On November 18, 2025, Shout is releasing the 4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray for A Better Tomorrow Trilogy, which includes 1986’s A Better Tomorrow, 1987’s A Better Tomorrow II and 1989’s A Better Tomorrow III: Love and Death in Saigon.
Brace yourself for the action-packed A Better Tomorrow Trilogy! This legendary and highly influential saga, whose impact shaped cinema both in Hong Kong and Hollywood, brought filmmakers John Woo and Tsui Hark to new heights of fame, and launched star Chow Yun-fat to superstardom. Featuring brand-new 4K scans and an arsenal of bonus features, all three A Better Tomorrow epics are presented like never before.
On top of it, the long-Lost A Better Tomorrow II Workprint Featuring Over 30 Minutes Of Never-Before-Seen Footage, courtesy of Hong Kong film expert, Brandon Bentley.
A BETTER TOMORROW (1080p High-Definition Widescreen (1.85:1) / Cantonese & English DTS-HD Master Audio Mono / 95 min.)
John Woo’s groundbreaking A Better Tomorrow explores the razor’s edge that separates the opposite sides of the law with undeniable style and intensity.
A Triad member attempts to reform and make amends with his brother, a policeman. The gangster’s journey into the light, however, is hampered by his seemingly unbreakable ties to the gang he has left behind. Ti Lung (Drunken Master II), Leslie Cheung (The Bride With White Hair), and the immortal Chow Yun-fat star.
A BETTER TOMORROW II (1080p High-Definition Widescreen (1.85:1) / Cantonese & English DTS-HD Master Audio Mono / 105 min.)
The A Better Tomorrow saga continues with this high-impact followup, which re-teams director John Woo with actors Ti Lung, Leslie Cheung, and Chow Yun-fat (the latter playing the twin brother of his character from the original film). The action stretches from Hong Kong to New York City in an adrenaline-fueled sequel many fans consider superior to its acclaimed predecessor.
A BETTER TOMORROW III: LOVE & DEATH IN SAIGON (1080p High-Definition Widescreen (1.85:1) / Cantonese & English DTS-HD Master Audio Mono / 119 min.)
Tsui Hark (Once Upon A Time In China) stepped into the director’s role for this explosive third installment of the A Better Tomorrow series. A prequel to the first film, A Better Tomorrow III: Love & Death In Saigon explores the story of Mark against the backdrop of the Vietnam War, revealing additional layers to the character that made Chow Yun-fat a superstar. Tony Leung (Prison On Fire, The Lover) and Anita Mui (The Heroic Trio, Drunken Master II) also star in the final chapter of this unforgettable trilogy.
Deluxe Edition Content:
DISC ONE (4K UHD – A BETTER TOMORROW):
- NEW 4K Scan From the Original Camera Negative
- Presented In Dolby Vision (HDR-10 Compatible)
- Audio: Cantonese DTS-HD Master Audio Mono, English DTS-HD Master Audio Mono
- NEW Optional English Subtitles Newly Translated For This Release
- NEW Audio Commentary With James Mudge, Hong Kong Film Critic At easternKicks
DISC TWO (BLU-RAY – A BETTER TOMORROW):
- NEW 4K Scan From the Original Camera Negative
- Audio: Cantonese DTS-HD Master Audio Mono, English DTS-HD Master Audio Mono
- NEW Optional English Subtitles Newly Translated For This Release
- NEW Audio Commentary With James Mudge, Hong Kong Film Critic At easternKicks
- NEW “Better Than The Best” – An Interview With Director John Woo
- NEW “Between Friends” – An Interview With Producer Terence Chang
- NEW “When Tomorrow Comes” – An Interview With Screenwriter Chan Hing-ka
- NEW “Thoughts On The Future” – An Interview With Filmmaker Gordon Chan
- NEW “Better And Bombastic” – An Interview With Filmmaker Gareth Evans
- Trailers
- Image Gallery
DISC THREE (4K UHD – A BETTER TOMORROW II):
- NEW 4K Scan From the Original Camera Negative
- Presented In Dolby Vision (HDR-10 Compatible)
- Audio: Cantonese DTS-HD Master Audio Mono, English DTS-HD Master Audio Mono
- NEW Optional English Subtitles Newly Translated For This Release
- NEW Audio Commentary With James Mudge, Hong Kong Film Critic At easternKicks
DISC FOUR (BLU-RAY – A BETTER TOMORROW II):
- NEW 4K Scan From the Original Camera Negative
- Audio: Cantonese DTS-HD Master Audio Mono, English DTS-HD Master Audio Mono
- NEW Optional English Subtitles Newly Translated For This Release
- NEW Audio Commentary With James Mudge, Hong Kong Film Critic At easternKicks
- NEW “A Tumultuous Tomorrow” – An Interview With Director John Woo
- NEW “Better Than Ever” – An Interview With Film Historian Frank Djeng
- Trailers
- Image Gallery
DISC FIVE (4K UHD – A BETTER TOMORROW III):
- NEW 4K Scan From the Original Camera Negative
- Presented In Dolby Vision (HDR-10 Compatible)
- Audio: Cantonese DTS-HD Master Audio Mono, English DTS-HD Master Audio Mono
- NEW Optional English Subtitles Newly Translated For This Release
- NEW Audio Commentary With Critic And Author David West
DISC SIX (BLU-RAY – A BETTER TOMORROW III):
- NEW 4K Scan From the Original Camera Negative
- Audio: Cantonese DTS-HD Master Audio Mono, English DTS-HD Master Audio Mono
- NEW Optional English Subtitles Newly Translated For This Release
- NEW Audio Commentary With Critic And Author David West
- NEW “Third Time Lucky” – An Interview With Screenwriters Yiu-Ming Leung and Foo Ho Tai
- NEW “All Our Tomorrows” – An Interview With Hong Kong Filmmaker And Academic Gilbert Po
- NEW “Nam Flashbacks” – An Interview With Vietnam War Researcher Dr. Aurélie Basha i Novosejt
- Theatrical Trailer
- Image Gallery
DISC SEVEN (BLU-RAY – BONUS DISC):
- Long-Lost A Better Tomorrow II Workprint Featuring Over 30 Minutes Of Never-Before-Seen Footage! (Audio: Cantonese DTS-HD Master Audio Mono)
- A Better Tomorrow III – Taiwanese Cut (Audio: Mandarin DTS-HD Master Audio Mono)
Stuff is coming to the Criterion Channel next month, too. https://www.instagram.com/p/DOJafiZDlMO/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
with this boxset and the chinese ghost story one coming out soon, its giving me the same feels as when i was a kid when Megastar released all these classics on DVD for the first time in the late 90s. The picture quality on those was atrocious even for DVD standards. Shame its taken 3 decades to finally get my hands on a decent copy
i agree – 20 years ago, i would’ve done anything for these films to be released properly. I’ve searched for ‘better tomorrow 2 taiwan cut’ for 20 years ever since i saw some random trailer somewhere and realized there were scenes in the trailer that i have never seen and i’ve seen better tomorrow 2 about a billion times.
Wait, what?! Is that the famous director’s cut of ABT2, or is it something else entirely?
That will be interesting. I’ve read conflicting stories about how ABT2 was originally 180 minutes long before being cut down. Other stories say that because John Woo and Tsui Hark edited the movie without knowing what the other was doing, it was such an incomprehensible mess, that a ton of footage had to be cut to make a semblance of a coherent film.
It certainly is very flawed, but the acting and chemistry among the actors was very good, so the action wasn’t the only good stuff.
Another “Rocky twisted mouth” (has ot become a BAD joke or can’t the guy draw well enough?), is it Ti Lung?
Done by AI?
STOP USING AI FOR DVD/BLU-RAY/4KUHD covers!!!!
Shame on Shout, shame on the “artist”.
1. Chow Yun-fat’s skin is like a baby one;
2. Sly face;
3. Ugly malmormed face for Ti Lung (and his Uzi seems to come out of a comic or something);
4. Why is that chick taking so much place (oh yeah, woke agenda, almost forgot);
5. Soldiers on the left are the same than those on the right (with a few differences due to the mirror effect) because it takes less time than to “draw” other ones.
And I’m too gentle.
This has now become the CGI of its day. For years us action fans have routed seeing real fight choreography, blood squibs, practical effects and real car stunts. And like they said to us, they don’t give a fuck. Such bullshit is cheaper, so they will continue such nonsense. It sucks,but it is the common truth this day and age like crappy legacy sequels and I.P addresses updates for modern audiences.
How they watered down Woo in the U.S and so on. In other words what we want is is irrelevant unless money can be made, and honestly I’m as frustrated as you. As True Lies was a massive blunder in terms of presentation.
that chick? woke agenda?
the quality of your comment matches the sh1tty boxset cover at least
I do share his opinion on the A.I stuff though. What they did to True Lies and really the James Cameron 4ks was complete malpractice.
That said, us physical copy collectors are niche, and they (the ones who put these films don’t give a fuck what fans want) so it’s literally not even worth crying about. If the A.I sucks ass on The Killer, I still have my dragon dynasty blu Ray. Same with Better Tomorrow 1-2 different region Blu Ray.
As for Anita Mui and the woke agenda, I ignored this because the same people pushing this, really don’t get that this has been dead as a topic since say 2021? It’s odd to see it in a site about Hong Kong cinema when the people here tend to either a) Asian b) fans of Asian, Blaxploitation and such and well do I have to say how many people from all kinds of creeds come from the old school days of internet fandom. Be it as it may, it’s also just odd to be upset because something looks woke, when in reality the addition of Mui is to put an attractive woman on a cover aiming at guys.
But, I do agree on the A.I bullshit.
Is it AI being used on Shout’s releases though? If so, where’s the proof?
It could just be the artist. All things considered, Shout has shown to give a fuck about what the fans want and they’ve been generous with their releases even if they’re not flawless.
I’m pretty sure previous Blu Rays will pale in comparison to Shout’s HK Blu Rays. (Which doesn’t mean they’re bad)
Many years ago, we thought the best it was going to be were the Mega Star and Universe DVDs, and we were lucky that those were tolerable.
Film fans should have more gratitude for what these various companies have done for HK films since they’ve come a long way.
Indeed, remember when Miramax would cut the films and make it impossible to find the other copy. Or when they dubbed Jackie Chan’s movies to make his character named ‘Jackie Chan’s
It’s more a question of if, like I said the Blu Ray for True Lies. Again Shout Factory is usually pretty good as I had no complaints with Dark Angel, Joshua Tree, Invasion USA,They Live,Shocker,Pumpkin head and Friday the 13th movies. In general though, I’m just saying we are a niche group, physical media collectors and we hold really no sway to make demands. My point is, bitching about these inaccuracies will do little. You know another great boutique is Umbrella Entertainment. I have The Punisher (Dolph Lundgren), The Hitcher,Man From Hong Kong, The Sniper and Flesh &Blood. And plan to buy Time Slip ala G.I Samurai.
I generally like the work Umbrella,Shout/Scream factory, Kino Lorber and Arrow does. I would add Vinegar Syndrome, but their movies are either too expensive for the quality of film they put out.
As for the Woo releases, if I hear Better Tomorrow is done well, I will convert it. Although I really would like to get 3 on the 4k . The Killer I’m less on cause I’m happy with such, although if I can get a relatively cheap copy. Bullet in the Head is a must. Just as City On Fire was. Hope we get the other Ringo Lam/CYF collaboration, but I’m realistic.
It’s pretty hilarious that Anita Mui being prominently featured on the cover is all
of sudden a “woke agenda” and not because she was the star of ABT3. I’m sure the HK poster for that film would piss off the pathetic man boys of today.
The only thing sadder than selective outrage is invented outrage.
Theatrical screening in March. https://www.boxofficemojo.com/calendar/2026-02-01/
Trailer. https://www.instagram.com/reel/DUGij2wEU2m/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==
YouTube version. https://youtu.be/vv9gw6eVtWU?si=b9EGeEkX_W_RWhJS