Chow Yun-fat’s God of Gamblers 31 years on – and 5 other classic Hong Kong movies about gambling

Dec 14 , 2020

Chow Yun-fat in the original God of Gamblers. Photo: @gh_cinemas/Instagram

Andy Lau and Alan Tam starred in Casino Raiders while Stephen Chow had a breakout role in spoof All for the Winner – how Hong Kong cinema enjoyed a short-lived romance with the niche gambling movie genre

The Hong Kong movie industry, perhaps more than any other regional cinema, is one that’s been based on fads and fashions. Although broad genres like kung fu and wuxia have stood the test of time, other styles have waxed and waned in popularity over the years.

The introduction of Category III film classifications meant the early 90s witnessed a spike in both gory flicks like The Untold Story as well as soft-core erotica like Sex and Zen. The popularity of Michelle Yeoh’s Yes, Madam (1985) saw more girls-and-guns movies follow in quick succession: Royal Warriors (1986), Angel (1987), The Inspector Wears a Skirt (1988), She Shoots Straight (1990).

Similar bursts of popularity can be seen for other genres – the supernatural movies of the 80s inspired by Sammo Hung’s Encounters of the Spooky Kind or the historical kung fu movies of the 90s that rode the popularity of Jet Li’s Once Upon a Time in China franchise.

One niche genre that enjoyed huge, albeit brief, popularity is the gambling movie. This most Hong Kong of genres surged in popularity in the late 80s and 90s thanks to precisely one film – God of Gamblers. It starred Chow Yun-fat as a suave, James Bond-like gambler, perfectly attired, always in control and always with luck on his side. At least that’s how it is until he hits his head, loses his memory and starts to act like a child.

Although the plot might sound quite thin on paper, God of Gamblers – which was released 31 years ago today (December 14) – did huge business at the Hong Kong box office. The film was the second-highest grossing movie of all time upon its release in 1989, only marginally behind another Chow Yun-fat production, The Eighth Happiness.

Chow’s unlimited charm, together with the good looks of a young Andy Lau and Hongkongers’ penchant for gambling itself, ensured the film’s success and a number of copycats. The Hong Kong gambling genre might be small, but here are five of the best to watch alongside God of Gamblers.

Games Gamblers Play (1974)

A promotional poster for 1974's Games Gamblers Play. Photo: Golden Harvest

Something of a classic, Games Gamblers Play was an early hit for Michael and Samuel Hui, who would go on to be one of Hong Kong’s most popular comedic duos. The two brothers play con men who are thrown into jail. They agree to join forces once they get out and they try their luck at mahjong, pai gow, casinos and dog races. Hui’s self-effacing everyman performance would set a template for many of his most popular future roles.

Casino Raiders (1989)