Chungking Express

PG-13

Now Playing

1h 43m

Comedy

List

88%

Tomatometer

69 Reviews

93%

Audience Score

25,000+ Ratings

Every day, Cop 223 (Takeshi Kaneshiro) buys a can of pineapple with an expiration date of May 1, symbolizing the day he'll get over his lost love. He's also got his eye on a mysterious woman in a blond wig (Brigitte Lin), oblivious of the fact she's a drug dealer. Cop 663 (Tony Leung Chiu Wai) is distraught with heartbreak over a breakup. But when his ex drops a spare set of his keys at a local cafe, a waitress (Faye Wong) lets herself into his apartment and spruces up his life.

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Critics Consensus

Even if all it had to offer were writer-director Wong Kar-wai's thrillingly distinctive visuals, Chungking Express would be well worth watching; happily, its thoughtfully drawn characters and naturalistic performances also pack a potent dramatic wallop.

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Robert Horton

Film Comment Magazine

What Chungking Express has are a couple of interesting situations, which don't quite justify a feature-length movie.

Apr 10, 2018

Full Review

Jeff Shannon

Seattle Times

I've never been a big fan of technique that calls attention to itself, but Wong's frenetic blend of slow motion, pixilation, rushing backgrounds and frozen foregrounds (or vice versa) is as integral to this movie as its bubbly story and characters.

Rated: 3/4

May 28, 2014

Full Review

Peter Travers

Rolling Stone

[Wong's] hypnotic images of love and loss finally wear down your resistance as seemingly discordant sights and sounds coalesce into a radiant, crazy quilt.

May 28, 2014

Full Review

Joshua Polanski

Boston Hassle

Wong Kar-wai is one of the best filmmakers from one of the most significant film movements... And, in my opinion, Chungking Express is his best film. Supposing one plus one still equals two, that makes this one of the best films ever made

Jul 18, 2024

Full Review

Tim Brayton

Alternate Ending

One of the greatest treasures of 1990s filmmaking.

Rated: 5/5

Mar 30, 2023

Full Review

Eddie Harrison

film-authority.com

…a minor miracle of modern cinema, a sweet-hearted lightheaded meditation of the ups and down of romantic love that should leave any audience walking on air…

Rated: 5/5

Feb 23, 2023

Full Review

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Zackary T

Greatest movie of the 1990's and I never hear of it being discussed. Wong Kar-Wai certainly is but this film is not and it's a da*n travesty

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/24/24

Full Review

W B

Incredible movie. It's his best one. The energy, mood, and setting just hit right. There's a bizarreness you don't get from American movies and pobably not from Asian movies either; the director is unique.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

06/07/24

Full Review

Alec B

The first half is wildly unpredictable and funny so it is a little disappointing that the second half, despite Tony Leung Chiu Wai's great performance, is centered around a dud of a romance with a manic pixie dream girl. That said, I'm impressed that the near constant repeat of a few pop songs never gets tiresome.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

01/10/24

Full Review

S. C

Surely it doesn't let one down, like the previous, it's incredibly pretty to look at with vibrant colors, authentic sets and amazing cinematography. The soundtrack and score is phenomenal and even when overplayed you can't get enough of it. Lots of cool and creative technical shots and editing is also to find, which sometimes seems to be ahead of its time. Beautifully written characters and the cast is keeping that spirit up.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

01/13/24

Full Review

Bre C

love the soundtrack and the cinematography. is a must see!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

12/16/23

Full Review

Kevin L

Good stuff. Two interesting, unique stories to go along with a good soundtrack mix (though heavy on one track that sorta frames one character), and some nice camera effects. Kore-eda is a masterful filmmakers, and "Chungking Express" shows further signs of his increasing maturity. The conscious use of fast-action effects with one still figure works nicely along with the rushing burred chase scenes work to give a good sense of both a chaotic quality and about how life careens on around us whether we're in some pursuit or not. I really enjoyed the four lead characters and the actors bringing them to life. Especially good were Brigitte Lin and Faye Wong as two polar opposite personalities. Also good was Tony Leung as #663. The wistful, wacky waif thing Kore-eda had going for Faye got a bit cloying and went on a little too long. So 3.4 stars overall

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

11/18/23

Full Review

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Kar-Wai Wong

Director

Brigitte Lin

Woman in Blonde Wig

Takeshi Kaneshiro

He Zhiwu, Cop 223

Tony Leung Chiu Wai

Cop 663

Faye Wong

Faye

Valerie Chow

Air Hostess

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Synopsis

Every day, Cop 223 (Takeshi Kaneshiro) buys a can of pineapple with an expiration date of May 1, symbolizing the day he'll get over his lost love. He's also got his eye on a mysterious woman in a blond wig (Brigitte Lin), oblivious of the fact she's a drug dealer. Cop 663 (Tony Leung Chiu Wai) is distraught with heartbreak over a breakup. But when his ex drops a spare set of his keys at a local cafe, a waitress (Faye Wong) lets herself into his apartment and spruces up his life.

Director: Kar-Wai Wong
Producer: Chan Ye Cheng
Screenwriter: Kar-Wai Wong
Distributor: Miramax Home Entertainment [us], Miramax Films
Production Co: Miramax
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Comedy
Original Language: Chinese
Release Date (Theaters): Mar 8, 1994, Original
Release Date (DVD): May 21, 2002
Box Office (Gross USA): $114.9K
Runtime: 1h 43m
Sound Mix: Stereo

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