Year: 1976
Runtime: 123 min
Language: Chinese
Director: Elia Kazan
Set in 1930s Shanghai, this film follows Cheng Daqi’s rise to power within the city’s criminal underworld. As he establishes himself as a dominant gangster, his ambition leads him into a complex situation involving forbidden romance and dangerous betrayals. Cheng’s ruthless pursuit of power ultimately results in a dramatic and devastating downfall.
Get a spoiler-free look at The Last Tycoon (1976) with a clear plot overview that covers the setting, main characters, and story premise—without revealing key twists or the ending. Perfect for deciding if this film is your next watch.
In the glittering yet cut‑throat world of 1930s Hollywood, the studio system looms like a grand, humming machine—glamorous facades masking relentless pressure, whispered negotiations, and the ever‑present clash between art and profit. The atmosphere crackles with the optimism of the Golden Age, even as shadows of change and uncertainty gather at the edges of sound stages and back‑lot alleys.
Monroe Stahr is the film’s central figure, a young production chief whose sharp eye and boundless imagination have already made him one of the studio’s most promising architects of cinema. Driven by a restless ambition to craft stories that matter, he navigates a landscape crowded with powerful personalities, from seasoned veterans to rising talents, each pulling him in different directions. His talent for spotting brilliance is matched only by his struggle to reconcile personal desire with the demands of a business that values box‑office returns as much as creative integrity.
Around him swirl a cast of compelling figures: Pat Brady, an older producer whose hunger for recognition collides with Stahr’s vision; Cecilia Brady, Pat’s bright‑eyed daughter whose presence hints at both familial expectation and fresh perspective; Kathleen Moore, an Anglo‑Irish actress whose magnetism complicates Stahr’s already tangled emotional life; George Boxley, a literary mind wrestling with the notion that cinema might be beneath his art; and Brimmer, a labor organizer whose ideals challenge the studio’s power structures. These relationships hint at forbidden romances, ideological confrontations, and the delicate dance of loyalty and ambition.
The tone remains lush and introspective, inviting the viewer into a world where every polished surface conceals a deeper current of yearning, competition, and impending transformation. As the studio’s glittering façade shimmers under the studio lights, Monroe Stahr finds himself poised on the brink of choices that could define his legacy—or unravel it—leaving the audience curious about how the delicate balance of dreams, power, and personal cost will play out.
Last Updated: December 04, 2025 at 18:07
Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.
Stories of powerful individuals undone by their own ambition and romantic losses.If you liked the melancholic story of Cheng Daqi's rise and fall in The Last Tycoon, explore other movies like it. These dramas follow charismatic, ambitious figures whose personal flaws, forbidden loves, and fatal choices lead to a poignant and tragic downfall, blending personal drama with a sense of a bygone era.
The narrative follows an arc of ascent to power, often within a specific world like business or the arts, followed by a gradual unraveling. The downfall is typically driven by a combination of hubris, a doomed romantic entanglement, and the shifting tides of the times, culminating in a somber and reflective ending.
Movies in this thread are grouped by their shared focus on a melancholic tone, a slow, deliberate pacing that allows for character introspection, and a central narrative of a powerful individual's tragic arc. They create a similar feeling of witnessing a grand, yet deeply personal, collapse.
Atmospheric stories that mournfully capture the end of a glittering era.For viewers who appreciated the nostalgic, grim atmosphere of 1930s Shanghai in The Last Tycoon, this list highlights similar movies. Discover other slow-burn period dramas that capture the romantic regret and elegiac feeling of a beautiful world in decline, focusing on mood over fast-paced action.
These stories often unfold in a linear but unhurried manner, prioritizing mood, setting, and character introspection over complex plotting. The central conflict is often against the inevitability of change itself, with the narrative serving as a poignant elegy for a lost way of life or a golden age.
These films share a cohesive vibe defined by a melancholic and nostalgic tone, a slow and atmospheric pacing, and a medium emotional weight. They are united by their ability to make the viewer feel a deep sense of longing and contemplation for a beautifully realized past.
Don't stop at just watching — explore The Last Tycoon in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what The Last Tycoon is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.
Read a complete plot summary of The Last Tycoon, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.
Track the full timeline of The Last Tycoon with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.
Discover the characters, locations, and core themes that shape The Last Tycoon. Get insights into symbolic elements, setting significance, and deeper narrative meaning — ideal for thematic analysis and movie breakdowns.
Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about The Last Tycoon: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.
Discover movies like The Last Tycoon that share similar genres, themes, and storytelling elements. Whether you’re drawn to the atmosphere, character arcs, or plot structure, these curated recommendations will help you explore more films you’ll love.
The Last Tycoon (1976) Scene-by-Scene Movie Timeline
The Last Tycoon (1976) Movie Characters, Themes & Settings
The Last Tycoon (1976) Spoiler-Free Summary & Key Flow
Movies Like The Last Tycoon – Similar Titles You’ll Enjoy
Last Tango in Paris (1973) Complete Plot Breakdown
Shanghai Triad (1995) Film Overview & Timeline
The Last Time (2007) Film Overview & Timeline
Da wan (2003) Complete Plot Breakdown
Year of the Dragon (1985) Film Overview & Timeline
The Last Son (2021) Spoiler-Packed Plot Recap
The Last Producer (2000) Spoiler-Packed Plot Recap
Last Affair (1983) Full Summary & Key Details
The Shanghai Gesture (1941) Full Summary & Key Details
Tycoon (1947) Detailed Story Recap
The Last Good Time (1994) Plot Summary & Ending Explained
Leo the Last (1970) Full Summary & Key Details
The Last Edition (1925) Full Movie Breakdown
The Last Gangster (1937) Complete Plot Breakdown
The Last Woman of Shang (1964) Film Overview & Timeline