Swallowtail Butterfly (1996): cast, story & where to watch
1996 · Film · ★ 7.4
Released in 1996, Swallowtail Butterfly is a drama and crime film directed by Shunji Iwai, running about 148 minutes. “This is the story of Yentowns in Yentown.” — that tagline sets the tone.
What it’s about. An industrial section of Japan got the name of Yentown as many immigrants come to make money and hope to go home rich. A small group of people in Yentown try to work together to survive, there is a girl named Ageha who has no family, Glico the hooker, Fei Hong a poor immigrant from Shanghai, Arrow an ex boxer from the US and Ren the mysterious guy who seems to know too much about guns. Fortune shines upon them when they find a cassette that we'll get them rich but along with money trouble will always follow.
Who’s in it. Swallowtail Butterfly stars Ayumi Ito as Ageha, Chara as Glico, Hiroshi Mikami as Feihong and Yosuke Eguchi as Ryou Ryanki, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 7.4/10, Swallowtail Butterfly has been warmly received by audiences.
Where to watch. Streaming options change often. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch Swallowtail Butterfly page.
If you liked it. Fans of Swallowtail Butterfly tend to enjoy The Shawshank Redemption, The Godfather, Schindler's List and The Godfather Part II.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch Swallowtail Butterfly (1996)?
- Streaming, rental and purchase options for Swallowtail Butterfly change frequently. Check our where-to-watch page for the latest availability in your country.
- Is Swallowtail Butterfly worth watching?
- Swallowtail Butterfly holds an audience score of 7.4 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy drama and crime. Most viewers rate it highly.
- Who stars in Swallowtail Butterfly?
- Swallowtail Butterfly stars Ayumi Ito, Chara, Hiroshi Mikami, Yosuke Eguchi and Andy Hui.
- When was Swallowtail Butterfly released?
- Swallowtail Butterfly was released in 1996, with a runtime of about 148 minutes.