Movie titles that are better in Chinese: 8 films with unforgettable Chinese names
Eight movies whose Chinese titles are loved by fans, from Gone with the Wind, Waterloo Bridge and Ghost to Home Alone, Speed, Léon, Cast Away and Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.
Translating a title is an art. This list gathers eight movies whose Chinese titles are famous for sounding poetic, dramatic or witty, in release order, with posters, the Chinese title and its pinyin.
How we chose
We chose films whose Chinese titles became beloved or even more famous than the originals among Chinese-speaking audiences. Whether a title is better is a matter of taste, so this is not a numbered ranking.
Gone with the Wind (1939)
Chinese title: 乱世佳人 (Luànshì jiārén).
Waterloo Bridge (1940)
Chinese title: 魂断蓝桥 (Hún duàn lánqiáo).
Ghost (1990)
Chinese title: 人鬼情未了 (Rén guǐ qíng wèi liǎo).
Home Alone (1990)
Chinese title: 小鬼当家 (Xiǎoguǐ dāngjiā).
Speed (1994)
Chinese title: 生死时速 (Shēngsǐ shísù).
Léon: The Professional (1994)
Chinese title: 这个杀手不太冷 (Zhège shāshǒu bú tài lěng).
Cast Away (2000)
Chinese title: 荒岛余生 (Huāngdǎo yúshēng).
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)
Chinese title: 暖暖内含光 (Nuǎnnuǎn nèi hán guāng).
Use the posters above to decide what to watch first, and come back to rate the ones you have already seen. Share this list with friends and compare which films each of you would put first.
Frequently asked questions
Which movie titles are better in Chinese?
Frequently praised are Waterloo Bridge (魂断蓝桥), Ghost (人鬼情未了), Léon (这个杀手不太冷) and Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (暖暖内含光).
Why do Chinese movie titles differ from the originals?
Translators often adapt the mood, add wordplay or use classical expressions instead of translating word for word.
How do I read the Chinese titles?
Each title is shown in Chinese characters with pinyin, the standard romanization, so you can read it aloud.
Rate these movies
Which one is your favorite? On Rankiew you can rate every film, write reviews and build your own lists.
Sources: official studio releases, filmographies and public records.
