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Siu-Keung Cheng

Siu-Keung Cheng

Cinematographer · Born July 21, 1952 (74) · British Hong Kong

Cheng Siu-Keung is an award-winning Hong Kong cinematographer best known for his prolific collaboration with the director Johnnie To.

Biography from TMDB.

Born
July 21, 1952 (74)
From
British Hong Kong
Works as
Cinematographer
Titles
40 on Motif · 89 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 157 days to Oct 28Up 10% in 30 days

What are Siu-Keung Cheng's films like?

Across their 39 Motif titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Morality and Bonds.

Genres

Action22 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 73rd percentile
: browse their Action movies
Crime7 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 85th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Crime movies
Drama5 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 71st percentile
: browse their Drama movies
Comedy3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 73rd percentile
: browse their Comedy movies

Their Motif films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Morality
39%
Bonds
21%
Self
17%
Survival
9%
Power
7%
Society
7%
Ideas
1%
Justice11 titles, browse their movies with this themeBetrayal8 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds7 titles, browse their movies with this themeLoyalty6 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love5 titles, browse their movies with this themeRedemption6 titles, browse their movies with this themePurpose5 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity5 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 39 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Serious: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their serious movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

A split, not a type: Light 11 · Serious 13 · Dark 15

Stylized: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their stylized movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

Grounded 10 · Stylized 19 · Heightened 10

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

A split, not a type: Gentle 6 · Charged 11 · Intense 22

Shifting: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their shifting movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

Steady 15 · Shifting 18 · Whiplash 6

Some laughs: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their some laughs movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

A split, not a type: Straight-faced 25 · Some laughs 8 · Funny 6

Even-paced: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their even-paced movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 6 · Even-paced 24 · Relentless 9

Engaged: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their engaged movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 12 · Engaged 18 · Full focus 9

Affecting: How much it costs you emotionally; whether you need recovery time. Browse their affecting movies.
Demand · Emotional cost
easyheavy

Easy watch 11 · Affecting 17 · Heavy 11

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 27 · Open-ended 8 · Ambiguous 4

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
28
Melancholic
16
Thrilling
10
Joyful
8
Warm
7
Other
34

How their films linger

Bittersweet21 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking12 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun8 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting8 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful8 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 8 with a twist

  • Happy9
  • Bittersweet22
  • Tragic2
  • Ambiguous6

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Siu-Keung Cheng's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 16 of their 40 Motif titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (10).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Siu-Keung Cheng's titles on Motif; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

89 credits, 40 with a Motif page; 1 appearance as themselves is hidden until asked for.

  • Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In(2024)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all films

  • Mad Fate (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2023)

    Cinematographer

  • Cyber Heist(2023)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 9th percentile of all films

  • Detective vs. Sleuths(2022)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

  • A Murder Erased (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2022)

    Cinematographer

  • Limbo(2021)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all films

  • Ip Man 4: The Finale(2019)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films

  • Chasing Dream (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2019)

    Cinematographer

  • The Invincible Dragon(2019)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films

  • Double Life (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2018)

    Show 42 episodes · Director · Creator

  • Blood of Youth (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2016)

    Cinematographer

  • Three(2016)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films

  • On Wings of Eagles(2016)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all films

  • Get Outta Here (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2015)

    Cinematographer

  • Office (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2015)

    Cinematographer

  • Imprisoned: Survival Guide for Rich and Prodigal (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2015)

    Cinematographer

  • Twilight Online (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2014)

    Cinematographer

  • The Way We Dance(2013)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 63rd percentile of all films

  • Blind Detective(2013)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films

  • Winter Is Hoped (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2013)

    Cinematographer

  • Drug War(2012)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 84th percentile of all films

  • Romancing in Thin Air (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2012)

    Cinematographer

  • Life Without Principle(2011)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all films

  • Don't Go Breaking My Heart(2011)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

  • Vengeance(2009)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films

  • Tactical Unit: Comrades in Arms (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2009)

    Cinematographer

  • Sparrow (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2008)

    Cinematographer

  • Linger(2008)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 11th percentile of all films

  • Mad Detective(2007)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all films

  • Triangle(2007)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films

  • Exiled(2006)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films

  • Election 2(2006)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films

  • Election(2005)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films

  • The Open Road (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2005)

    Cinematographer

  • Yesterday Once More (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2004)

    Cinematographer

  • Throw Down(2004)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films

  • Breaking News(2004)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films

  • Love Under the Sun (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2003)

    Cinematographer

  • Running on Karma(2003)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all films

  • Turn Left, Turn Right (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2003)

    Cinematographer

  • PTU(2003)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films

  • Love for All Seasons (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2003)

    Cinematographer

  • My Left Eye Sees Ghosts(2002)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all films

  • Fat Choi Spirit(2002)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films

  • Running Out of Time 2(2001)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films

  • Fulltime Killer(2001)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all films

  • Love on a Diet (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2001)

    Cinematographer

  • Wu Yen (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2001)

    Cinematographer

  • Help!!! (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2000)

    Cinematographer

  • Okinawa Rendez-vous (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2000)

    Cinematographer

  • Needing You... (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2000)

    Cinematographer

  • Twelve Nights(2000)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films

  • The Mission(1999)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films

  • Running Out of Time(1999)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all films

  • Where a Good Man Goes (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1999)

    Cinematographer

  • A Hero Never Dies(1998)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films

  • A True Mob Story (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1998)

    Cinematographer

  • The Lucky Guy(1998)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films

  • The Longest Nite(1997)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films

  • Intruder (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1997)

    Cinematographer

  • The Odd One Dies (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1997)

    Cinematographer

  • Lifeline(1997)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films

  • Beyond Hypothermia (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1996)

    Second Unit Director of Photography

  • Satan Returns (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1996)

    Cinematographer

  • Thunderbolt(1995)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films

  • Loving You(1995)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films

  • Whatever You Want (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1994)

    Cinematographer

  • Return to a Better Tomorrow(1994)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all films

  • The Great Conqueror's Concubine: Part I (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1994)

    Cinematographer

  • One Arm Hero (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1994)

    Cinematographer

  • White Lotus Cult (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1993)

    Director

  • Zen of Sword (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1992)

    Cinematographer

  • Black Cat II (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1992)

    Cinematographer

  • Fight Back to School II(1992)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films

  • What a Hero! (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1992)

    Cinematographer

  • Hidden Desire (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1991)

    Cinematographer

  • Inspector Pink Dragon (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1991)

    Cinematographer

  • Sea Wolves (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1991)

    Director

  • Fight Back to School(1991)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all films

  • Forbidden Arsenal (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1991)

    Director

  • The Perfect Match (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1991)

    Writer

  • BB 30 (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1990)

    Writer

  • A Bite of Love (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1990)

    Cinematographer · Screenplay

  • In the Line of Duty 5: Middle Man (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1990)

    Cinematographer

  • The Figures from Earth (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1990)

    Cinematographer

  • Heart Into Hearts (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1990)

    Writer

  • Happy Together (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1989)

    Cinematographer · Writer

  • Unfaithfully Yours (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1989)

    Cinematographer

  • Police Cadet (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1984)

    Show 80 episodes · Director

Career shape

A full career of 89 titles from 1984 to 2024.

Biggest box office

Ip Man 4: The Finale (2019)

$176M worldwide

Highest rated

Election 2 (2006)

Midcredits 94th

Most popular right now

Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In (2024)

By role

only this rolewith another role
Directing5 of 89: 4 only directing, 1 with another roleWriting5 of 89: 3 only writing, 2 with another roleCinematography81 of 89: 79 only cinematography, 2 with another role · typical Midcredits score74thOther crew1 of 89: 0 only other crew, 1 with another role

89 titles, 3 with more than one role.

By decade

1980s3 · crew1990s34 · crew2000s28 · crew2010s18 · crew2020s6 · crew

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on Motif, shown from 5 scored.

How do Siu-Keung Cheng's films land?

Their typical Motif film has a Midcredits score in the 74th percentile, the median of all 40; across their 39 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 74th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

74thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 39

Approval · how many liked their films

70thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 39

Reach · how many have seen their films

78thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 39

Midcredits score across 40 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up18
  • 50th to 74th14
  • 25th to 49th6
  • Below 25th2

Shape of the crowd

28 of their 40 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved1
  • Crowd Pleaser28
  • Broadly Agreed5
  • Mixed6

Most divisive · cinematographer

Linger (2008)

66th percentile spread · 42% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · cinematographer

Election 2 (2006)

Midcredits 94th · 81% liked

Reviewers score the cinematography 71/100 in their films, across 29 reviewed titles; fans 77, detractors 59. The element that speaks to their work as a cinematographer.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on Motif; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their Motif titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Is Siu-Keung Cheng's work okay for kids?

Across a limited sample of up to 3 Motif titles with content scores.

Their medianMedian of all films
Violence & Gore3 titlesmedian 85 · severeMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity3 titlesmedian 25 · mildMedian of all films: 32
Profanity3 titlesmedian 46 · moderateMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs3 titlesmedian 47 · moderateMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense3 titlesmedian 70 · intenseMedian of all films: 39

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted.

Who does Siu-Keung Cheng work with?

People who share at least 2 of Siu-Keung Cheng's Motif titles, grouped by what they did on them; Johnnie To shares the most, 25.

Directors

Writers

Actors

  • Suet Lam20 titles    See newest 12 of 20 shared titles with Suet Lam
  • Simon Yam11 titles    See all 11 shared titles with Simon Yam
  • Ching-Wan Lau11 titles    See all 11 shared titles with Ching-Wan Lau
  • Eddie Cheung10 titles    See all 10 shared titles with Eddie Cheung

Composers and editors

Producers

Mixed roles