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Celluloid
Drama Venice 1991 · Silver Lion

Raise the Red Lantern

Directed by Zhang Yimou · 1991 ·

Short answer

Is Raise the Red Lantern worth watching?

Yes. Raise the Red Lantern (1991) earns an 89% Celluloid Score. That puts it in our Recommended tier. Critics and audiences are closely aligned on this one. See the 4 inputs.

89%
Celluloid Score Recommended

4-input transparent breakdown

96% Editorial Rating
91% Audience snapshot · excluded
93 Metascore
★★★★☆ Letterboxd 4.2
8.1 IMDb /10
0
Watch Trailer
Released
Runtime
2h 5m
Age rating
PG (UK) · 15 (South Korea)
Cast
Gong Li , Ma Jingwu , He Caifei
Country
China
Language
Mandarin

Also known as 大红灯笼高高挂 La Linterna Roja Épouses et Concubines Rote Laterne Lanternas Vermelhas 紅夢 홍등 大紅燈籠高高掛

🏆 1 nomination

Where to watch

Streaming availability varies by region — our catalogue lists Wavve in South Korea. Check local listings for your region.

Where to watch Raise the Red Lantern by country

Country Streaming on
Japan Prime Video, Hulu, U-NEXT
South Korea Wavve

Subscription availability, refreshed from TMDB. Rental and purchase options may differ.

Why this score?

  • Celluloid's editorial rating is exceptional (96/100).
  • Audiences widely enjoyed it (91%).
  • Metascore signals universal acclaim (93/100).
  • Letterboxd diarists rate it highly (4.2/5).
  • IMDb users score it 8.1/10.

Best for

  • Viewers who want a well-regarded drama pick

Not ideal for

    Scores reflect data indexed at build time. Component sources are shown on this page; Celluloid Score is our composite, not a third-party trademark. Scoring policy

    Streaming availability, artwork and title metadata courtesy of TMDB. This product uses the TMDB API but is not endorsed or certified by TMDB.

    Is Raise the Red Lantern worth watching?

    Yes — Raise the Red Lantern earns an 89% Celluloid Score. That puts it in our Recommended tier. It suits viewers who want a well-regarded drama pick. Read our full review (4.5/5).

    Celluloid verdict

    Zhang Yimou's claustrophobic palace drama exposes patriarchy with formal beauty and icy precision.

    , Founder & Editor

    Critics and audiences are closely aligned on this one.

    What is Raise the Red Lantern about?

    A young woman becomes the fourth wife of a wealthy lord and discovers brutal competition among concubines in 1920s China.

    Watch the Trailer

    Critic Reviews

    Short review 4 min read English Raise the Red Lantern

    Raise the Red Lantern (1991) Review: A Gilded Prison

    Raise the Red Lantern is Zhang Yimou's severe, ravishing drama of a young concubine in a 1920s household, with Gong Li at her best as a woman learning its rules.

    Yes. It is one of the great films of the Chinese Fifth Generation, essential for anyone interested in world cinema and patient enough for a slow, controlled tragedy.

    Kaiser Khan Founder & Editor

    Raise the Red Lantern stills

    Official production imagery supplied through TMDB, kept with the movie instead of split into a thin gallery page.

    Raise the Red Lantern production still 1
    Raise the Red Lantern production still 2
    Raise the Red Lantern production still 3
    Raise the Red Lantern production still 4
    Raise the Red Lantern production still 5
    Raise the Red Lantern production still 6

    Images courtesy of TMDB. TMDB does not endorse or certify Celluloid.

    Reader takes

    No reader takes published yet. Send yours and we may publish it after editing.

    Raise the Red Lantern: frequently asked questions

    Is Raise the Red Lantern worth watching?

    Yes. Raise the Red Lantern (1991) has a Celluloid Score of 89%, averaged from the available Celluloid editorial, Metascore, Letterboxd and IMDb ratings. That puts it in our Recommended tier. Audience sentiment is shown separately and does not change the score.

    Where can I watch Raise the Red Lantern?

    Elsewhere: Prime Video, Hulu, U-NEXT in Japan; Wavve in South Korea. Availability changes; the where-to-watch table on this page is refreshed from TMDB.

    How long is Raise the Red Lantern?

    Raise the Red Lantern runs 2 hours 5 minutes (125 minutes).

    What is Raise the Red Lantern rated?

    Raise the Red Lantern is rated PG in the UK and 15 in South Korea. These are the official classifications as recorded on TMDB; check your local classification board for content advice.

    Who stars in Raise the Red Lantern?

    Raise the Red Lantern is directed by Zhang Yimou and stars Gong Li, Ma Jingwu, He Caifei.

    What is the Metascore for Raise the Red Lantern?

    Metacritic's Metascore for Raise the Red Lantern is 93 out of 100. It is one of the inputs to the Celluloid Score.

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