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A Better Tomorrow

Original title: Ying hung boon sik
  • 1986
  • Not Rated
  • 1h 35m
IMDb RATING
7.4/10
30K
YOUR RATING
Chow Yun-Fat, Leslie Cheung, and Lung Ti in A Better Tomorrow (1986)
Watch Trailer [OV]
Play trailer4:34
1 Video
99+ Photos
CantoneseDark ComedyGangsterGun FuActionCrimeDramaThriller

A reforming ex-gangster tries to reconcile with his estranged policeman brother, but the ties to his former gang are difficult to break.A reforming ex-gangster tries to reconcile with his estranged policeman brother, but the ties to his former gang are difficult to break.A reforming ex-gangster tries to reconcile with his estranged policeman brother, but the ties to his former gang are difficult to break.

  • Director
    • John Woo
  • Writers
    • Hing-Ka Chan
    • Suk-Wah Leung
    • John Woo
  • Stars
    • Lung Ti
    • Leslie Cheung
    • Chow Yun-Fat
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • IMDb RATING
    7.4/10
    30K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • John Woo
    • Writers
      • Hing-Ka Chan
      • Suk-Wah Leung
      • John Woo
    • Stars
      • Lung Ti
      • Leslie Cheung
      • Chow Yun-Fat
    • 132User reviews
    • 62Critic reviews
    • 78Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 8 wins & 17 nominations total

    Videos1

    Trailer [OV]
    Trailer 4:34
    Trailer [OV]

    Photos140

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    + 132
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    Top Cast40

    Lung Ti
    Lung Ti
    • Sung Tse-Ho
    • (as Ti Lung)
    Leslie Cheung
    Leslie Cheung
    • Sung Tse-Kit
    Chow Yun-Fat
    Chow Yun-Fat
    • Mark
    • (as Chow Yun Fat)
    Emily Chu
    Emily Chu
    • Jackie
    Waise Lee
    Waise Lee
    • Shing
    • (as Lee Chi Hung)
    Feng Tien
    Feng Tien
    • Father Sung
    John Woo
    John Woo
    • Inspector Wu
    Yanzi Shi
    • Mr. Yiu
    Kenneth Tsang
    Kenneth Tsang
    • Ken
    Shing Fui-On
    Shing Fui-On
    • Shing's right hand man
    • (as Fui-On Shing)
    Hsieh Wang
    Hsieh Wang
    • Mr. Wang
    • (as Hap Wong)
    Chi-Fai Chan
    Chi-Fai Chan
    • 'Little' Wang
    Ming Leung
    Ming Leung
    • Uncle Chan
    Hing-Yin Kam
    Hing-Yin Kam
    • Mr. Mok
    Pierre Tremblay
    • Interpol Officer
    Hark Tsui
    Hark Tsui
    • Music Judge
    • (as Tsui Hark)
    Shung-Fung Lau
    • Taiwanese Triad
    Wei-Ho Tu
    • Taiwanese Triad
    • Director
      • John Woo
    • Writers
      • Hing-Ka Chan
      • Suk-Wah Leung
      • John Woo
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews132

    7.429.5K
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    Summary

    Reviewers say 'A Better Tomorrow' Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. Curabitur pretium tincidunt lacus.

    Nulla facilisi etiam dignissim diam quis enim lobortis scelerisque
    Lorem ipsum dolorSit amet consecteturAdipiscing elitSed do eiusmodTempor incididuntUt labore et doloreMagna aliquaUt enim ad minimVeniam quisNostrud exercitation
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    Related interests

    In the Mood for Love (2000)
    Cantonese
    Phoebe Waller-Bridge and Sian Clifford in Fleabag (2016)
    Dark Comedy
    Marlon Brando and Salvatore Corsitto in The Godfather (1972)
    Gangster
    Keanu Reeves in The Matrix (1999)
    Gun Fu
    Bruce Willis in Die Hard (1988)
    Action
    James Gandolfini, Edie Falco, Sharon Angela, Max Casella, Dan Grimaldi, Joe Perrino, Donna Pescow, Jamie Lynn Sigler, Tony Sirico, and Michael Drayer in The Sopranos (1999)
    Crime
    Mahershala Ali and Alex R. Hibbert in Moonlight (2016)
    Drama
    Cho Yeo-jeong in Parasite (2019)
    Thriller

    Storyline

    Did you know

    • Trivia
      This film became so popular, that kids in Hong Kong started wearing long coats, known as "dusters" to copy the lead character in the film.
    • Goofs
      When Kit first introduces Jackie to his brother at the hospital, she accidentally cuts the flowers off their stems and puts them in the vase. In the next shot, the flowers are back in the vase fully intact.
    • Quotes
      • Ho Tse Sung: Do you believe there's a God?
      • Mark Gor: Yes. I am God. You're one. A god can be human. A god is someone who controls his destiny. Sometimes, there's things you can't control. You win some, you lose some.
    • Alternate versions
      German TV airings and video releases are heavily cut for violence in order to secure a "not under 18" rating. The full uncut version was re-released by Astro-Video (Screenpower) with a SPIO/JK approval and features all the violence. The Laserdisc release is also uncut. Only in April of 2026, the uncut version was granted a "not under 16" rating shortly after being removed from the index list.
    • Connections
      Edited into The Romancing Star (1987)
    • Soundtracks
      Sparrowfall
      Composed by Brian Eno
      Performed by Brian Eno

    Top picks

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    Details

    • Release date
      • July 8, 2025 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • Hong Kong
    • Languages
      • Cantonese
      • Mandarin
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Bolje sutra
    • Filming locations
      • Hong Kong, China
    • Production companies
      • Cinema City
      • Film Workshop
      • Nova Media
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    • Gross US & Canada
      • $240,938
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $122,099
      • Mar 1, 2026
    • Gross worldwide
      • $5,250,167
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    • Runtime
      • 1h 35m(95 min)
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
      • Dolby Surround 7.1
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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