The Big Heat
Film poster
Chinese name
Traditional Chinese	城市特警
Simplified Chinese	城市特警
Transcriptions Standard Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin Chéng Shì Tè Jǐng Yue: Cantonese Jyutping Sing4 Si2 Dak6 Ging2
Directed by	Johnnie To Andrew Kam
Screenplay by	Gordon Chan
Produced by	Tsui Hark
Starring	Waise Lee Joey Wong
Cinematography	Wong Wing-hang[1]
Edited by	David Wu[1]
Music by	David Wu[1]
Production companies	Cinema City Film Workshop
Distributed by	Cinema City
Release date	22 September 1988 (1988-09-22)
Running time	96 minutes[1]
Country	Hong Kong
Language	Cantonese
Box office	HK $4.076 million

The Big Heat (城市特警) is a 1988 Hong Kong action film starring Waise Lee and Joey Wong.

Cast

• Waise Lee as Chief Inspector John Wong
• Joey Wong as Ada
• Matthew Wong as Inspector Kwok-Keung Lun
• Philip Kwok as Detective Ah Kam

Production

Johnnie To stated that "Tsui had lots of ideas [for The Big Heat], changing the script all the time, but three days later he would come up with something totally different."^[2] To went on to describe that the violence in the film originated from Hark's suggestions, and that it was "a very difficult project"^[3] To noted that he was brought in after another director was unable to satisfy Tsui Hark. To also stated that he did not complete the film, but that Tsui Hark completed it with Ching Siu-tung shooting some scenes.^[3]

Release

The Big Heat was released in Hong Kong on 22 September 1988.^[1] It was described by Lisa Morton as a "minor box office disappointment", grossing HK$4.076 million and being the 94th highest-grossing film in Hong Kong in 1988.^[2]

Reception

Johnnie To reflected on the film in the late 1990s, stating that "it's good at places, but it was chaotic".^[2]