The Dragon Family

The Lung (Dragon) triad used to be one of Hong Kong's most powerful crime families, but its power has waned in recent years. The crime boss Lung Ying feels that their involvement in drug trafficking has resulted in costs that far outweigh the benefits, and he considers investing his wealth into relatively safe and legal industries. His second-in-command White Wolf and his frequent collaborator Tsui disagree with his anti-drug policies, and they plot to take over the triad. They assassinate Lung Ying, and they execute most members of the Lung family in a brutal massacre. Three members of the family survive the attack, and they start plotting their own brutal revenge. White Wolf is betrayed and assassinated by Tsui shortly after claiming power. Tsui is quite willing to kill or sacrifice all for his subordinates to secure power, but he might be weakening his own organization due to this mentality.

Directed by Lau Kar-Wing, The Dragon Family leans on a strong ensemble — Andy Lau, Alan Tam, Kent Tong Chun-Yip — to carry a story that balances spectacle with character.

The film landed with audiences for its craft and performances, and remains one of the most talked-about action titles of 1988.