# Black Mask 2: City of Masks
**Black Mask 2: City of Masks** (黑俠2) is a 2002 science-fiction action film directed by [Tsui Hark](https://www.edgepedia.org/tsui-hark), in which the masked vigilante Black Mask, played by Andy On, fights a terrorist plot to detonate a DNA bomb that would permanently alter human genetics. It is a sequel to the 1999 film *Black Mask*, in which [Jet Li](https://www.edgepedia.org/jet-li) played the title role, and Andy On takes over the part.[1](https://www.sonypictures.com/movies/blackmask2cityofmasks)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Release | 2002; Hong Kong theatrical release 9 January 2003, Japan 13 September 2003[2](https://kungfutube.info/22905) |
| Director and choreography | Tsui Hark, with martial arts choreography by Yuen Wo Ping[1](https://www.sonypictures.com/movies/blackmask2cityofmasks) |
| Lead | Andy On as Black Mask, replacing Jet Li from the 1999 film[1](https://www.sonypictures.com/movies/blackmask2cityofmasks) |
| Plot | Black Mask searches for a cure for the genetic abnormality behind his powers while fighting a group planning to drop a DNA bomb on humanity, opposed by chemically enhanced wrestlers who morph into mutants[1](https://www.sonypictures.com/movies/blackmask2cityofmasks) |
| Cast | Andy On, Tobin Bell (Moloch), Jon Polito (King), Traci Lords (Chameleon), Tyler Mane (Thorn), Scott Adkins (Dr. Lang), Rob Van Dam (Claw)[3](https://www.tvguide.com/movies/black-mask-2-city-of-masks/cast/2030349126/) |
| Runtime and rating | 102 minutes; rated R in the United States[4](https://www.justwatch.com/us/movie/black-mask-2-city-of-masks) • [1](https://www.sonypictures.com/movies/blackmask2cityofmasks) |
| Reception | IMDb 3.7/10 from about 2,100 votes; Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer 16% from 3 critics[5](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0264429) • [6](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/black_mask_2_city_of_masks) |
## Spoilers
### Story
Genetic modification gives Black Mask superhuman fighting and healing powers, but the mutation has cost him the ability to feel emotion. He searches the world for top geneticists who might reverse it while staying ahead of his maker.[3](https://www.tvguide.com/movies/black-mask-2-city-of-masks/cast/2030349126/) His search brings him into conflict with a terrorist group intent on dropping a DNA bomb on the human race.[1](https://www.sonypictures.com/movies/blackmask2cityofmasks)
Standing in his way is a group of chemically enhanced professional wrestlers, named Iguana, Chameleon, Snake, Wolf, and Claw, whose DNA has been hybridized with that of animals. The process makes them stronger and deadlier but is slowly turning them into animalistic killers, and Black Mask tries to help them while their boss pursues plans of his own.[3](https://www.tvguide.com/movies/black-mask-2-city-of-masks/cast/2030349126/) A demented scientist, Moloch ([Tobin Bell](https://www.edgepedia.org/tobin-bell)), runs the experiment combining animal and human DNA, and Black Mask's arch nemesis Lang ([Scott Adkins](https://www.edgepedia.org/scott-adkins)) has his own designs involving Moloch and the mutants.[7](https://nowplayer.now.com/ondemand/detail?id=202411141974911&nodeId=C202411120007991&type=product)
## Production and cast
Tsui Hark directed and produced the film and shares story credit with Julien Carbon and Laurent Courtiaud; Dirk Blackman also receives a writing credit, and the screenplay is credited to Charles Cain and Dirk Blackman.[3](https://www.tvguide.com/movies/black-mask-2-city-of-masks/cast/2030349126/) • [8](https://shotonwhat.com/black-mask-2-city-of-masks-2002) J.M. Logan composed the score, Wing-Hang Wong and William Yim served as cinematographers, and Angie Lam and Marco Mak edited.[3](https://www.tvguide.com/movies/black-mask-2-city-of-masks/cast/2030349126/) Production companies included One Hundred Years of Film Co., Film Workshop, China Star Entertainment, and Destination Films.[9](https://www.filmaffinity.com/us/film867933.html)
The cast mixes Hong Kong and Hollywood performers. Andy On Chi-Kit plays Black Mask, also known as Kan Fung.[10](https://www.moviefone.com/movie/black-mask-2-city-of-masks/1226264/credits/) Tobin Bell plays Moloch, Jon Polito plays King, Teresa Maria Herrera plays Dr. Marco Leung, and [Tyler Mane](https://www.edgepedia.org/tyler-mane), Andrew Bryniarski, Oris Erhuero, Robert Allen Mukes, and WWF wrestler [Rob Van Dam](https://www.edgepedia.org/rob-van-dam) play the enhanced wrestlers Thorn, Iguana, Wolf, Snake, and Claw.[3](https://www.tvguide.com/movies/black-mask-2-city-of-masks/cast/2030349126/) • [10](https://www.moviefone.com/movie/black-mask-2-city-of-masks/1226264/credits/) Scott Adkins appears as Dr. Lang, uncredited in IMDb's listing.[5](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0264429)
## Relationship to the first film
According to IMDb's trivia, the film is not a direct sequel: while the main character shares traits with Jet Li's masked vigilante from the 1999 film, the character's origins, name, and circumstances differ substantially.[5](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0264429) The 1999 film had been Tsui Hark's Hollywood project with Jet Li.[2](https://kungfutube.info/22905)
The two versions also differ in their credits music. In the Hong Kong version, Andy On recorded a Mandarin song that plays over the end credits, replacing the English song "City of Masks" used in the English-language version.[5](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0264429)
## Reception
The film was poorly received by critics and audiences. On Rotten Tomatoes it holds a 16% Tomatometer from three reviews and an audience rating of 2.1 out of 5 from more than 2,500 ratings.[6](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/black_mask_2_city_of_masks) IMDb lists a 3.7/10 score from about 2,100 votes.[5](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0264429) Among the recorded reviews, Don Willmott of Filmcritic.com gave it 1.5/5, calling it a major stumble for Tsui Hark, Emanuel Levy gave it 2/5, and Caffeinated Clint of Moviehole gave it 3/5, describing it as a hybrid of "X-Men", stunts, effects, and martial arts that would please fans of the original.[6](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/black_mask_2_city_of_masks) The film carries the tagline "Welcome to the evolution revolution!"[10](https://www.moviefone.com/movie/black-mask-2-city-of-masks/1226264/credits/)
## Availability
The film streams on Amazon Prime Video and free with ads on [The Roku Channel](https://www.edgepedia.org/the-roku-channel), YouTube, and Tubi, and can be rented or bought on Amazon Video, the Apple TV Store, and Fandango At Home.[4](https://www.justwatch.com/us/movie/black-mask-2-city-of-masks)
## References
1. [Black Mask 2: City of Masks, Sony Pictures Entertainment](https://www.sonypictures.com/movies/blackmask2cityofmasks)
2. [ブラックマスク2／黑俠 II（2002）, KUNGFU TUBE](https://kungfutube.info/22905)
3. [Black Mask 2: City of Masks – Full Cast & Crew, TV Guide](https://www.tvguide.com/movies/black-mask-2-city-of-masks/cast/2030349126/)
4. [Black Mask 2: City of Masks streaming online, JustWatch](https://www.justwatch.com/us/movie/black-mask-2-city-of-masks)
5. [Black Mask 2: City of Masks (2002), IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0264429)
6. [Black Mask 2: City of Masks, Rotten Tomatoes](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/black_mask_2_city_of_masks)
7. [Black Mask II, Now TV](https://nowplayer.now.com/ondemand/detail?id=202411141974911&nodeId=C202411120007991&type=product)
8. [Black Mask 2: City of Masks (2002) Technical Specifications, ShotOnWhat?](https://shotonwhat.com/black-mask-2-city-of-masks-2002)
9. [Black Mask 2: City of Masks (2002), Filmaffinity](https://www.filmaffinity.com/us/film867933.html)
10. [Black Mask 2: City of Masks Cast & Crew, Moviefone](https://www.moviefone.com/movie/black-mask-2-city-of-masks/1226264/credits/)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Films and standalone screen works › Individual films by title and year › Franchise and series entries as standalone works › Action, thriller, and crime series film entries › Entries released in the 2000s › Released 2000 to 2004*
*Initially written Oct 3, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 3, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026; Nov 1, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
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