Once Upon a Time in China (Wong Fei Hung)

  • Rated Not Rated
  • 2hr 14m

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  • Trailer for Once Upon A Time In China

Movie Info & Cast

Director:

Hark Tsui

Writer:

Kai-Chi Yuen, Elsa Tang

Runtime:

2hr 14m

Synopsis

Legendary martial arts hero Wong Fei-Hung fights against foreign forces' plundering of China. When Aunt Yee arrives back from America, Wong Fei-Hung assumes the role of her protector.

Cast

  • Jet Li
  • Biao Yuen
  • Rosamund Kwan
  • Jacky Cheung
  • Kent Cheng
  • Kam-Fai Yuen
  • Shi-Kwan Yen
  • Shun Lau
  • Wu Ma
  • Jianguo Qiu

Letterboxd User Reviews

3.7
34.4K
19.6K
7.9K
RATINGS 64 FANS
3.7
  • Jun 13, 2013

    Arguably the best kung fu film ever made. An epic with five sets. Maybe it takes a bit of knowledge about the historical contexts, and familiarity with the character types (especially Wong Fei-hung himself, a real-life legend, some kind of combination of Robin Hood and…

    482 Likes
    Sean Gilman
    Sean Gilman
    Nov 28, 2020

    how did they figure out the perfect amount of time a shot during a fight scene should last so it feels totally chaotic as a whole but you have exactly enough time to absorb each image and comprehend how insane it is before cutting to the next...and exactly when to slow down…

    284 Likes
    sydney
    sydney
    Aug 26, 2021

    Today, I publicly denounce Jet Li and Tsui Hark for assault and battery. I felt physically attacked by so many subplots.

    234 Likes
    CinemaVoid 🏴‍☠️
    CinemaVoid 🏴‍☠️

  • Writer-producer-director Tsui Hark’s sprawling vision of a changing nineteenth-century China begins with this riotously entertaining epic, a blockbuster hit that cemented Jet Li’s status as the greatest martial-arts superstar of his generation. Li displays his stunning,…

    129 Likes
    Criterion
    Criterion
    Jul 12, 2021

    Tsui Hark's action scenes make me want to stand up off the couch like a great live sporting event, and I think it has to do with a false sense of spontaneity he creates. martial artists can change direction mid-air, the camera will follow, and the cutting makes it seem…

    127 Likes
    eddie
    eddie
    Jul 28, 2017

    Breathtaking. Anyone passionately looking for the true classics of the wu-xia genre should encounter this stylish Hong Kong masterpiece that even gently reminds us of the existentialist beauty of the famous Samurai trilogy by Inagaki combined with the cultural elements of a…

    112 Likes
    Edgar Cochran ✝️🍋
    Edgar Cochran ✝️🍋
  •
    Nov 17, 2015

    I love this movie and all it's broad themes, messy storytelling and endless fight scenes. Tsui Hark taps into a vein of pure cinematic bliss.

    112 Likes
    Justin Decloux
    Justin Decloux
    Feb 7, 2025

    "Nothing in this world is perfect. Virtue is often found among the lowly. First we must make a name for ourselves in Foshan. When that's achieved, then we can talk about justice." - Yim

    91 Likes
    jwoomer93
    jwoomer93
    May 16, 2022

    "Everything is changing. No one knows what we will become." Martial arts movies are always at least a little bit about national identity because of the way martial arts themselves are so inextricably intertwined with Asian culture and history, but Once Upon a Time in China…

    86 Likes
    ScreeningNotes
    ScreeningNotes
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Queue Community Reviews

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👍 LIKE
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Top Reviews
  • RayRay
    RayRay is "meh" on
    Once Upon a Time in China

    Not my thing, didn’t watch much of it but was bored. Not my thing.

    😂 1 2M
    CvptvinHowdy
    CvptvinHowdy loved
    Once Upon a Time in China

    Jet Li is amazing in the role, and his kung fu shines as always. I expected this to be a serious drama, but it's got some levity and an engaging story to follow. I’m always gonna be a sucker for martial arts films.

    1Y
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Frequently Asked Questions

How long is Once Upon a Time in China (Wong Fei Hung)?
The movie is 2hr 14min long.
What's Once Upon a Time in China (Wong Fei Hung) about?
Legendary martial arts hero Wong Fei-Hung fights against foreign forces' plundering of China. When Aunt Yee arrives back from America, Wong Fei-Hung assumes the role of her protector.
Who's the cast of Once Upon a Time in China (Wong Fei Hung)?
  • Jet Li as Wong Fei Hung
  • Biao Yuen as Leung Foon
  • Rosamund Kwan as 13th Aunt
  • Jacky Cheung as Buck Teeth So
  • Kent Cheng as Porky Wing
  • Kam-Fai Yuen as Kai
  • Shi-Kwan Yen as Iron Robe Yim
  • Shun Lau as Naval Commander Lau
  • Wu Ma as Grand-Uncle Cheung
  • Jianguo Qiu as Shaho Gang Leader Tong
Who's the director behind Once Upon a Time in China (Wong Fei Hung)?
Hark Tsui directed Once Upon a Time in China (Wong Fei Hung).