Movies Like Born in China (2016)

Born in China is a 2016 documentary film from Lu Chuan with a MovieMagicScore of 7.4/10. Here are 20 similar films, ranked by real viewer ratings — starting with March of the Penguins 2: The Next Step and Monkey Kingdom.

Documentary

March of the Penguins 2: The Next Step

2017

A young penguin, driven by his instinct, embarks on his first major trip to an unknown destination.

6.9

MagicScore

Monkey Kingdom

2015

A newborn monkey and its mother struggle to survive within the competitive social hierarchy of the Temple Troop, a dynamic group of monkeys who live in ancient ruins found deep in the storied jungles of South Asia.

7.0

MagicScore

March of the Penguins

2005

Every year, thousands of Antarctica's emperor penguins make an astonishing journey to breed their young. They walk, marching day and night in single file 70 miles into the darkest, driest and coldest continent on Earth. This amazing, true-life tale is touched with humour and alive with thrills. Breathtaking photography captures the transcendent beauty and staggering drama of devoted parent penguins who, in the fierce polar winter, take turns guarding their egg and trekking to the ocean in search of food. Predators hunt them, storms lash them. But the safety of their adorable chicks makes it all worthwhile. So follow the leader... to adventure!!

7.1

MagicScore

The Velvet Queen

2021

High up on the Tibetan plateau. Amongst unexplored and inaccessible valleys lies one of the last sanctuaries of the wild world, where rare and undiscovered fauna lives. Vincent Munier, one of the world’s most renowned wildlife photographers takes the adventurer and novelist Sylvain Tesson (In the Forest of Siberia) with him on his latest mission. For several weeks, they’ll explore these valleys searching for unique animals and try to spot the snow leopard, one of the rarest and most difficult big cats to approach.

7.9

MagicScore

Bears

2014

Filmmakers Alastair Fothergill and Keith Scholey chronicle a year in the lives of an Alaskan brown bear named Sky and her cubs, Scout and Amber. Their saga begins as the bears emerge from hibernation at the end of winter. As time passes, the bear family must work together to find food and stay safe from other predators, especially other bears. Although their world is exciting, it is also risky, and the cubs' survival hinges on family togetherness.

7.4

MagicScore

Earth

2007

An epic story of adventure, starring some of the most magnificent and courageous creatures alive, awaits you in EARTH. Disneynature brings you a remarkable story of three animal families on a journey across our planet – polar bears, elephants and humpback whales.

7.6

MagicScore

The Meerkats

2008

A coming of age story following a young meerkat pup, Kolo, growing up in the Kalahari desert; and an inspiring look at how one family's connection to each other and their surroundings is a model of resilience and fortitude for us all. Shot using ground-breaking techniques, this dramatised documentary is a one-of-a-kind presentation from The Weinstein Company and the BBC, featuring narration by Paul Newman.

6.7

MagicScore

Living with Leopards

2024

A film crew follows two leopard cubs as they make the fascinating journey from infancy into adulthood in this up-close-and-personal nature documentary.

7.7

MagicScore

A Gorilla Story: Told by David Attenborough

2026

Veteran naturalist Sir David Attenborough tells the story of a remarkable group of gorillas, from his first encounter in the '70s to the present day.

7.5

MagicScore

#10

Kina & Yuk

2023

Kina & Yuk are two Arctic foxes, ready to start a family. But the climate is warmer, and the food is more and more rare. Kina & Yuk are obliged to venture far and far away.

6.8

MagicScore

#11

The Crimson Wing: Mystery of the Flamingos

2008

In the remote and forgotten wilderness of Lake Natron, in northern Tanzania, one of nature's last great mysteries unfolds: the birth, life and death of a million crimson-winged flamingos.

7.2

MagicScore

#12

Growing Up Wild

2016

Life is an adventure - especially for a newborn animal who has so much to learn. "Growing Up Wild" takes audiences to the wildest corners of the planet to tell the tales of five courageous animals as they tackle the very first challenges of their young lives. With a little guidance from sage family members, each must figure out how and where to find food, while learning to recognize the very real threat of danger. From their first steps of exploring their world to their final steps into independence, "Growing Up Wild" reveals the triumphs and setbacks of five young lives in which instinct, parental lessons, and trial & error ultimately define their destinies. Featuring the stunning imagery and iconic storytelling that makes Disneynature's big-screen adventures an inspiring movie-going experience, "Growing Up Wild", brings home a special look at how similar and different these young lives can be. - Written by (C) 2016 Disney Enterprises

7.2

MagicScore

#13

Chimpanzee

2012

A nature documentary centered on a family of chimps living in the Ivory Coast and Ugandan rain forests. Through Oscar, a little chimpanzee, we discover learning about life in the heart of the African tropical forest and follow his first steps in this world with humor, emotion and anguish. Following a tragedy, he finds himself separated from his mother and left alone to face the hostility of the jungle. Until he is picked up by an older chimpanzee, who will take him under her protection.

7.0

MagicScore

#14

A Reindeer's Journey

2018

Narrated by Golden Globe winner, Donald Sutherland, this is the incredible story of Ailo, the little reindeer. This uplifting tale follows the journey of baby Ailo as he navigates his first year of life in the snowy landscapes of a picturesque Lapland. Frail and vulnerable, Ailo must learn to walk, run, leap and hide to ensure he survives the long, treacherous journey with the herd. Ailo’s Journey is an inspirational story, in which a bleak wilderness is warmed by a mother’s endless love as she watches over Ailo in his incredible adventures with other creatures of the Arctic.

6.5

MagicScore

#15

Jane

2017

Drawing from never-before-seen footage that has been tucked away in the National Geographic archives, director Brett Morgen tells the story of Jane Goodall, a woman whose chimpanzee research revolutionized our understanding of the natural world.

7.5

MagicScore

#16

The Amazing Panda Adventure

1995

Far from home in the lush bamboo forests of China, ten-year-old Ryan Tyler, with the help of a young girl, goes on a wonderful journey to rescue a baby panda taken by poachers.

5.6

MagicScore

#17

Amazonia

2013

After a plane crash, Saï, a capuchin monkey born and raised in captivity, finds himself alone and lost in the wilderness of the Amazon jungle.

6.2

MagicScore

#18

Oceans

2010

An ecological drama/documentary, filmed throughout the globe. Part thriller, part meditation on the vanishing wonders of the sub-aquatic world.

7.4

MagicScore

#19

Penguins

2019

The story of Steve, an Adélie penguin, on a quest to find a life partner and start a family. When Steve meets with Wuzzo the emperor penguin they become friends. But nothing comes easy in the icy Antarctic.

7.1

MagicScore

#20

Pandas

2018

In the mountains of Sichuan, China, a researcher forms a bond with Qian Qian, a panda who is about to experience nature for the first time.

8.2

MagicScore

Frequently asked

What are the best movies like Born in China?

The top films similar to Born in China by MovieMagicScore are March of the Penguins 2: The Next Step (6.9), Monkey Kingdom (7.0), March of the Penguins (7.1). Each shares documentary themes and is ranked by real viewer ratings, not critics or studios.

Is Born in China worth watching?

Born in China holds a MovieMagicScore of 7.4/10 from 166 viewer ratings, putting it among the better-reviewed titles in its genre.

What kind of movie is Born in China?

Born in China (2016) is a documentary film directed by Lu Chuan, starring John Krasinski, Zhou Xun.

Where can I find more recommendations like Born in China?

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

Keep exploring

Movies like March of the Penguins 2: The Next Step Movies like Monkey Kingdom Movies like March of the Penguins Movies like The Velvet Queen Movies like Bears Movies like Earth

About movies like Born in China

This ranked list pairs Born in China (2016), a documentary film from Lu Chuan, with similar titles by genre, theme and cast overlap (fans of John Krasinski 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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