Winners & Sinners

Five small-time criminals share a cell, become friends and, once released, try to go straight by opening a cleaning company. Their fresh start goes wrong when a suitcase belonging to a counterfeiter ends up in their hands, along with the printing plates for fake money. That puts them in the middle of a feud between rival Triad gangs battling over Hong Kong's counterfeit currency trade, while a young police officer tries to help them and only makes matters worse.

Sammo Hung directed and co-wrote the film with Barry Wong, and produced it with Raymond Chow Man-Wai. It was Hung's fifth turn in the director's chair, arriving between Encounters of the Spooky Kind and Wheels on Meals. Hung also plays Teapot, heading a five-man ensemble of Richard Ng, Stanley Fung, John Shum Kin-Fun and Charlie Chin Chiang-Lin, with Cherie Chung appearing as Shirley.

Released in Hong Kong in July 1983, the film mixes action and comedy across 108 minutes and took roughly 3 million dollars worldwide. On IMDb it holds 6.6 out of 10 from about 6,400 votes, while on TMDB it sits at 7 out of 10 from a much smaller base of 229 votes. The gap reflects how its reputation rests largely with genre audiences rather than casual viewers. A credited cast of 92 points to a busy, crowded production typical of Hong Kong cinema of the period.