

Raise the Red Lantern
China, 1920. One master, four wives.
In 1920s China, 19-year-old Songlian becomes a concubine of a powerful lord and is forced to compete with his three wives for the privileges gained.
TMDB
7.9/10
833 votes
IMDb
Not rated yet
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- Status
- Released
- Budget
- $1M
- Box office
- $16.6M
- Language
- Mandarin
- competition
- marriage
- romantic rivalry
- polygamy
- concubine
- tragedy
- wealth
- period drama
- intrigue
- oppression
- 1920s
Top billed cast
Behind the camera
Where to watch
All optionsAvailability for Austria. Provided by JustWatch through the TMDB API.
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Release dates
United StatesUS
- Theatrical (limited)Re-release6 Nov 2026
United KingdomGB
- TheatricalPG13 Jan 1992
- Theatrical (limited)Re-release2 Nov 2026
CanadaCA
- PremiereToronto Film Festival10 Sept 1991
BelgiumBE
- Theatrical13 Feb 1992
BrazilBR
- Physical18Capa do DVD1 Jan 2000
ChinaCN
- Physical4K UHD27 Oct 2026
CzechiaCZ
- Theatrical (limited)15+Non-commercial screenings only5 Mar 1999
FranceFR
- TheatricalU20 Dec 1991
GermanyDE
- Digital / OTT1219 Aug 2013
ItalyIT
- PremiereVenice Film Festival10 Sept 1991
- Premiere(Milan)17 Dec 1991
- Theatrical18 Dec 1991
NetherlandsNL
- Theatrical1614 Feb 1992
PolandPL
- Theatrical (limited)22 May 2026
Frequently asked questions
Raise the Red Lantern was released on 18 December 1991.
Audience reviews
2- F2/10
Filipe Manuel Neto
3/8/2023
**In the context of oriental cinema, it's a good film... but it's very different from the cinema that we, in the West, are used to, and this difference ends up killing our interest in this work.** I think this movie was the first Chinese movie I saw, I'm not really sure. I am not an expert on the cinema of this country, but I can say that it is one of those films that you see without much special interest. Of cour…
- P
Priscilla Chu
6/9/2025
**Raise the Red Lantern:** Directed by Zhang Yimou, Raise the Red Lantern (大红灯笼高高挂) stands as a seminal work in Chinese cinema, premiering in 1991 and adapted from Su Tong's novel Wives and Concubines. The film achieved international acclaim, winning the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival and earning nominations for the BAFTA Award for Best Foreign Language Film, solidifying its status as a landmark critique …
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