Madama Butterfly (1974): cast, story & where to watch
1974 · Film · ★ 10
Released in 1974, Madama Butterfly is a music film directed by Jean-Pierre Ponnelle, running about 145 minutes. “Karajan magnificent in unique treatment of familiar tragedy” — that tagline sets the tone.
What it’s about. Mirella Freni, Placido Domingo, Christa Ludwig, and Robert Kerns star in this Jean-Pierre Ponnelle-directed version of the Puccini opera, with Herbert von Karajan conducting the Vienna Philharmonic. Madama Butterfly is a staple of the standard operatic repertoire for companies around the world, ranking 7th in the Operabase list of the most-performed operas worldwide.
Who’s in it. Madama Butterfly stars Mirella Freni as Cio-Cio-San, known as Butterfly, Plácido Domingo as Pinkerton, Robert Kerns as Sharpless and Christa Ludwig as Suzuki, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 10.0/10, Madama Butterfly sits among the best-reviewed titles in the catalogue.
Where to watch. Streaming options change often. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch Madama Butterfly page.
If you liked it. Fans of Madama Butterfly tend to enjoy Whiplash, Coco, Green Book and The Legend of 1900.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch Madama Butterfly (1974)?
- Streaming, rental and purchase options for Madama Butterfly change frequently. Check our where-to-watch page for the latest availability in your country.
- Is Madama Butterfly worth watching?
- Madama Butterfly holds an audience score of 10.0 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy music. Most viewers rate it highly.
- Who stars in Madama Butterfly?
- Madama Butterfly stars Mirella Freni, Plácido Domingo, Robert Kerns, Christa Ludwig and Michel Sénéchal.
- When was Madama Butterfly released?
- Madama Butterfly was released in 1974, with a runtime of about 145 minutes.