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Ringo Lam

Highest Rated: 100% Prison on Fire (1988)

Lowest Rated: 0% Simon Sez (1999)

Birthday: Dec 8, 1955

Birthplace: Hong Kong

Ringo Lam was a Hong Kong filmmaker who was best known for directing numerous popular action/marital arts films, including "City on Fire" (1987), "Full Contact" (1992), and "Full Alert" (1997). Born and raised in Hong Kong, Lam initially wanted to become a director. With his mind set on becoming an actor, in 1973 Lam attended an actors training program put on by TVB, the local television station in Hong Kong. While attending the program Lam met an aspiring actor by the name of Chow Yun-fat. Little did he know that it would be he beginning of a lifelong creative partnership (Lam would later go on to direct Chow in several martial arts films). After struggling as an actor for a number of years, Lam decided to turn his attention to filmmaking. He attended film school at York University in Toronto, Canada, and by the early 80s Lam was back in Hong Kong directing movies. He initially made a name for himself by directing comedies, such as "The Other Side of Gentleman" (1984) and "Cupid One" (1985). Then in 1986 he directed "Mad Mission 4: You Never Die Twice," (1986), which was a hit at the box office. The success of "Mad Mission 4: You Never Die Twice" gave Lam free reign to direct any project he wanted, s he chose to direct "City on Fire" (1987), an action-crime film set in Hong Kong. Lam cast his old acting school pal Chow Yun-fat in the lead role, and the film went on to be a major success at the box office. Over the course of the next several years Lam made several more action films with Chow, including "Prison on Fire" (1987), "Full Contact" and "Full Alert." In 1996 Lam made his first film for an American studio with "Maximum Risk" (1996) starring Jean-Claude Van Damme. After two decades of prolific activity behind the camera, Lam's directing output mostly slowed at the beginning of the 21st century. He directed a few more films, including 2001's "Replicant" starring Van Damme and the Hong Kong crime-thriller "Wild City" (2015). In 2016 Lam directed that last film in his "On Fire" series with "Sky on Fire" (2016). It would also be Lam's last film released while he was alive. Ringo Lam died on December 29, 2018 at his home in Hong Kong. He was 63.

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Highest-Rated Movies

100% 87% Prison on Fire
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89% 72% Full Contact
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85% 75% City on Fire
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53% 43% Triangle
Watchlist 50% 35% Wild City Watchlist 45% 15% Sky on Fire Watchlist
42% 49% Twin Dragons
Watchlist 34% 35% Maximum Risk Watchlist
30% 36% Replicant
Watchlist
0% 16% Simon Sez
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Ringo Lam

Ringo Lam MAXIMUM RISK, Director Ringo Lam, on set, 1996, (c)Columbia Pictures View more photos

Filmography

Movies TV Shows
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Sky on Fire 45% 15% 2016 Director Wild City 50% 35% 2015 Director, Screenwriter, Producer Triangle 53% 43% 2007 Director In Hell 53% 2003 Director Looking for Mister Perfect 2003 Director Replicant 30% 36% 2001 Director Victim 83% 1999 Director, Writer, Producer Simon Sez 0% 16% 1999 Executive Producer The Suspect 17% 1998 Director Full Alert 75% 1997 Director, Executive Producer, Writer Maximum Risk 34% 35% 1996 Director The Adventurers 42% 1995 Director Burning Paradise 79% 1994 Director Full Contact 89% 72% 1992 Director Twin Dragons 42% 49% 1991 Car Mechanic Actor, Director Prison on Fire II 63% 1991 Director Wild Search 64% 1989 Director School on Fire 1988 Director, Producer Prison on Fire 100% 87% 1988 Director, Executive Producer City on Fire 85% 75% 1987 Director, Writer, Producer Aces Go Places IV 41% 1986 Director Cupid One 1985 Director, Screenwriter The Other Side of a Gentleman 1984 Director
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