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Swallowtail Butterfly

1996·Movie·148 min·7.5(99)

This is the story of Yentowns in Yentown.

The struggles of a group of outcasts living in "Yentown", in an alternate-future Japan.

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Where to watch Swallowtail Butterfly in United States

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Click a service to open Swallowtail Butterfly there. Availability last verified on June 20, 2026.

About Swallowtail Butterfly

Swallowtail Butterfly is a 1996 Japanese-language drama, crime and music film directed by Shunji Iwai. The cast is led by Ayumi Ito, Yosuke Eguchi, Chara. It has a runtime of 2h 28m. Viewers rate it 7.5/10 across 100 ratings.

Swallowtail Butterfly was produced by OORONG-SHA, Pony Canyon, and Nippon Herald Films and made in Japan. It was released on September 14, 1996.

Director
Shunji Iwai
Writers
Shunji Iwai
Release date
September 14, 1996
Original language
Japanese
Status
Released
Country
Japan
Production
OORONG-SHA, Pony Canyon, Nippon Herald Films
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Swallowtail Butterfly cast & crew

Swallowtail Butterfly was directed by Shunji Iwai and written by Shunji Iwai.

The cast features Ayumi Ito as Ageha, Yosuke Eguchi as Ryou Ryanki, Chara as Glico, Hiroshi Mikami as Feihong, Andy Hui Chi-On as Maofu, and Atsuro Watabe as Ran.

Behind the camera, the score was composed by Takeshi Kobayashi, cinematography is by Noboru Shinoda, and it was produced by Shin'ya Kawai.

Is Swallowtail Butterfly worth watching?

Swallowtail Butterfly holds an audience score of 7.5/10 from 99 ratings, marking it as well-reviewed drama films.

At 2h 28m, it's a standard feature-length watch.

If you enjoy drama, crime, and music, Swallowtail Butterfly is worth a place on your watchlist.

How and where to watch Swallowtail Butterfly

Swallowtail Butterfly 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.

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Cast of Swallowtail Butterfly

Ayumi Ito

Ayumi Ito

Ageha

Yosuke Eguchi

Yosuke Eguchi

Ryou Ryanki

Chara

Chara

Glico

Hiroshi Mikami

Hiroshi Mikami

Feihong

Andy Hui Chi-On

Andy Hui Chi-On

Maofu

Atsuro Watabe

Atsuro Watabe

Ran

Kaori Momoi

Kaori Momoi

Suzukino

Tomoko Yamaguchi

Tomoko Yamaguchi

Shenmei

Nene Otsuka

Nene Otsuka

Reiko

Yoriko Doguchi

Yoriko Doguchi

Hoshino

Mickey Curtis

Mickey Curtis

Doctor

Tetsu Watanabe

Tetsu Watanabe

Katsushika Group Boss

Swallowtail Butterfly — FAQs

Where can I watch Swallowtail Butterfly in United States?

Swallowtail Butterfly is not currently available on major streaming services in United States. Availability changes often — check back soon.

What language is Swallowtail Butterfly in?

Swallowtail Butterfly is originally in Japanese, with audio tracks including Japanese, Mandarin, English. Subtitle and dub options vary by streaming service.

How long is Swallowtail Butterfly?

Swallowtail Butterfly runs 2 hours 28 minutes (148 minutes).

What is Swallowtail Butterfly rated?

It holds a 7.5/10 audience score from 99 ratings.

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Swallowtail Butterfly (1996) — where to watch online · SearchOTT