2023 Film The Goldfinger

Set in the 1980s, the film is based on the story of Carrian Group, a Hong Kong corporation which rose rapidly before collapsing shortly afterwards due to a corruption scandal.

The Goldfinger
Theatrical release poster
Traditional Chinese	金手指
Simplified Chinese	金手指
Hanyu Pinyin	Jīn Shǒu Zhǐ
Jyutping	Gam1 Sau2 Zi2
Directed by	Felix Chong
Written by	Felix Chong
Produced by	Ronald Wong
Starring	Tony Leung Andy Lau Charlene Choi Simon Yam Alex Fong
Cinematography	Anthony Pun
Edited by	William Chang Curran Pang
Music by	Day Tai-wai
Production company	Emperor Motion Pictures
Distributed by	Emperor Motion Pictures
Release date	30 December 2023 (2023-12-30)
Running time	126 minutes
Country	Hong Kong
Language	Cantonese
Budget	HK$350 million (US$44.8 million)
Box office	US$85.6 million

Budgeted at HK$350 million, production for the film began in February 2021 and wrapped up on 24 May 2021. It was released in Hong Kong and globally on 30 December 2023.

When a stock market crash causes the sudden collapse of a multi-billion-dollar company, a ICAC principal investigator Lau Kai-yuen (Andy Lau) uncovers a criminal conspiracy involving the company’s founder, Henry Ching (Tony Leung) and becomes entangled in a long-running investigation.

• Tony Leung Chiu-wai as Henry Ching Yat-yin, founder of a multi-billion-dollar company who is based on Carrian Group founder George Tan.
• Andy Lau as Lau Kai-yuen, principal investigator of the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC).
• Charlene Choi as Carmen Cheung, Ching's personal assistant.
• Simon Yam as K.K. Tsang, Ching's partner who financed his early business costs.
• Alex Fong as Kelvin, Ching's lawyer.
• Carlos Chan
• Michael Ning as stockbroker Chung.
• Philip Keung
• Catherine Chau as Lau Kai-yuen's wife.
• Chin Ka-lok
• Will Or
• Renci Yeung as Lau Kai-yuen's daughter.

Production for The Goldfinger began in February 2021, under the English working title Once Upon a Time in Hong Kong. On 20 February 2021, the film held its production commencement press conference at Emperor Cinema located in iSquare in Tsim Sha Tsui where it was attended by Emperor Motion Pictures chairman Albert Yeung, producer Ronald Wong, screenwriter and director Felix Chong, alongside cast members Andy Lau, Tony Leung, Charlene Choi, Simon Yam, Alex Fong, Philip Keung, Chin Ka-lok (who also serves as the film's action director), Carlos Chan and Catherine Chau. According to Yeung, the film is produced at a budget of HK$350 million, a recording-breaking budget for a Hong Kong production, and anticipates the film to break box office records as the highest-grossing Hong Kong film. At the event, Lau revealed he first received from the script producer Wong and after reading it, he believed Leung is the best choice to act as his on-screen opponent. On the other hand, Leung revealed that his and Lau's roles in the film are reversed from their previous collaboration in the Infernal Affairs film series.

Production for The Goldfinger officially wrapped up on 24 May 2021, after filming its climax scene involving Lau and Leung on location in a presidential suite at The Peninsula.

The Goldfinger was theatrically released on 30 December 2023 simultaneously in Hong Kong, Mainland China, Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia, Australia, New Zealand, United Kingdom, United States and Canada.

Box office

In Hong Kong, the film debuted at No. 1 during its opening weekend, grossing HK$9,373,112 during its first two days of release including previews.

The Goldfinger has grossed a total of US$85.6 million worldwide combining its box office totals from Hong Kong (US$5.6 million), China (US$79.7 million), Australia (US$245,443), United Kingdom (US$81,665) and New Zealand ($24,926).

Critical reception

On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 62% of 21 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 5.7/10. Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned the film a score of 47 out of 100, based on 6 critics, indicating "mixed or average" reviews.

• Andy Lau filmography