Ju Dou
Seen it?1990 | 95 min | Drama
Sunday Safe BetWhy it’s a Sunday Safe Bet
Critics loved it (100% on Rotten Tomatoes), though it had soft box office and little lasting buzz. 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 anyone who loves a strong drama. Critics rate it higher than audiences do, so it rewards patience more than it chases thrills.
- The mood
- Thoughtful and character-driven.
- The pace
- Takes its time with its characters, at 1 hr 35 min.
- What might put you off
- Rated PG-13. Probably too much for younger kids.
- It's in Chinese, so expect subtitles (or a dub).
- Audiences were cooler on it than critics.
Tianqing falls in love with Ju Dou, his uncle's wife who is tortured for being childless. However, after they have an affair, they discover that his uncle is impotent and try to conceal the truth.
How it earned its rating
- CriticsVery strong
100% on Rotten Tomatoes, 79 on Metacritic
- AudiencesSolid
7.5 out of 10
- AwardsSolid
Nominated for 1 Oscar.
- Box office & staying powerBelow par
$2 million worldwide; still draws a steady audience long after release
- Buzz & cultural impactBelow par
About 29K people sought it out in the past year
Trailer
More like this
Sleeping with the Enemy
Weeknight WatchAnother drama, though it's more of a weeknight watch.
Kill Bill: The Whole Bloody Affair
Friday Night FlickAnother critically acclaimed drama.
Crash Weeknight WatchAnother drama, though it's more of a weeknight watch.
The Stoning of Soraya M. Weeknight WatchAnother drama, though it's more of a weeknight watch.
Natural Born Killers Sunday Safe BetAnother drama, and a safe bet for a quiet night.
Want more like this, picked just for you? Get my picks
Cast & crew
Directed by Zhang Yimou
- Gong LiJu Dou
- Li WeiYang Jinshan
- Li BaotianYang Tianqing
- Niu XingliPatriarch of the Yang Clan
- Jia ZhaojiEr Laizi
- Zhang YiYoung Tianbai
- Ji-an ZhengTeenage Tianbai
- Ma Chong
- Cong Zhijun
- Jia Jin