Yun-Fat Chow

Biography

The Hong Kong actor and filmmaker Chow Yun-fat has appeared in more than 100 television dramas and films across a career of over forty-five years. Born in Hong Kong in 1955, he joined TVB's actor training program in 1973 and came to fame in television series including The Good, the Bad and the Ugly and The Bund. A Better Tomorrow (1986), his first collaboration with John Woo, made him a star in Asia and brought him his first Hong Kong Film Award for Best Actor. He went on to heroic bloodshed films such as The Killer (1989) and Hard Boiled (1992), and won a second Best Actor award for City on Fire. His later credits include his Hollywood debut, The Replacement Killers (1998), and Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000), which earned him a Best Actor nomination at the Saturn Awards, as well as Curse of the Golden Flower (2006) and Project Gutenberg (2018).

71years old

Turns 72 on May 18in 217 days

Born May 18, 1955Hong Kong
Star sign: TaurusThe sign runs April 20 to May 20

Movie Career

Films: 42
Career span: 44 years1981 to 2025

Genres

Action64%, 27 films
Drama62%, 26 films
Crime43%, 18 films
Comedy29%, 12 films
Romance14%, 6 films

First and latest

Did you know?!

First role
Chow Yun-fat got his start in 1973 at age 18 by answering a newspaper ad for TVB's actor training program, then signed a three-year contract after a year of training.
Big break
Chow Yun-fat became a megastar after teaming with director John Woo on the 1986 gangster film A Better Tomorrow, which swept Asian box offices. The role brought him his first Hong Kong Film Awards Best Actor honor, and he then quit TV entirely.
A first
Chow Yun-fat had never acted in a mainland Chinese film until 2004, when he turned up unexpectedly in Waiting Alone, a Chinese rom-com directed by Dayyan Eng.
Behind the award
In 2023, Chow Yun-fat was named Asian Filmmaker of the Year at the 28th Busan International Film Awards. He was the second Hong Kong actor to receive the honor, following Tony Leung.

Yun-Fat Chow movies on Netflix

Detective Chinatown 19002025IMDb rating 6.0as Bai Xuanling
The Monkey King: The Legend Begins2022IMDb rating 5.4as Jade Emperor
Project Gutenberg2018IMDb rating 6.8as Painter
Cold War II2016IMDb rating 6.6as Oswald S. Kan S C
From Vegas to Macau2014IMDb rating 4.9as Ken (Shek Yat-kin)
The Monkey King2014IMDb rating 4.9as Jade Emperor
The Assassins2012IMDb rating 5.5as Chancellor Cao Cao
Beginning of the Great Revival2011IMDb rating 3.1as Yuan Shikai
Confucius2010IMDb rating 6.1as Confucius
Let the Bullets Fly2010IMDb rating 7.3as Master Huang
Shanghai2010IMDb rating 6.3as Anthony Lan-Ting
Dragonball: Evolution2009IMDb rating 2.5as Roshi
The Children of Huang Shi2008IMDb rating 7.0as Jack (Chen Hansheng)
Curse of the Golden Flower2006IMDb rating 7.0as Emperor Ping
Bulletproof Monk2003IMDb rating 5.5as Monk With No Name
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon2000IMDb rating 7.8as Master Li Mu Bai
Anna and the King1999IMDb rating 6.7as King Mongkut
The Corruptor1999IMDb rating 6.1as Nick Chen
The Replacement Killers1998IMDb rating 6.1as John Lee
Legend of God of Gamblers1996IMDb rating 6.2as Ko Chun / 'The God of Gamblers'
The Return of the God of Gamblers1994IMDb rating 6.7as Ko Chun / 'The God of Gamblers'
Full Contact1992IMDb rating 7.1as Gou Fei
Hard Boiled1992IMDb rating 7.7as Insp. 'Tequila' Yuen
Once a Thief1991IMDb rating 6.7as Red Bean Pudding (Joe)
Prison on Fire II1991IMDb rating 6.7as Chung Tin Ching
A Better Tomorrow III: Love and Death in Saigon1989IMDb rating 5.9as Mark Gor
All About Ah-Long1989IMDb rating 7.2as Ah Long
God of Gamblers1989IMDb rating 7.2as Ko Chun / 'The God of Gamblers'
The Killer1989IMDb rating 7.7as Ah Jong
Triads: The Inside Story1989IMDb rating 5.9as Li Man-Ho(Chow Yun Fat)
The Eighth Happiness1988IMDb rating 6.3as Fang Chien Lang / Fong Kim Long
Tiger on the Beat1988IMDb rating 6.9as Sgt. Francis Li(Chow Yun Fat)
A Better Tomorrow II1987IMDb rating 7.1as Ken / Mark Lee / Mark 'Gor'
Flaming Brothers1987IMDb rating 6.3as Chang Ho-Tien(Chow Yun Fat)
Prison on Fire1987IMDb rating 7.2as Chung Tin Ching
The Romancing Star1987IMDb rating 6.1as Wong Yat Fat
A Better Tomorrow1986IMDb rating 7.4as Mark
A Hearty Response1986IMDb rating 6.0as Ho Ting-Bon
Love Unto Wastes1986IMDb rating 6.7as Detective Lam Chun-Keung
The Seventh Curse1986IMDb rating 6.7as Wei
The Head Hunter1982IMDb rating 4.2as Nguyen Dich(Chow Yun Fat)
The Executor1981IMDb rating 4.0as Ng Tao

Best known for

The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.

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Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon2000 Action, Drama, Romanceas Master Li Mu Bai
IMDb rating 7.8297K votes
Dragonball: Evolution2009 Action, Adventure, Fantasyas Roshi
IMDb rating 2.586K votes
Hard Boiled1992as Insp. 'Tequila' Yuen
IMDb rating 7.761K votes
The Killer1989as Ah Jong
IMDb rating 7.756K votes
Bulletproof Monk2003as Monk With No Name
IMDb rating 5.553K votes
Curse of the Golden Flower2006as Emperor Ping
IMDb rating 7.048K votes
The Replacement Killers1998as John Lee
IMDb rating 6.132K votes
Anna and the King1999as King Mongkut
IMDb rating 6.741K votes

Most often with

John Woo directed five of these films, Jing Wong five and Ringo Lam three. Kenneth Tsang appears in six of them, more than any other actor. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.

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Kenneth Tsang

Tony Leung Ka-fai

Aaron Kwok Fu-Shing

Philip Chan

Fui-On Shing

Tony Ka Fai Leung

John WooDirector, 5 films

Jing WongDirector, 5 films Ringo LamDirector, 3 films

Films together

Kenneth Tsang6 films together, 1986 to 1998
Kenneth Tsang's page
- The Replacement Killers1998IMDb rating 6.1Chow as John LeeTsang as Terence Wei
- Once a Thief1991IMDb rating 6.7Chow as Red Bean Pudding (Joe)Tsang as Chow (Father)
- The Killer1989IMDb rating 7.7Chow as Ah JongTsang as Sgt. Tsang Yeh
- Triads: The Inside Story1989IMDb rating 5.9Chow as Li Man-Ho(Chow Yun Fat)Tsang as Sergeant Chan Tin-Lok
- A Better Tomorrow II1987IMDb rating 7.1Chow as Ken / Mark Lee / Mark 'Gor'Tsang as Uncle Ken
- A Better Tomorrow1986IMDb rating 7.4Chow as MarkTsang as Ken
Tony Leung Ka-fai5 films together, 1987 to 2016
Tony Leung Ka-fai's page
- Cold War II2016IMDb rating 6.6Chow as Oswald S. Kan S CKa-fai as M.B. Lee
- Beginning of the Great Revival2011IMDb rating 3.1Chow as Yuan ShikaiKa-fai as Fan Yuanlian
- The Return of the God of Gamblers1994IMDb rating 6.7Chow as Ko Chun / 'The God of Gamblers'Ka-fai as Little Trumpet
- A Better Tomorrow III: Love and Death in Saigon1989IMDb rating 5.9Chow as Mark GorKa-fai as Michael Cheung Chi-Mun
- Prison on Fire1987IMDb rating 7.2Chow as Chung Tin ChingKa-fai as Lo Ka Yiu
Aaron Kwok Fu-Shing4 films together, 2014 to 2022
Aaron Kwok Fu-Shing's page
- The Monkey King: The Legend Begins2022IMDb rating 5.4Chow as Jade EmperorFu-Shing as Buffalo Demon King
- Project Gutenberg2018IMDb rating 6.8Chow as PainterFu-Shing as Lee Man
- Cold War II2016IMDb rating 6.6Chow as Oswald S. Kan S CFu-Shing as Sean Lau
- The Monkey King2014IMDb rating 4.9Chow as Jade EmperorFu-Shing as Bull Demon King
Philip Chan4 films together, 1982 to 1992
Philip Chan's page
- Hard Boiled1992IMDb rating 7.7Chow as Insp. 'Tequila' YuenChan as Supt. Pang
- Flaming Brothers1987IMDb rating 6.3Chow as Chang Ho-Tien(Chow Yun Fat)Chan as Chen
- The Romancing Star1987IMDb rating 6.1Chow as Wong Yat FatChan as Kenny
- The Head Hunter1982IMDb rating 4.2Chow as Nguyen Dich(Chow Yun Fat)Chan as Kim Tai-Yung
Fui-On Shing4 films together, 1986 to 1989
Fui-On Shing's page
- God of Gamblers1989IMDb rating 7.2Chow as Ko Chun / 'The God of Gamblers'Shing as Kau
- The Killer1989IMDb rating 7.7Chow as Ah JongShing as Wong Hoi
- A Better Tomorrow II1987IMDb rating 7.1Chow as Ken / Mark Lee / Mark 'Gor'Shing as Pui's Right-Hand Man
- A Better Tomorrow1986IMDb rating 7.4Chow as MarkShing as Shing's right hand man
Tony Ka Fai Leung3 films together, 1989 to 2016
Tony Ka Fai Leung's page
- Cold War II2016IMDb rating 6.6Chow as Oswald S. Kan S CLeung as M.B. Waise Lee
- The Return of the God of Gamblers1994IMDb rating 6.7Chow as Ko Chun / 'The God of Gamblers'Leung as Siu Fong-Fong / 'Little Trumpet'
- A Better Tomorrow III: Love and Death in Saigon1989IMDb rating 5.9Chow as Mark GorLeung as Cheung Chi-Mun
John WooDirector, 5 films, 1986 to 1992
All films by John Woo
- Hard Boiled1992IMDb rating 7.7Chow as Insp. 'Tequila' Yuen
- Once a Thief1991IMDb rating 6.7Chow as Red Bean Pudding (Joe)
- The Killer1989IMDb rating 7.7Chow as Ah Jong
- A Better Tomorrow II1987IMDb rating 7.1Chow as Ken / Mark Lee / Mark 'Gor'
- A Better Tomorrow1986IMDb rating 7.4Chow as Mark
Jing WongDirector, 5 films, 1987 to 2014
- From Vegas to Macau2014IMDb rating 4.9Chow as Ken (Shek Yat-kin)
- Legend of God of Gamblers1996IMDb rating 6.2Chow as Ko Chun / 'The God of Gamblers'
- The Return of the God of Gamblers1994IMDb rating 6.7Chow as Ko Chun / 'The God of Gamblers'
- God of Gamblers1989IMDb rating 7.2Chow as Ko Chun / 'The God of Gamblers'
- The Romancing Star1987IMDb rating 6.1Chow as Wong Yat Fat
Ringo LamDirector, 3 films, 1987 to 1992
All films by Ringo Lam
- Full Contact1992IMDb rating 7.1Chow as Gou Fei
- Prison on Fire II1991IMDb rating 6.7Chow as Chung Tin Ching
- Prison on Fire1987IMDb rating 7.2Chow as Chung Tin Ching
Also three films together10 more actors
- Fui-On ShingThe Killer (1989), Triads: The Inside Story (1989) and Prison on Fire (1987)
- Sharla CheungThe Return of the God of Gamblers (1994), God of Gamblers (1989) and The Romancing Star (1987)
- Leslie CheungOnce a Thief (1991), A Better Tomorrow II (1987) and A Better Tomorrow (1986)
- Tommy WongPrison on Fire II (1991), The Killer (1989) and Prison on Fire (1987)
- Aaron KwokProject Gutenberg (2018), Cold War II (2016) and The Monkey King (2014)
- Randall Duk KimDragonball: Evolution (2009), Anna and the King (1999) and The Replacement Killers (1998)
- Philip Chan Yan-KinHard Boiled (1992), Flaming Brothers (1987) and The Head Hunter (1982)
- Roy Cheung Yiu-YeungPrison on Fire II (1991), Triads: The Inside Story (1989) and Prison on Fire (1987)
- Hon-Lam PauThe Return of the God of Gamblers (1994), God of Gamblers (1989) and Triads: The Inside Story (1989)
- Victor Hon KwanFull Contact (1992), Prison on Fire II (1991) and Prison on Fire (1987)
When several people share the same number of films, the ones with the most films on Netflix are in the chart.

Box office

What Yun-Fat Chow's films earned in cinemas worldwide.

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Combined worldwide box office

$1.5 billion

29 of the 42 films have a worldwide figure.

29Worldwide figure
1US gross only
1Never in cinemas
11Figure not found

Top grosser

Detective Chinatown 19002025Bai Xuanling$500 million

Highest grossing

The eight biggest films earned 90% of the total. The bars are drawn to scale.

1
Detective Chinatown 19002025as Bai Xuanling
$500M33.3% of the total
2
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon2000as Master Li Mu Bai
$214M14.2% of the total
3
The Monkey King2014as Jade Emperor
$182M12.1% of the total
4
Anna and the King1999as King Mongkut
$114M7.6% of the total
5
Let the Bullets Fly2010as Master Huang
$105M7.0% of the total
6
Cold War II2016as Oswald S. Kan S C
$103M6.9% of the total
7
Curse of the Golden Flower2006as Emperor Ping
$79M5.2% of the total
8
Dragonball: Evolution2009as Roshi
$58M3.9% of the total

The Replacement Killers (1998), $19.2 million

The Children of Huang Shi (2008), $7.8 million

The Return of the God of Gamblers (1994), $6.7 million

A Better Tomorrow II (1987), $2.9 million

A Better Tomorrow III: Love and Death in Saigon (1989), $2.4 million

$148 millionfrom the other 21 films with a worldwide figure, 10% of the total

Awards

Four awards and honors from 1985 to 2023.

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Yun-Fat Chow's awards and nominations, grouped by award
Year	Award	Film	Result
Other honors
2023	Tatler Most Influential Hong Kong		Won
2003	Silver Bauhinia Star		Won
1987	Golden Horse Award for Best Leading Actor	An Autumn's Tale	Won
1985	Golden Horse Award for Best Leading Actor	Hong Kong 1941	Won

Online

Official profiles and reference pages.

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