Question 1

What connection does the shotgun in the rose box have to other films?

Accepted Answer

The shotgun in a rose box was an original idea in both Hard Boiled and Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991), appearing independently by coincidence. It was used earlier in Dog Day Afternoon (1975) and The Killing (1956).

Question 2

Why did John Woo decide to make Hard Boiled?

Accepted Answer

John Woo had previously been criticized for glamorizing gangsters in his films, so he decided to make this film glamorizing the police instead.

Question 3

What happened during the filming of the exploding hallway scene with the baby?

Accepted Answer

John Woo wasn't happy with the first take because explosions were too far behind Chow Yun-Fat. For the second take, Woo set off explosives closer than expected, making Chow run for his life.

Question 4

Which major film festivals screened Hard Boiled?

Accepted Answer

Hard Boiled was screened at the Cannes Film Festival (2025), Toronto International Film Festival (1992), and International Film Festival Rotterdam (1993).

Question 5

What is the basic plot of Hard Boiled?

Accepted Answer

A cop who loses his partner in a shoot-out with gun smugglers teams up with an undercover cop working as a gangster hitman, using excessive force to catch the ring leaders.

Question 6

What surprising connection exists between the shotgun-in-a-rose-box scene in Hard Boiled and Terminator 2?

Accepted Answer

Both films independently came up with the same idea of hiding a shotgun in a box of roses at the same time—it's a coincidence, not a reference. The concept appeared earlier in Dog Day Afternoon and The Killing.

Question 7

Why did John Woo decide to make Hard Boiled focus on police instead of gangsters?

Accepted Answer

Woo had been criticized for glamorizing gangsters in his previous films, so he chose to glamorize the police in this one.

Question 8

What happened when John Woo wasn't satisfied with the explosive hallway scene with Chow Yun-Fat?

Accepted Answer

Woo took control of the explosives button for a second take and set them off much closer than Chow expected, making him run for his life. Chow later called Woo "that motherfucker."

Question 9

Which major international film festivals featured Hard Boiled?

Accepted Answer

The film was shown at the Cannes Film Festival in 2025, Toronto International Film Festival in 1992, and International Film Festival Rotterdam in 1993.

Question 10

What is the basic plot of Hard Boiled?

Accepted Answer

A cop whose partner is killed by gun smugglers teams up with an undercover cop posing as a gangster hitman. They use excessive force to take down the smuggling ring.

Loved this film?

Share with others

Loved this film?

Share with others

Hard Boiled

Customers also watched