Skip to content
SearchOTT
A City of Sadness poster

A City of Sadness

1989·Movie·NR·158 min·7.5(152)
DramaHistory

The story of a family embroiled in the "White Terror," the Kuomintang government's anti-communist political repression that was wrought on the Taiwanese people from 1947-1987.

▶ Watch trailer

Where to watch A City of Sadness in United States

No streaming info for your region.

Click a service to open A City of Sadness there. Availability last verified on June 20, 2026.

About A City of Sadness

A City of Sadness is a 1989 Chinese-language drama and history film directed by Hou Hsiao-hsien. The cast is led by Tony Leung Chiu-wai, Hsin Shu-Fen, Chan Chung-Yung. It has a runtime of 2h 38m. Viewers rate it 7.5/10 across 200 ratings.

A City of Sadness was produced by ERA International and 3-H Films and made in Hong Kong and Taiwan. It was released on October 21, 1989, and carries a NR certification.

Director
Hou Hsiao-hsien
Writers
Wu Nien-jen, Chu Tien-Wen
Release date
October 21, 1989
Original language
Chinese
Age rating
NR
Status
Released
Country
Hong Kong, Taiwan
Production
ERA International, 3-H Films

A City of Sadness cast & crew

A City of Sadness was directed by Hou Hsiao-hsien and written by Wu Nien-jen and Chu Tien-Wen.

The cast features Tony Leung Chiu-wai as Wen-Ching, Hsin Shu-Fen as Wu Kuan Mei / Hinome, Chan Chung-Yung as Wen-Heung, Jack Kao as Wen Leung, Tai Bo as Ah Jia, and Li Tian-Lu as Ah Lu.

Behind the camera, cinematography is by Chen Hwai-en and it was produced by Yau Fook-Sang.

Is A City of Sadness worth watching?

A City of Sadness holds an audience score of 7.5/10 from 152 ratings, marking it as well-reviewed drama films.

At 2h 38m, it's a full-evening commitment.

If you enjoy drama and history, A City of Sadness is worth a place on your watchlist.

How and where to watch A City of Sadness

A City of Sadness isn't currently available on major streaming services in United States. We track availability continuously — add it to your watchlist and we'll keep an eye out.

Streaming rights change country by country and month by month, so the options above reflect United States today — switch your country at the top of the where-to-watch section to see availability elsewhere.

Rate & review

Your rating and review are saved privately in this browser — no account needed.

Cast of A City of Sadness

Tony Leung Chiu-wai

Tony Leung Chiu-wai

Wen-Ching

Hsin Shu-Fen

Hsin Shu-Fen

Wu Kuan Mei / Hinome

Chan Chung-Yung

Chan Chung-Yung

Wen-Heung

Jack Kao

Jack Kao

Wen Leung

Tai Bo

Tai Bo

Ah Jia

Li Tian-Lu

Li Tian-Lu

Ah Lu

Grace Chen Shu-Fang

Grace Chen Shu-Fang

Meidai

Wu Nien-jen

Wu Nien-jen

Mr. Wu

Tsai Chen-nan

Tsai Chen-nan

Singer

King Shih-chieh

King Shih-chieh

Mr. Huang

Su-Yun Ko

Su-Yun Ko

Sister-in-law

No photo

Wou Yi Fang

Wu Kuan Rong / Hinoiei

A City of Sadness — FAQs

Where can I watch A City of Sadness in United States?

A City of Sadness is not currently available on major streaming services in United States. Availability changes often — check back soon.

What language is A City of Sadness in?

A City of Sadness is originally in Chinese, with audio tracks including Cantonese, Mandarin, Japanese. Subtitle and dub options vary by streaming service.

How long is A City of Sadness?

A City of Sadness runs 2 hours 38 minutes (158 minutes).

What is A City of Sadness rated?

A City of Sadness is rated NR. It holds a 7.5/10 audience score from 152 ratings.

More like A City of Sadness

Radium Girls
Munich - The Edge of War
My People, My Country
Snow Flower and the Secret Fan
Leap
Belfast
The Book of Daniel
Youth
Oranges and Sunshine
Richard Jewell
The Scarlet and the Black
The Time to Live and the Time to Die
A City of Sadness (1989) — where to watch online · SearchOTT