Black Mask (film)

Black Mask
Theatrical release poster
Chinese name
Traditional Chinese	黑俠
Simplified Chinese	黑侠
Transcriptions Standard Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin Hēi Xiá Yue: Cantonese Jyutping Hak1 Hap6
Directed by	Daniel Lee
Screenplay by	Teddy Chan Tsui Hark Koan Hui Joe Ma
Story by	Li Chi-Tak Pang Chi-ming
Produced by	Tsui Hark
Starring	Jet Li Lau Ching-wan Karen Mok Françoise Yip Patrick Lung Anthony Wong
Cinematography	Tony Cheung
Edited by	Cheung Ka-fai
Music by	Teddy Robin
Production companies	Win's Entertainment Film Workshop
Distributed by	China Star Entertainment Group Win's Entertainment
Release date	9 November 1996 (1996-11-09)
Running time	99 minutes
Country	Hong Kong
Language	Cantonese
Budget	HK$60 million[1] (US$8 million)
Box office	US$26 million (HK$200 million)[1]

Black Mask (Chinese: 黑俠) is a 1996 Hong Kong superhero comedy film directed by Daniel Lee, and produced by Tsui Hark, who also wrote with Koan Hui, Teddy Chan, and Joe Ma.^[2] The action director was Yuen Woo-ping.^[3] The film stars Jet Li, Lau Ching-wan, Karen Mok, Françoise Yip, Patrick Lung, and Anthony Wong. The film was released theatrically in Hong Kong on 9 November 1996.^[4] In 1999, the film was dubbed in English and released in the United States by Artisan Entertainment.^[5]

The film is an adaptation of the 1992 manhua Black Mask by Li Chi-Tak.^[6] In 2002, it was followed by a sequel, Black Mask 2: City of Masks, starring Andy On and directed by Tsui Hark.

In homage to The Green Hornet, Black Mask wears a domino mask and chauffeur's cap in the same style as Kato (played by Bruce Lee) from the television series.^[7] The Black Mask is even compared to Kato in a news reporter scene.