John Woo, Chow Yun-fat Classics Among 156-Film Golden Princess Library Acquired by Shout! Studios (EXCLUSIVE)

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In an exciting development, Shout! Studios has acquired global distribution rights (excepting certain Asian regions) for the legendary Golden Princess film collection, a hoard of 156 classic action movies from Hong Kong that have been absent in Western markets for many years.

This agreement unites a prominent independent studio from Hollywood with one of the most esteemed collections in Hong Kong cinema. It encompasses groundbreaking productions directed by John Woo and Tsui Hark, as well as movies headlined by celebrities like Chow Yun-fat, Tony Leung Chiu-wai, and Leslie Cheung.

This collection’s prized possessions feature iconic action films such as “Hard Boiled” and “The Killer,” both by Woo, the entire “Better Tomorrow” series, “Bullet in the Head” and “Once a Thief.” Moreover, it houses other gems like Ringo Lam’s “City on Fire” and its sequel, “Prison on Fire,” Eric Tsang’s “Aces Go Places,” Tsui’s “Peking Opera Blues,” the trilogy of “Chinese Ghost Story” by Tony Ching, as well as hits like “Peace Hotel” by Wai Ka-fai, “The Big Heat” by Andrew Kam and Johnnie To, and “Now You See It, Now You Don’t” by Alex Law.

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The highlights of this collection are action masterpieces such as “Hard Boiled,” “The Killer,” the entire “Better Tomorrow” trilogy, “Bullet in the Head” and “Once a Thief.” It also includes other notable films like Ringo Lam’s “City on Fire” and its sequel, “Prison on Fire,” Eric Tsang’s “Aces Go Places,” Tsui’s “Peking Opera Blues,” the trilogy of “Chinese Ghost Story” by Tony Ching, as well as hits like Wai Ka-fai’s “Peace Hotel,” Andrew Kam and Johnnie To’s “The Big Heat,” and Alex Law’s “Now You See It, Now You Don’t.”)

Movies that ruled the screens during Hong Kong’s cinematic golden era of the 80s and 90s have made a lasting impact on Hollywood, influencing works ranging from Quentin Tarantino’s body of work to the “Matrix” and “John Wick” series.

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During the 80s and 90s, when Hong Kong was experiencing its cinematic golden age, certain movies held sway over the screens. These films left an indelible impression on Hollywood, influencing everything from Quentin Tarantino’s filmography to “The Matrix” and “John Wick” series.

Or:

In the 80s and 90s, when Hong Kong was in its cinematic prime, certain films were particularly popular. These movies made a deep impression on Hollywood, inspiring works such as Quentin Tarantino’s oeuvre and the “Matrix” and “John Wick” franchises.

Or:

Back in the 80s and 90s, when Hong Kong was at its cinematic best, some films stood out. These movies left a lasting impact on Hollywood, inspiring works like Quentin Tarantino’s filmography and the “Matrix” and “John Wick” series.

Or:

During the 80s and 90s, Hong Kong was in its cinematic heyday, and certain films took center stage on screens. These movies left a lasting mark on Hollywood, inspiring everything from Quentin Tarantino’s body of work to the “Matrix” and “John Wick” series.

Or:

In the 80s and 90s, Hong Kong was at the pinnacle of its cinematic achievements, with some films leading the charge on screens. These movies left a lasting impression on Hollywood, inspiring works ranging from Quentin Tarantino’s oeuvre to the “Matrix” and “John Wick” series.

Or:

In the 80s and 90s, Hong Kong was in its cinematic zenith, with certain films leading the pack on screens. These movies left a lasting impact on Hollywood, influencing everything from Quentin Tarantino’s filmography to the “Matrix” and “John Wick” series.

Or:

Back in the 80s and 90s, Hong Kong was at its cinematic peak, with some films dominating screens. These movies left a lasting impression on Hollywood, inspiring works such as Quentin Tarantino’s oeuvre and the “Matrix” and “John Wick” series.

Or:

During the 80s and 90s, Hong Kong was in its cinematic apogee, with certain films ruling the screens. These movies left a lasting mark on Hollywood, inspiring everything from Quentin Tarantino’s body of work to the “Matrix” and “John Wick” series.

Or:

In the 80s and 90s, Hong Kong was at its cinematic apex, with some films holding sway on screens. These movies left a lasting impression on Hollywood, influencing everything from Quentin Tarantino’s filmography to the “Matrix” and “John Wick” series.

The significant purchase agreement was negotiated by David McIntosh, Jordan Fields, and Taylor Devorsky from Shout! Studios, along with Dickson Lai and Ronald Chu who represented Golden Princess Amusement Co., Ltd., acting on behalf of the sellers.

Shout’s Fields, our senior VP for acquisitions and originals, remarked, “This is a major project indeed.” The Golden Princess, like Shaw Brothers and Golden Harvest, holds a significant place in the history of Hong Kong cinema. However, unlike its counterparts, the Golden Princess library has been mostly inactive outside of Asia for many years. Yet, it has left indelible marks on contemporary action and crime film genres. Our ambition is to resurrect these legendary films, giving them a global audience once more, enhancing Shout!’s expanding collection of acclaimed Asian movies.

Lai, as the head of Kowloon Development Company Ltd., which oversees Golden Princess, commented: “The collection of movies at Golden Princess resembles the sword in the stone. It’s Shout! that has the power to unveil its hidden abilities.

The agreement guarantees a treat for enthusiasts of this particular genre, as Shout! intends to rework certain films by Woo and potentially re-release some old favorites in cinemas again. Fields stated, “We have grand ambitions for home video releases. We are well aware of our audience and plan to cater extensively to them.

Moving past traditional formats, these treasures from Hong Kong will now stream on Shout! TV, the digital entertainment hub of the company. Here, they’ll enjoy exclusive programming such as marathon viewings and special events.

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2025-01-13 19:17