If you watch a film closely, you'll see the influence Hong Kong cinema has had on the industry.
From the drama to the action, Hong Kong's film industry has certainly put its mark on modern-day cinema. With little help from the government (as other film industries have enjoyed), the Hong Kong film industry has grown to be one of the largest on Earth, boasting a filmography with some films known to westerners, with other gems not so much.
So, we dove into the Hong Kong filmography to countdown the 10 masterpieces that you may not have seen, but should definitely check out when you have the chance.
10 A Chinese Ghost Story (1987)
Hong Kong cinema really loves to push traditional genres forward, and A Chinese Ghost Story is a prime example of this. Released in 1987, this horror film tells the story of a debt collector who had to spend the night in a haunted temple and was haunted by an array of vengeful ghosts. Leave it to Hong Kong moviemakers to make a horror film out of debt collection.
9 Shaolin Soccer (2001)
Directed by Stephen Chor, Shaolin Soccer is an action-comedy that combined martial arts with soccer. The storyline of the film follows a group of Shaolin students who formed a soccer team that allowed them to use their martial arts skills as an advantage. It may sound like a strange storyline, but it worked really well and is an entertaining watch.
8 Bullet In The Head (1990)
Director John Woo may be known for his modern-day action films such as 1997's Face/Off and 2000's Mission; Impossible 2. Before he came to Hollywood, he worked on his directing craft in Hong Kong, with 1990's Bullet In The Head being one of his best. The film revolves around three friends who escaped Hong Kong to start a life of crime in Saigon, and the film keeps you at the edge of your seat and is entertaining from start to finish.
7 God Of Gamblers (1989)
Movies that revolve around gambling are usually hit-or-miss, but this Hong Kong film rolled the diced and turned up sevens. God of Gamblers combines action with comedy in its storyline, which follows a master gambler who lost his memory and becomes friends with a common street hustler who has a supernatural gambling gift. That's right, this gambling film also bits of sci-fi mixed in.
6 Project A (1983)
Before he becomes one of the hottest action movie stars in Hollywood in the 90s and 2000s, Jackie Chan was long known as a huge star in Hong Kong cinema.
One rather obscure film is one of Chan's best, Project A, the early 80s action flick that has Chan staring as Sergeant Lung, who has to help the Hong Kong navy fight pirates. It may sound unorthodox, but it's a fun film that has plenty of style and action.
5 A Moment Of Romance (1990)
Not all Hong Kong cinema is composed of martial arts and comedy. Hong Kong films can also do drama very well, with one, A Moment of Romance, being a prime example. The drama here is mixed in with the action, but the story, which involves a getaway driver who becomes involved with a hostage after a bank heist, doesn't let the action get in the way of this compelling drama.
4 Kung Fu Hustle (2004)
The 2000s were great for modern-day Kung-Fu films and director Stephen Chow was at the helm for some of the best ones, one of which was Kung Fu Hustle, which tells the story of a gangster who wants to join a notorious gang in 1940s Shanghai. Full of action that doesn't stray into excess, Kung Fu Hustle is a worthy film that should be seen by western action movie lovers.
3 Hard Boiled (1992)
This high-octane action film is another early John Woo classic. Hard Boiled follows a tough, John McClain-like Hong Kong cop who goes undercover to take out a mob boss and his sinister crew. Hard Boiled doesn't relent on the action, and if you can read subtitles, this film is a worthy watch for action fans who loves the "one-man-army" action hero film.
2 Police Story (1985)
Some say that this was the film that launched Jackie Chan to action hero stardom, and it's hard to argue with that assessment when you turn on Police Story.
The mid-80s cop film follows Chan as a Hong Kong cop who has to clear his name after he was framed for the murder of a dirty cop. It's action-packed and pretty suspenseful, and this film can go toe-to-toe with the more famous American cop films of the 80s.
1 Chungking Express (1994)
Many consider this film to be one of the best, if not the best film ever to come out of Hong Kong that was seen by very few westerners. Chungking Express is everything that's great with Hong Kong cinema, with the film containing great drama, fantastic action, and a storyline that draws you in and never lets you go until the end credits. Great acting and pace make Chungking Express a marvelous film that you have to see to appreciate.
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