Let the Bullets Fly

Outlaw Pocky Zhang arrives in a crooked county town and takes on the governor's robes to clean house from the inside. His ruse lets him tilt the town’s power games in his favor, drawing a sharp line against Huang Silang, a hard-edged local godfather who won’t yield easily, and Old Tang, a wily veteran who knows every shortcut around the law. As Zhang juggles lies, threats, and bravado, power becomes a game of bluff with shifting loyalties and double crosses. The Second, a ruthless rival, ratchets up the tension and pushes the confrontation toward a chaotic street showdown. The film fuses gunplay, slapstick, and quick-fire banter into a brisk, crowd-pleasing entertainment without leaning on sentimentality. Tone stays playful despite chaos.

Directed by Jiang Wen, the film uses an original screenplay by Shu Ping, Zhu Sujin and Li Bukong. Filmed on location in northern China, it blends Western pulp energy with Chinese period flavor and showcases brisk humor and confident staging.

Worldwide, Let the Bullets Fly earned about 104.7 million dollars, signaling a major box office success for a Chinese action comedy. Its global run drew acclaim and attracted international audiences worldwide, elevating the film's profile across Asia and beyond markets.

The film's swagger and quick quips left a mark on Chinese genre cinema, inspiring later period set comedies that mix politics with humor. Its climactic exchanges between Pocky Zhang and Huang Silang are frequently cited as memorable crowd-pleasing moments. Its success helped shape later Chinese genre collaborations and bold projects.

Critics praised its brisk direction and sharp dialogue, and many noted the way it fuses satire with explosive action. Themes of corruption, bluffing power, and the cost of violence run through the film, with character games driving the plot. It stands as a landmark for Chinese genre cinema today worldwide.