Once Upon a Time in China and America

1997 1h 42m CN

😐

5.9

MID

★5.9TMDB · 121

ActionWestern

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

So goes to the U.S. to open a martial arts school. Around this time, many Chinese people were sold off to U.S. railroad companies, and were brutally treated by the Americans under the harsh working conditions. Thus, the American workers' hatred towards the Chinese immigrants is high. As a result, So gets into trouble with the Americans and the mob, and calls Master Wong for help.

“Some stories are better left unspoiled.”

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Cast

Jet Li
Wong Fei Hung
Rosamund Kwan Chi-Lam
Aunt Yee / Diana
Xiong Xinxin
Kwai Geuk-Chat
Power Chan Kwok-Pong
Dr. So
Jeff Wolfe
Billy
Joseph Sayah
Bandit Leader
Chrystabell
Sarah, the Indian Girl
Patrick Lung Kong
Uncle Lone

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Sammo Hung
Writers: Sze-To Cheuk-Hon, Philip Kwok, Sze Mei-Yee
Languages: Cantonese, English
Countries: United States of America, Hong Kong

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 8

ERA

Did you know

29 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

WORLD

Did you know

Dialogue crosses 2 languages: Cantonese, English.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

WORLD

Did you know

International production across 2 countries: United States of America, Hong Kong.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

CINEMA

Did you know

Part of the "Once Upon a Time in China Collection" — so the characters or world continue elsewhere.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Sammo Hung, shot by Walter Gregg. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by Lowell Lo Koon-Ting. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Marco Mak Chi-Sin shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

CAST

Did you know

Jet Li and Rosamund Kwan Chi-Lam and Xiong Xinxin carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Sammo Hung directs. Walter Gregg behind the camera. Lowell Lo Koon-Ting scores. Marco Mak Chi-Sin cuts. Produced in United States of America, Hong Kong. Dialogue in Cantonese, English.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

129 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.
2Dialogue crosses 2 languages: Cantonese, English.
3International production across 2 countries: United States of America, Hong Kong.
4Part of the "Once Upon a Time in China Collection" — so the characters or world continue elsewhere.
5Directed by Sammo Hung, shot by Walter Gregg. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
6Original score by Lowell Lo Koon-Ting. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
7Editor Marco Mak Chi-Sin shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
8Jet Li and Rosamund Kwan Chi-Lam and Xiong Xinxin carry the top of the cast.
9IMDB entry: tt0120530 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
10Released under 15 different titles around the world.

The technical file

Cinematography: Walter Gregg
Original score: Lowell Lo Koon-Ting
Editing: Marco Mak Chi-Sin
Costume design: William Fung Kwun-Man
Makeup / hair: Cheng Yu-Lai
Runtime: 102 min · 1h 42m
Aspect ratio (typical): 1.37:1 (Academy)
Status: Released
Budget: $12,000,000
Original language: CN
Certification (US): NR
IMDB: Once Upon a Time in China and America (1997)

Part of

Once Upon a Time in China Collection

The Wong Fei Hung film series consists of six martial arts–historical movies from Hong Kong cinema, often starring Jet Li. Set during the turbulent late Qing Dynasty, the films portray the legendary physician and martial artist Wong Fei Hung as he confronts foreign powers, corrupt factions, and dark cults. Each installment reflects strong themes of patriotism, humanity, and traditional Chinese martial arts, offering a cinematic tribute to cultural heritage and heroic spirit.