The Laser Man poster

The Laser Man

Movie 1988 5.0 /10
Directed by Peter Wang

An earnest but easily led young scientist becomes tangled in a criminal scheme when a gang uses his laboratory to prototype a laser weapon. He assumes he is helping with a harmless breakthrough, only to realize how far the mob will go to weaponize his invention. The situation escalates into a... Read more

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Streaming availability last verified: January 14, 2026

About The Laser Man

An earnest but easily led young scientist becomes tangled in a criminal scheme when a gang uses his laboratory to prototype a laser weapon. He assumes he is helping with a harmless breakthrough, only to realize how far the mob will go to weaponize his invention. The situation escalates into a dizzying blend of smart quips, misfires, and narrow escapes as he tries to backtrack and reclaim the device before it disappears into the underworld. The tone mixes sly parody with occasional street level danger, poking fun at gadget obsessed thrillers while keeping the stakes rooted in a man drawn into trouble by his best intentions. In this oddball caper, trust proves slippery and plans backfire in comic ways. The comedic pacing aims for a brisk tempo that keeps the humor accessible even when the stakes rise.

Directed by Peter Wang, The Laser Man premiered in 1988 as a cross cultural crime comedy. It appears to originate from an original screenplay rather than a formal adaptation, and it features a multinational ensemble led by Marc Hayashi and Tony Leung Ka-fai.

Box office data for The Laser Man are not publicly available, so its worldwide gross remains unreported. The film played primarily within niche markets and genre circles, without a wide or conventional theatrical release that would tag it as a box office performer.

Awards for The Laser Man are not listed in major reference sources, suggesting the film did not secure prominent nominations. Still, the ensemble cast and offbeat premise won mild appreciation from critics who enjoy humor that mingles crime and parody without taking itself too seriously.

Reception and themes center on a well meaning scientist whose innocence bumps against criminal pragmatism and gadget driven swagger. The film treats scientific curiosity with warmth while lampooning mob plots, delivering a playful critique of desire for instant power.

Details

Release Date
September 25, 1988
User Ratings
3 votes
Type
Movie
Genres
Comedy, Crime

Cast

Marc Hayashi

Marc Hayashi

Arthur Weiss

Maryann Urbano

Maryann Urbano

Janes Cosby

Tony Leung Ka-fai

Tony Leung Ka-fai

Joey Cheung

Peter Wang

Peter Wang

Lt. Lu

Joan Copeland

Joan Copeland

Ruth Weiss

Sally Yeh

Sally Yeh

Christopher Curry

Christopher Curry

Officer

Neva Small

Neva Small

Martha Weiss Cheung

Norman Matlock

Norman Matlock

Bam

Eric Payne

Eric Payne

Director: Peter Wang

Frequently Asked Questions

The Laser Man is not currently available to stream, rent, or buy online in the US. Check back later for updates.

With a rating of 5.0/10 from 3 viewers, The Laser Man is a mixed bag - check out reviews to see if it's right for you.

An earnest but easily led young scientist becomes tangled in a criminal scheme when a gang uses his laboratory to prototype a laser weapon. He assumes he is helping with a harmless breakthrough, only to realize how far the mob will go to weaponize his invention. The situation escalates into a diz...

The Laser Man stars Marc Hayashi, Maryann Urbano, Tony Leung Ka-fai, Peter Wang, and Joan Copeland.

The Laser Man was directed by Peter Wang.

The Laser Man was released on September 25, 1988.

The Laser Man is a Comedy and Crime film.

There's no information in the provided data that indicates The Laser Man is based on a true story. The film is described as a crime drama parody about a naive young scientist who unwittingly helps mobsters build a laser weapon and then tries to reclaim it.

Marc Hayashi plays Arthur Weiss in The Laser Man. Arthur Weiss is the naive young scientist at the center of the plot.

Tony Leung Ka-fai plays Joey Cheung. The movie blends crime and comedy as the plot revolves around a laser weapon.

The Laser Man follows a naive young scientist who unwittingly helps mobsters build a laser weapon. He then has to reclaim it from them, in a crime drama parody.