Raise the Red Lantern
大红灯笼高高挂
“China, 1920. One master, four wives.”
Synopsis
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.
Trailers, Teasers & Extra Featurettes
Official promotional previews, behind-the-scenes footage, and exclusive clips.
4K Restoration Trailer [Subtitled]Official
Type: Trailer • Published 2026-09-16
Top Cast
Explore Star Directory →
Release History & Theatrical Window
Toronto Film Festival
Festival / Special Debut
November 6, 2026
Wide Cinema Exhibition
January 1, 2000
Physical Home Media
Financials & Box Office Performance
Production Budget
$1M
Filming & production cost
Worldwide Gross
$16.6M
Total global ticket sales
Box Office Return
16.6x
+$15.6M net gain
Theatrical Status
Mega Hit
Box office tier
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Zhang Yimou
- Screenplay & Story
- Su Tong, Ni Zhen
- Original Score
- Naoki Tachikawa, Zhao Jiping
- Original Title
- 大红灯笼高高挂
- Country of Origin
- China, Hong Kong
- Spoken Languages
- Mandarin
- Runtime
- 2h 5m
- Production Budget
- $1M
- Worldwide Gross
- $16.6M
- Production Studios
- China Film Co-Production, Century Communications, Salon Films, Era International
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Zhang Yimou
Su Tong, Ni Zhen
Naoki Tachikawa, Zhao Jiping
Lun Yang, Zhao Fei
Du Yuan
Wenze Zhang, Hou Hsiao-hsien, Yau Fook-Sang
Department Leadership Roster
Zhang Yimou
Director
Yau Fook-Sang
Producer
Ni Zhen
Writer
Naoki Tachikawa
Original Music Composer
Zhao Jiping
Original Music Composer
Tong Huamiao
Costume Design
Lun Yang
Director of Photography
Zhao Fei
Director of Photography
Du Yuan
Editor
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
International Certification Matrix
FSK 12 — Restricted to viewers aged 12 and older.
Tous publics — Universal audience.
Parental Guidance — Unlikely to upset children 8 and older.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for Raise the Red Lantern.
Featured In Curated Collections
Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring Raise the Red Lantern.
Asian Cinema
Auto-generated by festival-lists — do not edit by hand.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Raise the Red Lantern
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is Raise the Red Lantern about?
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.
Who directed Raise the Red Lantern?
Raise the Red Lantern was directed by Zhang Yimou.
Who stars in Raise the Red Lantern?
The principal cast of Raise the Red Lantern includes Gong Li, He Saifei, Cao Cuifen, Kong Lin, Jin Shuyuan.
When was Raise the Red Lantern released and how long is it?
Raise the Red Lantern was released in 1991 with a total runtime of 2h 5m.
What was the box office and production budget of Raise the Red Lantern?
Raise the Red Lantern had a reported production budget of $1M and grossed $16.6M at the worldwide box office (16.6 return on budget, classified as a blockbuster success).
Who composed the musical score for Raise the Red Lantern?
The original motion picture soundtrack for Raise the Red Lantern was composed by Naoki Tachikawa, Zhao Jiping.
Is Raise the Red Lantern based on a book or true story?
Raise the Red Lantern is adapted from the following source material: Novel: "Su Tong".
What is the age rating and content advisory for Raise the Red Lantern?
Raise the Red Lantern holds official age classifications: DE: 12 (FSK 12 — Restricted to viewers aged 12 and older.); FR: U (Tous publics — Universal audience.); GB: PG (Parental Guidance — Unlikely to upset children 8 and older.).