Breaking News

Breaking News

Year: 2004

Runtime: 90 mins

Language: Cantonese

Director: Johnnie To

ThrillerCrimeActionCrime drugs and gangstersViolent action guns and crime

This is a great show! After a disastrous failure to stop a robber gang, the police attempt to redeem themselves through a series of publicity stunts and shootouts.

Warning: spoilers below!

Haven’t seen Breaking News yet? This summary contains major spoilers. Bookmark the page, watch the movie, and come back for the full breakdown. If you're ready, scroll on and relive the story!

Timeline & Setting – Breaking News (2004)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Breaking News (2004). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

Location

Hong Kong

The setting is a dense, neon-lit Hong Kong city where crowded tenements, busy streets, and a powerful media machine frame every police operation. An apartment raid, rapid gunfights, and televised moments unfold against a backdrop of urban claustrophobia. The local media ecosystem amplifies public perception, turning crime control into a televised spectacle that pressures the police to perform.

🏙️ Urban 🚓 Police 📰 Media

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 12:02

Main Characters – Breaking News (2004)

Meet the key characters of Breaking News (2004), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Insp. Cheung Chi Hang (Nick Cheung Ka-Fai)

A determined, quick-thinking inspector who leads his own team against the mobsters. He values duty and results, but must contend with political pressures and conflicting accounts of the same events.

🎯 Duty 🧠 Strategist 🗺️ Tenacious

Insp. Rebecca Fong (Kelly Chen)

Superintendent Fong orchestrates a counter-narrative to salvage the police’s reputation. She is calculating, media-savvy, and willing to bend the truth at times to preserve institutional power.

🕵️ Investigative 📰 Media-Savvy 🎭 Calculated

Yuan (White Hair)

The mob mastermind leading the chaotic raid and propaganda war. He is observant, fearless, and willing to sacrifice others or himself to destabilize the police operation.

🧠 mastermind ⚡ dangerous 🗡️ unpredictable

Chun

A lethal assassin who disrupts the police operation, triggering a cascade of gunfights and chaos. He shows cool resolve and willingness to exploit the media circus for a final strike.

🗡️ Assassin ⚖️ Cunning 🧭 Calculated

Asst. Cmdr. C. K. Wong (Simon Yam)

A senior officer who coordinates with Cheung’s team, representing authority and institutional interests. He is pragmatic, but sometimes sees the bigger picture as a media-friendly outcome.

🏛️ Authority 🧭 Pragmatic 🗺️ Experienced

Grace Chow Wai Yee (Maggie Siu Mei-Kei)

A civilian tied to the apartment raid, whose fate underscores the collateral damage of police actions and media spectacle.

🎗️ Civilians 🧩 Vulnerable 🕵️ Witness

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 12:02

Major Themes – Breaking News (2004)

Explore the central themes of Breaking News (2004), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

📰 Media Manipulation

The media becomes a weapon in the showdown between police and criminals, as stories are shaped to serve a narrative rather than truth. Reporters and PR officers coordinate to influence public opinion and outcomes. The film questions the line between journalism and performance during crises.

🎭 Public Image

Superintendent Fong and Inspector Cheung stage a public-relations effort to control the narrative after a disastrous surrender. The narrative becomes more important than the facts on the ground, revealing how institutions weaponize perception to maintain authority.

⚖️ Moral Grey

Police work here operates in a murky space where duty collides with manipulation and expediency. Characters navigate competing loyalties, choosing tactics that blur lines between right and wrong as they chase criminals and a lingering sense of justice.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 12:02

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Unlock the Full Story of Breaking News

Don't stop at just watching — explore Breaking News in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what Breaking News is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

Breaking News Summary

Read a complete plot summary of Breaking News, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

Breaking News Summary

Breaking News Timeline

Track the full timeline of Breaking News with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.

Breaking News Timeline

Breaking News Spoiler-Free Summary

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Breaking News Spoiler-Free Summary

More About Breaking News

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More About Breaking News

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