# Rise of the Legend
**Rise of the Legend** (黃飛鴻之英雄有夢) is a 2014 Hong Kong-China martial arts film directed by Roy Chow Hin Yeung that reimagines the early years of the [Cantonese](https://www.edgepedia.org/cantonese) folk hero [Wong Fei-hung](https://www.edgepedia.org/wong-fei-hung), played by [Eddie Peng](https://www.edgepedia.org/eddie-peng), as he infiltrates the Guangzhou underworld to confront the crime boss Master Lui, played by Sammo Hung.[1](https://wellgousa.com/films/rise-legend) It was the first theatrical film about Wong Fei-hung since *Once Upon a Time in China and America* in 1997.[2](https://www.lovehkfilm.com/reviews_2/rise_of_the_legend.html)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Original title | 黃飛鴻之英雄有夢 (Huang Feihong: Ying Xiong you meng)[3](https://www.justwatch.com/us/movie/rise-of-the-legend) |
| Director / writer | Roy Chow Hin Yeung; screenplay by Christine To Chi-long[1](https://wellgousa.com/films/rise-legend) • [4](https://eiga.com/movie/86360/) |
| Setting | Guangzhou, 1868, when the folk hero would have been 21 years old[5](https://www.scmp.com/magazines/48hrs/article/1648884/film-review-cantonese-hero-wong-fei-hung-made-speak-putonghua-rise) |
| Release | 21 November 2014 (China), 27 November 2014 (Hong Kong), 11 March 2016 (US, Well Go USA)[6](https://www.boxofficemojo.com/title/tt3469592/) |
| Box office | $30,932,534 worldwide, of which $29,290,000 from China and $935,847 from Hong Kong[6](https://www.boxofficemojo.com/title/tt3469592/) |
| Critical scores | 63% on Rotten Tomatoes (8 reviews); Metascore 62[7](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/rise_of_the_legend_2014) • [8](https://www.metacritic.com/movie/rise-of-the-legend/critic-reviews/) |
| Awards | Ten nominations at the 34th Hong Kong Film Awards; won Best Visual Effects[9](https://fametown.com/en/movie/rise-of-the-legend-2014/) |
## Spoilers
### Story and approach
The film is an origin story set in 1868, in the late [Qing dynasty](https://www.edgepedia.org/qing-dynasty), when corruption in the imperial court brings suffering to ordinary people. In [Guangzhou](https://www.edgepedia.org/guangzhou), the Black Tiger gang and the Northern Sea gang control the Whampoa dock through human trafficking and opium, and the young fighter Fei joins the Black Tiger gang after killing the Northern Sea leader, earning the trust of its boss Lei Gong while secretly working against them.[5](https://www.scmp.com/magazines/48hrs/article/1648884/film-review-cantonese-hero-wong-fei-hung-made-speak-putonghua-rise) • [10](https://www.goldenhorse.org.tw/film/about/archive/detail/1233) The distributor's synopsis describes a martial artist who returns to the town where his father was murdered to face a ruthless crime boss and bring justice back to the people.[1](https://wellgousa.com/films/rise-legend)
**A younger, unmythologized hero.** The protagonist is considerably younger than the Wong Fei-hung played by Kwan Tak-hing in scores of Cantonese films or [Jet Li](https://www.edgepedia.org/jet-li) in *Once Upon a Time in China*, and more mature than the pre-teen incarnation played by Angie Tsang in *Iron Monkey*.[5](https://www.scmp.com/magazines/48hrs/article/1648884/film-review-cantonese-hero-wong-fei-hung-made-speak-putonghua-rise) The *Screen* review described the story as transforming "a vengeful orphan into the poster child of proletarian righteousness" and laying foundations for a new generation of Wong Fei-hung films.[11](https://www.screendaily.com/rise-of-the-legend/5079934.article) A point that drew attention in Hong Kong was that the Cantonese folk hero speaks Putonghua rather than Cantonese.[5](https://www.scmp.com/magazines/48hrs/article/1648884/film-review-cantonese-hero-wong-fei-hung-made-speak-putonghua-rise)
## Cast and production
Eddie Peng Yu-yan plays Wong Fei-hung, with Sammo Hung Kam-bo as Master Lui, Jing Boran as the new character Fiery, Wang Luodan as Chun, Angelababy as the courtesan Orchid, Tony Leung Ka-fai as Fei's father Wong Kei-ying, Max Zhang as Wu Long, and Wong Cho-lam as Big Tooth.[12](https://www.flickchart.com/movie/rise-of-the-legend/credits) • [13](https://asianactioncinema.co.uk/rise-of-the-legend-review) The film was executive produced by Bill Kong, the producer of *Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon*, with music by Shigeru Umebayashi and cinematography by Ng Man-ching.[4](https://eiga.com/movie/86360/) • [14](https://app2.atmovies.com.tw/film/fhcn87498619/) Action choreography was by the veteran Corey Yuen, with [Sammo Hung](https://www.edgepedia.org/sammo-hung) also contributing in support.[11](https://www.screendaily.com/rise-of-the-legend/5079934.article) • [15](https://theedgemalaysia.com/my/article/rise-legend)
Director Roy Chow Hin Yeung, previously an assistant to producer Bill Kong and to director [Ang Lee](https://www.edgepedia.org/ang-lee) on *Lust, Caution*, had won the Hong Kong Film Award for New Director with *Nightfall*; before *Rise of the Legend* opened he said a sequel script was already ready.[10](https://www.goldenhorse.org.tw/film/about/archive/detail/1233) • [16](https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts-culture/article/1647783/chow-hin-yeungs-new-take-folk-hero-wong-fei-hung-has-makings?module=inline&pgtype=article)
## Action style
The fight scenes rely heavily on stylized wire work, CGI, and slow motion, with a generous amount of blood, in a hyper-realistic style designed to impress.[15](https://theedgemalaysia.com/my/article/rise-legend) Reviewers noted the contrast with earlier Wong Fei-hung films: the Kung-fu Kingdom review wrote that much of the kung fu resembles Jet Li's 2001 film *The One* more than a traditional Wong Fei-hung movie, with wire fu (stylized kung-fu fighting aided by wires and harnesses) that does not mesh with the film's darker tone.[17](https://kungfukingdom.com/rise-of-the-legend-movie-review/) The Asian Action Cinema review found the CGI and wirework sometimes looked false and wished for more real kung fu and one-on-one fighting.[13](https://asianactioncinema.co.uk/rise-of-the-legend-review) The film does include the character's famous theme music, the traditional composition "The General's Orders" (將軍令), held back until late in the film.[13](https://asianactioncinema.co.uk/rise-of-the-legend-review) • [2](https://www.lovehkfilm.com/reviews_2/rise_of_the_legend.html)
## Reception
Critical response was moderately favorable. Rotten Tomatoes recorded 63% from 8 critics and 56% from audiences; Metacritic gave a Metascore of 62, with two positive and two mixed reviews among the four it counted.[7](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/rise_of_the_legend_2014) • [8](https://www.metacritic.com/movie/rise-of-the-legend/critic-reviews/) The *Los Angeles Times* called it "a stylish, rousing throwback epic" set circa 1868, while cautioning that viewers seeking historical information about Wong are in the wrong place.[7](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/rise_of_the_legend_2014) • [8](https://www.metacritic.com/movie/rise-of-the-legend/critic-reviews/) The *New York Times* found the blending of vast sets and digital effects nearly seamless and noted that Sammo Hung, at 64, could still "almost" hit, kick, and do wire work with the best of them.[8](https://www.metacritic.com/movie/rise-of-the-legend/critic-reviews/) The *Village Voice* praised the blue-gray cinematography but found the characters one-dimensional, and *The Hollywood Reporter* judged that Chow and Peng do a frequently thrilling job with a familiar story without displacing the Jet Li or [Jackie Chan](https://www.edgepedia.org/jackie-chan) versions.[8](https://www.metacritic.com/movie/rise-of-the-legend/critic-reviews/)
**Box office.** The film earned $30,932,534 worldwide, essentially all from Asia: $29,290,000 in China, $935,847 in Hong Kong, and $706,687 in Singapore. It opened in China on 21 November 2014 and in Hong Kong and Singapore on 27 November 2014, and ranked 62nd among 2014 releases in Hong Kong.[6](https://www.boxofficemojo.com/title/tt3469592/) • [18](https://www.boxofficemojo.com/year/2014/?area=HK) In China it grossed about 76 million yuan in its first three days and finished at 180 million yuan.[9](https://fametown.com/en/movie/rise-of-the-legend-2014/) At the 34th Hong Kong Film Awards it received ten nominations and won Best Visual Effects, presented to Huang Hongda and Zhang Zhonghua.[9](https://fametown.com/en/movie/rise-of-the-legend-2014/)
## Place in the Wong Fei-hung film series
Wong Fei-hung (1847–1925), a [Guangdong](https://www.edgepedia.org/guangdong) boxer of the late Qing dynasty and early Republican China, has been the subject of more than 100 films since *The Story of Wong Fei-hung, Part One* in 1949, played by actors including Kwan Tak-hing, Gordon Liu, Jackie Chan, and Jet Li.[16](https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts-culture/article/1647783/chow-hin-yeungs-new-take-folk-hero-wong-fei-hung-has-makings?module=inline&pgtype=article) • [19](https://as.com/meristation/cine/ni-star-wars-ni-007-esta-es-la-saga-con-mas-peliculas-de-la-historia-del-cine-n/) *Rise of the Legend* ended the longest hiatus in the series' history, a gap in theatrical Wong Fei-hung films following *Once Upon a Time in China and America* (1997).[2](https://www.lovehkfilm.com/reviews_2/rise_of_the_legend.html) • [20](https://www.filmarchive.gov.hk/documents/6.-Research-and-Publication/06-05_Publications/07_Film-Genres/Mastering-Virtue-The-Cinematic-Legend-of-a-Martial-Artist/preface_1603_e.pdf) The film was distributed internationally by Universal Pictures International, which acquired all international distribution rights on 12 June 2014, and in North America by Well Go USA.[9](https://fametown.com/en/movie/rise-of-the-legend-2014/) • [1](https://wellgousa.com/films/rise-legend)
## References
1. [Rise of the Legend – Official Movie Site, Well Go USA](https://wellgousa.com/films/rise-legend)
2. [Rise of the Legend (黃飛鴻之英雄有夢) (2014) review, LoveHKFilm](https://www.lovehkfilm.com/reviews_2/rise_of_the_legend.html)
3. [Rise of the Legend streaming – JustWatch](https://www.justwatch.com/us/movie/rise-of-the-legend)
4. [ライズ・オブ・ザ・レジェンド 炎虎乱舞 – 映画.com](https://eiga.com/movie/86360/)
5. [Film review: Cantonese hero Wong Fei-hung made to speak Putonghua in Rise of Legend, South China Morning Post](https://www.scmp.com/magazines/48hrs/article/1648884/film-review-cantonese-hero-wong-fei-hung-made-speak-putonghua-rise)
6. [Rise of the Legend – Box Office Mojo](https://www.boxofficemojo.com/title/tt3469592/)
7. [Rise of the Legend (2014) – Rotten Tomatoes](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/rise_of_the_legend_2014)
8. [Rise of the Legend critic reviews – Metacritic](https://www.metacritic.com/movie/rise-of-the-legend/critic-reviews/)
9. [Rise of the Legend (2014): Where to Watch, Trailer and Cast – Fametown](https://fametown.com/en/movie/rise-of-the-legend-2014/)
10. [黃飛鴻之英雄有夢 – Taipei Golden Horse Film Festival archive](https://www.goldenhorse.org.tw/film/about/archive/detail/1233)
11. [Rise Of The Legend – Screen review, James Marsh](https://www.screendaily.com/rise-of-the-legend/5079934.article)
12. [Rise of the Legend – Cast & Crew, Flickchart](https://www.flickchart.com/movie/rise-of-the-legend/credits)
13. [Rise of the Legend – Review, Asian Action Cinema](https://asianactioncinema.co.uk/rise-of-the-legend-review)
14. [黃飛鴻之英雄有夢 – 開眼電影網](https://app2.atmovies.com.tw/film/fhcn87498619/)
15. [Rise of the Legend – The Edge Malaysia](https://theedgemalaysia.com/my/article/rise-legend)
16. [Chow Hin-yeung's new take on folk hero Wong Fei-hung has the makings of a hit movie, South China Morning Post](https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts-culture/article/1647783/chow-hin-yeungs-new-take-folk-hero-wong-fei-hung-has-makings?module=inline&pgtype=article)
17. [Rise of the Legend (2014) – Kung-fu Kingdom](https://kungfukingdom.com/rise-of-the-legend-movie-review/)
18. [Hong Kong Box Office For 2014 – Box Office Mojo](https://www.boxofficemojo.com/year/2014/?area=HK)
19. [Ni 'Star Wars' ni '007', esta es la saga con más películas de la historia del cine – MeriStation/AS](https://as.com/meristation/cine/ni-star-wars-ni-007-esta-es-la-saga-con-mas-peliculas-de-la-historia-del-cine-n/)
20. [Mastering Virtue: The Cinematic Legend of a Martial Artist – Hong Kong Film Archive](https://www.filmarchive.gov.hk/documents/6.-Research-and-Publication/06-05_Publications/07_Film-Genres/Mastering-Virtue-The-Cinematic-Legend-of-a-Martial-Artist/preface_1603_e.pdf)
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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 › Action and adventure films (individual works) › Martial arts films › Released 1986 to 2026*
*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*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license