Best Hongkonger history movies
A curated collection of popular history movies from Hong Kong.
Men Behind the Sun (1988)
Men Behind the Sun (1988)
The film is a graphic depiction of the war atrocities committed by the Japanese at Unit 731, the secret biological weapons experimentation unit of the Imperial Japanese Army during World War II. The film details the various cruel medical experiments Unit 731 inflicted upon the Chinese and Soviet prisoners at the tail-end of the war.
Black Sun: The Nanking Massacre (1995)
Black Sun: The Nanking Massacre (1995)
Black Sun: The Nanking Massacre depicts the brutal events behind the Nanking Massacre committed by the Imperial Japanese army against the Chinese people during the Second Sino-Japanese War.
Kawashima Yoshiko (1990)
Kawashima Yoshiko (1990)
This film is based on the life of Kawashima Yoshiko, originally Manchu princess who was the 14th daughter of Emperor Xu, later brought up as a Japanese and served as a spy in the service of the Japanese Kwantung Army and Manchukuo during the Second World War.
Christmas at the Royal Hotel (2019)
Christmas at the Royal Hotel (2019)
In 1941, Hong Kong was the Casablanca of the East, a city full of war refugees, profiteers and spies. With the sudden attack by Japanese troops, a Canadian soldier's Christmas promise is broken during the Battle of Hong Kong.
Seven Magnificent Kung Fu Kids (1980)
Seven Magnificent Kung Fu Kids (1980)
The kung-fu kids return to stop an evil dictator.
The 72 Martyrs of Canton (1954)
The 72 Martyrs of Canton (1954)
The film was filmed for Chiang Kai-shek's re-election of the president. The history teacher introduced the origin of the Youth Festival to the students: Fujian Lin Juemin left his wife and went to Spike to engage in revolutionary work; Guangxi Wei Yiting took the uprising with the master Li Deshan, Sichuan Yu Peirun and Pei’s brothers fought in the righteousness, and a total of 72 martyrs uprising under the leadership of Huang Keqiang , determined to overthrow the full Qing
Princess Yang Kwei Fei (1955)
Princess Yang Kwei Fei (1955)
In eighth century China, the Emperor is grieving over the death of his wife. The Yang family wants to provide the Emperor with a consort so that they may consolidate their influence over the court. General An Lushan finds a distant relative working in their kitchen whom they groom to present to the Emperor. The Emperor falls in love with her and she becomes the Princess Yang Kwei-fei. The Yangs are then appointed important ministers, though An Lushan is not given the court position he covets. The ministers misuse their power so much that there is a popular revolt against the Yangs, fueled by An Lushan.
The Butterfly Chalice (1965)
The Butterfly Chalice (1965)
The story revolves around Tian Yu Quan (Chin Feng) who rushes to the aid of an elderly fisherman who is bullied by an arrogant relative of the Qiu Shan ministry. In the heat of the ensuing battle he kills the said man and is hence chased by the district's officials. Trying to use the waterway to shake off his enemies, Yu Quan finds a true friend in the old fisherman's bark-stearing daughter, Hu Feng Lian (Ting Hung) who becomes his loyal accomplice. As symbol for his gratitude, Yu Quan bestows Feng Lian with a Butterfly Chalice to reflect their eternal friendship bond...
The Story of Qin Xiang-Lian (1964)
The Story of Qin Xiang-Lian (1964)
The Story of Qin Xiang-Lian is a Hong Kong Chinese Opera musical starring Jackie Chan in a child role.
Come Haunt with Me (1971)
Come Haunt with Me (1971)
A mix of supernatural tone, comedic banter and nudity with musical numbers, it takes a while before this story of two scholars being courted and haunted by both, fox spirits and malicious ghosts, gets started. Do the scholars side with the fox spirits, trying to achieve immortality or are they being bewitched by it? It leads to a wild ending with a battle between humans, fox spirits and ghosts that seems more like a Halloween costume showcase than anything else.
Anita (2021)
Anita (2021)
This long-awaited biopic provides a vivid account of the remarkable life of Anita Mui in and behind the limelight, chronicling her journey from a child performer to becoming one of world's most recognized music icons.
The Dream of the Red Chamber (1962)
The Dream of the Red Chamber (1962)
The Ching Dynasty novel The Dream of The Red Chamber is not only the most widely read, but also the most filmed book in Chinese history. The sprawling love story has proven a challenge to many filmmakers, but this version is acclaimed as the most successful. A sumptuous feature which took three years of planning and another for production, it was a hugely popular and critical hit which still stands out as a classic of both 18th century literature and 1960s moviemaking.
House of the Rising Sons (2018)
House of the Rising Sons (2018)
The musical biography of the 1970s Hong Kong rock band The Wynners. Starting with their humble beginnings as band causing noise in the neighborhood, through to their career of massive stars throughout Asia.
Inside the Forbidden City (1965)
Inside the Forbidden City (1965)
It seems that Li Zhenfei was once an imperial concubine, who often found herself competing with her rival Madame Liu for the emperor's sole, undivided attention. When Li gives birth to the Emperor's child, the jealous Liu switches the boy with a cat and commands a servant named Kou Zhu to kill the baby. However, Kou Zhu ignores the order and gives the prince-to-be to the emperor's brother, a decision which eventually leads to the boy being adopted by the emperor himself! But as fate would have it, to go along with his new son, the emperor has a new wife as well - Madame Liu! As this strange new family unit is being constructed, poor Li Zhenfei has been confined to the forbidden palace, condemned to never see or speak to her son, the prince. But destiny reunites her with her son, but will this family reunion be a happy one? And will Madame Liu finally be punished for her treachery?
The Amorous Lotus Pan (1964)
The Amorous Lotus Pan (1964)
A woman in an arranged marriage falls in love with her husband's brother.
A Dream of Red Mansions (1962)
A Dream of Red Mansions (1962)
A musical adaptation of 'Dream of the Red Chamber'
The Story of Heroine Fan Lei-fa (1968)
The Story of Heroine Fan Lei-fa (1968)
Centring on the legend of the four ancient Chinese heroines, the film was a novelty for audiences at the time, as the singing performance was in Cantonese and used huangmei operatic rhythms—a popular trend in the 1960s, yet it retained traditional flavours by using operatic luogu percussion in the battle scenes. ‘Movie-fan princess' Connie Chan Po-chu not only sings Cantonese song and huangmei tone solos in the film, she also wows the audience by taking up the doumadanrole for the first time as the Tang dynasty female general Fan Lei-fa, showing off her superb operatic martial skills, together with Shum Chi-wah, inherited from Peking opera master Fen Ju Hua. Yu Kai's weaponry prowess and renowned female comedian Tam Lan-hing cross-dressing as a male general are also brilliant in this gem.
The Peach Blossom Fan (1961)
The Peach Blossom Fan (1961)
A Shaw Brothers Chinese Opera based on the Qing dynasty musical play that recounts the death of the Ming dynasty through the love story of its two main characters, young scholar Hou Fangyu and a courtesan named Li Xiangjun.
The Grand Substitution (1965)
The Grand Substitution (1965)
With China under control of a weak Emperor, two officials compete to steer the future destiny of the land. Chiu believes the people are the future of China, while the diabolical Tu wishes to grind the people beneath an iron heel. Tu decides to take out Chiu's family, but one lone infant escapes.
Lover of the Last Empress (1995)
Lover of the Last Empress (1995)
The story of an innocent girl who is destined to become one of the emperor´s concubines. Initially she suffers from a loss of innocence and the intrigues of the other concubines but over the course of time she becomes less and less scrupulous and finally is impregnated by the emperor and thus becomes his wife - the empress of China. However, her "career" has corrupted her once innocent soul and so, after the emperor dies she rules the land with terror.
The Heroic Ones (1970)
The Heroic Ones (1970)
A Mogul king decides to take stealthy action to help overpower his greatest rivals. He chooses nine out thirteen of his loyal generals to embark on the mission. However, jealously amongst them sparks a treacherous family feud that could lead to catastrophic consequences for all involved.
Queen of Underworld (1991)
Queen of Underworld (1991)
Popular Hong Kong actress Amy Yip plays Sister Har -- a seminal figure in 1960s and '70s Hong Kong nightlife -- in this biographical film that follows the scenester's rise and fall from the upper echelons of society to the glamour and excess of Hong Kong's teeming underworld. A truly fascinating portrait of the allure and excess that were part of the fabric of Asia's favorite playground.
Not Scared to Die (1973)
Heroes Two (1974)
Heroes Two (1974)
A band of fighting Ming Dynasty loyalists branded as enemies of the state are driven underground following the burning of the Shaolin Temple by Qing Dynasty officials. Due to a misunderstanding, Shaolin kung fu prodigy Fong Sai-yuk is duped into helping Qing agents to capture leading Shaolin rebel Hung Hei-gun. Upon discovering his mistake, Sai-yuk teams up with the remaining rebels to free Hei-gun before his planned execution. Plotting to stop them is General Che Kang, a formidable Tibetan kung fu master who commands an army of fighters including four deadly Tibetan llamas.
Weeds on Fire (2016)
Weeds on Fire (2016)
Inspired by the true story of Hong Kong’s first teenage baseball team. In the 1980s, two childhood friends join the Shatin Martins, a Band 3 school baseball team managed by the school principal. From these humble beginnings, the boys experience camaraderie, fall in love and make fateful decisions that resonate throughout their lives amid a changing Hong Kong and its sporting world.
The Soong Sisters (1997)
The Soong Sisters (1997)
The Soong family was a political dynasty in China that reached the highest levels of power. This film follows the lives of the three Soong daughters, who were educated in America and returned to China. Ai-ling married a wealthy and powerful businessman. Ching-ling married Sun Yat-sen, the revolutionary founder of modern China. Mei-ling married Chiang Kai-shek, China's leader during World War II. The sisters captured the world's fascination for their brilliant marriages and their strong influence on their nation.
Stranger from Shaolin (1977)
Stranger from Shaolin (1977)
When her entire family is killed by the occupying Manchus, Yin Wing Chun narrowly escapes to Shaolin temple.