Famous Scenes from Your Favourite Movies Filmed in Hong Kong

Marrying glamour and glitz with tropical sensibility, Hong Kong acts as a carousel of compelling backdrops made for the silver screen. The highly saturated vintage spill of the city as seen in popular films from Hong Kong’s cinematic heyday, and in the cyberpunk worlds of the imagined future, all find their homes within our little island.

From local fan-favourites to iconic scenes straight from Hollywood. Here are The Beat Asia’s top picks for films set or shot in Hong Kong.

Hong Kong Film Locations

Infernal Affairs

Opening with the Ten Thousand Buddhas Monastery, the critically acclaimed ‘Infernal Affairs’ kicks off with an ominously tense introduction scene that sets the tone for the rest of the film. As the young Lau Kin-ming is briefed by Triad boss Hon Sam to infiltrate the police, the surrounding Buddhas leave a burning impact on the audience.

Johnny English Reborn

Johnny English gets back into action in ‘Johnny English Reborn’. This time, taking a short pitstop in Hong Kong to recover a key to a world-ending secret weapon. English pursues an acrobatic assassin in the Yau Ma Tei Typhoon Shelter Bay, enveloped in bamboo scaffolding.

Police Story

Among the most memorable moments of Jackie Chan’s career was the fight sequence in ‘Police Story’, where a climactic brawl unfolds at Wing On Plaza. This infamous stunt sees Jackie sliding down a pole adorned with lights. Due to the film's popularity and the desire of some enthusiasts to recreate the stunt, safety barriers have been implemented to prevent any recreations of the daring endeavour.

Rush Hour

In another Jackie Chan classic, the ‘Rush Hour’ series sees buddy cops Lee and James in Causeway Bay Typhoon Shelter or overlooking the glitzy skyline from Victoria Peak. In the second instalment, Carter is seen on Graham Street, and Tai Wo Steet, as his partner flips and whips down bamboo scaffolding.

Contagion

Steven Soderbergh's gripping pandemic-inspired thriller ‘Contagion’ took a worldwide approach, but it prominently featured key moments in Hong Kong. Particularly noteworthy were the scenes revealing the origin of the enigmatic infection – a callback to the 2002 SARS outbreak. Soderbergh chose to film casino sequences at the late Jumbo Floating Restaurant that used to occupy the Aberdeen Channel, with other scenes at Hong Kong’s Prince Margaret Hospital and airport.

The Dark Knight Rises

Hong Kong, with its gleaming steel and glass structures, has emerged as an irresistible attraction for Hollywood filmmakers seeking to add a distinctive touch to their power-packed urban scenes. In 2008, the movie The Dark Knight chose Hong Kong as the backdrop for a crucial scene showcasing Batman's capture of the mob accountant, Lau.

Chungking Express

In his fourth feature film, created in 1994, Wong crafts a poignant love letter to Chungking Mansions, located in Tsim Sha Tsui. This 17-story labyrinthine complex, constructed during the 1960s, serves as a symbolic representation of the bustling urban environment where individuals coexist in proximity, while ironically experiencing profound loneliness and isolation.

Ghost in the Shell

Hong Kong gave an Asian touch to the Hollywood adaptation of Masamune Shirow’s ‘Ghost in the Shell’, creating the fictitious and highly advanced metropolis of mid-21st century Japan. There are many recognisable locations that have been retouched with visual effects to add spunk and flavour to the cyberpunk world of New Port City.

How many of these iconic Hong Kong landmarks and locations do you recognize? Make the city your backdrop at one of Hong Kong's most Instagrammable buildings.