As Sing becomes the “Saint of Gamblers”, he finds a rival in the “King of Gamblers” Mr Hung (Paul Chun, whose birth name is Chiang Chang-nien) after falling in love with one of his henchwomen, Yee-mung (Sharla Cheung Man). Sing fights his way into a prestigious gambling tournament in Hong Kong to prove his skill – and win her hand.
All for the Winner, intended as a parody of the God of Gamblers movie series, was the first movie to make more than HK$40 million at the Hong Kong box office. It was the film that made Chow a star comic actor, thanks to its unpredictable mo lei tau slapstick comedy that would become a trademark of his work.
It also features the earliest of several collaborations between Chow and Ng Man-tat. They were respectively nominated for best actor and best supporting actor at the 10th Hong Kong Film Awards in 1991 for this movie.
2. From Beijing with Love (1994)
This James Bond spoof marked Chow’s debut as a director alongside Lee Lik-chi.
Chow plays a spy named Ling Ling-chat – which sounds the same as “007” in Cantonese – who is sent on a mission to recover a stolen dinosaur skull. Along the way, he meets a woman named Lee Heung-kam (Anita Yuen Wing-yee), who first tries to kill him but ends up teaming up with the spy to fight a mutual enemy.As its Chinese title “The Domestically Produced 007” suggests, this movie is filled with James Bond references. For instance, a mysterious man who interrupts a drinks party is modelled after henchman Jaws from Moonraker, and the villain’s signature weapon is a clear take on the titular weapon in The Man with the Golden Gun.The film shows a glimpse of Chow’s filmmaking bent towards parody and comedy, which would be his biggest asset in later movies.
3. King of Comedy (1999)
A film with a title that perfectly describes his position in the Hong Kong film industry, King of Comedy references plenty of elements from Chow’s early career.
Chow plays Wan Tin-sau, an acting teacher for a community centre who also works as a film extra on the side but is often ridiculed for taking his roles too seriously. Wan is eventually rewarded with a leading role alongside famous actress Sister Cuckoo (Karen Mok) and finds love with one of his students, Piu-piu (Cecilia Cheung Pak-chi).
The plot then veers into spy action territory, with Wan roped into an undercover operation for the police, delivering a hidden gun and listening device under takeaway food. While the operation does not go according to plan, Wan learns a valuable lesson about the true meaning of fame and success.
This movie was the highest-grossing film in Hong Kong during the Lunar New Year period of 1999. Unlike Chow’s other slapstick comedies, it has an element of comedy-drama, showing as it does an aspiring actor experiencing trouble on his way up – just like Chow himself faced in the 1980s.
It also features Jackie Chan, who started his acting career as a movie extra, in a cameo.4. Shaolin Soccer (2001)
Shaolin Soccer is widely regarded as one of the most successful Hong Kong films of all time. It brought Chow international fame and had worldwide ticket sales of US$42.7 million.
The film follows martial artist turned street cleaner Sing, played by Chow, as he struggles to promote Shaolin kung fu’s practical benefits to the general public.
Former football player “Golden Leg” Fung (Ng Man-tat) encourages Sing to achieve his goals through football, motivating him to gather his former Shaolin brothers to participate in a football tournament by using their kung fu skills.
Inspired partly by the hugely popular Japanese manga series Captain Tsubasa, Shaolin Soccer depicted martial arts combined with sport and greatly enhanced by visual effects to produce physics-defying moves. It also promoted the idea that martial arts are primarily for physical and mental development rather than combat.
The film won various awards, including best picture, best director and best actor at the 21st Hong Kong Film Awards in 2002.
5. Kung Fu Hustle (2004)
Chow cemented his international reputation following the success of Shaolin Soccer with Kung Fu Hustle, which grossed a then record-breaking US$104.9 million at the box office.
Set in 1940s Shanghai, the film tells the story of a small-time crook named Sing (Chow), who tries to extort residents of an apartment complex called Pig Sty Alley by masquerading with his sidekick Bone (Lam Chi-chung) as members of the violent Axe gang.
Their actions attract the real Axe gang, led by Brother Sum (Danny Chan Kwok-kwan), who attempt to take over Pig Sty Alley by fighting the residents – who then reveal themselves to be kung fu masters.
Chow draws attention in this film to the spirit of martial arts as a means for self-improvement and defence instead of for simply attacking and defeating opponents.
The movie, a blend of comedy, action and special effects, is one of Chow’s most technically impressive films and shows his passion for martial arts; Chow had wanted to become a martial artist as a child.
Kung Fu Hustle won various awards around the world, including best picture and five other prizes at the 24th Hong Kong Film Awards in 2005.
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