Release CalendarDVD & Blu-ray ReleasesTop 250 MoviesMost Popular MoviesBrowse Movies by GenreTop Box OfficeShowtimes & TicketsIn TheatersComing SoonMovie NewsIndia Movie Spotlight
    What's on TV & StreamingTop 250 TV ShowsMost Popular TV ShowsBrowse TV Shows by GenreTV NewsIndia TV Spotlight
    What to WatchLatest TrailersIMDb OriginalsIMDb PicksIMDb Podcasts
    OscarsBest Picture WinnersBest Picture WinnersEmmysAPA Heritage MonthSTARmeter AwardsSan Diego Comic-ConNew York Comic-ConSundance Film FestivalToronto Int'l Film FestivalAwards CentralFestival CentralAll Events
    Born TodayMost Popular CelebsMost Popular CelebsCelebrity News
    Help CenterContributor ZonePolls
For Industry Professionals
  • All
  • Titles
  • TV Episodes
  • Celebs
  • Companies
  • Keywords
  • Advanced Search
Watchlist
Sign In
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)

Shanghai Triad

Original title: Yao a yao, yao dao wai po qiao
  • 19951995
  • RR
  • 1h 48m
IMDb RATING
7.1/10
5.6K
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Yao a yao, yao dao wai po qiao (1995)
Theatrical Trailer from Sony Pictures Classics
Play trailer4:38
1 Video
53 Photos
  • Crime
  • Drama
  • History

A provincial boy related to a Shanghai crime family is recruited by his uncle into cosmopolitan Shanghai in the 1930s to be a servant to a ganglord's mistress.A provincial boy related to a Shanghai crime family is recruited by his uncle into cosmopolitan Shanghai in the 1930s to be a servant to a ganglord's mistress.A provincial boy related to a Shanghai crime family is recruited by his uncle into cosmopolitan Shanghai in the 1930s to be a servant to a ganglord's mistress.

IMDb RATING
7.1/10
5.6K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Yimou Zhang
  • Writers
    • Feiyu Bi
    • Li Xiao(novel)
  • Stars
    • Gong Li
    • Baotian Li
    • Xiaoxiao Wang
Top credits
  • Director
    • Yimou Zhang
  • Writers
    • Feiyu Bi
    • Li Xiao(novel)
  • Stars
    • Gong Li
    • Baotian Li
    • Xiaoxiao Wang
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 40User reviews
    • 33Critic reviews
    • 77Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 1 Oscar
      • 5 wins & 4 nominations total

    Videos1

    Shanghai Triad
    Trailer 4:38
    Shanghai Triad

    Photos53

    Yao a yao, yao dao wai po qiao (1995)
    Yao a yao, yao dao wai po qiao (1995)
    Yao a yao, yao dao wai po qiao (1995)
    Gong Li in Yao a yao, yao dao wai po qiao (1995)
    Xiaoxiao Wang in Yao a yao, yao dao wai po qiao (1995)
    Baotian Li in Yao a yao, yao dao wai po qiao (1995)
    Gong Li, Biao Fu, Shu Chen, Chun Sun, and Baotian Li in Yao a yao, yao dao wai po qiao (1995)
    Biao Fu in Yao a yao, yao dao wai po qiao (1995)
    Shu Chen in Yao a yao, yao dao wai po qiao (1995)
    Baotian Li and Xiaoxiao Wang in Yao a yao, yao dao wai po qiao (1995)
    Xiaoxiao Wang in Yao a yao, yao dao wai po qiao (1995)
    Gong Li in Yao a yao, yao dao wai po qiao (1995)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Gong Li
    Gong Li
    • Xiao Jingbaoas Xiao Jingbao
    Baotian Li
    Baotian Li
    • Tang, the Gang Bossas Tang, the Gang Boss
    Xiaoxiao Wang
    Xiaoxiao Wang
    • Shuisheng, the boyas Shuisheng, the boy
    Xuejian Li
    Xuejian Li
    • Liu, 6th Uncleas Liu, 6th Uncle
    Chun Sun
    Chun Sun
    • Song, Tang's No. 2as Song, Tang's No. 2
    Biao Fu
    Biao Fu
    • Zheng, Tang's No.3as Zheng, Tang's No.3
    Shu Chen
    Shu Chen
    • Shi Yeas Shi Ye
    Jiang Liu
    • Fat Yuas Fat Yu
    Baoying Jiang
    • Cuihua, the Widowas Cuihua, the Widow
    Qianquan Yang
    Qianquan Yang
    • Ah Jiaoas Ah Jiao
    Ying Gao
    Weiming Gao
    Shuliang Lian
    Ya'nan Wang
    Zhang Yayun
    Guo Hao
    Jiasheng Zhen
    Ni Zengshao
    • Director
      • Yimou Zhang
    • Writers
      • Feiyu Bi
      • Li Xiao(novel)
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

    More like this

    Ju Dou
    7.6
    Ju Dou
    Happy Times
    7.4
    Happy Times
    The Story of Qiu Ju
    7.6
    The Story of Qiu Ju
    Red Sorghum
    7.3
    Red Sorghum
    The Road Home
    7.8
    The Road Home
    Not One Less
    7.7
    Not One Less
    Keep Cool
    7.2
    Keep Cool
    Coming Home
    7.2
    Coming Home
    To Live
    8.3
    To Live
    Raise the Red Lantern
    8.1
    Raise the Red Lantern
    Curse of the Golden Flower
    7.0
    Curse of the Golden Flower
    Under the Hawthorn Tree
    7.1
    Under the Hawthorn Tree

    Storyline

    Edit
    Uncle Liu brings his cousin to Shanghai to work for 'Boss,' the leader of a powerful drug empire in the 1930's. Shuisheng, a simple country boy is awed and overwhelmed by the opulence and immense wealth he is suddenly surrounded by. He is to be the attendant of Xiao Jingbao, the new mistress of 'Boss.' While he fumbles with the demands of his new role, much intrigue is going on around him, well beyond his bewildered perception. Xiao Jingbao is having a tumultuous affair, Fat Yu is starting a gang war, and 'Boss' is beginning to suspect that one of his trusted men is not loyal. —Tad Dibbern <DIBBERN_D@a1.mscf.upenn.edu>
    • boy
    • timeframe 1930s
    • Plot summary
    • Add synopsis
    • Taglines
      • In 1930's Shanghai violence was not the problem. It was the solution.
    • Genres
      • Crime
      • Drama
      • History
      • Romance
      • Thriller
    • Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)
      • Rated R for some language and images of violence
    • Parents guide

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      This was a difficult film for Yimou Zhang to make. His relationship with his leading lady Gong Li was coming to an acrimonious end and the Chinese authorities were deliberately hassling him with complicated and elusive work permits. That was mainly because they were still annoyed with him for submitting his previous film Huo zhe (1994) to the Cannes Film Festival without their permission.
    • Quotes

      Xiao Jingbao: [to Song] Just because you fucked me you think you're the boss?

    • Connections
      Featured in 53rd Annual Golden Globe Awards (1996)

    User reviews40

    Review
    Top review
    A Simple Beautifully Told Story
    This is a fine movie - wonderfully acted, beautifully shot, quite simple. Without being heavy-handed, one comes to sense the presence of real evil that tempts and corrupts and destroys. It's a little slow at times because the story is so simple - yet the slowness and simplicity does allow the messages of the movie to hit home. Something else I like is that the protagonist boy is not made to be cute or winning - he just is who he is - largely an observer but sometimes acting with generosity and sometimes with contempt.

    Much has been said by others about the beautiful cinematography and that's certainly true - but I'm also struck by the amazing work of those who constructed or chose the sets, costumes, background characters - they were quite memorable. What a star in Gong Li, and what a director!

    I don't agree with those who contrast this with American movies - surely we feel the same evil in watching either version of Scarface or The Petrified Forest or The Road to Perdition.

    In fact, I would say this movie is most like The Road to Perdition of any I've seen - not in its story particularly but in its tone, its simplicity, its contrasts of character, its cinematography.

    This is also a good movie for those who say they don't like foreign movies - you'll like this one.
    helpful•18
    3
    • trpdean
    • Jul 28, 2004

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • December 22, 1995 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • France
      • China
    • Official site
      • Sony Pictures Classics
    • Language
      • Mandarin
    • Also known as
      • Hội Tam Hoàng Thượng Hải
    • Filming locations
      • Shanghai, China
    • Production companies
      • Alpha Films
      • La Sept Cinéma
      • Ministère des Affaires étrangères et du Développement International
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $2,086,101
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $209,098
      • Dec 25, 1995
    • Gross worldwide
      • $2,086,101
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 48 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby
      • Dolby SR
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

    Related news

    From Legendary Director Zhang Yimou Comes Shanghai Triad, On Blu-ray for the Very First Time in North America on 8/11
    From Legendary Director Zhang Yimou Comes Shanghai Triad, On Blu-ray for the Very First Time in North America on 8/11
    Aug 6Horror News
    Zhang Yimou Classic ‘Shanghai Triad’ Lands Blu-Ray Release In August
    Zhang Yimou Classic ‘Shanghai Triad’ Lands Blu-Ray Release In August
    Jul 21HollywoodOutbreak.com

    Contribute to this page

    Suggest an edit or add missing content
    Yao a yao, yao dao wai po qiao (1995)
    Top Gap
    What is the Spanish language plot outline for Yao a yao, yao dao wai po qiao (1995)?
    Answer
    • See more gaps
    • Learn more about contributing
    Edit page

    More to explore

    View list
    List
    The Best Movies and Shows to Watch in May
    See the full list
    View list
    List
    2022 TV Guide: The Best Shows Coming This Year
    See the full list

    Recently viewed

    Please enable browser cookies to use this feature. Learn more.
    Get the IMDb App
    • Get the IMDb App
    • Help
    • Site Index
    • IMDbPro
    • Box Office Mojo
    • IMDb Developer
    • Press Room
    • Advertising
    • Jobs
    • Conditions of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • Interest-Based Ads

    © 1990-2022 by IMDb.com, Inc.