Once a Thief
Seen it?1991 | 108 min | Action, Comedy, Thriller, Crime
Weeknight Watchearly ratingWhy it’s a Weeknight Watch
With soft box office and little lasting buzz, it's a mixed bag. Fine if it's on; don't plan your night around it.
Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.Is it for you?
- Who'll love it
- Made for crime fans, anyone who likes to be kept guessing and anyone who wants a laugh.
- The mood
- Light and funny, tense.
- The pace
- Fast-moving, at 1 hr 48 min.
- What might put you off
- Rated R: meant for adults.
- It's in Cantonese, so expect subtitles (or a dub).
Three orphans grow up to become art thieves under the tutelage of a crime boss. Romance complicates matters when the trio are double-crossed.
How it earned its rating
- CriticsSolid
60% on Rotten Tomatoes
- AudiencesSolid
6.9 out of 10
- AwardsWeak
0 wins and 4 nominations from smaller awards and festivals
- Box office & staying powerBelow par
$4 million worldwide; still draws a steady audience long after release
- Buzz & cultural impactBelow par
About 49K people sought it out in the past year
Trailer
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Cast & crew
Directed by John Woo
- Chow Yun-FatRed Bean Puddin / Joe
- Leslie Cheung Kwok-wingJames / Jim
- Cherie Chung Cho-HungRed Bean / Cherie
- Paul Chu KongChu / Godfather
- Kenneth TsangChow / Dad
- Woo FungMr. Cheung
- Pierre Yves BurtonMr. Burton
- John Tang Yat-kwanYoung Red Bean Pudding / Young Joe
- Tong Ka-FaiYoung James / Young Jim
- Leila TongYoung Red Bean / Young Cherie