Purple Butterfly (2003): cast, story & where to watch
2003 · Film · ★ 6.4
Released in 2003, Purple Butterfly is a drama, war and history film directed by Lou Ye, running about 127 minutes.
What it’s about. Ding Hui is a member of Purple Butterfly, a powerful resistance group in Japanese occupied Shanghai. An unexpected encounter reunites her with Itami, an ex-lover... and officer with a secret police unit tasked with dismantling Purple Butterfly.
Who’s in it. Purple Butterfly stars Zhang Ziyi as Cynthia / Ding Hui, Liu Ye as Szeto, Feng Yuanzheng as Xie Ming and Toru Nakamura as Hidehiko Itami, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 6.4/10, Purple Butterfly has drawn a solid, mixed-to-positive response.
Where to watch. Streaming options change often. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch Purple Butterfly page.
If you liked it. Fans of Purple Butterfly tend to enjoy The Shawshank Redemption, The Godfather, Schindler's List and The Godfather Part II.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch Purple Butterfly (2003)?
- Streaming, rental and purchase options for Purple Butterfly change frequently. Check our where-to-watch page for the latest availability in your country.
- Is Purple Butterfly worth watching?
- Purple Butterfly holds an audience score of 6.4 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy drama, war and history. Reactions are mixed, so it may depend on taste.
- Who stars in Purple Butterfly?
- Purple Butterfly stars Zhang Ziyi, Liu Ye, Feng Yuanzheng, Toru Nakamura and Li Bingbing.
- When was Purple Butterfly released?
- Purple Butterfly was released in 2003, with a runtime of about 127 minutes.