Overview
A lavish festival masks a web of betrayal and ambition within a royal family.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Extreme
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Graphic
- operatic
- sumptuous
- feverish
- historical epic night
- arthouse spectacle viewing
What critics said
Critics broadly admired the film's extraordinary visual splendor, operatic intensity, performances, and climactic battle while finding its melodrama and spectacle excessive or narratively cumbersome.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
The imperial family's marital crisis, secret relationships, and rebellion unfold with feverish theatrical grandeur.
Golden chrysanthemums, elaborate costumes, and the vast palace architecture dominate the film's imagery.
The Emperor, Empress, and princes conceal competing plans while palace loyalties fracture around them.
Crown Prince Wan's illicit liaison and Prince Jai's divided loyalties are constrained by imperial power.
Films like Curse of the Golden Flower, and why
Hero
lavish historical palace intrigue, dynastic conspiracy, martial-arts action, and operatic melodrama
The House of Flying Daggers
Chinese period spectacle combining court politics, forbidden desire, stylized violence, and tragic grandeur
The Last Emperor
extravagant imperial drama centered on family betrayal, power struggles, and visually monumental production design
Raise the Red Lantern
ornate historical romance driven by courtly manipulation, doomed desire, and heightened theatricality
Movie Details
- Director
- Zhang Yimou
- Release Date
- 2006-12-14
- Runtime
- 114 min
- Rating
- 6.9 / 10 (853)
Cast
- Chow Yun-Fat
- Gong Li
- Jay Chou
- Liu Ye
- Qin Junjie
- Li Man
- Ni Dahong
- Chen Jin
- Siran Ge
- Guo Jiulong
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Howdy Amazon Channel
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Curse of the Golden Flower about?
- A lavish Tang-era palace becomes the stage for poisoned marriages, forbidden desire, and a rebellion rendered as operatic spectacle.
- What is Curse of the Golden Flower like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Curse of the Golden Flower as brisk, its intensity as extreme and its storytelling as layered.
- Is Curse of the Golden Flower violent?
- Yes. Ember rates the violence in Curse of the Golden Flower as graphic.
- What did critics think of Curse of the Golden Flower?
- Critics broadly admired the film's extraordinary visual splendor, operatic intensity, performances, and climactic battle while finding its melodrama and spectacle excessive or narratively cumbersome.
- Which films are like Curse of the Golden Flower?
- Films with a similar feel include Hero, The House of Flying Daggers, The Last Emperor, and Raise the Red Lantern.
- How long is Curse of the Golden Flower?
- Curse of the Golden Flower runs 114 minutes.
- Where can I watch Curse of the Golden Flower?
- In United States, Curse of the Golden Flower streams on Howdy Amazon Channel.
