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5 of the best Hong Kong Chinese New Year movies to get you in the mood for the holiday, from Fat Choi Spirit to King of Comedy

  • Lunar New Year is a time to gather with friends and family, play mahjong, enjoy new year treats – and watch a Lunar New Year film
  • Here are five of the best holiday movies, acclaimed by audiences and critics alike, from the Hui brothers’ Security Unlimited to Stephen Chow’s King of Comedy

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Chinese New Year comedies are a big part of Hong Kong’s celebrations, and we have picked five of the best, including “Fat Choi Spirit”, starring Andy Lau (above), Louis Koo, Gigi Leung and Lau Ching-wan. Photo: China Star Entertainment Group

Chinese New Year celebrations are not complete without a good Hong Kong comedy.

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These films, often with auspicious-sounding Chinese titles, typically feature a star-studded cast and a few surprising cameos.

Here are five classics that earned critical acclaim and commercial success at the box office.

Security Unlimited (1981)

One of the earlier Hong Kong comedies released for Chinese New Year and written by brothers Michael Hui Koon-man and Sam Hui Koon-kit – who also wrote the soundtrack – Security Unlimited took physical comedy to new heights.

The film is regarded as the first of the genre to become a big hit, taking HK$17 million at the box office and becoming the highest-grossing film of 1981 in Hong Kong.

Security Unlimited (1981) DVD Trailer 摩登保鑣

Michael Hui’s outstanding performance earned him the best actor award at the inaugural Hong Kong Film Awards.

All’s Well, Ends Well (1992)

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