If you are a big Asian cinema fan, chances are you have heard of Stephen Chow. He made the ever-creative Kung Fu Hustle, Shaolin Soccer, and Journey to the West among other side-splitting movies. Hailing from Hong Kong, Stephen Chow is an actor/writer/director that has been making movies since the late 80’s. His movies are known to be over-the-top and usually include a musical number. He has appeared in over forty movies in his career, and has won numerous awards both local and internationally for his box office hits.
If you haven’t seen any Stephen Chow movies, here are five films to start you on your hilarious journey.
Which one is your favorite? Let me know in the comments below!
1. King of Beggars
What’s It About: So Chan is spoiled. He is the wealthy son of a general in Canton. The only thing he excels at is martial arts. One day, he visits a brothel and falls in love with a prositute named Yu-Shang. So Chan discovers another man also has eyes on Yu-Shang. She tells both of them in order to win her love, they must enter a martial arts competition and win the title of champion. After discovering So Chan cheated in the competition, the King takes his family’s money and banishes them to be beggars for the rest of their lives. So Chan wants to redeem his family’s name and win the love of his life hand in marriage. Will he be successful?
Starring: Stephen Chow, Man Cheung, Ng Man-Tat
Where To Watch: Google Play Movies & TV
Watch The Trailer Here:
2. God of Cookery
What’s It About: Chow is a corrupt celebrity chef that knows very little about cooking. He runs a successful business and is willing to sell any product for a price. Bull Tong is a jealous chef that reveals Chow to be a fraud. Chow loses his entire empire to Tong. The former chef vows to get back on top as the God of Cookery and challenges his rival to declare it once and for all.
Starring: Stephen Chow, Karen Mok, Vincent Kok
Where To Watch: Currently Unavailable For Streaming In U.S.
Watch The Trailer Here:
3. Flirting Scholar
What’s It About: During the Ming Dynasty there are four scholars known for their literary and artistic skills. Tong Pak Fu is the most famous. All of his wives are unappreciative of his artistic skills and gamble away most of his money. Tong decides to find a wife that can truly appreciate his strengths. He decides to dress up as a house boy and work for the Wah household. While working the hard life as a servant, Tong meets Chow Heung, a maid also working in the household. He decides to pursue to girl that has stolen his heart.
Starring: Stephen Chow, Gong Li, Yammie Lam
Where To Watch: Available on DVD on Amazon
Watch The Trailer Here:
4. Justice, My Foot
What’s It About: Sung Sai Kit is the best lawyer in Southeast China. His family lives a comfortable life because of him always winning cases by any means necessary. Sung’s family is plagued by their son’s not living past the age of one. After his thirteenth son dies, Sung decides to retire from law and pursue a different career. He opens an inn in the middle of town and a tea stand on the outskirts. Soon boredom take hold of Sung and he finds himself involved in a murder case and having to go against the corrupt magistrate trying to bury the truth.
Starring: Stephen Chow, Anita Mui, Ng Man,Tat
Where To Watch: iQiyi, Google Play Movies & TV, Apple TV
Watch The Trailer Here:
5. The Mad Monk
What’s It About: Dragon Fighter Lohan must face the Jade Emperor after pranking the gods in Heaven. While there, Dragon rebukes the gods by saying he can do a better job than they can. As he is about to be banished as an animal, the Bodhisattva intervenes and saves Dragon. The Jade Emperor tells Dragon he must changes the fates of three people: a beggar, a prostitute and a villian in three days. Dragon accepts the challenge. He comes to Earth as a mortal and ultimately fights a demon to stave off hell on Earth.
Starring: Stephen Chow, Maggie Cheung, Ng Man-Tat
Where To Watch: Google Play Movies & TV, Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV
Watch The Trailer Here:
