Island of Fire
"When you're looking for the living dead you start your search in hell!"
In the film Island of Fire, a prison run by a corrupt warden becomes a deadly machine. The warden fakes inmates' deaths to recruit them as expendable assassins, trading their lives for leverage and profit. When a determined police officer goes undercover inside the facility to collect evidence,... Read more
Stream NowNot Currently Available On (7 platforms)
Streaming availability last verified: January 25, 2026
About Island of Fire
In the film Island of Fire, a prison run by a corrupt warden becomes a deadly machine. The warden fakes inmates' deaths to recruit them as expendable assassins, trading their lives for leverage and profit. When a determined police officer goes undercover inside the facility to collect evidence, the officer must dodge the warden's minions and corrupt guards while trying to stay one step ahead of a deadly scheme. The story unfolds as conspirators tighten their grip on power, and loyalties blur as lives hang in the balance. With a claustrophobic setting and high stakes, the movie blends action, crime and drama into a tightly wound thriller. As the net tightens, trust becomes scarce and danger grows with every decision.
Released in 1990, Island of Fire was directed by Kevin Chu and drawn from works by Fu Li and Yip Wan-Chiu. The film sits in late era Hong Kong action cinema, blending ferocious stunts with a gritty urban prison drama.
Critics noted the brisk pacing and the film's sharp focus on corruption within the prison system. The story probes loyalty and moral compromise as characters balance personal survival against a system that chews up and spits out the weak. Audiences were mixed about tone but praised the action and questions.
The movie brings together a notable lineup of action stars including Jackie Chan and Sammo Hung alongside Tony Leung Ka-fai, Andy Lau and Jimmy Wang Yu. Seen in the wider arc of early 90s Hong Kong cinema, it reflects cross star collaborations and the era's appetite for urban crime stories.
Box office data for Island of Fire is not publicly available in major databases. There are no reported worldwide grosses or studio statements to confirm its commercial impact, suggesting the film did not make a splash at the box office.
Details
- Release Date
- March 28, 1990
- Runtime
- 2h 4m
- User Ratings
- 138 votes
- Type
- Movie
- Genres
- Action, Crime, Drama
- Country
- Taiwan
- Collection
- Island of Fire Collection
- Studio
- Biaine and Blake Ltd. +3 more
- External Links
- View on IMDB
Official Trailer
Cast
Tony Leung Ka-fai
Wang Wei / Andy
Sammo Hung Kam-Bo
Liu Hsi-Chia / John
Jackie Chan
Da Chui / Steve
Andy Lau
Iron Ball / Boss Lee
Jimmy Wang Yu
Kui / Lucas
Tou Tsung-Hua
Chu / Charlie
Jack Kao
Lin
Ko Chun-Hsiung
Prison Director
Chang Kuo-Chu
Seng
Elsie Yeh
Yua Fong
Director: Kevin Chu
Written by: Fu Li, Yip Wan-Chiu