What begins as a tragic romance deepens into a political allegory about chaos and order, and finally softens into a comedic, bittersweet fable about second chances. Together, they represent the pinnacle of Hong Kong’s “flying swordsman” (wuxia) and supernatural horror-romance genres.
The "ghostbusting" Taoist monk with a flying sword.
By 1991, the production team had mastered their custom wirework and optical effects. The third entry features some of the most surreal and visually striking set pieces of the trilogy, emphasizing golden spiritual armor, flying monks, and apocalyptic transformations. The Trilogy's Lasting Influence on Global Cinema
Following the massive critical and commercial success of the original, the creative team reunited three years later for A Chinese Ghost Story II (1990). While the first film was an intimate romance, the sequel shifted gears into an ambitious, action-packed political satire, deeply reflective of the anxieties gripping Hong Kong in the run-up to the 1997 handover. The Plot: A Corrupt Realm A chinese ghost story I II III -1987-1990-1991-...
A bumbling and timid tax collector, Ning Choi-san (Leslie Cheung), seeks shelter in the abandoned Orchid Temple. There, he falls for the ethereal Nie Xiaoqian (Joey Wang), unaware she is a ghost enslaved by a terrifying, thousand-year-old Tree Demon (Lau Siu-ming) with a lethal, elongated tongue. Key Highlights:
: The iconic bathtub scene, Wu Ma’s memorable Taoist rap, and the ethereal, award-winning score by James Wong. Availability : A 4K restored version was released in 2025. A Chinese Ghost Story II (1990)
| Dimension | A Chinese Ghost Story (1987) | A Chinese Ghost Story II (1990) | A Chinese Ghost Story III (1991) | |---|---:|---:|---:| | Story & Screenplay | 9 | 7 | 6–7 | | Direction & Tone | 9 | 7 | 7 | | Visual Style | 9 | 8 | 8 | | Effects & Action | 8 | 8 | 8–9 | | Music & Sound | 9 | 7–8 | 7 | | Performances | 9 | 7–8 | 7 | | Cultural Resonance | 9 | 7 | 6–7 | | Rewatchability | 9 | 7–8 | 7 | | Modern Accessibility | 7 | 7 | 7 | | Overall Enjoyment | 9 | 7.5 | 7 | What begins as a tragic romance deepens into
The films utilized practical effects, such as a giant monster made of the tree demon's tongue, and high-flying wire work that set the standard for the genre.
Produced during the aftermath of the Tiananmen
Michelle Reis as the cold, practical monk-fighter "Moon" is a highlight. The final battle, featuring a giant hollow demon head and massive explosions, is pure Hong Kong insanity. What fails: The magic is diluted. Replacing the unique chemistry of "ghost and scholar" with a "look-alike human" feels like cheating. Leslie Cheung’s Ling is now a screaming coward for 90% of the runtime, which gets exhausting. By 1991, the production team had mastered their
This film established the series' iconic style, loosely based on the classic story "Nie Xiaoqian" from Strange Stories from a Chinese Studio .
The trilogy's success also helped establish Johnnie Yuen and Joey Wong as leading stars in Hong Kong cinema, and their on-screen chemistry remains one of the most iconic in the history of Cantonese film.
A quirky, younger Taoist priest who assists Ning.