Already a superstar in Hong Kong, Bruce Lee exploded on to the international scene with - at the time - a unique blend of comedy and martial-arts action. In the film “Way of the Dragon”, he plays a Hong Kong local taking on the Mafia in Italy as they strong-arm a Chinese restaurant owner. For the third of his Golden Harvest blockbusters Lee took complete control, directing, starring, writing and choreographing the action. The face-off with Chuck Norris - inside the Roman Coliseum - still makes fight fans go weak at the knees. It is the film that first turned Hollywood heads in the direction of Hong Kong.

1978, Drunken Master (starring Jackie Chan)

After Bruce Lee’s death in 1973, Hong Kong kung fu film struggled for a while but was soon revitalized. In 1978, Jackie Chan was cast as the leading actor in “Snake in the Eagle’s Shadow”, and introduced humor into the fighting and plot. Straight after this film, Jackie Chan played the role of Wong Fei Hung, a martial artist in Chinese history, which was a giant hit and cemented his popularity. Although these films were not the first kung fu comedies, they launched a vogue that helped reinvigorate the waning kung fu genre.

1990, Swordsman (produced by Tsui Hark)

The Swordsman is a 1990 Hong Kong wuxia film. King Hu is the director credited, but he is alleged to have left the production, and it was finished by a team led by producer Tsui Hark. It is based on the novel The Smiling, Proud Wanderer by Jin Yong (Louis Cha).

This movie, along with the popular “Once Upon a Time in China” series, helped revitalize the martial arts genre within Hong Kong's film industry. Most converts to HK Cinema are at least familiar with this film's sequels, Swordsman II and Swordsman III: The East is Red, which feature such superstars as Jet Li (II only) and Brigitte Lin (II & III). But it is in the 1990 film Swordsman that the epic story truly begins.

Once Upon a Time in China

1991, Once Upon a Time in China (Jet Li)

It’s a Hong Kong action film co-written and directed by Tsui Hark and starring Jet Li. It is the first of the “Once Upon a Time in China” film series. In this film, Jet Li gets the opportunity to show off his blistering martial-arts skills as he plays Wong Fei Hung, who fought for China's rights against the Western colonial powers moving into China in the late 19th century.

Cops-Versus-Triads films

Police Story

1985, Police Story (directed by and starring Jackie Chan)

“Police Story” is a 1985 Hong Kong action-comedy film directed by and starring Jackie Chan and written by Edward Tang. It is the first of the “Police Story” series featuring Chan as a Hong Kong police detective named "Kevin" Chan Ka-Kui. “Police Story” was a huge success in East Asia and also won the Best Film award at the 1986 Hong Kong Film Awards. According to his book, Chan considers the film his best, in terms of action.

A Better Tomorrow

1986, A Better Tomorrow (directed by John Woo)

“A Better Tomorrow” is a 1986 Hong Kong action film which had a profound influence on the Hong Kong movie-making industry, and later on an international scale.

Directed by John Woo, it stars Chow Yun-Fat, Ti Lung and Leslie Cheung. Although the movie was made with a tight budget and was relatively unknown until it went on screen due to virtually no advertising, it broke Hong Kong's box office record and went on to become a blockbuster in Asian countries. The success also ensured the sequel “A Better Tomorrow 2”, also directed by Woo, and “A Better Tomorrow 3: Love & Death in Saigon”, a prequel directed by producer Tsui Hark. It ranks No. 2 among the Best 100 Chinese Motion Pictures.

Infernal Affairs

2002, Infernal Affairs (directed by Andrew Lau and Alan Mak)

By 2002 - to critics and fans alike - it seemed Hong Kong cinema had explored every imaginable facet of cops-versus-triads intrigue. But Andrew Lau and Alan Mak forged something altogether new with their epic tale of deceit between cops and criminals as they infiltrate each others' worlds. Andy Lau and Tony Leung Chiu-Wai shine in the lead roles. Little wonder Hollywood remade the story, as Martin Scorsese's Oscar-winning The Departed.