Running Out of Time

"Let the games begin."

1999 1h 33m CN

👍

7.3

SOLID

⭐

7.3

IMDB

★7.3TMDB · 174★7.3IMDB · 6,691

DramaActionThrillerCrime

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

Police inspector and excellent hostage negotiator Ho Sheung-Sang finds himself in over his head when he is pulled into a 72 hour game by a cancer suffering criminal out for vengeance on Hong Kong's organized crime syndicates.

“Let the games begin.”

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Cast

Lau Ching-Wan
Insp. Ho Sheung-Sang
Andy Lau
Mr. Cheung
Yoyo Mung Ka-Wai
Leung Yuen Ting
Benz Hui Siu-Hung
Chief Inspector Wong Kai Fai
Lam Suet
Suet
Waise Lee Chi-Hung
Mr. Chen
Hung Wai-Leung
Mr. Lee
Oscar Lam Wai-Kin
Mr. Hau

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Johnnie To
Writers: Julien Carbon, Laurent Courtiaud, Yau Nai-Hoi
Languages: Cantonese, Mandarin, English
Countries: 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

MONEY

Did you know

Shot for just $0.2M — micro-budget by Hollywood standards.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

MONEY

Did you know

Made its money back 8.3× over at the box office.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

ERA

Did you know

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

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

WORLD

Did you know

Dialogue crosses 3 languages: Cantonese, Mandarin, English.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

CINEMA

Did you know

Part of the "Running Out Of Time Collection" — so the characters or world continue elsewhere.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Johnnie To, shot by Cheng Siu-Keung. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

AWARDS

Did you know

Original score by Raymond Wong Ying-Wah. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

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

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Johnnie To directs. Cheng Siu-Keung behind the camera. Raymond Wong Ying-Wah scores. Chan Chi-Wai cuts. Runs lean at under 100 minutes. Made its budget back several times over at the box office. Produced in Hong Kong. Dialogue in Cantonese, Mandarin, English.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

1Shot for just $0.2M — micro-budget by Hollywood standards.
2Made its money back 8.3× over at the box office.
327 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.
4Dialogue crosses 3 languages: Cantonese, Mandarin, English.
5Part of the "Running Out Of Time Collection" — so the characters or world continue elsewhere.
6Directed by Johnnie To, shot by Cheng Siu-Keung. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
7Original score by Raymond Wong Ying-Wah. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
8Editor Chan Chi-Wai shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
9Lau Ching-Wan and Andy Lau and Yoyo Mung Ka-Wai carry the top of the cast.
10Marketing tagline: "Let the games begin.".
11IMDB entry: tt0216165 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

The technical file

Cinematography: Cheng Siu-Keung
Original score: Raymond Wong Ying-Wah
Editing: Chan Chi-Wai
Makeup / hair: King Ching Tin-Mei
Runtime: 93 min · 1h 33m
Status: Released
Budget: $225,000
Box office: $1,866,462
Return: 830% of budget
Original language: CN
IMDB: Running Out of Time (1999)
IMDB rating: 7.3/10 · 6,691 votes
MPAA: Not Rated

Awards

4 wins & 9 nominations

Part of

Running Out Of Time Collection

One of the most popular hits in Johnnie To's extraordinary filmography, Running out of Time (1999) undoubtedly set the benchmark in Hong Kong crime capers. It was followed two years later by an even more slickly produced sequel co-directed by To and his disciple Law Wing Cheong, who would go on to become a brilliant director in his own right. Lau Ching Wan reprises his role as a persistent policeman to face off against another righteous robber, this time played by Ekin Cheng. Co-starring Kelly Lin, Hui Siu Hung, Lam Suet, and Ruby Wong, the tight-paced action thriller sequel won Best Film Editing and Best Action Choreography at the 39th Golden Horse Awards.