Election

2005

1h 40m

Crime

Drama

Mystery & Thriller

List

86%

Tomatometer

22 Reviews

79%

Audience Score

5,000+ Ratings

A democratic election within an organized crime society is about to take place.

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Ben Kenigsberg

Time Out

Rated: 3/5

Nov 17, 2011

Full Review

Ty Burr

Boston Globe

The film's violence erupts in rare, staccato bursts, all the more horrifying for coming out of nowhere.

Rated: 3/4

Aug 24, 2007

Full Review

Bill Stamets

Chicago Sun-Times

Election feels routine at times, though less formulaic than other genre exercises from Hong Kong. The depiction of crime customs is sociologically detailed.

Rated: 2.5/4

Jul 13, 2007

Full Review

Allen Almachar

The MacGuffin

An ok movie, made for those who simply want to be entertained with slick visuals, paper-thin characters, and a story where comprehension is not a requirement.

Aug 14, 2020

Full Review

Jeffrey M. Anderson

Combustible Celluloid

The film's main drive involves plotting and scheming rather than outright violence, though -- unlike the sequel -- the basic good guy-bad guy conflict is pretty standard.

Jan 3, 2008

Full Review

Brian Gibson

Vue Weekly (Edmonton, Alberta)

Some real genius and understated power . . . transcends its genre and turns the venally criminal into the profoundly human.

Nov 19, 2007

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Ching Y

It's also really Hong Kong, like Hong Kong Hong Kong. The political metaphor is on point. A lot of irony/comedy and iconic lines. The movie should stand the test of time just for its insight on power. It's probably the only gangster movie where not a shot is fire, primal but impressive. I consider this The Godfather for HK triad movies. There are other great HK triad movies like young and dangerous, As Tears Go By and Infernal Affair II, but Election is in a league of its own.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/13/23

Full Review

gareth d

Solid HK triad movie with all the stars, strong characters, an interesting arc and some unexpected twists.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

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Audience Member

Johnnie To's solid film revolving around the election of a new triad leader in Hong Kong.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

01/29/23

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Audience Member

Thickly plotted crime drama that uses a Triad crime family as a backdrop, with their unique and contrasting characters, to explore themes such as honor and loyalty.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/20/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Director Johnnie To is to Hong Kong what Scorsese is to New York and American cinema. Few directors in the world capture the criminal underworld as well Johnnie To. What is made more remarkable is he does effortlessly and efficiently. At 97 mins, Election unfolds like a classic gangster epic, but an epic that has had its fat trimmed from every frame. Election is about the Chinese Triads and their democratic process to elect their next leader. Ever two years there's an election, and this campaign season sees to opposite men matching wits and violence to secure their votes. If the film had a softer under belly this could easily be a satire for American politics. But it isn't. And better for it.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/11/23

Full Review

Audience Member

A serious, mature film that relies heavily on substance! I prefer Johnnie To's Style over substance any day!

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

01/21/23

Full Review

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Johnnie To

Director

Simon Yam

Lok

Tony Leung Ka Fai

Big D

Louis Koo

Jimmy

Nick Cheung

Jet

Siu-Fai Cheung

Mr. So

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Synopsis

A democratic election within an organized crime society is about to take place.

Director: Johnnie To
Producer: Dennis Law, Johnnie To
Screenwriter: Nai-Hoi Yau, Tin-Shing Yip
Production Co: China Star Entertainment, One Hundred Years of Film Co. Ltd.
Genre: Crime, Drama, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: Chinese
Release Date (Streaming): Dec 1, 2020
Runtime: 1h 40m