The White Storm (film series)

The White Storm is a Hong Kong action film series of three films. The films are unrelated to one another in storyline but feature common central themes involving drug trafficking, brotherhood and the Narcotics Bureau of the Hong Kong Police Force. The first film, The White Storm, written and directed by Benny Chan and starring Sean Lau, Louis Koo and Nick Cheung was released in 2013. The second film, The White Storm 2: Drug Lords, written and directed by Herman Yau and starring Andy Lau and Koo was released in 2019. The third film, The White Storm 3: Heaven or Hell also written and directed by Yau and starring Koo, Sean Lau and Aaron Kwok was released on 27 July 2023.

The White Storm
Blu-ray disc cover of the box set containing the first two films
Traditional Chinese掃毒系列
Simplified Chinese扫毒系列
Literal meaningDrug Sweep
Hanyu PinyinSǎo Dú Xì Liè
JyutpingSou3 Deok6 Hai6 Lit6
Directed byBenny Chan
Herman Yau
Written byBenny Chan
Manfred Wong
Ram Ling
Wong Chun
Tam Wai-ching
Herman Yau
Erica Li
Eric Lee
Produced byAndy Lau
Benny Chan
Alvin Lam
Wendy Wong
Stephen Lam
Esther Koo
Wong Chun-kei
StarringAndy Lau
Aaron Kwok
Louis Koo
Sean Lau
Nick Cheung
CinematographyAnthony Pun
Chan Kwok-Hung
Joe Chan
Edited byYau Chi-wai
Azrael Chung
Music byNicolas Errèra
Mak Chun Hung
Production
companies
Universe Entertainment
Sil-Metropole Organisation
Bona Film Group
Guangdong Sublime Media
Focus Films
Sun Entertainment Culture
Yinming Culture Communication
Hero Films
Golala Investment
Lian Ray Pictures
AMDT Digital Media
Distributed byUniverse Films Distribution (Hong Kong, Worldwide)
Gala Film Distribution (Hong Kong)
Release date
2013-present
Running time
234 minutes
CountryHong Kong
LanguageCantonese
BudgetUS$41 million
Box officeUS$244.7 million

Films

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Film HK release date Director(s) Screenwriter(s) Producer(s)
The White Storm 5 December 2013 (2013-12-05) Benny Chan Benny Chan
Manfred Wong
Ram Ling
Wong Chun
Tam Wai-ching
Benny Chan
Alvin Lam
Wendy Wong
Stephen Lam
The White Storm 2: Drug Lords 16 July 2019 (2019-07-16) Herman Yau Herman Yau
Erica Lee
Eric Lee
Andy Lau
Alvin Lam
Esther Koo
Wong Chun-kei
The White Storm 3: Heaven or Hell 27 July 2023 (2023-07-27) Herman Yau TBA

The White Storm (2013)

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The White Storm is the first film in the series, which tells the story of three childhood friends Ma Ho-tin, So Kin-chow and Cheung Chi-wai who are police officers of the Narcotics Bureau of the Hong Kong Police Force, with Kin-chow going undercover to infiltrate drug dealers while Ho-tin and Chi-wai back him up. The trio has solved numerous cases over the years. After of years of investigation, they finally have the chance to crack down Thai drug lord Eight-Faced Buddha's den. During their face-off, the trio were ambushed by the Eight-Faced Buddha, who captures Kin-chow and Chi-wai while Ho-tin holds Eight-Faced Buddha's daughter, Mina, hostage and Ho-tin is forced to choose only one of his friends to leave with him alive.

The White Storm 2: Drug Lords (2019)

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The White Storm 2: Drug Lords is a thematic sequel in-title-only to The White Storm. In the quadripartite drug market in Hong Kong, drug dealer Jizo (Louis Koo) gradually expands in collaboration with some Mexican drug lords across the border, followed by a chain of dog-eat-dog events which shock and bring the whole trade on high alert. On the other hand, Yu Shun-tin (Andy Lau), a former triad member who is now a financial tycoon, is offering a bounty to eliminate the number one drug dealer in Hong Kong, which causes a stir in society. Police officer Fung (Michael Miu) intends to arrest Jizo, but is now responsible for protecting Jizo instead due to the bounty. A final battle has broken out between the two tycoons who were once lesser-known brothers from the same triad.

The White Storm 3: Heaven or Hell (2023)

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The White Storm 3: Heaven or Hell is a thematic sequel in-title-only to The White Storm 2: Drug Lords. Undercover police officer Cheung Kin-hang has been infiltrating drug lord Hong So-chai's cartel. One time during an accident, another undercover officer Au Chi-yuen also earns the trust of both Cheung and Hong and the three of them form a brotherly bond. When Hong's narcotics businesses in Hong Kong were busted by the police, he flees to the Golden Triangle with Cheung and Au. However, by chance he receives a tip-off that an undercover cop is secretly hiding around him.

Cast and crew

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Cast

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Cast The White Storm (2013) The White Storm 2: Drug Lords (2019) The White Storm 3: Heaven or Hell (2023)
Louis Koo So Kin-chow Fung Chun-kwok (Jizo) Au Chi-yuen
Sean Lau Ma Ho-tin  N Hong So-chai
Nick Cheung Cheung Chi-wai  N
Andy Lau  N Yu Shun-tin  N
Aaron Kwok  N Cheung Kin-hang
Yuan Quan Chloe Yuan  N
Lo Hoi-pang Eight-Faced Buddha
Berg Ng Wong Shun-yik
Ken Lo Bobby
Treechada Petcharat Mina Wei
Law Lan Chi-wai's mother
Marc Ma Dune Kun
Xing Yu Kanit
Lee Siu-kei Kei
Vithaya Pansringarm Mr. Choowit
Michael Miu  N Lam Ching-fung  N
Karena Lam Michelle Chow
Kent Cheng Yu Nam
Gordon Lam Secretary for Justice of Hong Kong
Chrissie Chau May Chan
Cherrie Ying Fong Yau-ka
Michelle Wai Apple Tse
Jun Kung Cho Tai
MC Jin Cho Ping
Elena Kong Cheung Ching
Lau Kong Cheung Chi-ming
Halina Tam Siu Ka-man
Gill Mohindepaul Singh Abbas Abraham
Philippe Joly Josef
Gallen Lo  N Undisclosed role
Tse Kwan-ho
Alex Fong
Power Chan
Timmy Hung
Wilfred Lau
Lam Suet
Kumer So
James Kazama

Additional crew

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Film Crew/Detail
Composer(s) Cinematographer Editor(s) Production
companies
Distributing
company
Running time
The White Storm Nicolas Errèra Anthony Pun
Chan Kwok-Hung
Yau Chi-wai Universe Entertainment
Sun Entertainment Culture Limited
Bona International Film Group
Sil-Metropole Organisation
Golala Investment Limited
Universe Films Distribution (Hong Kong, Worldwide)
Gala Film Distribution (Hong Kong)
134 minutes
The White Storm 2: Drug Lords Mak Chun Hung Joe Chan Azrael Chung Universe Entertainment
Sil-Metropole Organisation
Guangdong Sublime Media
Focus Films
Sun Entertainment Culture
Yinming Culture Communication
Hero Films
100 minutes
The White Storm 3: Heaven or Hell TBA Universe Entertainment
Hero Films
Lian Ray Pictures
AMDT Digital Media
Sun Entertainment Culture
TBA

Music

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The score for The White Storm was composed, orchestrated, conducted and produced by Nicolas Errèra while the theme song, Tacit for Life (心照一生) was composed, arranged and performed by RubberBand, who also co-produced the song it with Benny Chan and co-wrote the lyrics with Tim Lui. The film's insert theme is a cover of the 1978 song, Swear to Enter the Blade Mountain (誓要入刀山), composed by Joseph Koo, with lyrics written by James Wong and performed by Adam Cheng. The cover version was re-arranged and performed by RubberBand.[a]

The score for The White Storm 2: Drug Lords was composed by Mak Chun Hung while the theme song, Brotherhood (兄弟不懷疑) was composed and arranged by Jacky Cai with lyrics written by Andy Lau, who also co-performed the song with Louis Koo, while Jacky Chan produced the song. The film's insert theme song, Wayward One was composed and performed by Jillian Rae, who also wrote the lyrics.[b]

Reception

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The first two films were box office successes while receiving mixed reviews. The first film received seven nominations at the 33rd Hong Kong Film Awards while the second film received four nominations at the 39th Hong Kong Film Awards and won the Best Visual Effects award. The second film was also selected as the Hong Kong entry for the Best International Feature Film at the 92nd Academy Awards, but did not make it to the final nomination.[1]

Box office performance

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Film Release date Hong Kong box office gross Worldwide box office gross Budget Reference
The White Storm 5 December 2013 (2013-12-05) HK$31,938,819 US$44,670,277 US$16,000,000 [2][3]
The White Storm 2: Drug Lords 16 July 2019 (2019-07-16) HK$24,813,706 US$200,000,000 US$25,000,000 [4][5][6]
The White Storm 3: Heaven or Hell 27 July 2023 (2023-07-27) TBA
Total HK$56,752,525 US$244,670,277 US$41,000,000

Critical response

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Film Rotten Tomatoes Metacritic
The White Storm N/A (2 reviews)[7]
The White Storm 2: Drug Lords 57% (7 reviews)[8]
The White Storm 3: Heaven or Hell TBA

Notes

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  1. ^ End credits of The White Storm
  2. ^ End credits of The White Storm 2: Drug Lords

References

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  1. ^ Chu, Karen (23 September 2019). "Oscars: Hong Kong Selects 'The White Storm 2' for International Feature Film Category".
  2. ^ "Sean Lau, Louis Koo, and Nick Cheung's "The White Storm" Trailer – JayneStars.com".
  3. ^ "The White Storm - Box Office Mojo".
  4. ^ Shackleton, Liz (18 March 2018). "Filmart: Universe whips up sequels to 'The White Storm', 'Shock Wave' (exclusive)". Screen Daily. Retrieved 1 November 2022.
  5. ^ "香港市道差 2019年電影總票房下跌1.75% - 香港經濟日報 - 即時新聞頻道 - 商業". inews.hket.com.
  6. ^ "劉德華涉嫌『抄襲』?!導演對《掃毒2》求償4.3億!還扯出《我的少女時代》?法院證實已『立案』!". hk.news.yahoo.com.
  7. ^ "The White Storm". Rotten Tomatoes.
  8. ^ "The White Storm 2: Drug Lords". Rotten Tomatoes.