The King of Comedy – A Seminal Hong Kong Comedy Classic

The King of Comedy is a comedy film produced by Star Overseas Limited. It was co-directed by Lee Lik-chi and Stephen Chow, and stars Stephen Chow, Karen Mok, Cecilia Cheung and Ng Man-tat. The film was released in Hong Kong on February 13, 1999.

The story follows Yin Tin-chau (played by Stephen Chow), a struggling extra who dreams of becoming a serious actor. In his spare time, he runs an acting class at a local community center. One day, a dance hostess named Liu Piao-piao (played by Cecilia Cheung) arrives at his class under the guidance of her nightclub madam, hoping to learn how to act. As the two learn from each other, they gradually fall in love. Later, Yin finally lands a leading role, only to find himself caught in a complicated love triangle. 

The King of Comedy is widely regarded as a semi-autobiographical film by Stephen Chow and an important milestone in his transition from actor to director. The film grossed HK$29.85 million at the Hong Kong box office, making it the highest-grossing local film of 1999. In 2022, it was selected for the 100 Outstanding Films of the Century list at the New Era International Film Festival's Golden Poplar Awards.