Chang Cheh
96 films · 1947 to 1993
Born 17 January 1924, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China · Died 22 June 2002
Chang Cheh was a prolific Hong Kong director who shaped the martial arts film genre through his work at Shaw Brothers Studios from the 1960s onwards. He directed over one hundred films, establishing the template for the swordplay movie with works like *Come Drink with Me* (1966) and *The One-Armed Swordsman* (1967), which featured dynamic choreography and operatic narratives that influenced generations of filmmakers. His stylistic approach combined elaborate sword-fighting sequences with melodramatic storytelling and vivid color cinematography. Chang Cheh's innovations in action cinema left a significant mark on Hong Kong film and international perceptions of the martial arts genre.
Defining films
Films by decade
Dancing Warrior
Attack of the God of Joy
Attack of the God of Joy
The Ghost
The Ghost
Disciples of Shaolin
Disciples of Shaolin
House of Traps
Five Element Ninjas
Mysterious Island
The Brave Archer and His Mate
The Sword Stained with Royal Blood
The Brave Archer, Part Three
Masked Avengers
The Shanghai Thirteen
The Shanghai Thirteen
Flag of Iron
The Guerrillas
Legend of the Fox
Ode to Gallantry
Heaven and Hell
Two Champions of Shaolin
Life Combat
Eagle’s Killer
Avenging Warriors
The Magnificent Ruffians
The Kid With the Golden Arm
The Daredevils
Ten Tigers from Kuangtung
Ten Tigers from Kuangtung
Invincible Shaolin
Crippled Avengers
The Brave Archer, Part Two
The Five Venoms
The Brave Archer
The Naval Commandos (codirected with Wu Ma
Magnificent Kung Fu Warriors
The Chinatown Kid
The Chinatown Kid
The Boxer Rebellion
Invincible Kung Fu Brothers
The Shaolin Temple (codirected with Wu Ma
The Shaolin Temple (codirected with Wu Ma
The Bloody Escape
Marco Polo
The Fantastic Magic Baby
Spiritual Fists
Disciples of Shaolin
Shaolin Martial Arts
Na Cha the Great
Heroes Two
Friends
Five Shaolin Masters
The Savage Five
Men from the Monastery
Men from the Monastery
Police Force
The Generation Gap
The Iron Bodyguard
Blood Brothers
The Pirate (codirected with Wu Ma and Bao Xueli
The Pirate (codirected with Wu Ma and Bao Xueli
Trilogy of Swordsmanship
The Angry Guest
Young People
Four Riders
Delightful Forest (codirected with Bao Xueli
Delightful Forest (codirected with Bao Xueli
Duel of Fists
The Duel
The New One-Armed Swordsman
The Anonymous Heroes
King Eagle
The Deadly Duo
The Heroic Ones
Vengeance
The Little Killer
The Wandering Swordsman
Flying Dagger
Dead End
The Singing Thief
Have Sword Will Travel
The Invincible Fist
The Perfumed Arrow
Inside the Forbidden City
Crocodile River (Lo Wei
Crocodile River (Lo Wei
Call of the Sea (Lo Wei
Call of the Sea (Lo Wei
The Mermaid (Kao Li
The Mermaid (Kao Li
The Warlord and the Actress (Ho Meng-hwa
The Warlord and the Actress (Ho Meng-hwa
The Female Prince (See Luk Chow
The Female Prince (See Luk Chow
Come Rain, Come Shine (Tang Huang
Come Rain, Come Shine (Tang Huang
It’s Always Spring (Yi Wen
It’s Always Spring (Yi Wen
Her Pearly Tears (Wang Tian-lin
Her Pearly Tears (Wang Tian-lin
The Girl With the Golden Arm (Tang Huang
The Girl With the Golden Arm (Tang Huang
You Were Meant for Me (Wang Tian-lin
You Were Meant for Me (Wang Tian-lin
Song Without Words (Lo Wei
Song Without Words (Lo Wei
The Tender Trap of Espionage (Lo Wei
The Tender Trap of Espionage (Lo Wei