It also enjoyed a wide release around the world. Audiences in Asia flocked to see the film - counting for a majority of the US$44 million taken outside of the US. The film stands as one of the highest box office performers of the year in Taiwan, Hong Kong and Mainland China. Ang Lee is quoted by Variety as saying "I've never before known a Chinese movie that's well liked in all three major parts of China" -- despite the fact that the Mainland version had most of the steamy scenes cut, as China has no rating system and all films must essentially be 'G-rated'.
In the US however, where the film got an 'NC-17', the situation was different. The film only took in US$4.4 million, a sharp drop from Lee's previous films 'Brokeback Mountain' and 'Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon'. The erotic sex and Venice buzz was not enough to win over US audiences. According to Lee: "Even the most favorable reviews (in the U.S.) say the movie is too slow. But from the Chinese audience, the biggest complaint was that it happened too quick." Lee says he didn't anticipate the difference in taste would be as large as it was.