FILM DIRECTOR

Zhang Yimou

1950 - Today

Photo of Zhang Yimou

Icon of person Zhang Yimou

Zhang Yimou (simplified Chinese: 张艺谋; traditional Chinese: 張藝謀; pinyin: Zhāngyìmóu; born 14 November 1950) is a Chinese filmmaker. Considered a key figure of China's Fifth Generation filmmakers, he made his directorial debut in 1988 with Red Sorghum, which won the Golden Bear at the Berlin International Film Festival. Zhang has won numerous awards and recognitions, with three Academy Awards nominations for Best Foreign Language Film for Ju Dou in 1990, Raise the Red Lantern in 1991, and Hero in 2003; a Silver Lion, two Golden Lion prizes and the Glory to the Filmmaker Award at the Venice Film Festival; Grand Jury Prize, Prize of the Ecumenical Jury and Technical Grand Prize at the Cannes Film Festival; the Golden Bear, the Silver Bear Grand Jury Prize and the Prize of the Ecumenical Jury at the Berlin International Film Festival. Read more on Wikipedia

Since 2007, the English Wikipedia page of Zhang Yimou has received more than 2,165,829 page views. His biography is available in 52 different languages on Wikipedia (up from 51 in 2019). Zhang Yimou is the 99th most popular film director (down from 85th in 2019), the 179th most popular biography from China (down from 144th in 2019) and the most popular Chinese Film Director.

Zhang Yimou is a Chinese film director, producer, and writer. He is best known for directing the films Raise the Red Lantern, To Live, and Hero.

Memorability Metrics

  • 2.2M

    Page Views (PV)

  • 64.72

    Historical Popularity Index (HPI)

  • 52

    Languages Editions (L)

  • 7.38

    Effective Languages (L*)

  • 3.21

    Coefficient of Variation (CV)

Among FILM DIRECTORS

Among film directors, Zhang Yimou ranks 99 out of 2,041. Before him are Andrzej Żuławski, Robert Bresson, René Clair, George Cukor, Sidney Lumet, and Michael Mann. After him are Sam Peckinpah, Ang Lee, Marcel Carné, Jean-Pierre Melville, Walter Hill, and Mel Brooks.

Most Popular Film Directors in Wikipedia

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Contemporaries

Among people born in 1950, Zhang Yimou ranks 25. Before him are Anne, Princess Royal, Gilles Villeneuve, Joe Hisaishi, Néstor Kirchner, Mithun Chakraborty, and Richard Branson. After him are Peter Gabriel, Ron Perlman, Richard Dean Anderson, Randy Quaid, William Hurt, and William H. Macy.

Others Born in 1950

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In China

Among people born in China, Zhang Yimou ranks 179 out of 1,610. Before him are Pang Tong (179), Ma Chao (176), Li Hongzhang (1823), Peng Dehuai (1898), Je Tsongkhapa (1357), and Zhang Liao (169). After him are Bolo Yeung (1946), Emperor Zhenzong (968), Wang Zhaojun (-50), Emperor Shenzong of Song (1048), 1st Dalai Lama (1391), and Kang Youwei (1858).

Others born in China

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Among FILM DIRECTORS In China

Among film directors born in China, Zhang Yimou ranks 1. After him are John Woo (1946), Wong Kar-wai (1958), Terence Young (1915), Yuen Woo-ping (1945), Chen Kaige (1952), Edward Yang (1947), Lo Wei (1918), King Hu (1932), Ann Hui (1947), Xie Jin (1923), and James Wong Howe (1899).

Chinese born Film Directors

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Filmography

The Great Wall
Director
European mercenaries searching for black powder become embroiled in the defense of the Great Wall of China against a horde of monstrous creatures.
Dec 16o 20166.026 / 10
Hero
Director
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.
Jul 22o 20027.5 / 10
House of Flying Daggers
Director
In 9th century China, a corrupt government wages war against a rebel army called the Flying Daggers. A romantic warrior breaks a beautiful rebel out of prison to help her rejoin her fellows, but things are not what they seem.
May 19o 20047.279 / 10