Movies Like Zen (2009)

Zen is a 2009 drama, history film from Banmei Takahashi with a MovieMagicScore of 7.1/10. Here are 20 similar films, ranked by real viewer ratings — starting with Why Has Bodhi-Dharma Left for the East? and A Touch of Zen.

Drama History

Why Has Bodhi-Dharma Left for the East?

1989

About three monks in a remote monastery; an aging master, a small orphan and a young man who left his city life to seek Enlightenment.

7.3

MagicScore

A Touch of Zen

1970

Gu Sheng-zhai, an artist in his early 30s, still lives with his mother, but he is suddenly shaken by the arrival of Yang Hui-zhen, a mysterious princess on the run. Yang brings Gu into her circle of protectors, including a nameless monk whose spiritual guidance transforms him into a valiant fighter.

7.7

MagicScore

Enlightenment Guaranteed

2000

Two middle aged German brothers - one New Age and recently divorced, the other uptight and sceptical - travel to a Zen monastery in Japan in search of enlightenment, or perhaps just in search of themselves.

6.9

MagicScore

The Virgin Spring

1960

Devout Christians Töre and Märeta send their only daughter, the virginal Karin, and their foster daughter, the unrepentant Ingeri, to deliver candles to a distant church. On their way through the woods, the girls encounter a group of savage goat herders who brutally rape and murder Karin as Ingeri remains hidden. When the killers unwittingly seek refuge in the farmhouse of Töre and Märeta, Töre plots a fitting revenge.

7.8

MagicScore

Marketa Lazarová

1967

Mikolás and his brother Adam end up with a young German hostage of noble blood during a robbery. While their clan prepares for the wrath of the German king, Mikolás is sent to pressure his neighbor Lazar into a defense pact. Persuasion fails and he abducts Lazar's daughter Marketa on the eve of her initiation as a nun in an act of vengeance.

7.7

MagicScore

Francis of Assisi

1961

In 13th century Italy, Francis Bernardone, the son of an Assisi merchant, renounces a promising army career in favor of a monastic life and starts his own religious order, sanctioned by the Pope.

7.6

MagicScore

Marco Polo: One Hundred Eyes

2015

The episode shows the origin of Hundred Eyes and how his relationship with Kublai Khan and Prince Jingim came about. Before losing his sight and before pledging his service to Kublai Khan, who was Hundred Eyes who became a deadly assassin and trained Marco Polo.

7.3

MagicScore

Alexander Nevsky

1938

When German knights invade Russia, Prince Alexander Nevsky must rally his people to resist the formidable force. After the Teutonic soldiers take over an eastern Russian city, Alexander stages his stand at Novgorod, where a major battle is fought on the ice of frozen Lake Chudskoe. While Alexander leads his outnumbered troops, two of their number, Vasili and Gavrilo, begin a contest of bravery to win the hand of a local maiden.

7.0

MagicScore

Brother Sun, Sister Moon

1972

In his delirium from his return from war, Francesco Bernardone goes back in his memories to the days when he lived for parties and carnal pleasures. He slowly recovers, but after the illness he is no longer the Francesco that everybody knew. Instead of spending hours in taverns, he meditates on the beauty of God's creatures, soon renouncing his riches and his family with plans to rebuild an abandoned church and his life.

7.0

MagicScore

#10

Padmaavat

2018

Rajputana, India, 13th century. The tyrannical usurper Alauddin Khilji, sultan of Delhi, becomes obsessed with Queen Padmavati, wife of King Ratan Singh of Mewar, and goes to great lengths to satisfy his greed for her.

6.9

MagicScore

#11

The Valley of the Bees

1968

Cast out by his father, young Ondrej joins the Order of the Teutonic Knights, where he is raised by strict monk Armin. After years of hardship, Ondrej escapes from the Order when he is wrongly punished, and sets out for his former home. Arriving to discover his father to be dead, Ondrej now not only assumes control of his father's properties, but seeks to marry his former stepmother.

6.9

MagicScore

#12

Francesco

1989

The life of St. Francis of Assisi (1181-1226) as related by followers who gather after his death to tell stories so that Leone can record them: a privileged and virile youth, a prisoner of war, an heir who turns away from his father and gives all to the poor, a beggar for others, and an inspiration to friends who accept the Gospels' life of poverty.

6.5

MagicScore

#13

Marco Polo

2007

Assigned to accompany two priests on a mission to convert the court of Kublai Khan to Christianity, Marco Polo is abandoned in the mountains when the priests, doubting the very existence of China, turn back. Polo eventually pushes bravely forth alone toward the fabled country where he is accepted as an envoy into Khan's court. Marooned on the far side of the world, Polo, accompanied by his servant, Pedro, advances as a Mongol grandee for twenty extraordinary years. What he eventually brings back with him to the West is a chronicle that changed history forever.

6.3

MagicScore

#14

The Rising Hawk

2019

During the 13th century, a small village fights for freedom in the frontier landscape of the Carpathian Mountains against Mongolian invaders.

5.9

MagicScore

#15

The Last King

2016

Norway, 1204. A civil war between the birkebeiners —the king's men— and the baglers —supporters of the Norwegian aristocracy and the Church— ravages the country. Two men must protect a baby, the illegitimate son of King Håkon, who will be the future king and peacemaker, from those who want to kill him.

5.7

MagicScore

#16

The Last Emperor

1987

A dramatic history of Pu Yi, the last of the Emperors of China, from his lofty birth and brief reign in the Forbidden City, the object of worship by half a billion people; through his abdication, his decline and dissolute lifestyle; his exploitation by the invading Japanese, and finally to his obscure existence as just another peasant worker in the People's Republic.

7.6

MagicScore

#17

Seven Years in Tibet

1997

Austrian mountaineer Heinrich Harrer journeys to the Himalayas without his family to head an expedition in 1939. But when World War II breaks out, the arrogant Harrer falls into Allied forces' hands as a prisoner of war. He escapes with a fellow detainee and makes his way to Lhasa, Tibet, where he meets the 14-year-old Dalai Lama, whose friendship ultimately transforms his outlook on life.

7.2

MagicScore

#18

Kundun

1997

The Tibetans refer to the Dalai Lama as 'Kundun', which means 'The Presence'. He was forced to escape from his native home, Tibet, when communist China invaded and enforced an oppressive regime upon the peaceful nation. The Dalai Lama escaped to India in 1959 and has been living in exile in Dharamsala ever since.

6.8

MagicScore

#19

Aśoka

2001

A young Prince Asoka works to perfect his skills in battle and also deals with family conflict. During a struggle with one of his step-brothers, his mother urges Asoka to escape to stay alive. While away, Asoka meets Kaurwaki and falls in love, but must use his skills as a warrior to protect her. A dangerous and heartbreaking web of conspiracy follows, which leads Asoka to embrace a Buddhist path.

6.5

MagicScore

#20

The Pagan King

2018

On his deathbed, the reigning king bestows power to an unexpected heir who must find strength within himself to unite his people against the violent crusades which threaten their freedom.

6.5

MagicScore

Frequently asked

What are the best movies like Zen?

The top films similar to Zen by MovieMagicScore are Why Has Bodhi-Dharma Left for the East? (7.3), A Touch of Zen (7.7), Enlightenment Guaranteed (6.9). Each shares drama/history themes and is ranked by real viewer ratings, not critics or studios.

Is Zen worth watching?

Zen holds a MovieMagicScore of 7.1/10 from 31 viewer ratings, putting it among the better-reviewed titles in its genre.

What kind of movie is Zen?

Zen (2009) is a drama, history film directed by Banmei Takahashi, starring Kantarô Nakamura, Yuki Uchida, Ryushin Tei.

Where can I find more recommendations like Zen?

Browse the full ranked list above, or explore more drama recommendations on MovieMagicScore, where every list is ordered by genuine viewer ratings.

Keep exploring

Movies like Why Has Bodhi-Dharma Left for the East?Movies like A Touch of Zen Movies like Enlightenment Guaranteed Movies like The Virgin Spring Movies like Marketa Lazarová Movies like Francis of Assisi

About movies like Zen

This ranked list pairs Zen (2009), a drama and history film from Banmei Takahashi, with similar titles by genre, theme and cast overlap (fans of Kantarô Nakamura take note). Unlike critic-driven sites, every position here is ordered by MovieMagicScore — a rating built only from real viewers, with no studio marketing or paid placement. Scores update as more people rate, so the list stays current.

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