Sixty Million Dollar Man 百變星君 (1995): The Movie Where Stephen Chow Got Blown Up, Rebuilt as a Microwave, and Proved That Even a Toaster Can Find Love
First, take a look at the movie trailer from back then.
The Movie Where Stephen Chow Became a Microwave
Here's a film that starts with a rich kid being blown to pieces and ends with him, as a human-sized microwave, melting a cyborg assassin. That's Sixty Million Dollar Man — a 1995 Hong Kong sci-fi comedy directed by Raymond Yip, produced by Wong Jing, and starring Stephen Chow, Gigi Leung, Ng Man-tat, and Elvis Tsui [citation:1][citation:2].
The film was a major hit, earning HK$35.23 million at the Hong Kong box office [citation:1][citation:2]. It marked a comeback for Stephen Chow after the commercial failures of A Chinese Odyssey and Out of the Dark [citation:6][citation:9].
What Is It About?
Lee Chak-sing (Stephen Chow) is the spoiled son of a wealthy Hong Kong businessman. He's studying in Hawaii, where he spends his days bullying classmates and throwing money around. He falls for a beautiful woman named Bonnie — only to discover she's the mistress of a Japanese Yakuza boss, Fumita [citation:1].
Fumita sends his henchman, Mark, to kill Lee. They blow him to pieces. Only his brain and mouth survive [citation:1].
Lee's biological father, the family butler (Ng Man-tat), begs Professor Chiang (Elvis Tsui) to rebuild him. The professor, a mad scientist, reconstructs Lee as a cyborg using cheap materials [citation:8][citation:9].
Lee returns to Hong Kong and takes a job as a teacher at a school where he meets Chung Chung (Gigi Leung), a kind-hearted girl he had a crush on in Hawaii. He falls for her — but she's engaged to a rival, the son of a school board member [citation:1][citation:2].
Meanwhile, Fumita learns Lee survived and sends Mark, now rebuilt as a "RoboCop"-style cyborg, to finish the job. Lee is outmatched. In desperation, Professor Chiang installs an "Invincible Chip" into Lee's body — giving him the power to shapeshift into anything [citation:2][citation:6].
In the final battle, Lee transforms into a super microwave and melts Mark into a puddle of metal. He defeats the villain, wins Chung Chung's heart, and becomes a hero [citation:2].
The Cast That Made It Work
Stephen Chow as Lee Chak-sing — the spoiled rich kid who becomes a shapeshifting hero. It's one of his most unhinged performances, blending slapstick with genuine pathos.
Gigi Leung as Chung Chung — the sweet, kind-hearted love interest. It was one of her earliest film roles, and she brings a warmth that balances Chow's chaos.
Ng Man-tat as the butler/father — the comic relief who also provides the film's emotional core. His scenes with Chow are the film's highlights.
Elvis Tsui as Professor Chiang — the mad scientist who rebuilds Lee. He's the source of the film's wildest ideas.
Joe Cheng as Fumita — the Yakuza boss. He's menacing, cruel, and the perfect foil.
Sun Ka-kwan as Bonnie — the femme fatale who sets everything in motion.
Lee Kin-yan as Siu Fu — Lee's loyal sidekick.
The Scene That Defines the Film
The film's most famous scene is Lee's funeral. Chung Chung is the only one who shows up to mourn him. She cries. She says she loved him.
Lee, who has been watching from a distance, is touched. He reveals himself — and then proposes to her on the spot. It's absurd, it's sudden, and it's pure Stephen Chow.
But the real highlight is the final battle: Lee, in microwave form, melting Mark while delivering one-liners. It's so ridiculous that it's impossible not to love.
Why It Still Matters
Sixty Million Dollar Man is not Stephen Chow's most artistic film. It's not Kung Fu Hustle or Shaolin Soccer. But it's a film that perfectly captures the spirit of 1990s Hong Kong cinema: fast, funny, and completely unpretentious.
The film also marks a turning point in Chow's career. After the commercial failures of A Chinese Odyssey and Out of the Dark, he needed a hit. Sixty Million Dollar Man delivered — and it proved that Chow could still make audiences laugh.
It also features some of the most inventive visual effects in a Hong Kong comedy. The shapeshifting sequences — Lee transforms into a toaster, a microwave, a toothpaste tube — were a mix of practical effects and early CGI, and they still look impressive today [citation:6][citation:9].
Final Thought
Sixty Million Dollar Man is a film about a man who loses everything and rebuilds himself — literally. It's about redemption, second chances, and the power of believing in yourself, even if you're a talking microwave.
Please enjoy this movie clip 1.
Please enjoy this movie clip 2.
Please enjoy this movie clip 3.
Have you seen Sixty Million Dollar Man? What's your favorite Stephen Chow film from the 90s? Let me know in the comments.
Tom De · The Movie Prince 🎬
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