Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Moderate
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- None
- witty
- awkward
- wistful
- date night
- reflective evening
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Liam leaves the United States for Shanghai after inheriting his grandmother's home and tries to connect with his ancestry.
Liam becomes involved with high school student Adelaide while struggling to understand his own emotional responsibilities.
The protagonist is Chinese-American and moves between American upbringing and family roots in Shanghai.
Liam's struggling acting career and fraught relationship with Adelaide combine comic discomfort with sincere romantic feeling.
Films like Shanghai Kiss, and why
The Namesake
cross-cultural romance, identity search, and bittersweet self-discovery
Lost in Translation
romantic drama shaped by cultural displacement and uncertain adulthood
Garden State
witty coming-of-age relationships and emotionally immature protagonists
Movie Details
- Directors
- David Ren, Kip Konwiser
- Release Date
- 2007-03-17
- Runtime
- 106 min
- Rating
- 6.0 / 10 (79)
Cast
- Ken Leung
- Hayden Panettiere
- Kathleen Lancaster
- Joel David Moore
- Summer Altice
- James Hong
- Kelly Hu
- Lorna Scott
- Spencer Redford
- Steve Connell
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store
- Buy
- Amazon Video
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Shanghai Kiss about?
- A drifting Chinese-American actor crosses the Pacific to reclaim his family roots while confronting the love and responsibilities he left behind.
- What is Shanghai Kiss like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Shanghai Kiss as measured, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Shanghai Kiss violent?
- No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in Shanghai Kiss.
- Which films are like Shanghai Kiss?
- Films with a similar feel include The Namesake, Lost in Translation, and Garden State.
- How long is Shanghai Kiss?
- Shanghai Kiss runs 106 minutes.
- Where can I watch Shanghai Kiss?
- In United States, Shanghai Kiss is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store.
