Chasing the Dragon

An aspiring immigrant from the mainland slips into 1960s Hong Kong under British rule, where the streets hum with corruption and underground commerce. He quickly learns that raw nerve and a lack of mercy can trump pedigree, and he carves out a ruthless space in the drug trade. As the city swelters with smuggling, police graft, and factional feuds, his presence destabilizes old power structures and draws dangerous allies as well as deadly enemies. He builds his operation in backroom offices and dockyards, turning fear into leverage while staying in the shadows. The film traces his ascent through bursts of brutal action, tense deals, and stake confrontations, painting a portrait of ambition bending law and loyalty to its breaking point.

Directed by Jason Kwan and released in 2017, Chasing the Dragon centers on a story from Wong Jing. The project brings together a modern action sensibility with the old school HK crime cinema vibe that Wong helped shape, including sharp dialogue and a brisk, punchy rhythm.

Box office details for this film are not widely documented. While it drew audiences in some Asian markets, there are no readily available worldwide grosses to cite. Some regional performances are noted by press, but numbers remain elusive.

There are no widely reported major awards or nominations for Chasing the Dragon. The project sits outside the award circuit, though fans of the genre may cite the performances and production as notable within its niche. The film’s ambition is clear even without glittering trophies.

Critics generally frame the movie as a stylized look at ambition, survival, and corruption under 1960s colonial Hong Kong. The performances from Donnie Yen as the feared Ho and Andy Lau as a calculating rival anchor a brisk, hard edged narrative that favors mood and momentum over sentiment. The film also treats immigration as a pressure cooker for identity, showing how a single determined stranger can reshape a city's criminal map.