In the Mood for Love

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In the Mood for Love

PG

2001

1h 37m

Romance

Drama

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Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

92%

Tomatometer

191 Reviews

94%

Popcornmeter

50,000+ Ratings

In 1962, journalist Chow Mo-wan (Tony Leung Chiu Wai) and his wife move into a Hong Kong apartment, but Chow's spouse is often away on business. Before long, the lonely Chow makes the acquaintance of the alluring Su Li-zhen (Maggie Cheung Man-yuk), whose own significant other also seems preoccupied with work. As the two friends realize their respective partners are cheating on them, they begin to fall for one another; however, neither wants to stoop to the level of the unfaithful spouses.

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Critics Consensus

An exquisitely shot showcase for Maggie Cheung and Tony Leung that marks a somber evolution of Wong Kar-wai's chic style, In the Mood for Love is a tantric tease that's liable to break your heart.

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Elvis Mitchell

New York Times

Jul 17, 2023

In the Mood for Love is probably the most breathtakingly gorgeous film of the year, dizzy with a nose-against-the-glass romantic spirit that has been missing from the cinema forever.

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Joe Morgenstern

Wall Street Journal

Jul 15, 2023

In the Mood for Love excites us with words not spoken, passions not played out. A mood story more than a love story, it's all about sustaining a state of exquisite melancholy in the face of desire.

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Peter Bradshaw

Guardian

Jul 15, 2023

5/5

If it is possible to find the erotic register of despair, or the romantic dimension of ennui, then Wong Kar-wai certainly achieves it in his new film.

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Tom Fitzgerald and Lorenzo Marquez

Tom & Lorenzo

Jul 21, 2026

Maybe this will come off like meaningless hyperbole to some, but we honestly think Tony Leung and Maggie Cheung in the film comprise one of the most beautiful onscreen couples in the entire history of cinema.

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Daniel Barnes

Dare Daniel

Nov 5, 2025

5/5

Never not in the mood for this sumptuously beautiful yet melancholy and mysterious masterpiece.

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Beth Accomando

Vanguard Culture

Aug 22, 2025

5/5

Revisiting In the Mood for Love 25 years later makes for an even richer experience. We can see how it plays into that one long film Wong said he was making and can feel its particular rhythms and how it adds a few new riffs.

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Eliel

Mar 6, 2026

This is my favorite film. I catch it whenever it is in the cinema. Longing is the name of the game and Wong Kar-wai understands this language.

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George B

Sep 15, 2025

Aggressively beautiful, not just visually.

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Osmin B

Jul 13, 2025

Breathtakingly beautiful.

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Michael

Jul 6, 2025

Deservedly called a masterpiece. Read the New Yorker review from 2023 which says it all.

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T W

Jul 6, 2025

Rapturous, beautiful, haunting, and heart breaking. I could watch this a thousand times

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Spencer Nielsen

Sep 18, 2024

My favorite movie. A film whose aesthetic qualities are so intoxicating, it is the purpose of the narrative.

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Kar-Wai Wong

Director

Maggie Cheung

Su Li-zhen

Tony Leung Chiu Wai

Chow Mo-wan

Kelly Lai Chen

Mr. Ho

Rebecca Pan

Mrs. Suen

Ping Lam Siu

Ah Ping

2022 Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month TV & Streaming Calendar

Know Your Critic: Angelica Jade Bastién, Critic at Vulture/New York Magazine

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Synopsis

In 1962, journalist Chow Mo-wan (Tony Leung Chiu Wai) and his wife move into a Hong Kong apartment, but Chow's spouse is often away on business. Before long, the lonely Chow makes the acquaintance of the alluring Su Li-zhen (Maggie Cheung Man-yuk), whose own significant other also seems preoccupied with work. As the two friends realize their respective partners are cheating on them, they begin to fall for one another; however, neither wants to stoop to the level of the unfaithful spouses.

Director: Kar-Wai Wong
Producer: William Chang
Screenwriter: Kar-Wai Wong
Distributor: USA Films
Production Co: Paradis Film, Jet Tone Productions, Block 2 Pictures
Rating: PG (Thematic Elements|Brief Language)
Genre: Romance, Drama
Original Language: Chinese
Release Date (Theaters): Mar 9, 2001, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Oct 15, 2020
Box Office (Gross USA): $857.9K
Runtime: 1h 37m
Sound Mix: Dolby Stereo, Dolby Digital, Dolby A, Surround, Dolby SR
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.66:1)

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