Shadow Magic

2000·Movie
1h 56min·PG
65
GoodGoodWatch score

Where to watch

Links go to licensed services. Data from JustWatch and TMDB.

Shadow Magic fingerprint

Strong craft, no humor.

Energy

Tense

Builds slowly, so the intensity comes in waves.

  • Tension7
  • Adrenaline5
  • Fast Pace4

Heart

Nostalgic

  • Nostalgia7
  • Hopefulness6
  • Romance5

Humor

A little humor

Not a comedy at heart.

  • Wit & Wordplay3
  • Situational Comedy2
  • Absurdist Humor2

World

History, show business, and mystery

  • World Immersion7
  • Dialogue Centrality7
  • Rewatchability6

Craft

Solid, not remarkable

  • Intrigue8
  • Direction7
  • Acting7

Style

Functional look and sound

  • Cinematography7
  • Music Composition7
  • Editing6

Who it's for

AdultsDate NightFamily Movie NightFriends NightIntergenerationalKidsPartner WatchPublic Viewing SafeSolo WatchTeensComfort WatchDrop-in FriendlyThought-Provoking

Find more like it

Based on the GoodWatch fingerprint: our scores for 70+ attributes of every movie. Select a row to see all of them.

About

Beijing, 1902: an enterprising young portrait photographer named Liu Jinglun, keen on new technology, befriends a newly-arrived Englishman who's brought projector, camera, and Lumière-brothers' shorts to open the Shadow Magic theater. Liu's work with Wallace brings him conflict with tradition and his father's authority, complicated by his falling in love with Ling, daughter of Lord Tan, star of Beijing's traditional opera. Liu sees movies as his chance to become wealthy and worthy of Ling. When the Shadow Magic pair are invited to show the films to the Empress Dowager, things look good. But, is disaster in the script? And, can movies preserve tradition even as they bring change?
Historical DramaEarly CinemaCultural ClashFamily ConflictForbidden LoveSocial ChangeNostalgicBeijingEarly 20th Century

Crew

Directed by:
Composed by:

Sequels and Prequels

No sequels or prequels available

Media

Questions about Shadow Magic

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream Shadow Magic legally?

Shadow Magic is included with a subscription to Amazon Prime Video and Amazon Prime Video with Ads in the United States. You can watch it free with ads on Pluto TV. You can also rent or buy it from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, and YouTube. All links in Where to Watch go to these licensed services.

Is Shadow Magic worth watching?

65
GoodGoodWatch score

Mostly. It's well received, with a GoodWatch score of 66/100 (IMDb 7.1, Rotten Tomatoes 73%, and Metacritic 90). The GoodWatch score combines critic and audience ratings.

What is Shadow Magic rated?

PG

It's rated PG in the United States.

How long is Shadow Magic?

1 h 56 min

Shadow Magic runs 1 h 56 min.

Do critics and audiences agree on Shadow Magic?

Critics82
Audiences69

Not quite. Critics rate Shadow Magic higher (82) than audiences (69). It may be more rewarding than it is crowd-pleasing.

What language is Shadow Magic in?

ChineseEnglish

It was made in Chinese, with some English. Produced in China, Germany, Taiwan, United States.

In how many countries can I watch Shadow Magic?

2CAUS

GoodWatch finds legal streaming, rental, or purchase options for Shadow Magic in 2 countries. Pick any of them in Where to Watch to see the local services.

HomeDiscoverMoviesShows