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.
Films Film HK release date Director(s) Screenwriter(s) Producer(s) The White Storm Benny Chan Benny ChanManfred WongRam LingWong ChunTam Wai-ching Benny ChanAlvin LamWendy WongStephen Lam The White Storm 2: Drug Lords Herman Yau Herman YauErica LeeEric Lee Andy LauAlvin LamEsther KooWong Chun-kei The White Storm 3: Heaven or Hell Herman Yau
The White Storm (2013)
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)
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)
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 Cast 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-yuenSean Lau Ma Ho-tin Hong So-chaiNick Cheung Cheung Chi-wai Andy Lau Yu Shun-tin Aaron Kwok Cheung Kin-hangYuan Quan Chloe Yuan 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 Lam Ching-fung Karena Lam Michelle ChowKent Cheng Yu Nam Gordon Lam Secretary for Justice of Hong KongChrissie Chau May Chan Cherrie Ying Fong Yau-kaMichelle Wai Apple TseJun Kung Cho TaiMC 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 Undisclosed roleTse Kwan-ho Alex Fong Power Chan Timmy Hung Wilfred Lau Lam Suet Kumer So James Kazama
Additional crew Film Crew/Detail Composer(s) Cinematographer Editor(s) Productioncompanies Distributingcompany Running time The White Storm Nicolas Errèra Anthony PunChan Kwok-Hung Yau Chi-wai Universe Entertainment Sun Entertainment Culture Limited Bona International Film Group Sil-Metropole Organisation Golala Investment Limited Universe Films Distribution Gala Film Distribution 134 minutes The White Storm 2: Drug Lords Mak Chun Hung Joe Chan Azrael Chung Universe EntertainmentSil-Metropole OrganisationGuangdong Sublime MediaFocus FilmsSun Entertainment CultureYinming Culture CommunicationHero Films 100 minutes The White Storm 3: Heaven or Hell TBA Universe EntertainmentHero FilmsLian Ray PicturesAMDT Digital MediaSun Entertainment Culture
Music 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.
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.
Reception 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.
Box office performance Film Release date Hong Kong box office gross Worldwide box office gross Budget Reference The White Storm HK$31,938,819 US$44,670,277 US$16,000,000 The White Storm 2: Drug Lords HK$24,813,706 US$200,000,000 US$25,000,000 The White Storm 3: Heaven or Hell Total HK$ US$ US$
Critical response Film Rotten Tomatoes MetacriticThe White Storm N/A (2 reviews) The White Storm 2: Drug Lords 57% (7 reviews) The White Storm 3: Heaven or Hell
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