M. Butterfly
“Passion. Power. Revenge. In All Their Majesty.”
Synopsis
In 1960s China, French diplomat Rene Gallimard falls in love with opera singer Song Liling – but Song is not at all who Gallimard thinks.
Trailers, Teasers & Extra Featurettes
Official promotional previews, behind-the-scenes footage, and exclusive clips.
M. Butterfly (1993) Official Trailer - Jeremy Irons, John Lone Movie HD
Type: Trailer • Published 2014-07-15
Top Cast
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Jeremy Irons
René Gallimard
John Lone
Song Liling
Barbara Sukowa
Jeanne Gallimard
Annabel Leventon
Frau Baden
Shizuko Hoshi
Comrade Chin
Ian Richardson
Ambassador Toulon
Richard McMillan
Embassy Colleague
Vernon Dobtcheff
Agent Etancelin
David Hemblen
Intelligence Officer #1
Damir Andrei
Intelligence Officer #2
Antony Parr
Intelligence Officer #3
Margaret Ma
Song's Maid
Tristram Jellinek
Defense Attorney
Philip McGough
Prosecution Attorney
David Neal
Judge
Sean Hewitt
Ambassador's Aide
Peter Messaline
Diplomat at Party
Michael Mehlmann
Drunk in Paris Bar
Release History & Theatrical Window
October 1, 1993
Wide Cinema Exhibition
October 1, 1994
Physical Home Media
Financials & Box Office Performance
Production Budget
$17M
Filming & production cost
Worldwide Gross
$1.5M
Total global ticket sales
Box Office Return
0.09x
-$15.5M deficit
Theatrical Status
Budget Return
Box office tier
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- David Cronenberg
- Screenplay & Story
- David Henry Hwang
- Original Score
- Howard Shore
- Original Title
- M. Butterfly
- Country of Origin
- United States of America
- Spoken Languages
- Mandarin, English
- Runtime
- 1h 41m
- Production Budget
- $17M
- Worldwide Gross
- $1.5M
- Production Studios
- Geffen Pictures
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
David Cronenberg
David Henry Hwang
Howard Shore
Peter Suschitzky
Ronald Sanders
Gabriella Martinelli, David Henry Hwang, Philip Sandhaus
Department Leadership Roster
Ronald Sanders
Editor
Gabriella Martinelli
Producer
Peter Suschitzky
Director of Photography
Howard Shore
Original Music Composer
David Cronenberg
Director
David Henry Hwang
Screenplay
Denise Cronenberg
Costume Design
Carol Spier
Production Design
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
R: Restricted — Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.
International Certification Matrix
FSK 12 — Restricted to viewers aged 12 and older.
Restricted — Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for M. Butterfly.
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Frequently Asked Questions About M. Butterfly
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is M. Butterfly about?
In 1960s China, French diplomat Rene Gallimard falls in love with opera singer Song Liling – but Song is not at all who Gallimard thinks.
Who directed M. Butterfly?
M. Butterfly was directed by David Cronenberg.
Who stars in M. Butterfly?
The principal cast of M. Butterfly includes Jeremy Irons, John Lone, Barbara Sukowa, Annabel Leventon, Shizuko Hoshi.
When was M. Butterfly released and how long is it?
M. Butterfly was released in 1993 with a total runtime of 1h 41m.
What was the box office and production budget of M. Butterfly?
M. Butterfly had a reported production budget of $17M and grossed $1.5M at the worldwide box office (0.09 return on budget, classified as a underperformed).
Who composed the musical score for M. Butterfly?
The original motion picture soundtrack for M. Butterfly was composed by Howard Shore.
What is the age rating and content advisory for M. Butterfly?
M. Butterfly holds official age classifications: DE: 12 (FSK 12 — Restricted to viewers aged 12 and older.); US: R (Restricted — Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.).