It is assumed that the first cinematographic performances in Mongolia happened between 1903 and 1913, as private events for the prince Tögs-Ochiryn Namnansüren and the Jebtsundamba in the capital Urga.
After World War II, the party moved the focus on working-class heroes, reflected in movies like New Year (Shine Jil, 1954) by the first professional filmmaker of Mongolia, Tseveeny Zandraa.
Other well-known productions were The Legend of the Mother Oasis (Ehe Bürdiin domog), made in 1976 by Gombojav Jigjidsuren (Гомбожавын Жигжидсүрэн) and Jamyangiin Buntar (Жамъяангийн Бунтар), and The Five Colors of the Rainbow (Solongiin tavan öngö) in 1979.
The Leading Wrestler Garuda (Garid Magnai, 1983), by Jamyangiin Buntar, marks a turning point where the authors liberate themselves from existing power structures.
State of Dogs (Nokhoin Oron, 1998) was written and directed collaboratively by the Belgian Peter Brosens and the Mongolian Dorjkhandyn Turmunkh.
The director Byambasuren Davaa has had international success with the German-Mongolian co-productions The Story of the Weeping Camel (2003, nominated for an Academy Award as a foreign documentary in 2005) and The Cave of the Yellow Dog (2005).
Elsnii Nuudel (Mongolian: Элсний нүүдэл, Movement of Sand), was a successful movie produced for the domestic market in 2007.