A Cinephile’s Guide to Shanghai

A Cinephile’s Guide to Shanghai
By Campbell Browne , eChinacities.com

A sprawling metropolis like Shanghai is the perfect place to enjoy film in a variety of ways. With movie theatres and DVD shops everywhere, the city has become a hotbed for cinema lovers. If watching movies is a favourite pastime of yours, check out our guide on how get the “full” movie experience in Shanghai.

Best Movie Theatres

Even in a city this large, it can still be difficult to find the perfect spot to recline with a big tub of popcorn and catch a flick. Here are some of the best options no matter what type of night you are looking for.


Peace Cinema. Photo 51r6.com

1) Peace CinemaView In Map
One of the most popular theatres in the city, Peace Cinema was the first establishment in Shanghai to feature a real IMAX screen. Its understated interior is quite a contrast to the superb quality and comfort of each screen, and the Hershey store saddled right next to the entrance adds a sweet touch to the experience. Tickets are reasonably priced during peak hours, but the half-priced tickets on Tuesdays and Wednesdays are definitely where it’s at.

Add: 290 Xizang Zhong Lu, near Hankou Lu, Huangpu District, Shanghai
地址:上海黄浦区西藏中路290号, 近汉口路
Tel: 021 6361 2898
Opening hours: 08:00-23:00
Price: 50-60 RMB; 80-90 RMB (IMAX)

2) Kodak Cinema WorldView In Map
Although it only houses four screens, Kodak Cinema World is the most reliable option for 3D movies. Boasting impressive surround sound and broad stadium seating, this theatre was the first in Asia to pass the American Film Quality standards. Ticket prices are a little steep, but go on Tuesdays and Thursdays for discounted tickets.

Add: 5F, 1111 Zhaojiabang Lu, near Tianyaoqiao Lu, Xuhui District, Shanghai
地址:上海市徐汇区肇家浜路1111号5楼, 近天钥桥路
Tel: 021 6426 8181
Opening hours: 10:00-22:00
Price: 80 RMB; 110 RMB (3D)

3) Image TunnelView In Map
The true cinephile wants to support independent cinema as much as possible. Image Tunnel, housed in a questionable wooden building in the artsy Moganshan area, screens locally-produced and independent films each weekend. Using benches in lieu of cushioned seats, Image Tunnel is a perfect place to watch alternative cinema in Shanghai. You can buy a cooperative membership for 10 RMB, which will get you in for 20 RMB per film; without the membership, the cost is 25 RMB per film.

Add: 2F, Bldg. 19, 50 Moganshan Lu, near Nan Suzhouhe Lu, Putuo District, Shanghai
地址:上海市普陀区莫干山路50号19号楼2楼近南苏州河路
Tel: 159 2101 9461 or 6277 8270
Opening hours: 24:00-18:00
Website: www.imagetunnel.com (website down at the time of writing)

Best DVD shops

It is nearly impossible for a film buff to resist the urge to pop into a DVD shop on the street, with most movies going for 5-10 RMB per disc. But with varying selection and a constant threat of being shut down, tracking down a quality store can be quite an arduous task.

1) Fox MoviesView In Map
Touted by many expats as the single best place to buy movies in Shanghai, Fox is a huge store with an incredible selection of Hollywood favourites. All the discs come in sturdy jewel cases for safe storage. While the sound quality on the DVDs has been reported as inconsistent, the selection is just too good to pass up if you are in the area.

Add: 3727 Hongmei Lu, Changning District, Shanghai
地址:上海市长宁区虹梅路3727号
Opening hours: 10:00-22:00
Getting there: take the No. 519 or 757 bus

2) DVD SpotView In Map
Marked only by a small white sign that reads “DVD,” this store is wonderfully disguised next to a produce stand. But looks can be deceiving, as the selection of art house and independent films outweighs the already overflowing mainstream selection. Discs are only 9 RMB each, and the complete seasons of American TV shows are the best deals you are likely to find anywhere in Shanghai.

Add: Jiaozhou Lu, near Beijing Lu, Shanghai
地址:上海市胶州路,北京路附近
Opening hours: 10:00-22:00

DVD shops in Shanghai are constantly changing and going out of business. If you claim to know the best store in the city, feel free to discuss it here.

Film Festivals

1) Shanghai International Film Festival
If you prefer to see art house films before they get mainstream attention, rest assured that the annual Shanghai International Film Festival attracts some of the finest independent films each year. Held every June, the festival has gained widespread attention and is the second largest film fest in Asia. With directors like Barry Levinson heading the judging committee and many screenings open to the public, the SIFF is a world-class event that is a necessity for anyone who enjoys cinema in Shanghai. The most unique addition to this year’s event was a new category for “Cell Phone Short Films”, a bizarre way for the festival to enter the new era of social media. For more information, go to http://www.siff.com/.

2) Shanghai Student Film Festival
The Shanghai Student Film Festival is a new way for young filmmakers to showcase their work to the public. Aimed at bridging the gap between traditional film and new media techniques, the Student Film Festival allows locals (and expats) to get involved and share cross-cultural experiences. The festival provides a perfect forum for new ideas and new stories. For more information, go to http://www.shanghaifilmfest.org/.

Filming Locations in Shanghai

1) Empire of the Sun (1987)
The seminal Spielberg film about a British family living in Shanghai during the 1940s, Empire of the Sun was shot for several weeks on location in our fine city. As the first American movie to be filmed in Shanghai since the 1940s, the film shut down streets around the Bund and changed signs to traditional Chinese characters for a more authentic appearance. While the scenery has changed since the movie was made, you can head on down to the Bund and see just how much they had to change to give the area that classic feel.

2) Mission Impossible III (2006)
In the third instalment of the overblown action franchise Mission Impossible, you witness Tom Cruise in the streets and on the roofs of Shanghai. This was the first, and seemingly only, American movie to feature the modern Shanghai skyline. While the base-jumping stunt is clearly fake, the flashing lights of Lujiazui and the Pearl Tower are very much real. 

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Keywords: Cinephile’s guide to Shanghai Shanghai International Film Festival movies filmed in Shanghai movie theatres in Shanghai film festivals in Shanghai DVD shops in Shanghai

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