10 Greatest Movies Starring Tony Leung, the Legendary Hong Kong Actor

Liputan6.com, Jakarta - Tony Leung is one of the most successful and respected Chinese actors of all time. He has worked in Hong Kong, Mainland China, and international films for many years. His acting style is calm, emotional, and very natural, which makes his characters feel real and memorable. Tony Leung has won many major awards and has worked with famous directors like Wong Kar-wai, John Woo, and Zhang Yimou. Because of his long career and strong performances, he is seen as a true legend of Asian cinema.

In this list, we look at some of the greatest movies starring Tony Leung. These films show his wide acting range and explain why he is loved by audiences around the world.

Where to Watch: Criterion Channel, HBO Max, Shout! Factory TV, Fandango At Home, Amazon Video, Apple TV

This romantic film takes place in 1962 Hong Kong. Two neighbors, Chow Mo-wan and Su Li-zhen, find out their husband and wife are having an affair together. They spend more time with each other but promise not to act like their unfaithful partners. Tony Leung and Maggie Cheung are wonderful with their quiet, gentle acting in this film by Wong Kar-wai. The movie moves slowly with beautiful colors and sad music. It won many awards around the world and people think it is one of the best romance films ever made.

Where to Watch: HBO Max, Criterion Channel, Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Fandango At Home

Directed by Wong Kar-wai, this film follows two men from Hong Kong who travel to Argentina. Their relationship falls apart. Yiu-Fai, played by Tony Leung, works at a tango bar to earn money to go home. His partner Po-Wing keeps coming back even though they hurt each other. Leung and Leslie Cheung give strong performances about love and pain. Wong Kar-wai uses both black and white and color in the film. The movie shows how hard it is to be alone in a foreign place.

Where to Watch: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Fandango At Home, Kanopy, Hoopla

In this beautiful film, a warrior tells the king how he killed three dangerous assassins in ancient China. Each story appears in different colors - red, blue, green, and white. The fight scenes look like beautiful dance. Tony Leung plays Broken Sword with calm strength. He acts with Jet Li, Maggie Cheung, and Zhang Ziyi. Zhang Yimou directed this film that got an Academy Award nomination. The action is artistic, the colors are stunning, and the story has more meaning than you first think.

Where to Watch: HBO Max, Criterion Channel, Fandango At Home, Amazon Video, Apple TV Store

Wong Kar-wai's fun film tells two separate love stories in busy Hong Kong. Tony Leung is Cop 663, a lonely policeman who talks to his furniture after his girlfriend leaves. Then he meets Faye, a different kind of girl who works at a lunch counter. She secretly goes to his apartment and cleans it. Faye Wong, a famous singer, plays this character in her first movie. Everything is filmed with bright colors and fast movement. The song "California Dreamin'" plays during the film, making it easy to remember.

Where to Watch: -

Set in the desert of ancient China, this artistic film shows swordsmen coming to find work from a man named Ou-yang Feng. Tony Leung plays a blind warrior who wants to see his wife one last time before his eyes stop working forever. He fights horse thieves and dies in battle. Leung makes you feel the sadness of this character even though he does not talk much. Wong Kar-wai makes the martial arts film very artistic with help from stars like Leslie Cheung, Maggie Cheung, and Brigitte Lin. A better version called Redux came out in 2008.

Where to Watch: Criterion Channel, Pluto TV, Shout! Factory TV, Amazon Video, Fandango At Home, Apple TV Store

John Woo's exciting action film shows gun smugglers controlling Hong Kong while the police want to stop them. Tony Leung is an undercover cop living inside a criminal gang. Chow Yun-fat plays Tequila, a tough detective who must work with him. Leung's character lives in constant danger and never knows who to trust. The action scenes are very exciting, especially the long hospital shootout that goes on for several minutes without stopping. Woo directed this as his last Hong Kong movie before going to Hollywood. It is still one of the best action films ever made.

Where to Watch: Amazon Video

This strong historical film shows Taiwan changing from Japanese rule to Chinese government control between 1945 and 1949. The Lin family owns a small restaurant and tries to survive during this violent time. Tony Leung plays Wen-ching, the youngest brother who cannot hear or speak. He works as a photographer and falls in love with a woman named Hinomi. What makes Leung's performance great is that he never speaks but shows all his feelings through his eyes and face. Hou Hsiao-hsien directed this important film that won the top prize at Venice Film Festival.

Where to Watch: HBO Max, Netflix, Criterion Channel, Hulu, Apple TV

In this exciting thriller, a cop hides in the mafia while a gangster hides in the police. Tony Leung plays Chen Wing Yan, the police officer pretending to be a criminal for many years. Andy Lau is on the other side, a mafia member who became a fake cop. Both men hunt for each other while keeping their secrets. Leung shows how tired and lonely his character feels after living a lie for so long. This Hong Kong thriller became so successful that Martin Scorsese remade it in Hollywood as "The Departed," which won the Oscar for Best Picture.

Where to Watch: Criterion Channel, Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Fandango At Home

Hou Hsiao-hsien's slow-moving film takes viewers to 1880s Shanghai. Rich men visit flower houses where beautiful women entertain them. Tony Leung's character Wang visits a courtesan named Crimson, but he might leave her for someone younger. These women live in beautiful rooms but cannot leave or choose their own lives. Every scene in this film looks like an old painting with warm light and long camera shots. The director works slowly and carefully to show the sadness behind the luxury. Leung brings quiet emotion to a character who is trapped by his own desires.

Where to Watch: Amazon Prime Video, fuboTV, Criterion Channel, Shout! Factory TV, Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Fandango At Home 

Set during the Vietnam War, this violent film follows three friends who kill a gang member in Hong Kong in 1967 and run away to Vietnam. Tony Leung plays Ben, and his two friends are played by Jacky Cheung and Waise Lee. They try to make money but get caught in the war. Soldiers arrest them, torture them, and their friendship breaks. War changes people, and this film shows it in a hard way. John Woo made this darker and sadder than his other action movies. The violence is hard to watch but makes the story about broken friendship more strong.