Hong Kong New Wave Essentials Blu-ray Boxset Announced by Shout! Studios
Shout! Studios has unveiled the Hong Kong New Wave Essentials Blu-ray Boxset, a limited edition collection celebrating one of the most transformative movements in Asian cinema. Limited to only 2,500 units, this 3-disc set is available exclusively through ShoutFactory.com. Customers who order direct will also receive an exclusive 18” x 24” rolled poster featuring newly commissioned artwork while supplies last.
This release joins a wave of major Hong Kong and Asian cinema titles arriving on disc in late 2025, including City on Fire from Arrow Video, Arrow Video’s Shawscope Volume Four, and John Woo’s The Killer 4K UHD from Shout! Studios.
The Hong Kong New Wave
The Hong Kong New Wave emerged in the late 1970s, led by a new generation of filmmakers who combined Eastern traditions with Western cinematic techniques. This movement expanded the boundaries of genre and established Hong Kong as a powerhouse in the global film industry.
The new box set collects three pivotal films: Alex Law’s "Painted Faces" (1988), Johnnie To’s "The Story of My Son" (1990), and Stanley Kwan’s "Women" (1985). Together they showcase the artistry of Hong Kong legends such as Sammo Hung, Chow Yun-fat, Damian Lau, and Cheng Pei-pei.
Painted Faces (1988)
"Painted Faces" recounts the early training of Jackie Chan, Sammo Hung, and their peers in a Peking Opera school. Sammo Hung delivers a moving portrayal of his own troupe master, while Cheng Pei-pei shines as a Cantonese opera star. The film dominated the 1988 Hong Kong Film Awards and the Golden Horse Awards, winning Hung two Best Actor prizes.
- Video/Audio: 1080p HD, 1.85:1 aspect ratio, Cantonese DTS-HD MA Mono
- Runtime: 112 minutes
The Story of My Son (1990)
Johnnie To, in collaboration with Wei Chia-hui, directs this poignant drama about a widowed father (Damian Lau) struggling with debt and personal tragedy. Child stars Huang Kun-hsuan and Cheng Pak-lam were both awarded Best Child Performer at the Asia Pacific Film Festival for their roles.
- Video/Audio: 1080p HD, 1.85:1 aspect ratio, Cantonese DTS-HD MA Mono
- Runtime: 78 minutes
Women (1985)
Stanley Kwan’s directorial debut follows Cora Miao as a woman who joins a “Spinsters’ Club” after discovering her husband, played by Chow Yun-fat, is unfaithful. Beneath its surface of camaraderie, the film explores longing, heartbreak, and independence, marking Kwan as a vital new voice in Hong Kong cinema.
- Video/Audio: 1080p HD, 1.85:1 aspect ratio, Cantonese DTS-HD MA Mono
- Runtime: 95 minutes
Bonus features
Disc One: Painted Faces
- New commentary with Frank Djeng and F.J. DeSanto
- Interview with co-writer Mabel Cheung (“Painted Provocations”)
- Interview with critic David West on Sammo Hung (“A Formidable Face”)
- Discussion with historians John Kreng and Ric Meyers (“Brush Strokes”)
- Trailer
Disc Two: The Story of My Son
- New commentary by James Mudge (easternKicks)
- Interview with John Kreng and Ric Meyers (“The Story Behind My Son”)
- Celestial trailer
Disc Three: Women
- New commentary by James Mudge (easternKicks)
- Interviews: Fung Chi Fung (“A Woman’s World”), Victor Fan (“Female Problems”), Lin Feng (“Hong Kong Romance”), John Kreng & Ric Meyers (“Jade Vases”)
- Celestial trailer
The Hong Kong New Wave Essentials Blu-ray Boxset preserves three foundational works that defined the creative surge of 1980s and 1990s Hong Kong cinema. With a limited run of 2,500 units, new bonus features, and an exclusive poster, this set is a must-own release for collectors and cinephiles alike.
The December and November slate of physical media is packed for Hong Kong fans, with Eureka’s Triple Threat: Three Films With Sammo Hung Blu-ray and Shout! Studios’ A Better Tomorrow Trilogy 4K UHD rounding out an already landmark season for Hong Kong cinema on disc.
Preorders for Hong Kong New Wave Essentials are now live at ShoutFactory.com.