9 Movies Like Black Myth: Wukong to Continue Your Journey West

There are few stories in world history 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, hitting record numbers on Steam. The game is a gorgeous retelling of the Chinese legend, complete with some of the best action-RPG gameplay of the year so far. But if you’re curious about other ways this particular legend has been told, there are plenty of movies that fit the bill.

We’ve put together a list of some of the best retellings of the Sun Wukong legend, as well as a few other movies that fit perfectly with Black Myth, so you can stay in this legendary world long after you’ve finished the game.

For more movies with a mythical fantasy feel, check out our list of movies like Old Ring. And for more adaptations of Chinese folklore, check out our list of donghua to watch — many are based on Chinese mythical stories.

What it is: A crowdfunded animated film that became China’s highest-grossing animated film in 2015, Hero is back follows the fall of Sun Wukong and his road trip with a young monk obsessed with the Monkey King’s famous deeds.

Where can you watch it: Free with a library card on Hoopla, free with ads on Tubi, or for digital rental/purchase on Amazon

What it is: Big action comedy star Stephen Chow reprises his role as Sun Wukong in this loose adaptation of Journey to the West. It is a diptych – Pandora’s Box And Cinderellafollowed by a much delayed Part Three from 2016.

Where can you watch it: Netflix, free with ads on Tubi or Plex, or for digital purchase on Amazon

What it is: Chow wasn’t satisfied with just one Journey to the West adaptation – after the leading role in A Chinese Odysseyhe directed The demons overcome and the sequel, The demons strike backAs usual in Chow’s films, he combines slapstick humor with large sets for an entertaining film.

Where can you watch it: Prime Video, free with a 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’s (SPL 2: A Time for Consequences; Twilight of the Warriors: Walled) trilogy of Sun Wukong films. The first stars Donnie Yen, while the last two star Aaron Kwok. The first isn’t Cheang’s best work, but they are big-budget modern adaptations of the story, and the series gets better as it goes along.

Where can you watch it: Free with a library card on Hoopla, free with ads on Tubi and Plex, or for digital rental or purchase on Apple and Amazon. The Monkey King 2 And 3 are both on Prime Video.

What it is: The rare “Hollywood wuxia,” Forbidden Kingdom stars Jet Li as the Monkey King and Jackie Chan as Lu Yan. It’s also mainly about a boy from Boston who is obsessed with Journey to the West and wuxia, so your experience may vary.

Where can you watch it: Free with ads on Pluto TV and Freevee, or available to rent on Amazon and Apple

What it is: Inspired by another 16th century Chinese novel, No Zha was a huge success at the Chinese box office and spawned a sequel, Legend of deificationThe film follows a boy with great powers who becomes the feared protector of his community, and features stunning action scenes.

Where can you watch it: Free with a library card on Hoopla, free with ads on Plex, or for digital rental/purchase on Amazon and Apple

What it is: In this more modern adaptation of the Nezha story, the mythical figure is reborn as a rebel on a motorcycle.

Where can you watch it: Netflix

What it is: A 2021 Chinese fantasy action-adventure film about a writer whose fantasy novel seems to have a mysterious impact on the real world, and the man sent to kill him.

Where can you watch it: Streaming on iQiyi, free with ads on FreeVee and Tubi, or available to rent on Google Play And Amazon.

What it is: Are Dragon Ballduh. But it’s an excuse to say that Son Goku is based on Sun Wukong.

Where can you watch it: Hulu, Crunchyroll