Everyone is talking about "The Furious" — well, the hardcore movie buffs, that is. Kenji Tanigaki's Hong Kong action epic has gotten not just audiences and critics in its home turf going ga-ga over it, but also the ones in the U.S. The martial arts-driven thriller opened in the U.S. and Hong Kong on June 12, following its recent premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival.
Tanigaki, who is a renowned stunt coordinator and filmmaker, previously directed the Hong Kong box office hit "Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In" (second-highest-grossing in the territory in 2024).
"The Furious" revolves around a mute Chinese handyman Wang Wei (Xie Miao), a mute Chinese handyman who is forced to choose violence when his daughter is kidnapped by a ruthless human trafficking syndicate. He is aided in his pursuit by a journalist, Navin, played by action star Joe Taslim ('The Night Comes For Us', 'Warrior'), who is dealing with his own trauma.
The film has met with wide praise by critics and even industry folks who call it one of the "best action movies of the 21st century" with no equal. The film is yet to open in many other international territories, including India, where it's expected to release on June 19.
With some wondering whether a sequel is on the way, considering its $19.6 million global opening-weekend haul, the film's producer, Bill Kong ('Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon', 'Hero'), has teased the possibility. The entertainment website City On Fire has quoted him saying, "I can promise you one thing, that if there's going to be a sequel, it will be a better film than the first one."
