Films like Monkey King: Hero Is Back.

Monkey King: Hero Is Back (2015) reads as Cosy, breathless, measured fantasy / animation, inventive in texture. Redemptive, epic, tender. Every film below is ranked by distance across the same twelve hand-scored axes — with what it keeps, and where it walks away. Not a genre dump.

The Golden Horse (2013) poster
1. The Golden Horse2013

Keeps the stubborn streak of hope and the documentary-plain realism — one of the nearest reads in the catalogue.

Dragon Hunters (2008) poster
2. Dragon Hunters2008

Keeps the stubborn streak of hope and the documentary-plain realism — one of the nearest reads in the catalogue.

The Ash Lad: In Search of the Golden Castle (2019) poster
3. The Ash Lad: In Search of the Golden Castle2019

Keeps the stubborn streak of hope and the documentary-plain realism — one of the nearest reads in the catalogue.

Mune: Guardian of the Moon (2015) poster
4. Mune: Guardian of the Moon2015

Keeps the stubborn streak of hope and the documentary-plain realism — one of the nearest reads in the catalogue.

Star Wars Rebels: Spark of Rebellion (2014) poster
5. Star Wars Rebels: Spark of Rebellion2014

Keeps the stubborn streak of hope and the documentary-plain realism; trades toward a cold, bleak undertow.

The Super Mario Galaxy Movie (2026) poster
6. The Super Mario Galaxy Movie2026

Keeps the stubborn streak of hope and the documentary-plain realism — one of the nearest reads in the catalogue.

Pokémon the Movie: Mewtwo Strikes Back - Evolution (2019) poster
7. Pokémon the Movie: Mewtwo Strikes Back - Evolution2019

Keeps the stubborn streak of hope and the documentary-plain realism; trades toward a cold, bleak undertow.

The Legend of the Chupacabras (2016) poster
8. The Legend of the Chupacabras2016

Keeps the stubborn streak of hope and the documentary-plain realism — one of the nearest reads in the catalogue.

Firebreather (2010) poster
9. Firebreather2010

Keeps the stubborn streak of hope and the documentary-plain realism — one of the nearest reads in the catalogue.

Ilya Muromets and Sparrow the Robber (2007) poster
10. Ilya Muromets and Sparrow the Robber2007

Keeps the stubborn streak of hope and the documentary-plain realism — one of the nearest reads in the catalogue.

Fairy Tail: Phoenix Priestess (2012) poster
11. Fairy Tail: Phoenix Priestess2012

Keeps the stubborn streak of hope and the documentary-plain realism — one of the nearest reads in the catalogue.

The Librarian: The Curse of the Judas Chalice (2008) poster
12. The Librarian: The Curse of the Judas Chalice2008

Keeps the stubborn streak of hope and the documentary-plain realism — one of the nearest reads in the catalogue.

These are Monkey King: Hero Is Back’s neighbours — where are yours?

Rate five posters and the same twelve axes read you — then tonight’s pick comes from your own centre of taste.

Find my film for tonight — 60 sec →