Shu Qi has made 45 movies in a six-year period. Her breakthrough came when Hou Hsiao-hsien cast her in Millenium Mambo as Vicky, a nightclub hostess torn between two men. Millenium Mambo put Shu Qi under the tutelage of director Hou, a serious cinefile who almost single-handedly put Taiwanese art films on the global map. Some of her recent films include For Bad Boys Only, directed by Raymond Yip, Martial Angels, directed by Clarence Fok and Skyline Cruisers, directed by Wilson Yip.

Shu appeared with Jackie Chan in the romantic-comedy Gorgeous and starred in the Hong Kong horror film box-office hit Visible Secret. She currently plays one of the three nubile nymphets who can kick butt as well as curl on mascara in Hong Kong's answer to Charlie's Angels, Virtual Twilight.

Shu Qi has proved her acting credibility by winning the prestigious Golden Horse awards in Taiwan (regarded as the Asian Oscars) for best supporting actress. She has also received a nomination for Best Actress from the Golden Horse Awards.