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Catalog/Action/Once Upon a Time in China
Once Upon a Time in China poster
A
Excellent
MASTER SCORE 81.9 / 100
1991·Action / Drama·2h 14m

ONCE UPON A TIME IN CHINA

“Never was a Hero needed more...”

In late 19th-century Canton, legendary hero Wong Fei-Hung battles foreign forces' (English, French and American) plundering of China. When Aunt Yee returns from America totally westernised, Wong assumes the role of protector. This proves difficult when his martial arts school and local militia become involved in fierce battles with foreign and local governments. As violence escalates, even Aunt Yee has to question her new western ideals, but is it possible to fight guns with Kung Fu?

Above the Line
Hark Tsui·DirectorEdward Leung Yiu-Ming·WriterElsa Tang Bik-Yin·WriterArthur Wong Ngok-Tai·Director of PhotographyRomeo Díaz·Original Music ComposerMarco Mak Chi-Sin·Editor
Cast
Jet Li·Wong Fei HungYuen Biao·Leung FoonJacky Cheung Hok-Yau·Buck Teeth SoRosamund Kwan Chi-Lam·13th AuntKent Cheng Jak-Si·Porky WingYuen Gam-Fai·Ling Wan KaiYen Shi-Kwan·Iron Robe Yim Chun TungLau Shun·Naval Commander LauWu Ma·Grand Uncle ChuengYau Gin-Gwok·Shaho Gang Leader
Full Crew
(15 credits)
Directing· 1
Tsui Hark·Director
Writing· 4
Edward Leung Yiu-Ming·WriterElsa Tang Bik-Yin·WriterTsui Hark·WriterYuen Kai-Chi·Writer
Camera· 5
Arthur Wong Ngok-Tai·Director of PhotographyAndy Lam Kwok-Wah·Director of PhotographyWilson Chan Pui-Ka·Director of PhotographyDavid Chung·Director of PhotographyBill Wong Chung-Piu·Director of Photography
Editing· 1
Marco Mak Chi-Sin·Editor
Sound & Music· 2
Romeo Díaz·Original Music ComposerJames Wong Jim·Original Music Composer
Production· 2
Tsui Hark·ProducerRaymond Chow·Producer
By the Numbers
81.9
OF 100
Master Score
7.2
OF 10
IMDb
—
CRITICS
Rotten Tomatoes
$4M
Worldwide Gross
0
Oscar Wins
Where to Watch

THE AVAILABILITY MAP

The canonical record of where this film lives across the streaming map.

Provider Index In Progress

Streaming, rental, and purchase availability for this title is being ingested from the TMDB watch-providers feed and will appear here once the next catalog refresh runs. Until then, the canonical source links below remain the fastest route.

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Poster DNA

THE VISUAL DECONSTRUCTION

A bespoke vision agent's reading of the design language behind Once Upon a Time in China's key art.

Dominant Palette
3 colors
#993300
#FFFFFF
#CC6600
Mood
Heroic, Intense, Traditional
Composition
Centered
Era
1990s
Visual Style
Photographic

“A man with a shaved head and a queue stands centrally, wearing a white traditional Chinese tunic with brown frog closures. His hands are positioned in a martial”

actionmartial arts
Key Elements
Traditional Chinese Tunic
Atmosphere
Vibrant, Warm, Golden
Color Mood
Warm
Setting
Abstract
Design Score
7/10
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THE NEIGHBORHOOD

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THREE WAYS DEEPER

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