To celebrate its 20th anniversary, UA Cinema Circuit organized the "1985-2005 Highest Grossing Film Awards Presentation Ceremony" on December 12, 2005, honoring filmmakers and  production units who have significantly contributed to the Hong Kong film industry in the past twenty years.

 

Awards were given to the highest grossing actors, actresses, directors and the top ten blockbusters based on the cumulative box office figures during the period from 1985 through 2005.

 

Kung Fu Hustle, directed by Stephen Chow Sing Chi, is the highest-grossing Hong Kong film for the past two decades, with a box office of HK$ 61,278,697. Shaolin Soccer, another brilliant work by Stephen Chow, is ranked Number 2.

 

Stephen Chow and Jackie Chan both starred in four of the top ten titles. The remaining two are Infernal Affairs, ranked Number 5, and God of Gamblers' Return, ranked Number 6. The ten highest grossing films from 1985 to 2005 were, in descending order, as follows:

 

 1  Kung Fu Hustle       $ 61,278,697

 2  Shaolin Soccer       $ 60,739,947

 3  Police Story 4: First Strike     $ 57,518,795 

 4  Rumble in the Bronx      $ 56,912,536 

 5  Infernal Affairs       $ 55,063,646

 6  God of Gamblers' Return     $ 52,610,308 

 7  Justice My Foot       $ 50,212,947

 8  All's Well, Ends Well      $ 48,992,188 

 9  Thunderbolt     $ 45,675,610 

 10  Mr. Nice Guy        $ 45,420,457 

 

Besides the top ten blockbusters, the top ten highest grossing actors and actresses were also honored at the ceremony. In descending order, the highest grossing actors include: Andy Lau, Stephen Chow, Chow Yun Fat, Jackie Chan, Tony Leung Chiu Wai, Ekin Cheng Yi Kin, Sean Lau Ching Wan, Tony Leung Ka Fai, Simon Yam Tat Wah and Louis Koo Tin Lok.

 

The "highly productive" Andy Lau, having starred  in 108 films, generated the highest cumulative box-office income (HK$ 1,733,275,816). He beat Stephen Chow, who is ranked Number 2 with a record of HK$ 1,317,452,311, by a difference of over HK$ 400 million. Ranking Number 3 is Jackie Chan who generated HK$ 894,090,962. Chow Yun Fat's record is about HK$ 800 million. While Ekin Cheng Yi Kin, Sean Lau Ching Wan and Tony Leung Ka Fai each have a record of about HK$ 500 million, Simon Yam Tat Wah and Louis Koo Tin Lok each generated about HK$ 200 million.

 

As for the actresses, the top three are, in descending order, Sandra Ng Kwan Yu, Maggie Cheung Man Yuk and Anita Mui Yim Fong. Also honored at the ceremony were Rosamund Kwan Chi Lam, Carina Lau Ka Ling, Sammi Cheng Sau Man, Cecilia Cheung, Gigi Leung and Anita Yueng and Carol Cheng (a.k.a. Dodo Cheng). Sandra Ng, who has amassed a total of HK$ 714,854,977 at the box office, beat Maggie Cheung by a narrow margin . Anita Mui Yim Fong's films have generated HK$ 600 million. Rosamund Kwan Chi Lam's record is about HK$ 500 million. While Carina Lau Ka Ling and Sammi Cheng Sau Man each generated about HK$ 400 million, Cecilia Cheung and Gigi Leung each set a record of about HK$ 300 million.

 

Another focus of the ceremony was the highest grossing director award. It went to Wong Jing, whose total box office income has amounted to HK$ 1,037,516,695. His God of Gamblers' Return is ranked Number 6 in the top ten list. Wong Jing mentioned that his cumulative box office income had already reached HK$ 600 million ten years ago, making him the highest grossing director at that time.

 

He lamented that the popular Hong Kong directors nowadays are all over 40 years old, as young directors are not courageous enough to face the box office figures. "Whenever the box office is not doing well, they say they are making an art film," said Wong. He encourages young directors to make more creative movies.

 

(hkfilmart January 5, 2006)