ads on Plex, or for digital borrowing/purchase on Amazon and Apple
What it is: In this more modern adaptation of the Nezha story, the mythical figure is reborn as a motorcycle-riding rebel.
Where to see it: Netflix
What it is: A 2021 Chinese fantasy action adventure about a writer whose fantasy novel seems to have mysterious implications for the real world, and the man sent to kill him.
Where to see it: Streaming on iQiyi, free with ads on FreeVee and Tubi or rent on Google Play And Amazon.
Image: Toei Animation via fancaps.net
What it is: It is Dragon BallSure. But it’s an excuse to say that Son Goku is based on Sun Wukong.
Where to see it: Hulu, Crunchyroll
