The life and work of Wong Kar-wai: every film in order, from As Tears Go By to The Grandmaster
Who is Wong Kar-wai? His life and every film in order, from Chungking Express and Happy Together to In the Mood for Love and The Grandmaster, with his awards, his style and where to start.
Wong Kar-wai is a Hong Kong director and screenwriter, born on July 17, 1958, in Shanghai. He made Chungking Express, Happy Together and In the Mood for Love, and is known for films about longing, memory and missed connections, shot with saturated color and a restless camera. This guide follows his career film by film, with posters, so you can see where to start.
Wong Kar-wai at a glance
- Born: July 17, 1958, in Shanghai, China (raised in Hong Kong from age five)
- Known for: Chungking Express, Happy Together, In the Mood for Love, 2046 and The Grandmaster
- Signature: longing and missed connections, saturated color, slow motion, music as a mood and scripts built while shooting
- Honors: Best Director at Cannes for Happy Together and the lead actor prize at Cannes for Tony Leung in In the Mood for Love; he was president of the Cannes jury in 2006
Early life and career
Wong moved from Shanghai to Hong Kong at age five. He studied graphic design and worked as a television screenwriter before directing As Tears Go By in 1988. He works without a finished script, writing scenes as the shoot goes on, and often with cinematographer Christopher Doyle and actors Tony Leung and Maggie Cheung.
The films, era by era
As Tears Go By (1988)
A small-time gangster in Hong Kong protects his reckless friend while falling for a cousin. Wong's debut, already full of neon and sadness.
Days of Being Wild (1990)
A charming young man in 1960 Hong Kong breaks the hearts of those around him. The film that set up his visual style and the later 1960s trilogy.
Chungking Express (1994)
Two lovelorn Hong Kong policemen and two women, in a pair of short stories. A pop, playful classic with the song California Dreamin' in the air.
Ashes of Time (1994)
A swordsman-for-hire and the people who come to him, in a martial arts film more about memory than combat. It was shot in the desert and later restored.
Fallen Angels (1995)
A hitman, his partner and the people they brush past in Hong Kong at night. A neon companion piece to Chungking Express, shot with wide-angle lenses.
Happy Together (1997)
Two men from Hong Kong go to Buenos Aires and their love comes apart. Wong won Best Director at Cannes for this film.
In the Mood for Love (2000)
In 1962 Hong Kong, two neighbors, played by Tony Leung and Maggie Cheung, discover their spouses are having an affair and grow close. A slow, elegant story of restraint, often ranked among the greatest films ever made.
2046 (2004)
A writer in the 1960s remembers the women in his life as he writes a science fiction story. A dreamy, futuristic sequel in spirit to In the Mood for Love.
My Blueberry Nights (2007)
A woman travels across the United States and meets lonely people along the way, with Norah Jones in her first film role. Wong's English-language film.
The Grandmaster (2013)
The story of Ip Man, teacher of Bruce Lee, and the kung fu masters of his era, with Tony Leung. It earned two Oscar nominations, for cinematography and costume design.
Wong Kar-wai movies in order
- As Tears Go By (1988)
- Days of Being Wild (1990)
- Chungking Express (1994)
- Ashes of Time (1994)
- Fallen Angels (1995)
- Happy Together (1997)
- In the Mood for Love (2000)
- 2046 (2004)
- My Blueberry Nights (2007)
- The Grandmaster (2013)
What defines a Wong Kar-wai film?
- Longing. His characters meet at the wrong time or in the wrong place, and love is almost always unspoken.
- Color and motion. Neon, rain, slow motion and blurred streaks, shot with Christopher Doyle and Mark Lee Ping Bin.
- Music as a feeling. A song can return again and again until it becomes the film's heartbeat.
Frequently asked questions about Wong Kar-wai
Who is Wong Kar-wai?
Wong Kar-wai is a Hong Kong director and screenwriter, born on July 17, 1958, in Shanghai. He made Chungking Express, Happy Together and In the Mood for Love, and is known for films about longing, memory and missed connections, shot with saturated color and a restless camera. This guide follows his career film by film, with posters, so you can see where to start.
When and where was Wong Kar-wai born?
Wong Kar-wai was born on July 17, 1958, in Shanghai and moved to Hong Kong at age five.
What is Wong Kar-wai's best movie?
Most critics and fans choose In the Mood for Love, and Chungking Express is the favorite of many. There is no single answer, so rate them on Rankiew and build your own ranking.
Which Wong Kar-wai movie should I watch first?
Start with In the Mood for Love for his most beloved film, Chungking Express for a lighter and quirkier mood and Happy Together for an intense love story.
Did Wong Kar-wai win the Oscar for Best Director?
No. Wong Kar-wai has not been nominated for Best Director, although his film The Grandmaster earned two Oscar nominations, for cinematography and costume design. He won Best Director at Cannes for Happy Together.
Rate every Wong Kar-wai movie
Which one is your favorite? On Rankiew you can rate every film, write reviews and build your own list of Wong Kar-wai movies.
Sources: official studio releases, filmographies and public records.
