Eat Drink Man Woman (1994): Where to Watch, Cast and Story

Release year: 1994 · Director: Ang Lee · Screenplay: Ang Lee, James Schamus, Hui-Ling Wang · Original title: Yǐn shí nán nǚ · Runtime: 123–124 minutes (sources vary) · Country of origin: Taiwan and United States

Eight facts anchor the rest of this guide, and only the runtime and the premiere date shift with the database you check.

What does “eat, drink, man, woman” mean?

The Chinese title, Yǐn shí nán nǚ in Pinyin, reads literally as food, drink, men and women, according to Wikipedia (encyclopedia entry). The phrase echoes the Book of Rites, a Confucian classic that names food, drink and sexual desire as the things people most want.

• The English title is a translation of the Chinese title, not a separate plot element
• The English subtitle reads as basic human desires that cannot be avoided, according to A Sharper Focus (Norman Holland’s film criticism)

The implication: the English title promises a comedy about appetite, while the Chinese title points to the family table as the film’s real subject.

Where can I watch Eat Drink Man Woman?

Where you can watch the film depends on your country and on the day you check. In the US, rent is $3.99 (HD) or buy is $14.99 (HD) on Apple TV Store, while Tubi TV shows it free with ads and Hoopla offers it free, according to Moviefone (streaming price tracker).

• Australia: Apple TV Store for rent or purchase, and Beamafilm on subscription, according to Flicks.com.au (Australian film guide)

Is Eat Drink Man Woman on Netflix?

• The Netflix title page for the film (ID 60010312) states it is not available to watch in the visitor’s country (Netflix title page, official streaming listing)
• Wikidata records the Netflix ID 60010312 as an inferred distribution reference, not as a confirmed current listing (Wikidata, structured film database)
• Check the title with your region set before you plan a viewing around it

The implication: the streaming question has no verified Netflix answer, so the reliable options are the dated rental and free listings.

Who are the main characters in the movie Eat Drink Man Woman?

Sihung Lung plays Chu, the master chef at the center of the story, and the Los Angeles Times review lists Yang Kuei-mei, Wu Chien-lien and Wang Yu-wen in the cast.

• Chu is a widowed master chef who hosts Sunday dinners, which serve as the family’s forum, according to Alchetron (film encyclopedia)
• Three unmarried daughters each become involved with a new man, which changes the family’s dynamics, according to Alchetron (film encyclopedia)

The implication: the premise carries as much of the story as any single performer, so the three daughters and the Sunday dinners are the parts to watch.

What language is spoken in Eat Drink Man Woman?

The original audio is Mandarin, and Apple TV lists subtitles in English, French and Spanish (Latin America).

Where was Eat Drink Man Woman filmed?

• Filmed on location in Taipei, and as of 2022 it is Lee’s only film shot entirely in Taiwan (Wikipedia, encyclopedia entry)
• IMDb lists Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall Park in Taipei City as a filming location (IMDb, film database)
• The opening sequence, a Sunday lunch preparation, took over a week to film (IMDb trivia (film database))

The catch: IMDb’s single named site is the only filming location the sources confirm, so the full filming map stays open.

What are the reviews like for the movie Eat Drink Man Woman?

Early notices were warm but measured. Jonathan Rosenbaum’s July 1, 1994 review called the film mildly charming and questioned whether its 124-minute running time would wear out its welcome (Jonathan Rosenbaum (film critic’s review)).

The reviews in these sources come from the 1994 release window, so they describe how the film landed then, not how it plays today.

How does Eat Drink Man Woman end?

• The sources gathered for this piece do not describe how the film ends
• Readers who want the resolution will need a full synopsis, which falls outside the sources used here

The catch: the reception sources date from 1994 and the ending is missing, so the reviews show how the film launched rather than how it finishes.

Confirmed facts and open questions

Confirmed facts

• Taiwan premiere on July 2, 1994, according to Plex (streaming guide)
• A Latino-twist remake called Tortilla Soup, according to Plex (streaming guide)

What’s unclear

• Runtime is 123–124 minutes depending on the source (Danish Film Institute, national film database)
• Wikidata reportedly gives a 20 July 1994 start time, which conflicts with the July 2 premiere (Wikidata, structured film database)
• A Best Foreign Language Film Academy Awards nomination, according to Flicks.com.au (Australian film guide), with no official Academy record in the sources gathered here

The catch: the confirmed list is short and the open list is longer, so readers should treat the runtime and the premiere date as checkable rather than settled.

What critics said

By all means see ‘Eat Drink Man Woman,’ but not on an empty stomach.

Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times (1994 film review)

With a running time of 124 minutes, Taiwanese writer-director Ang Lee’s mildly charming 1994 follow-up to The Wedding Banquet may overstay its welcome a bit.

Jonathan Rosenbaum, Jonathan Rosenbaum (film critic’s review)

Eat, drink, man, woman. Basic human desires. Can’t avoid them.

Norman Holland, as quoted by A Sharper Focus (Norman Holland’s film criticism)

The implication: all three quotes return to the food, while only Rosenbaum raises doubts about length, so the pacing question rests on a single review.

What this means for viewers

The listings are the solid part of this story: dated rental and free-with-ads options in the US, and rental or subscription options in Australia. Netflix stays the open question, because its own page ties availability to where you are. The food-first premise is what the sources keep returning to, from the 1994 reviews to the Harvard program notes. Viewers in the US who want the film now should rent it on Apple TV Store or watch it free with ads on Tubi TV, because Netflix cannot be counted on in their country.

Related reading: Winter Spring Summer or Fall: Age Rating & Where to Watch · The Boy in the Striped Pajamas: Ending, Facts & FAQs

Frequently asked questions