Throw Down

"In the world of Judo, failure is not an option."

2004 1h 36m CN

👍

6.8

SOLID

🔥

92%

CERTIFIED FRESH

😬

METACRITIC

⭐

6.9

IMDB

★6.8TMDB · 120🍅92%Rotten Tomatoes●53Metacritic★6.9IMDB · 2,995

DramaAction

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

A former Judo champion is given the chance to redeem himself after he befriends a competitor and an aspiring singer.

“In the world of Judo, failure is not an option.”

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Cast

Louis Koo
Sze-To Bo
Aaron Kwok Fu-Shing
Tony
Cherrie Ying Choi-Yi
Mona
Tony Leung Ka-fai
Lee Kong
Cheung Siu-fai
Boss Savage
Jordan Chan Siu-Chun
Mona's Agent
Lo Hoi-Pang
Master Cheng
Calvin Choi Yat-Chi
Jing

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Johnnie To
Writers: Au Kin-Yee, Yip Tin-Shing, Yau Nai-Hoi
Languages: Cantonese, Japanese, English
Countries: Hong Kong, China

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

Released 22 years ago.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

WORLD

Did you know

Dialogue crosses 3 languages: Cantonese, Japanese, English.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

WORLD

Did you know

International production across 2 countries: Hong Kong, China.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 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#04

5 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by Peter Kam Pau-Tat. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor David M. Richardson shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

CAST

Did you know

Louis Koo and Aaron Kwok Fu-Shing and Cherrie Ying Choi-Yi carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

FACT

Did you know

Marketing tagline: "In the world of Judo, failure is not an option.".

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Johnnie To directs. Cheng Siu-Keung behind the camera. Peter Kam Pau-Tat scores. David M. Richardson cuts. Runs lean at under 100 minutes. Produced in Hong Kong, China. Dialogue in Cantonese, Japanese, English.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

1Released 22 years ago.
2Dialogue crosses 3 languages: Cantonese, Japanese, English.
3International production across 2 countries: Hong Kong, China.
4Directed by Johnnie To, shot by Cheng Siu-Keung. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
5Original score by Peter Kam Pau-Tat. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
6Editor David M. Richardson shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
7Louis Koo and Aaron Kwok Fu-Shing and Cherrie Ying Choi-Yi carry the top of the cast.
8Marketing tagline: "In the world of Judo, failure is not an option.".
9IMDB entry: tt0415380 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.