A Better Tomorrow at 40: how John Woo blockbuster changed Hong Kong cinema – SCMP archive
Quick Look
- John Woo's "A Better Tomorrow" celebrates its 40th anniversary, marking its release on August 2, 1986.
- The film redefined the Hong Kong action genre, inspired directors like Quentin Tarantino, and was Hong Kong's top-grossing movie in 1986 with HK$34.6 million.
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Why It Matters
John Woo's "A Better Tomorrow" was released 40 years ago, becoming Hong Kong's top-grossing film in 1986 and a turning point in its action cinema, inspiring directors like Quentin Tarantino.
As A Better Tomorrow celebrates its 40th anniversary, we look back at how the film redefined the Hong Kong action genre
Forty years ago, John Woo’s A Better Tomorrow was released. The action film is considered to be a turning point in Hong Kong cinema with directors like Quentin Tarantino citing it as an inspiration. In this On This Day article, we look at SCMP’s archive coverage of this modern-day classic.
A Better Tomorrow was released on August 2, 1986. Due to its popularity, it ran in theatres for 61 days – unheard of at the time – and was Hong Kong’s No 1 movie that year grossing over HK$34.6 million.
