Shanghai Triad

1995, Crime/Drama, 1h 48m

30 Reviews 2,500+ Ratings

critics consensus

Well-acted and beautifully filmed, Shanghai Triad deftly depicts a young man's coming of age against the backdrop of mob violence and its punishing legacy. Read critic reviews

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Shanghai Triad Photos

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Movie Info

When teenager Shuisheng (Wang Xiaoxiao Cuihua) arrives to Shanghai from the country, he is brought by his uncle (Li Xuejian) to work for gang leader Tang (Baotian Li). Tang assigns Shuisheng to aid his girlfriend Xiao Jinbao (Gong Li), a nightclub singer. After a rival gang kills some of Tang's men, he takes Shuisheng and Jinbao to an island hideout. Here Jinbao forms a friendship with peasant Cuihau (Jiang Baoying), while Tang attempts to determine if there are traitors in his ranks.

Rating:

R
Genre:

Crime, Drama
Original Language:

Chinese
Director:

Yimou Zhang
Producer:

Yves Marmion, Jean-Louis Piel, Yigong Wu
Writer:

Bi Feiyu, Li Xiao
Release Date (Theaters):

Dec 22, 1995 original
Release Date (Streaming):

Dec 12, 2000
Box Office (Gross USA):

$2.1M
Runtime:

1h 48m
Distributor:

Sony Pictures Classics
Sound Mix:

Surround

Cast & Crew

Gong Li
Xiao Jingbao

Baotian Li
Tang

Li Xuejian
Liu

Chun Sun
Song

Wang Xiaoxiao Cuihua
Shuisheng

Jiang Baoying
Cuihua

Show all Cast & Crew

Critic Reviews for Shanghai Triad

All Critics (30) | Top Critics (7) | Fresh (27) | Rotten (3)

Full Review… David Ansen Newsweek

Full Review… Lisa Schwarzbaum Entertainment Weekly

Full Review… James Berardinelli ReelViews

Full Review… Roger Ebert Chicago Sun-Times

Full Review… Mike Clark USA Today

Full Review… Steve Davis Austin Chronicle

Full Review… Wilson Kwong VCinema

Full Review… Matt Brunson Film Frenzy

Full Review… Jeffrey M. Anderson Combustible Celluloid

Full Review… Louis Proyect Counterpunch.org

Full Review… Tom Meek Cambridge Day

Full Review… David Bax Battleship Pretension

View All Critic Reviews (30)

Audience Reviews for Shanghai Triad

Sep 28, 2012

Another great effort by Zhang Yimou. The greatest Asian mob movie that I have seen thus far. Very entertaining.

John B Super Reviewer
Nov 11, 2008

Good movie, ending is horrible (as in, it's a horrible story - not bad). I don't generally watch mob movies, and I tend to associate that genre as Italian (probably incorrectly - so sue me, it's not a type of movie I generally seek out), so this Chinese movie set in the past was something different to me. The settings are beautiful as is the lead actress. Different to see through the eyes of a poor young boy sent to work for them. Felt so sorry for him, especially on that horrible ending. Poor kid.

Nicki M Super Reviewer
Sep 15, 2008

A gangster flick in the eastern tradition,Yimou is not ashamed to produce vivid landscapes and some morbid ones in the first part.It's a mid-90's Yimou,compared to the heartless Hero and Curse of the Golden Flower,this one possesses a terrific strength/narration recent gangster flicks (in general) will never have.

Dimitris S Super Reviewer