All's Well, End's Well '97 97家有囍事 (1997): The Movie Where Stephen Chow Faked Insanity, Won the Lottery (Sort Of), and Sent Off Hong Kong Cinema's Golden Era with a $5 Million Salary
First, take a look at the movie trailer from back then.
The Comedy That Sent Off an Era
The year was 1997. Hong Kong was about to change forever. And Stephen Chow, the King of Comedy, was about to make his last film before the handover.
All's Well, End's Well '97 (97家有囍事) is the sequel to the legendary 1992 All's Well, Ends Well. The film was directed by Alfred Cheung, with a screenplay by Raymond Wong and Vincent Kok.
The film was a massive success. It earned HK$40,162,050 at the Hong Kong box office and holds a 7.7 on Douban with over 110,000 ratings.
But there's a detail that makes this film even more fascinating: Stephen Chow's salary. By 1997, his fee had jumped to **HK8 million he earned for the 1992 version.
What Is It About?
The plot follows three brothers — all played by Hong Kong comedy royalty.
Gung (Stephen Chow) is the youngest brother. He's lazy, irresponsible, and spends his days partying at discos. When his father and eldest brother try to convince him to work at their new restaurant, he reacts by pretending to win the Mark Six lottery. He brags about his imaginary wealth, running up debts with a loan shark known as Siu Sai Gor (Ray Lui).
But here's the twist: the lottery win is a lie. His brothers set it up as a joke. Gung can't pay his debts. He has no choice but to fake insanity.
Meanwhile, his second brother Fei (Francis Ng) falls in love with Siu Sin (Jacklyn Wu) , a woman who runs a roast chicken shop in Cheung Chau. He brings her home to scam money from his family — only to discover that he still has feelings for his old flame.
The film also features a subplot involving the father and his old flame, played by Christy Chung as the daughter of the father's former lover. Chung's character is also pretending to be insane — just like Gung.
The film ends with a chaotic, hilarious climax involving a family reunion, a wedding, and a final redemption for Gung, who finally confesses the truth and faces his family.
The Cast That Defined an Era
Stephen Chow as Gung — the youngest brother who fakes madness. It's one of his most energetic performances.
Raymond Wong as Leung — the eldest brother who tries to hold the family together.
Francis Ng as Fei — the second brother who falls for the wrong woman. Ng's performance is both funny and vulnerable.
Christy Chung as Suen — the woman who also fakes insanity. Her chemistry with Chow is electric.
Jacklyn Wu as Siu Sin — the roast chicken shop owner who captures Fei's heart.
Josephine Koo as Yin Suk — Leung's wife. She's the film's emotional anchor.
Kiu Hung as the father — the grumpy old man who loves his sons despite everything.
Gigi Lai as Gigi — Gung's ex-girlfriend.
Emil Chau as the photographer — a brief but memorable cameo.
The cameos are legendary: Leslie Cheung, Teddy Robin, Law Kar-ying, and others appear in small roles.
The Scene That Defines the Film
There's a moment when Gung, pretending to be insane, sits with his father. The father, heartbroken, tells him he loves him no matter what. Gung listens, and for a moment, the comedy fades. You see the real man beneath the mask.
It's a scene that captures the film's surprising emotional depth — and it's the moment Gung decides to stop pretending.
Why It Still Matters
All's Well, End's Well '97 is a film about family, deception, and the power of redemption. It's also a film that captures Hong Kong at a pivotal moment in its history.
It was the last Stephen Chow film before the handover. The title, All's Well, End's Well, takes on a double meaning: a wish for a happy ending, even as the city faced an uncertain future.
Final Thought
All's Well, End's Well '97 is a film about a man who pretends to be crazy — and a city that was pretending everything was going to be fine.
It's a film about love, deception, and the power of family. And it's a film that reminds us why Stephen Chow was the King of Comedy.
Have you seen All's Well, End's Well '97? Do you prefer it to the 1992 original? Let me know in the comments.
Tom De · The Movie Prince 🎬
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