It’s beyond question that Hong Kong filmmakers perfected the fight scene. From the 1970s through today, no one—not even Hollywood—can top the jaw-dropping stunts and awe-inspiring camerawork that are the backbone of any Hong Kong action movie worth its salt. In Hong Kong, fight scenes are an art form in themselves.
After reading R. Emmet Sweeney’s recent Film Comment piece on the best action scenes of the decade, I challenged him to come up with the 25 best Hong Kong fight scenes of the past 25 years, in celebration, of course, of the 25th anniversary of our Made in Hong Kong Film Festival. He did not disappoint. In the list below you’ll find everything from Jackie Chan’s comedic acrobatics to elegant, suspenseful Johnnie To-directed shootouts, and everything in between.
After you’ve gorged yourself on these clips (*not all scenes were available online), join Sweeney and me on Thursday, August 13 at 7 pm for a discussion about what makes a great fight scene. And if you don’t agree with us, we will fight you.
High Risk (aka Meltdown, 1995)
Scene: Hotel lobby shootout in car with flamethrower
Director: Wong Jing, stunt coordinator: Cory Yuen, Tak Yuen
Fox Hunter (1995)
Scene: Shootout in apartment building/rooming house
Director: Stephen Wai Tung, action coordinators: Stephen Wai Tung, Poon Kin-kwan, Kong To-hoi
Thunderbolt (1995)
Scene: Pachinko parlor
Director: Gordon Chan, stunt coordinator: Jackie Chan
Rumble in the Bronx (1995)
Scene: Market fight
Director: Stanley Tong, stunt director: Jackie Chan
The Blade (1995)
Scene: End fight
Director: Tsui Hark, stunt coordinators: Stephen Wai Tung (a.k.a. Wei Tung), Mang Hoi, Yuen Bun
Police Story 4: First Strike (1996)
Scene: Ladder fight
Director: Stanley Tong, stunt coordinator: Stanley Tong
Nice Guy (1997)
Scene: Mall/horse-drawn carriage
Director: Sammo Hung, stunt coordinator: Cho Wing
Full Alert (1997)
Scene: Jockey Club heist
Director: Ringo Lam
A Hero Never Dies (1998)
Scene: Final nightclub shootout
Director: Johnnie To, action director: Yuen Bun
The Mission (1999)
Scene: Mall shootout
Director: Johnnie To, action director: Cheng Ka Sang
Time and Tide (2000)
Scene: Apartment complex shootout
Director: Tsui Hark, stunt coordinator: Xin Xin Xiong (a.k.a. Hung Hung Yan-yan)
Shaolin Soccer (2001)
Scene: Championship match Part 1, Part 2
Director: Stephen Chow, action director: Ching Siu-Tung
Breaking News (2004)
Scene: Opening shot
Director: Johnnie To, stunt coordinator: Yuen Bun
Kung Fu Hustle (2004)
Scene: Stephen Chow vs. Beast and the Axe Gang
Director: Stephen Chow, stunt coordinator: Yuen Woo-ping
Kill Zone (aka SPL, 2005)
Scene: Donnie Yen vs Wu Jing
Director: Wilson Yip, action director: Donnie Yen
Exiled (2006)
Scene: Final shootout
Director: Johnnie To, action choreographers: Ling Chun Pong, Wong Chi Wai
Flash Point (2007)
Scene: Donnie Yen vs Collin Chou
Director: Wilson Yip, action director: Donnie Yen
Red Cliff (2008–09)
Scene: Tortoise shell battle
Director: John Woo, stunt coordinator: Guo Jian Yung
Ip Man (2010)
Scene: Versus ten black belts
Director: Wilson Yip, action director: Sammo Hung
Dragon (aka Wu Xia, 2011)
Scene: Donnie Yen vs Kara Hui
Director: Peter Ho-sun Chan, action director: Donnie Yen
The Grandmaster (2013)
Scene: Brothel fight Tony Leung/Zhang Ziyi
Director: Wong Kar-wai, action choreographer: Yuen Woo-ping
Kung Fu Jungle (aka Kung Fu Killer, 2014)
Scene: Donnie Yen vs. Wang Baoqiang
Director: Teddy Chan, action director: Donnie Yen
Kill Zone 2 (aka SPL 2: A Time for Consequences, 2015)
Scene: Three-way finale Max Zhang/Wu Jing/Tony Jaa
Director: Soi Cheang, action director: Chung Chi Li
Three (2016)
Scene: Slow-motion hospital shootout
Director: Johnnie To
Paradox (2017)
Scene: Tony Jaa Vs Chris Collins
Director: Wilson Yip, action director: Sammo Hung
