A Chinese Odyssey Part One: Pandora's Box 西遊記第壹佰零壹回之月光寶盒 (1995): The Time-Traveling Comedy That Broke Stephen Chow's Box Office — and Made Him a Cult Legend
The Box Office Flop That Became a Cult Classic
Here's a film that was supposed to be Stephen Chow's masterpiece — and ended up being the film that nearly destroyed his career.
A Chinese Odyssey is a two-part epic based on the classic Chinese novel Journey to the West. Directed by Jeffrey Lau, the film was released in two parts: Pandora's Box and Cinderella in early 1995. It was a box office disappointment, earning just HK21 million respectively. Critics called it a mess. Audiences were confused .
Then something strange happened. The film found its audience on VCD and DVD. Students quoted it. Fans dissected it. It became a cult classic — one of the most beloved films in Chinese cinema history. Today, it holds a 9.2 on Douban, with over 1.8 million ratings.
What Is It About?
The plot is a time-traveling, mind-bending comedy about the Monkey King — and the man who will become him.
Joker (Stephen Chow) is a bandit leader in a world of demons and gods. He's arrogant, cowardly, and completely unaware that he's the reincarnation of the Monkey King. He falls in love with a mysterious woman named Lin Zixia (Karen Mok), who is actually a demon from the future .
Joker's master, the Lady Demon (Anna Ikeda), dies and gives him a golden bell — a magical object that can let him see the truth. He discovers that Zixia is his fated lover, and that his destiny is to become the Monkey King .
Meanwhile, the Bull Demon King, Joker's demon friend who wants to marry Zixia, is trying to interfere .
The Cast That Made It Work
Stephen Chow as Joker / the Monkey King — a dual role that showcases his comedic and dramatic range.
Karen Mok as Lin Zixia — the demon who falls in love with Joker. It's one of her most iconic roles.
Ng Man-tat as the Pig Demon — the comic relief who also provides the heart.
Law Kar-ying as the Monk — the man who will become Tang Sanzang.
Athena Chu as the Spider Demon — a beautiful and dangerous woman who complicates Joker's mission.
The Scene That Defines the Film
The film's most famous scene is the moment when Joker discovers the truth: he is the Monkey King. He looks in the mirror and sees his reflection — and it's not him. It's a monkey.
He can't escape his fate. No matter how hard he tries, he will become the Monkey King. He will accompany the Monk to the West.
It's a moment of pure, devastating recognition.
Why It Still Matters
A Chinese Odyssey is a film about fate, love, and the impossibility of escaping your destiny. It's a film that blends comedy, tragedy, and fantasy into something uniquely Stephen Chow.
On Douban, it holds a 9.2 — one of the highest-rated films on the platform. It's a testament to the film's enduring power.
Full movie in Cantonese with English subtitles
Have you seen A Chinese Odyssey? Which part do you prefer — Part One or Part Two? Let me know in the comments.
Tom De · The Movie Prince 🎬
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