Skip to content
Motif
Wai Keung Lau

Wai Keung Lau

Cinematographer, director, producer and actor · Born April 4, 1960 (66) · Hong Kong, China

Andrew Lau Wai-keung (Chinese: 劉偉強, born 4 April 1960) is a Hong Kong film director, producer, and cinematographer. Lau began his career in the 1980s and 1990s, serving as a cinematographer to filmmakers such as Ringo Lam, Wong Jing and Wong Kar-wai. In the 1990s, Lau decided to have more creative freedom as a cinematographer by becoming a film director and producer. Apart from making films in his native Hong Kong, Lau has also made films in China, Korea and the United States. A highly prolific filmmaker, Lau has made films in a variety of genres, and is most notable in the West for his action and crime films which include the Young and Dangerous film series, the Infernal Affairs trilogy (the latter co-directed together with Alan Mak), and Revenge of the Green Dragons (executive produced by Martin Scorsese).

Read more

Biography from TMDB.

Born
April 4, 1960 (66)
From
Hong Kong, China
Works as
Cinematographer, director, producer and actor
Titles
82 on Motif · 135 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 65 days to Oct 28Up 38% in 30 days

What are Wai Keung Lau's films like?

Across their 58 Motif titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Morality and Bonds.

Genres

Action39 titlesTypical Motif score: 50th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Action movies
Crime9 titlesTypical Motif score: 58th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Crime movies
Comedy7 titlesTypical Motif score: 34th percentile
: browse their Comedy movies

Their Motif films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Motif 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
30%
Bonds
26%
Power
15%
Self
12%
Survival
10%
Society
6%
Ideas
2%
Betrayal17 titles, browse their movies with this themeLoyalty15 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival13 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice12 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds12 titles, browse their movies with this themePower6 titles, browse their movies with this themeFriendship7 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love7 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 58 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 17 · Serious 14 · Dark 27

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

Grounded 13 · Stylized 25 · Heightened 20

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

A split, not a type: Gentle 3 · Charged 27 · Intense 28

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

Steady 8 · Shifting 35 · Whiplash 15

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 29 · Some laughs 15 · Funny 14

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

Slow burn 5 · Even-paced 40 · Relentless 13

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

Casual 19 · Engaged 33 · Full focus 6

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

Easy watch 20 · Affecting 23 · Heavy 15

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

Resolved 46 · Open-ended 9 · Ambiguous 3

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
38
Thrilling
27
Melancholic
26
Absurd
13
Joyful
11
Other
39

How their films linger

Bittersweet26 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun18 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteRousing15 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good12 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting11 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful11 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 13 with a twist

  • Happy22
  • Bittersweet26
  • Tragic8
  • Ambiguous2

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 Wai Keung Lau's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 37 of their 82 Motif titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (19).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Wai Keung Lau's titles on Motif; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Motif 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

135 credits, 82 with a Motif page; 2 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Crossing(2026)

    Director · Executive Producer

    Motif score: 4th percentile of all films

  • Panda Plan 2: The Magical Tribe(2026)

    Thanks

    Motif score: 13th percentile of all films

  • The Dumpling Queen (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2025)

    Director · Cinematographer · Executive Producer

  • Battle of Shangganling (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2024)

    Show 24 episodes · Director

  • Formed Police Unit (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2024)

    Executive Producer

  • Kung Fu Stuntmen(2020)

    Actor

    Motif score: 90th percentile of all films

  • Chinese Doctors (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2021)

    Director · Executive Producer

  • The Captain(2019)

    Director · Cinematographer · Producer · Actor

    Motif score: 54th percentile of all films

  • The Bravest(2019)

    Executive Producer

    Motif score: 48th percentile of all films

  • Line Walker 2: Invisible Spy(2019)

    Producer

    Motif score: 48th percentile of all films

  • Kung Fu Monster(2018)

    Director · Cinematographer · Producer

    Motif score: 14th percentile of all films

  • Golden Job(2018)

    Actor

    Motif score: 42nd percentile of all films

  • The Founding of an Army(2017)

    Director · Cinematographer

    Motif score: 26th percentile of all films

  • From Vegas to Macau III(2016)

    Director · Producer · Actor

    Motif score: 1st percentile of all films

  • Keeper of Darkness(2015)

    as Director

    Motif score: 37th percentile of all films

  • I Am Somebody(2015)

    Actor

    Motif score: 60th percentile of all films

  • From Vegas to Macau II(2015)

    Cinematographer · Producer

    Motif score: 9th percentile of all films

  • Kung Fu Jungle(2014)

    as Y.T.M. District Officer

    Motif score: 61st percentile of all films

  • Revenge of the Green Dragons(2014)

    Director · Producer

    Motif score: 16th percentile of all films

  • From Vegas to Macau(2014)

    Producer

    Motif score: 14th percentile of all films

  • Once Upon a Time in Shanghai(2014)

    Producer

    Motif score: 74th percentile of all films

  • As the Light Goes Out(2014)

    as Director of Fire Services - Fong Sir

    Motif score: 51st percentile of all films

  • The Rooftop (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2013)

    Actor

  • The Last Tycoon(2012)

    Cinematographer · Producer

    Motif score: 66th percentile of all films

  • The Guillotines(2012)

    Director · Producer · as Yongzheng Emperor

    Motif score: 15th percentile of all films

  • Tai Chi Zero(2012)

    as Father Yang

    Motif score: 43rd percentile of all films

  • A Simple Life(2011)

    as Guest at Premiere

    Motif score: 95th percentile of all films

  • Dear Enemy (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2011)

    Producer

  • A Beautiful Life (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2011)

    Director · Cinematographer · Producer

  • Haunted Changi (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2010)

    Director

  • Legend of the Fist: The Return of Chen Zhen(2010)

    Director · Cinematographer · Producer

    Motif score: 51st percentile of all films

  • Look for a Star (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2009)

    Director

  • Club Sparkle (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2009)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

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

    Cinematographer

  • The Flock(2007)

    Director · Producer

    Motif score: 28th percentile of all films

  • Undercover (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2007)

    Cinematographer

  • A Mob Story (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2007)

    Producer

  • The Haunted School (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2007)

    Cinematographer

  • Confession of Pain(2006)

    Director · Cinematographer · Producer

    Motif score: 62nd percentile of all films

  • The Departed(2006)

    Other

    Motif score: 99th percentile of all films

  • Be My Guest (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2006)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The Third Eye (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2006)

    Producer

  • Daisy(2006)

    Director · Cinematographer · Producer

    Motif score: 90th percentile of all films

  • 无间道正序版 (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2006)

    Director

  • Moonlight in Tokyo (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2005)

    Cinematographer

  • Initial D(2005)

    Director · Cinematographer · Producer

    Motif score: 59th percentile of all films

  • Infernal Affairs III(2003)

    Director · Cinematographer · Producer

    Motif score: 76th percentile of all films

  • The Park (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2003)

    Director · Cinematographer · Producer

  • Infernal Affairs II(2003)

    Director · Cinematographer · Producer

    Motif score: 91st percentile of all films

  • 1:99 Shorts (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2003)

    Director

  • Cat and Mouse (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2003)

    Cinematographer · Producer

  • Infernal Affairs(2002)

    Director · Cinematographer · Producer

    Motif score: 98th percentile of all films

  • The Runaway Pistol (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2002)

    Producer

  • Women from Mars (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2002)

    Director

  • The Wesley's Mysterious File (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2002)

    Director · Cinematographer

  • Dance of a Dream (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2001)

    Director · Cinematographer · Producer

  • The Avenging Fist(2001)

    Director · Producer

    Motif score: 15th percentile of all films

  • Bullets of Love (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2001)

    Director

  • Born to Be King(2000)

    Director · Cinematographer

    Motif score: 51st percentile of all films

  • Sausalito (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2000)

    Director

  • The Duel(2000)

    Director · Cinematographer

    Motif score: 40th percentile of all films

  • The Legend of Speed(1999)

    Director · Cinematographer

    Motif score: 50th percentile of all films

  • A Man Called Hero(1999)

    Director · Cinematographer

    Motif score: 38th percentile of all films

  • The Storm Riders(1998)

    Director · Cinematographer

    Motif score: 63rd percentile of all films

  • Young & Dangerous: The Prequel(1998)

    Director · Cinematographer

    Motif score: 50th percentile of all films

  • Young and Dangerous 5(1998)

    Director · Cinematographer

    Motif score: 46th percentile of all films

  • We're No Bad Guys (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1997)

    Producer

  • Young and Dangerous 1997(1997)

    Director · Cinematographer · Actor

    Motif score: 58th percentile of all films

  • Till Death Do Us Laugh (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1996)

    Producer

  • Best of the Best (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1996)

    Director

  • Growing Up (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1996)

    Actor

  • War of the Underworld (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1996)

    Producer

  • Feel 100% (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1996)

    Producer

  • Young and Dangerous 3(1996)

    Director · Cinematographer

    Motif score: 70th percentile of all films

  • Street Angels(1996)

    Producer

    Motif score: 24th percentile of all films

  • Young and Dangerous 2(1996)

    Director · Cinematographer · Producer

    Motif score: 68th percentile of all films

  • Young and Dangerous(1996)

    Director · Cinematographer

    Motif score: 81st percentile of all films

  • I'm Your Birthday Cake (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1995)

    Cinematographer

  • Sixty Million Dollar Man(1995)

    Cinematographer

    Motif score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • The Saint of Gamblers(1995)

    Cinematographer · Producer

    Motif score: 19th percentile of all films

  • Mean Street Story (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1995)

    Director · Cinematographer

  • Lover of the Last Empress(1995)

    Director

    Motif score: 28th percentile of all films

  • 1941 Hong Kong on Fire(1994)

    Producer

    Motif score: 22nd percentile of all films

  • To Live and Die in Tsimshatsui (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1994)

    Director

  • Chungking Express(1994)

    Cinematographer

    Motif score: 98th percentile of all films

  • Modern Romance (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1994)

    Director

  • He Ain't Heavy... He's My Father(1993)

    Cinematographer

    Motif score: 80th percentile of all films

  • Ghost Lantern (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1993)

    Director

  • Perfect Exchange(1993)

    Cinematographer

    Motif score: 48th percentile of all films

  • Future Cops(1993)

    Cinematographer

    Motif score: 50th percentile of all films

  • Crime Story(1993)

    Cinematographer

    Motif score: 72nd percentile of all films

  • Hero Beyond the Boundary of Time(1993)

    Cinematographer

    Motif score: 20th percentile of all films

  • Naked Killer 2(1993)

    Director

    Motif score: 29th percentile of all films

  • The Eagle Shooting Heroes(1993)

    Cinematographer

    Motif score: 82nd percentile of all films

  • Once Upon a Time in China III(1992)

    Cinematographer

    Motif score: 73rd percentile of all films

  • The Wicked City(1992)

    Cinematographer

    Motif score: 39th percentile of all films

  • The Days of Being Dumb (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1992)

    Cinematographer

  • Rhythm of Destiny (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1992)

    Director

  • Shogun and Little Kitchen (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1992)

    Cinematographer

  • Twin Dragons(1992)

    as Party Guest

    Motif score: 57th percentile of all films

  • Inspiration Nightmare (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1992)

    Actor

  • The Banquet(1991)

    Cinematographer

    Motif score: 34th percentile of all films

  • Red Shield (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1991)

    Additional Photography

  • Lee Rock II(1991)

    Cinematographer

    Motif score: 69th percentile of all films

  • Lee Rock(1991)

    Cinematographer

    Motif score: 80th percentile of all films

  • Legend of the Dragon(1991)

    Cinematographer

    Motif score: 55th percentile of all films

  • The Ultimate Vampire (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1991)

    Director · Cinematographer

  • Against All (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1990)

    Director · Cinematographer · Actor

  • Days of Being Wild(1990)

    Cinematographer

    Motif score: 93rd percentile of all films

  • Rebel from China (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1990)

    Second Unit Director of Photography

  • Curry and Pepper(1990)

    Cinematographer · as CID

    Motif score: 63rd percentile of all films

  • The Unmatchable Match(1990)

    Cinematographer

    Motif score: 56th percentile of all films

  • Return Engagement(1990)

    Cinematographer

    Motif score: 57th percentile of all films

  • China White (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1989)

    Cinematographer

  • Wild Search(1989)

    Cinematographer

    Motif score: 72nd percentile of all films

  • News Attack (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1989)

    Cinematographer

  • The First Time is the Last Time (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1989)

    Cinematographer

  • Little Cop (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1989)

    Cinematographer · Actor

  • Gunmen(1988)

    Cinematographer

    Motif score: 41st percentile of all films

  • As Tears Go By(1988)

    Cinematographer

    Motif score: 82nd percentile of all films

  • Top Squad(1988)

    Cinematographer

    Motif score: 41st percentile of all films

  • Mr. Vampire Part 3(1987)

    Cinematographer

    Motif score: 71st percentile of all films

  • The Thirty Million Dollar Rush(1987)

    Cinematographer

    Motif score: 35th percentile of all films

  • City on Fire(1987)

    Cinematographer

    Motif score: 87th percentile of all films

  • Iron Angels(1987)

    Cinematographer

    Motif score: 66th percentile of all films

  • Armour of God(1986)

    Focus Puller

    Motif score: 78th percentile of all films

  • Mr. Vampire II(1986)

    Cinematographer

    Motif score: 38th percentile of all films

  • Where's Officer Tuba?(1986)

    Cinematographer

    Motif score: 42nd percentile of all films

  • Millionaires' Express(1986)

    Cinematographer

    Motif score: 79th percentile of all films

  • Mr. Vampire(1985)

    Cinematographer

    Motif score: 89th percentile of all films

  • My Lucky Stars(1985)

    Focus Puller

    Motif score: 54th percentile of all films

  • Playboy Doctor (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1984)

    Cinematographer

  • Shanghai Blues(1984)

    Focus Puller

    Motif score: 81st percentile of all films

  • Play Catch (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1983)

    Cinematographer

  • 冒名頂替 (not in the Motif catalog yet)

    Producer

Career shape

A full career of 134 titles, 133 of them dated from 1983 to 2026.

Biggest box office

The Captain (2019)

$418M worldwide

Highest rated

Chungking Express (1994)

Motif 98th

Film career

  • 1990Screen debut· Curry & Pepper

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting21 of 134: 14 only acting, 7 with another role · typical Motif score56thDirecting50 of 134: 20 only directing, 30 with another role · typical Motif score51stProducing35 of 134: 17 only producing, 18 with another role · typical Motif score28thCinematography70 of 134: 42 only cinematography, 28 with another role · typical Motif score62ndOther crew6 of 134: 6 only other crew, 0 with another role · typical Motif score78th

134 titles, 35 with more than one role — cinematography and directing overlap on 23 of them.

By decade

1980s20 · 1 acting · 20 crew1990s52 · 6 acting · 49 crew2000s30 · 2 acting · 28 crew2010s24 · 11 acting · 16 crew2020s7 · 1 acting · 6 crew

Billing

usually 16th · top billed in 0% of 9 roles

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 Motif score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on Motif, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30.

How do Wai Keung Lau's films land?

Their typical Motif film has a Motif score in the 54th percentile, the median of all 82; across their 58 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 55th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

55thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 58

Approval · how many liked their films

45thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 58

Reach · how many have seen their films

69thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 58

Motif score across 82 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up19
  • 50th to 74th30
  • 25th to 49th20
  • Below 25th13

Shape of the crowd

37 of their 82 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved7
  • Universally Panned2
  • Divisive1
  • Cult Classic2
  • Crowd Pleaser37
  • Broadly Agreed8
  • Mixed25

Most divisive · director, cinematographer

The Founding of an Army (2017)

92nd percentile spread · 40% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · cinematographer

Chungking Express (1994)

Motif 98th · 88% liked

Reviewers score the cinematography 64/100 in their films, across 37 reviewed titles; fans 73, detractors 48. 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 Motif 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 Wai Keung Lau's work okay for kids?

Across up to 7 Motif titles with content scores, 1 of the 5 categories sits near the median of all films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore4 titlesmedian 70 · intenseMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity7 titles20–46 · median 31 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 31
Profanity3 titlesmedian 35 · mildMedian of all films: 35
Alcohol & Drugs3 titlesmedian 54 · moderateMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense3 titlesmedian 65 · intenseMedian of all films: 39

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted. The band's colour is the severity of their median, named beside it.

Who does Wai Keung Lau work with?

People who share at least 2 of Wai Keung Lau's Motif titles, grouped by what they did on them; Jing Wong shares the most, 20.

Directors

Writers

Actors

  • Ekin Cheng12 titles    See all 12 shared titles with Ekin Cheng
  • Andy Lau9 titles    See all 9 shared titles with Andy Lau
  • Shu Qi9 titles    See all 9 shared titles with Shu Qi
  • Anthony Chau-Sang Wong9 titles    See all 9 shared titles with Anthony Chau-Sang Wong

Composers and editors

  • Kwong Wing Chan20 titles    See newest 12 of 20 shared titles with Kwong Wing Chan
  • Marco Mak10 titles    See all 10 shared titles with Marco Mak
  • Wai-Chiu Chung8 titles    See all 8 shared titles with Wai-Chiu Chung
  • Yu-peng Chen6 titles    See all 6 shared titles with Yu-peng Chen

Producers

Mixed roles