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Poster for Shanghai Triad

Shanghai Triad

Seen it?

1995 | 108 min | Drama, Crime

Sunday Safe Betearly rating

Why it’s a Sunday Safe Bet

Critics loved it (90% on Rotten Tomatoes), though it had almost no lasting buzz and a box office loss. A safe bet when you want something reliable.

Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.

Is it for you?

Who'll love it
Made for crime-drama fans. If you loved The Virgin Suicides or The Breakfast Club, start here. Critics rate it higher than audiences do, so it rewards patience more than it chases thrills.
The mood
Dark and gritty.
The pace
Takes its time with its characters, at 1 hr 48 min.
What might put you off
  • Rated R: expect drug use.
  • It's in Chinese, so expect subtitles (or a dub).
  • Audiences were cooler on it than critics.

Shanghai, China, 1930. When young Shuisheng arrives from the countryside, his uncle Liushu puts him at the service of Bijou, the mistress of Laoda, supreme boss of the Tang Triad, constantly threatened by his enemies, both those he knows and those lurking in the shadows.

How it earned its rating

  • CriticsVery strong

    90% on Rotten Tomatoes, 77 on Metacritic

  • AudiencesSolid

    7.2 out of 10

  • AwardsSolid

    Nominated for 1 Oscar.

  • Box office & staying powerBelow par

    $2 million worldwide on a $2 million budget; still draws a steady audience long after release

  • Buzz & cultural impactWeak

    About 14K people sought it out in the past year

Trailer

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Cast & crew

Directed by Zhang Yimou

  • Gong LiBijou / Xiao Jinbao
  • Li BaotianBoss Tang Laoda
  • Sun ChunSong Laoer
  • Li XuejianUncle Liushu
  • Liu JiangFat Yu
  • Fu BiaoLaosan
  • Chen ShuShiye
  • Wang XiaoxiaoShuisheng
  • Jiang BaoyingCuihua
  • Ngai Tsang-Siu