FILM DIRECTOR
Zhang Yimou
1950 - Today

Zhang Yimou
Zhang Yimou (simplified Chinese: 张艺谋; traditional Chinese: 張藝謀; pinyin: Zhāng Yìmóu; born 14 November 1950) is a Chinese filmmaker. A leading figure of China's Fifth Generation directors, 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. In 1993, he was a member of the jury at the 43rd Berlin International Film Festival. Read more on Wikipedia
His biography is available in different languages on Wikipedia. Zhang Yimou is the 107th most popular film director (down from 99th in 2019), the 166th most popular biography from China (up from 180th 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
Page views of Zhang Yimou by language
Among FILM DIRECTORS
Among film directors, Zhang Yimou ranks 107 out of 2,041. Before him are Andrzej Żuławski, Jacques Audiard, Jacques Tati, Sidney Lumet, Bong Joon-ho, and John Huston. After him are Edwin S. Porter, George Cukor, Robert Altman, Walter Hill, Mel Brooks, and Satyajit Ray.
Most Popular Film Directors in Wikipedia
Go to all RankingsAndrzej Żuławski
1940 - 2016
HPI: 70.90
Rank: 101
Jacques Audiard
1952 - Present
HPI: 70.81
Rank: 102
Jacques Tati
1907 - 1982
HPI: 70.76
Rank: 103
Sidney Lumet
1924 - 2011
HPI: 70.73
Rank: 104
Bong Joon-ho
1969 - Present
HPI: 70.72
Rank: 105
John Huston
1906 - 1987
HPI: 70.64
Rank: 106
Zhang Yimou
1950 - Present
HPI: 70.63
Rank: 107
Edwin S. Porter
1870 - 1941
HPI: 70.60
Rank: 108
George Cukor
1899 - 1983
HPI: 70.58
Rank: 109
Robert Altman
1925 - 2006
HPI: 70.47
Rank: 110
Walter Hill
1942 - Present
HPI: 70.42
Rank: 111
Mel Brooks
1926 - Present
HPI: 70.38
Rank: 112
Satyajit Ray
1921 - 1992
HPI: 70.38
Rank: 113
Contemporaries
Among people born in 1950, Zhang Yimou ranks 30. Before him are Richard Branson, Peter Gabriel, Richard Dean Anderson, Bill Murray, Flavio Briatore, and Ron Perlman. After him are William Hurt, Russell Alan Hulse, William H. Macy, Joe Hisaishi, Suzi Quatro, and Daniel Auteuil.
Others Born in 1950
Go to all RankingsRichard Branson
BUSINESSPERSON
1950 - Present
HPI: 71.22
Rank: 24
Peter Gabriel
SINGER
1950 - Present
HPI: 71.00
Rank: 25
Richard Dean Anderson
ACTOR
1950 - Present
HPI: 70.92
Rank: 26
Bill Murray
ACTOR
1950 - Present
HPI: 70.92
Rank: 27
Flavio Briatore
BUSINESSPERSON
1950 - Present
HPI: 70.91
Rank: 28
Ron Perlman
ACTOR
1950 - Present
HPI: 70.71
Rank: 29
Zhang Yimou
FILM DIRECTOR
1950 - Present
HPI: 70.63
Rank: 30
William Hurt
ACTOR
1950 - 2022
HPI: 70.43
Rank: 31
Russell Alan Hulse
ASTRONOMER
1950 - Present
HPI: 70.19
Rank: 32
William H. Macy
ACTOR
1950 - Present
HPI: 70.16
Rank: 33
Joe Hisaishi
MUSICIAN
1950 - Present
HPI: 70.11
Rank: 34
Suzi Quatro
SINGER
1950 - Present
HPI: 69.74
Rank: 35
Daniel Auteuil
ACTOR
1950 - Present
HPI: 69.69
Rank: 36
In China
Among people born in China, Zhang Yimou ranks 166 out of 1,610. Before him are Soong Mei-ling (1897), Wang Yangming (1472), Emperor Renzong of Song (1010), Tianqi Emperor (1605), Han Xin (-231), and Empress Wanrong (1906). After him are Kaidu (1230), Bao Zheng (999), Emperor Jing of Han (-188), Je Tsongkhapa (1357), Tsung-Dao Lee (1926), and Peng Dehuai (1898).
Others born in China
Go to all RankingsSoong Mei-ling
POLITICIAN
1897 - 2003
HPI: 70.75
Rank: 160
Wang Yangming
PHILOSOPHER
1472 - 1529
HPI: 70.74
Rank: 161
Emperor Renzong of Song
POLITICIAN
1010 - 1063
HPI: 70.71
Rank: 162
Tianqi Emperor
POLITICIAN
1605 - 1627
HPI: 70.71
Rank: 163
Han Xin
MILITARY PERSONNEL
231 BC - 196 BC
HPI: 70.69
Rank: 164
Empress Wanrong
POLITICIAN
1906 - 1946
HPI: 70.68
Rank: 165
Zhang Yimou
FILM DIRECTOR
1950 - Present
HPI: 70.63
Rank: 166
Kaidu
POLITICIAN
1230 - 1301
HPI: 70.61
Rank: 167
Bao Zheng
POLITICIAN
999 - 1062
HPI: 70.60
Rank: 168
Emperor Jing of Han
POLITICIAN
188 BC - 141 BC
HPI: 70.57
Rank: 169
Je Tsongkhapa
RELIGIOUS FIGURE
1357 - 1419
HPI: 70.56
Rank: 170
Tsung-Dao Lee
PHYSICIST
1926 - 2024
HPI: 70.51
Rank: 171
Peng Dehuai
POLITICIAN
1898 - 1974
HPI: 70.51
Rank: 172
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), Ann Hui (1947), King Hu (1932), Tian Zhuangzhuang (1952), and Xie Jin (1923).
Zhang Yimou
1950 - Present
HPI: 70.63
Rank: 1
John Woo
1946 - Present
HPI: 70.23
Rank: 2
Wong Kar-wai
1958 - Present
HPI: 68.88
Rank: 3
Terence Young
1915 - 1994
HPI: 65.48
Rank: 4
Yuen Woo-ping
1945 - Present
HPI: 64.56
Rank: 5
Chen Kaige
1952 - Present
HPI: 64.24
Rank: 6
Edward Yang
1947 - 2007
HPI: 63.82
Rank: 7
Lo Wei
1918 - 1996
HPI: 63.00
Rank: 8
Ann Hui
1947 - Present
HPI: 60.31
Rank: 9
King Hu
1932 - 1997
HPI: 60.03
Rank: 10
Tian Zhuangzhuang
1952 - Present
HPI: 56.50
Rank: 11
Xie Jin
1923 - 2008
HPI: 56.32
Rank: 12