Once a Thief Photo: Courtesy of Douban

A newly restored 4K version of the 1991 Hong Kong action film Once a Thief is scheduled to be released in the Chinese mainland on May 3, marking its first theatrical run in the mainland.

The film, directed by John Woo and starring Chow Yun-fat, Leslie Cheung and Cherie Chung, will enter China's May Day holiday box-office period (May 1-5). 

Originally released in Hong Kong in 1991, the film combines crime drama with action sequences and comedic undertones, which has allowed it to maintain a strong following over the decades.

The story centers on three orphans, played by Chow, Cheung and Chung, who are raised by a mentor portrayed by Kenneth Tsang. The trio grows up working together as professional thieves and develop a close bond shaped by shared ­missions and personal loyalty. The narrative follows their evolving relationships as they become involved in increasingly dangerous assignments, including betrayals and attempts at revenge.

On Chinese review platform Douban, the film holds a rating of 8.8 out of 10 based on more than 470,000 user ratings, and it has frequently appeared on curated lists of popular Hong Kong films.

The upcoming release will present a newly restored version of the film. Scenes set in European locations, including sequences filmed in France, as well as action set pieces involving security systems and vehicular chases, are among those highlighted in promotional materials.

A released trailer includes several recognizable sequences from the film, such as car chases through European streets and action scenes involving laser security grids. It also features a well-known dance sequence performed in a wheelchair, which has been frequently referenced by fans of the film.

The film's release during the May Day holidays is expected to add attention and nostalgic appeal to the box-office lineup, Zhang Peng, a cultural researcher and associate professor at Nanjing Normal University, told the Global Times on Thursday.

According to Zhang, the release of the well-known Hong Kong classic could help broaden the holiday slate, offering audiences a chance to revisit a landmark title from the earlier cinema era. Such films often attract both longtime fans and younger viewers interested in exploring older cinematic works on the big screen, added Zhang.

The release comes as China's film industry prepares for the May Day holidays, traditionally one of the country's more active box-office windows. This year's lineup includes a range of domestic and imported titles across genres including drama, comedy, animation, and action. 

News of the film's Chinese mainland release also appeared on the trending list of China's X-like platform Sina Weibo.

Lai Li, an analyst at online movie ticket platform Maoyan, told the Global Times that the overall presence of large-scale tentpole releases appears limited compared with some previous holiday seasons.

Market conditions in China's box office have been relatively subdued in recent months, according to Lai. The current lineup offers a broad range of genres, which may help attract different audience segments, Lai said.