So we are back with part three and today we will publish from 100th to 51st ranked films. But before we begin please make sure to check our previous parts.
100. The White Storm (2013)
Dir.: Benny Chan
Starring Lau Ching-wan, Louis Koo, Nick Cheung
Benny Chan earned his reputation for being one of Hong Kong's best action film directors of the recent past. This particular piece is certainly an evidence of it.
Highlight: Lau-Koo-Cheung trio
99. Invisible Target (2007)
Dir.: Benny Chan
Starring Nicholas Tse, Shawn Yue, Jaycee Chan
Back-to-back Benny Chan films and well-deserved too if you ask me. It has some incredible fight, chase and stunts, like the ones we used to watch in the glorious times of the industry.
Highlight: Action sequences
98. Made in Hong Kong (1997)
Dir.: Fruit Chan
Starring Sam Lee
One of the most well-known independent films of Hong Kong which is considered as a response to Handover '97 but director Fruit Chan feels that Made in Hong Kong can also be viewed as a character-driven drama that reflects the lifestyle of many young Hong Kong people at the time.
Highlight: Winning Best Picture at 17th Hong Kong Film Awards
97. Cops and Robbers (1979)
Dir.: Alex Cheung
Starring Cheung Kwok-Keung, Wang Chung, Chan Chik-wai
One of the earliest modern gritty crime films of Hong Kong directed by one of the representatives of Hong Kong's New Wave Alex Cheung, about the city where the ordinary citizens have very little trust for the police.
Produced by Teddy Robin who also contributed with the writing with Alex Cheung and two others.
Highlight: Teddy Robin's music
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96. Father and Son (1981)
Dir.: Allen Fong
Starring Shi Lei, Chu Hung
A reimagining version of Ng Wui's 1954 film of the same name as well as a personal film of Allen Fong which focuses on the relationship of an uneducated father who want his son to study well and become successful but his son wants to work in the film industry.
Highlight: Winning Best Picture and Best Director at the first edition of Hong Kong Film Awards
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95. Full Alert (1997)
Dir.: Ringo Lam
Starring Lau Ching-wan, Francis Ng
A Hong Kong cop (Lau Ching-wan) and his crew stakeout an escaped criminal (Francis Ng) to discover the crime he's planning. This film is praised for its well crafted plot, thrill and of course, the action sequences.
Highlight: The action scenes were shot secretly without a shooting permit in the streets of Hong Kong
Dir.: Patrick Yau (read Johnnie To)
Starring Simon Yam, Lau Ching-wan, Yoyo Mung, Ruby Wong, Lam Suet
Another film that is... Just like the title suggests, expect the unexpected. A brutal action film, undoubtedly one of Milkyway Image's best.
Highlight: The climax
93. Burning Paradise (1994)
Dir.: Ringo Lam
Starring Willie Chi, Carman Lee
Another Ringo Lam in the list, this time a box-office failure but highly enjoyable traditional martial arts film mixed with some unusual dark elements.
Highlight: The fight scenes, of course
92. The Longest Summer (1998)
Dir.: Fruit Chan
Starring Tony Ho, Sam Lee
Second part in Fruit Chan's "1997 trilogy", the first part "Made in Hong Kong" was placed at 98th.
This film details the problem faced by a group of disaffected Hong Kong ex-soldiers of the British Army, just before and after the 1997 handover by the People's Republic of China.
Highlight: Handover ceremony scenes
91. Ah Ying (1983)
Dir.: Allen Fong
I want to make a film that reflects our time. Or nobody will know we ever existed
This quote from the film most likely is the explanation of Allen Fong's intention of making this film, hence it felt like a personal experience of the director Allen Fong. Also one of the characters refusing to compromise his script for commercial appeal and protesting against censorship sounds like a very Allen Fong thing, doesn't it?
Highlight: The character "Cheung"
90. Love on Delivery (1994)
Dir.: Stephen Chow, Lee Lik-che
Starring Stephen Chow, Christy Chung, Ng Man-tat
Stephen Chow is a low-key weak delivery boy who falls in love with a beautiful judo student just to get humiliated by the man who is interested in her as well as the girl herself who straightforwardly says she hates pathetic weak men which results in a hilarious ride.
Highlight: Stephen Chow parodying Terminator
89. Dragons Forever (1988)
Dir.: Sammo Hung
Starring Jackie Chan, Yuen Biao, Sammo Hung, Benny Urquidez
Jackie Chan is a high-profile lawyer in this film who asks for help from his best friends, played by Sammo Hung and Yuen Biao who don't get along well with each other.
The first Three Brothers' film in the list and also the last they did together on screen.
Highlight: Yuen Biao shining in the final fight
88. After This Our Exile (2006)
Dir.: Patrick Tam
Starring Aaron Kwok, Charlie Yeung, Kelly Lin
A film, be it good or bad, can never satisfy each and every one of its audience. My only wish is that, upon seeing this film, you will discover something meaningful and memorable. If this film ever touches your heart, I hope it comes not from an excess of sentiment, but a moving experience that endures reflection
Patrick Tam's After this Our Exile (2006) starts with this message from Patrick Tam himself which is his comeback film after 17 years of hiatus and his last full feature till this date, so in short, its the only film he made in last 33 years contributing with directing, writing and editing all himself.
Highlight: Winnin Best Picture both in Hong Kong and Taiwan
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87. The Kid (1999)
Dir.: Jacob Cheung
Starring Leslie Cheung, Carrie Ng, Ti Lung, Qi Qi, Gordon Lam
Leslie Cheung plays the role of a retired fund manager who lost his entire fortune in a financial mishap and was severely depressed until he discovered an abandoned baby and decides to raise him as his own son.
Made to support Hong Kong industry, Leslie Cheung did this film for only 1$ as his gesture to contribute to support the industry.
Highlight: Authenticity
86. Mad Detective (2007)
Dir.: Wai Ka-fai, Johnnie To
Starring Lau Ching-wan, Lam Ka-Tung, Andy On, Kelly Lin
Lau Ching-wan in this film is a gifted retired detective who has the supernatural power of seeing peoples' inner personalities and hidden ghosts which resulted a highly enjoyable quirky crime film.
Highlight: Lau Ching-wan's unusual character traits
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85. Once Upon a Time in China II (1992)
Dir.: Tsui Hark
Starring Jet Li, Rosamund Kwan, Max Mok, Donnie Yen
Second instalment in the series and is even better than the great first part which we placed at 129th in our list and this film notably earned more than the first part in the box-office too which makes it one of the rare Hong Kong films where sequel did better than the prequel.
Highlight: Yuen Woo-ping's award-winning action choreography
84. Fight Back to School (1991)
Dir.: Gordon Chan
Starring Stephen Chow, Ng Man-tat, Sharla Cheung, Turtle Wong, Roy Cheung, Barry Wong
Stephen Chow is on the verge of gettind disqualified from the Royal Hong Kong Police's elite Special Duties Unit but is offered to get admitted in a college instead for an undercover mission.
One of the most charming and genuinely funny Hong Kong comedies you will ever see.
Highlight: Highest-grossing Hong Kong film of that time
83. Millionaires Express (1986)
Dir.: Sammo Hung
Starring Sammo Hung, Yuen Biao, Rosamund Kwan, Kenny Bee, Chin Kar-lok, Chin Siu-ho, Emily Chu, Hsiao Ho, Hwang Jang-lee, Yasuaki Kurata, Phillip Ko, Lam Ching-ying, Billy Lau, Lau Kar-leung, Mang Hoi, Richard Ng, Lydia Shum, Richard Norton, Yukari Ôshima, Cynthia Rothrock, Shih Kien, Jimmy Wang-yu, Bolo Yeung
This ensemble western martial arts film might not be the most popular film of Sammo Hung or Yuen Biao but is certainly one of the deadliest one they did with incredible amount of deadly stunts coming one after another.
Highlight: The stunts
82. Hollywood Hong Kong (2001)
Dir.: Fruit Chan
Starring Zhou Xun, Wong You-nam
Another low-budget film from Fruit Chan which also happens to be his second film in the Prostitute trilogy.
A film with some amazing work of music, acting and camera movement.
Highlight: Surreal and dark humour
81. Still Human (2018)
Dir.: Oliver Siu Kuen Chan
Starring Crisel Consunji, Anthony Wong, Sam Lee
In recent past, Hong Kong did several films which has been praised by both critics and fans for their importance as social commentary, this film is one of the top of this wave.
Highlight: Anthony Wong winning his 3rd Best Actor award after winning his second 20 years ago
80. SPL II: A Time for Consequence (2015)
Dir.: Soi Cheang
Starring Tony Jaa, Wu Jing, Simon Yam, Zhang Jin, Louis Koo
A sequel "in-name-only" to the 2005 film SPL, which was directed by Wilson Yip and starred Donnie Yen, Sammo Hung and Simon Yam.
It was my personal most favorite Hong Kong film of 2010s for the longest part in the decade.
Highlight: Max Zhang
79. Security Unlimited (1981)
Dir.: Michael Hui
Starring Michael Hui, Sam Hui, Ricky Hui
This film written by Michael Hui and Sam Hui about a Hong Kong private security company is like all other classic Michael Hui's films filled with humours and heartwarming moments which was the highest-grossing Hong Kong film of that time. A feat that Michael Hui achieved multiple times.
Highlight: Michael Hui winning Best Actor at the first edition of Hong Kong Film Awards
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78. Mad World (2016)
Dir.: Wong Chun
Starring Shawn Yue, Eric Tsang, Elaine Jin, Charmaine Fong
Inspired by Cagemen which you will eventually see in our list (sorry for the spoiler) is a film about a bipolar patient trying to fit in the society.
Highlight: Shawn Yue's acting
77. Limbo (2021)
Dir.: Soi Cheang
Starring Gordon Lam, Cya Liu, Mason Lee, Hiroyuki Ikeuchi
I remember being so excited for Limbo when it was first announced because Gordon Lam had just won Best Actor Award at 36th HKFA for Trivisa (Placed at 155th in our list) and it sounded incredibly interesting. Some years later, the film finally released and turned out to be the most talked about Hong Kong film of its time.
Highlight: Location and color grading
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76. Painted Faces (1988)
Dir.: Alex Law
Starring Sammo Hung
This is another timeless creation of Alex Law-Mabel Cheung's duo about master Yu Jim-yuen of the China Drama Academy and his extremely strict methods on bringing up his protégés Sammo Hung, Jackie Chan, Yuen Biao etc etc.
Highlight: Sammo Hung winning his second Best Actor award portraying his own master
75. Aces Go Places (1982)
Dir.: Eric Tsang
Starring Karl Maka, Sam Hui
One of the first Hong Kong films set in the modern time featuring action, comedy and stunts. Mainly a James Bond parody about King Kong, a master thief and martial arts expert who is aided by his bumbling sidekick, detective Albert "Baldy" Au.
Highlight: Sam Hui-Karl Maka's chemistry
74. Full Contact (1992)
Dir.: Ringo Lam
Starring Chow Yun-fat, Simon Yam, Anthony Wong, Ann Bridgewater
In order to make a non-political film with a style no one could put a finger on, Ringo Lam ended up making a madness of action which has become a fan favorite.
Highlight: Simon Yam
73. Tiger on Beat (1988)
Dir.: Lau Kar-leung
Starring Chow Yun-fat, Conan Lee, Nina Li, Gordon Liu, Philip Ko, Ti Lung
A top quality action-comedy about two buddy cop who originally hate each other, but learn to overcome their differences in solving a case.
One of Lau Kar-leung's best modern action films.
Highlight: Conan Lee showing his all
72. Crime Story (1993)
Dir.: Kirk Wong, Jackie Chan (uncredited)
Starring Jackie Chan, Kent Cheng, Law Kar-ying, Puishan Au-yeung
Highly regarded as one of Jackie Chan's best serious films as well as one of his best dramatic performances. The film is based on actual events surrounding the 1990 kidnapping of Chinese businessman Teddy Wang.
Highlight: Jackie Chan winning Golden Horse for Best Actor
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71. In the Line of Duty 4 (1988)
Dir.: Yuen Woo-ping
Starring Donnie Yen, Cynthia Khan, Michael Wong
Yuen Woo-ping made an absolute monster of an action film. Incredible amount of action sequences. All world class fight scenes.
This is the 4th part in "In the Line of Duty" series but none has anything to do with others so can be perfectly viewed as standalone.
Highlight: The amount of action sequences
70. Lost in Time (2003)
Dir.: Derek Yee
Starring Lau Ching-wan, Cecilia Cheung, Louis Koo, Daichi Harashima
Siu Wai (Cecilia Cheung) is a young woman who's fiancé (Louis Koo) has been killed in an accident. She takes on her late fiancé's minibus business in order to support his young son.
An emotional dramatic film praised for its simplicity and Derek Yee's direction.
Highlight: Cecilia Cheung winning Best Actress award
69. Nomad (1982)
Dir.: Patrick Tam
Starring Leslie Cheung, Kent Tong, Pat Ha, Cecilia Yip
Nomad is considered as one of the most important Hong Kong New Wave films. It's about the experiences of a group of youngsters who feel lost and try to find the true meaning of life.
Highlight: Leslie Cheung's first noteworthy work as an actor
68. Echoes of the Rainbow (2010)
Dir.: Alex Law
Starring Aarif Rahman, Simon Yam, Sandra Ng, Evelyn Choi, Buzz Chung
A bittersweet film written by Mabel Cheung takes place in 60s British Hong Kong, centering around a middle class family where Simon Yam-Sandra Ng played the role of parents and Aarif Rahman-Buzz Chung siblings.
Highlight: Simon Yam winning Best Actor and Aarif Rahman winning Best New Performer
67. Center Stage (1992)
Dir.: Stanley Kwan
Starring Maggie Cheung, Tony Leung Ka-fai, Carina Lau, Lawrence Ng
The film is based on a true story: the tragic life of China's first prima donna of the silver screen, Ruan Lingy who committed suicide at the age of 24. The film alternates between present scenes (production talks and interviews of people who knew Ruan), re-creation scenes with Maggie Cheung (as Ruan), and scenes from Ruan's original films including her final two films The Goddess and New Women.
Highlight: Interesting presentation of the concept
66. Man on the Brink (1981)
Dir.: Alex Cheung
Starring Ga Lun, Kam Hing-Yin, Eddie Chen
Almost like a character-driven film directed, written and cinematography by Alex Cheung, the center part of the film is the changing nature of an once honest police officer "Ah Chiu" who is pushed to the edge by the system and maybe... By his fate and now he is battling everyday against everything.
Highlight: The perfect ending
65. God of Gamblers (1989)
Dir.: Wong Jing
Starring Chow Yun-fat, Andy Lau, Joey Wong
Ko Chun (Chow Yun-fat) is a world-famous gambler, so renowned and talented at winning various games of chance that he is referred to as the "God of Gamblers". This film was a huge success upon its release, became the highest grossing Hong Kong film of that time, spanned two original sequels and a spin off which had its own trilogy with Stephen Chow (multiple of those already been in our list) and some more spin-offs to spin-offs to another spin-off trilogy with Chow Yun-fat himself. Confused? Well, that's classic Wong Jing for you, squeezing every last drop.
Highlight: Too confused to name any now
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64. Intimates (1997)
Dir.: Jacob Cheung
Starring Charlie Yeung, Carina Lau, Chin Kar-lok, Theresa Lee
I have a good news. Guess what? Another Jacob Cheung film in the list. What a terrific director he is to make a film like this, taking place in 40s where two women fall in love with each other.
Highlight: Not (s)exploiting the relationship
63. Eight Taels of Gold (1989)
Dir.: Mabel Cheung
Starring Sammo Hung, Sylvia Chang
Last instalment of Mabel Cheung's "Migration Trilogy" written by Alex Law which is partly a road film, partly family drama and fully a growing love story. Takes place during China's Cultural Revolution era, entirely centers around Slim's bittersweet homecoming after 16 years of absence.
Highlight: Sammo Hung in one of his best dramatic roles
62. Beast Stalker (2008)
Dir.: Dante Lam
Starring Nicholas Tse, Nick Cheung, Zhang Jingchu, Liu Kai-chi
I was looking for a script like this for a long time
This is what Nicholas Tse had to say about this film and so did I as an audience. The film is about a traffic car accident that changes multiple people's lives forever.
Undoubtedly one of the best Hong Kong crime films of last 15 years.
Highlight: Nick Cheung outshining Nicholas Tse
61. Too Many Ways To Be No.1 (1997)
Dir.: Wai Ka-fai
Starring Lau Ching-wan, Francis Ng
A crazy good film which is fairly weird and requires thorough attention to enjoy properly.
One of the few Milkyway Image crime films that Wai Ka-fai directed without his usual co-director Johnnie To starring two very highly capable actors.
Highlight: The interesting screenplay
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60. City on Fire (1987)
Dir.: Ringo Lam
Starring Chow Yun-fat, Danny Lee, Sun Yueh, Carrie Ng, Roy Cheung
Ringo Lam made quite a few On Fire films and this is the first one making an appearance here.
An undercover cop film with classic Ringo Lam, classic Chow Yun-fat and "un-classic" Danny Lee stuff.
Highlight: Chow Yun-fat winning Best Actor out of the three nominations received and Ringo Lam winning Best Director at 7th Hong Kong Film Awards
59. Kung Fu Hustle (2004)
Dir.: Stephen Chow
Starring Stephen Chow, Eva Huang, Yuen Wah, Yuen Qiu, Danny Chan Kwok-kwan, Leung Siu-lung
After the success of Shaolin Soccer, Stephen Chow had to comeback with something grand which he did with this impressive film which can be seen as a love letter to old-school Shaw Brothers era action films of Hong Kong taking the neighborhood concept from The House of 72 Tenants (placed at 107th in our list) and featuring a number of famous retired actors of the 70s.
Highlight: Highest grossing foreign-language film of 2005 in United States
58. 2046 (2004)
Dir.: Wong Kar-wai
Starring Tony Leung Chiu-wai, Zhang Ziyi, Gong Li, Faye Wong, Maggie Cheung, Dong Jie, Takuya Kimura, Chang Chen
A loose sequel to Days of Being Wild and In the Mood for Love. A science-fiction film that follows the aftermath of Chow Mo-wan's unconsummated affair with Su Li-zhen in 1960s Hong Kong.
Highlight: Tony Leung Chiu-wai playing Chow Mo-wan but with moustache
57. Fist of Legend (1994)
Dir.: Gordon Chan
Starring Jet Li, Chin Siu-ho, Yasuaki Kurata, Shinobu Nakayama, Billy Chau
Seems like we have quite some fan-favourites lined up at this moment.
This remake of Bruce Lee's Fist of Fury (1972) is one of Jet Li's most popular and influential films.
The film is set in the Shanghai International Settlement in 1937 at the beginning of the Second World War as the Imperial Japanese Army are stationed in Shanghai, China.
Highlight: Yuen Woo-ping's choreography
56. Fulltime Killer (2001)
Dir.: Wai Ka-fai, Johnnie To
Starring Andy Lau, Takeshi Sorimachi, Simon Yam, Kelly Lin, La Suet, Cherie Ying
Based on Pang Ho-cheung's novel of the same name about the clash between two assassins played by Andy Lau and Japan's Takeshi Sorimachi.
Highlight: Andy Lau playing a flamboyant assassin
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55. Fallen Angels (1995)
Dir.: Wong Kar-wai
Starring Takeshi Kaneshiro, Michelle Reis, Karen Mok, Leon Lai, Charlie Yeung
Was written as a part of Chungking Express but split into two films due to the length. Wong Kar-wai is finally taking over the list.
Highlight: Takeshi Kaneshiro's character
54. The Midnight After (2014)
Dir.: Fruit Chan
Starring Wong You-nam, Janice Man, Simon Yam, Kara Hui, Lam Suet, Sam Lee
A satirical horror comedy film which is a highly enjoyable atmospheric horror and a metaphor to the society's issues so it might feel empty without having some ideas about Hong Kong's situation but if you do, it's a sure blast.
Highlight: The atmosphere
53. You Shoot, I Shoot (2001)
Dir.: Pang Ho-cheung
Starring Eric Kot, Cheung Tat-ming
I mentioned it before in the previous list that Pang Ho-cheung does surely know how to make quality comedy films and bringing fresh concepts both as a writer and a director.
This black comedy written and directed by him is an evidence of his brilliance. About a professional contract killer, who is requested by his clients to film his killings so he hires an aspiring filmmaker.
Highlight: Pang Ho-cheung's screenplay
52. Police Story II (1988)
Dir.: Jackie Chan
Starring Jackie Chan, Maggie Cheung
A sequel to 1985 hit Police Story, continuing Kevin Chan Ka-kui's storyline played by Jackie Chan. Its not as good as the first part but it's still a solid actioner to get a place this high on the list (did I just give a spoiler that Police Story gonna be higher on the list?).
Highlight: More screentime for Maggie Cheung
51. A Moment of Romance (1990)
Dir.: Benny Chan
Starring Andy Lau, Jacklyn Wu, Ng Man-tat
Late Benny Chan's evergreen classic, one of the most popular Hong Kong romance ever made about a street gangster and a rich man's daughter which is still considered as one of Andy Lau's most iconic works.
Ng Man-tat's notable performance brought him Best Supporting Actor award at 10th Hong Kong Film Awards
Highlight: Beyond's music
Find out what we have on our Top 50.
Tags
Hong Kong