Hong Kong filmmaker Stephen Chow faces criticism for ‘lack of creativity’

Hong Kong filmmaker Stephen Chow. Photo from Chow's fanpage Facebook

According to the Securities Times, the 62-year-old filmmaker’s latest release, a remake of his 1996 film "God of Cookery," opened in Chinese theaters in early September, earning a modest 6 million yuan (US$845,845) in revenues.

In addition to this, early September saw the announcement of Chow’s new short film project "Great Journey to the West," which closely resembles his 1995 film "A Chinese Odyssey." In this project, Chow steps into the role of producer.

It is reported that he is also planning an animated adaptation of "God of Cookery."

Chow’s projects in recent years focus on revisiting themes from his earlier films, including a 2019 remake of his 1999 movie "The King of Comedy" and the 2017 sequel "Journey to the West: Conquering the Demons 2," part of his "A Chinese Odyssey" series.

As reported by Sina Finance, these remakes have prompted numerous critiques regarding his creativity, with comments ranging from "lacking innovation" to "clinging to the past" and being "outdated." On Weibo, many fans have expressed their desire for Chow to return to acting or to pursue more original projects.

Chow has acknowledged his propensity for revisiting past themes. At a 2019 promotional event for "The King of Comedy" remake, he reflected: "I have experienced both the bitterness and sweetness of life, but actually, my time has passed."

Despite this, Chow continues to set ambitious goals for himself. His most awaited upcoming release is "The Mermaid 2," which was reportedly completed two years ago but withheld due to Chow’s dissatisfaction with the final product. Director Wang Jing notes that given the lackluster performance of Chow’s recent films, there is significant pressure on this next venture. Wang is hopeful that "The Mermaid 2" will mark a new high point in Chow’s career.

Presently, Chow is concentrating on short films and collaborations with major Chinese video platforms, which has significantly boosted the stock value of his company. Between Sep. 8-12, his assets saw an increase exceeding HK$100 million (US$12.8 million).

Chow began his career as an extra at Hong Kong’s Rediffusion Television, moving to TVB in 1982 where he made his acting debut in 1988 with "Final Justice," a role that won him the Golden Horse Award for Best Supporting Actor.

He transitioned to film directing in 1994, achieving fame with hits like "Shaolin Soccer," "Kungfu Hustle," and "Journey to the West: Conquering the Demons," which became the highest-grossing Chinese film at its release, as reported by The Hollywood Reporter.

According to East Movie, during the 1990s, pirated discs played a crucial role in introducing Chow’s work to audiences beyond Hong Kong, in countries like Thailand, Vietnam, Mainland China, and Malaysia, making him a household name. His unique blend of creativity, relatable character portrayals, goofy acting style, and somewhat "vulgar" humor resonated with the youth. With the advent of the internet, Chow’s influence continued to grow, particularly among students.

His 2016 film "The Mermaid" became a global sensation, earning over US$550 million and setting a record as the highest-grossing film in the history of the Chinese box office until it was surpassed by "Wolf Warrior 2" the following year. Since then, Chow has not produced any major works.