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

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.

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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.

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Casino Raiders (1989)

Although released some six months before the original God of Gamblers, both films share the same director – the prolific Wong Jing. Andy Lau is here again, too, this time starring alongside Alan Tam. The pair play two of the best gamblers in Asia and are hired by a casino in Las Vegas to disrupt a Japanese gang that is operating there and breaking the bank. Although the film’s gambling elements eventually give way to more standard dramatic flair – and the yakuza’s desire for revenge – the film is a worth watching for its legacy as a God of Gamblers template.

All For The Winner (1990)

Stephen Chow (centre) in his God of Gamblers parody, All For The Winner. Photo: Golden Harvest

God of Gamblers may have been popular, but it was eclipsed by this Stephen Chow parody – if it’s not obvious from the presentation, its Cantonese name translates to Saint of Gamblers – which grossed even more at the box office. All For The Winner was Chow’s breakout role and effectively put him on the path to becoming Hong Kong’s most popular star of the 90s. Here he is Sing, a bumpkin from China with supernatural abilities that his uncle exploits to win big at gambling tables down in prosperous Hong Kong. All goes well until Sing’s winning catches the attention of local gambling tycoons.

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God of Gamblers Return (1990)

With the huge success of both God of Gamblers and All For The Winner, it was inevitable that a sequel would be made. That actually happened in 1990, but God of Gamblers 2 decided to follow Stephen Chow’s character from All For The Winner rather than Chow Yun-fat’s original “god”.

In fact, it wasn’t until 1994 (following a third God of Gamblers film) that Chow felt there was a script that made it worth revisiting the franchise that had mushroomed in his absence.

Fortunately, this is another winner. It may be lacking Andy Lau, but Chow’s supporting cast is instead bolstered by the likes of Tony Leung Ka-fai and Chingmy Yau. After a gruesome start, the film is much the same as the original, with an even mix of action, humour and Chow looking supremely debonair.

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Fat Choi Spirit (2002)

Although director Johnnie To has made an international reputation for himself on the back of his gritty, noir thrillers like The Mission and Election, he has often dabbled in lighter, more mainstream fare to help finance his personal pet projects. Fat Choi Spirit, a Lunar New Year comedy, is one such effort.

As befits a CNY blockbuster, the cast is impressive, featuring Andy Lau, Sean Lau, Louis Koo and Gigi Leung. Here, the action moves away from casinos and poker to mahjong tables. Andy Lau is the “Mahjong Warrior”, a man addicted to the game and seemingly incapable of losing until he is cursed by his girlfriend. Will he be able to mend his ways, regain his luck and help his brother regain the money he lost to a cheat? You probably already know the answer.

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Asian cinema: Hong Kong film

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