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Drunken Master (1980) movie poster

Timeline

Drunken Master (1980) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Release, runtime and language
1980 · 111 min · Chinese
JustWatch #11,307 11
Directed by
Woo-ping Yuen
Starring
Jackie Chan, Kau Lam, Chiu-Jun Lee, Dean Shek, Han Chen Wang, Hsia Hsu

Su Can’s family is wrongly accused of treason, leading to their disgrace and ruin. Seeking to restore his family's honor, Su begins training in the unusual Drunken Fist martial art style under the guidance of the eccentric Liu Jiang. As Su hones his skills, he becomes entangled in a complex web of political intrigue and must use his developing abilities to clear his family's name and confront those responsible for the false accusations.

On this page (6)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 Events in order (13)
  3. 3 Timeline questions answered
  4. 4 Movie threads
  5. 5 Movies like Drunken Master
  6. 6 Every angle

Where to watch

Where to Watch Drunken Master (1980)

Where can you watch Drunken Master? Stream, rent or buy it in the US, including on Tubi TV, Amazon Video and Apple TV Store: current JustWatch availability with up-to-date prices.

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13 events in order · contains spoilers

Drunken Master Timeline: Events in Chronological Order

Every key event of Drunken Master (1980) in order, scene by scene, with when and where it takes place. Use it to untangle flashbacks, time jumps and parallel storylines, to refresh your memory before the sequel or to find the exact scene you are thinking of.

  1. Meet Wong Fei-hung

    Freddie Wong, a young and talented martial artist, is introduced as the son of the esteemed Robert Wong. He often defies the traditional martial arts training methods and struggles against his assistant teacher's authoritarian approach.

  2. Family Troubles

    While attempting to impress a woman, Freddie inadvertently causes a scene that leads to an embarrassing confrontation with her mother. The situation becomes more complicated when he discovers that the woman is actually his visiting aunt, leading to a surprising family reunion.

  3. Confrontation with Mr. Li's Son

    Freddie stands up to the arrogant son of businessman Mr. Li, who had humiliated a poor jewel seller earlier. This act of defiance arouses Mr. Li's wrath, resulting in Freddie’s defeat at the hands of one of Li's formidable subordinates, sending him into a spiral of trouble.

  4. The Harsh Teacher

    In an attempt to teach Freddie some responsibility, Robert Wong enlists the notorious Beggar So as Freddie's new mentor. Known for his brutal training methods, Beggar So's reputation frightens Freddie, leading him to run away from home to avoid facing this grueling ordeal.

  5. Dining Disaster

    Desperate for a meal, Freddie tries to con a diner into providing him with free food. His plans backfire when he finds himself embroiled in a chaotic brawl with the restaurant's owner and henchmen, unexpectedly rescued by an unusual ally.

    Where
    Restaurant
  6. Meeting Beggar So

    The old drunkard who intervenes during the brawl turns out to be none other than Beggar So. This twist leaves Freddie shocked, and he realizes that he has no choice but to face the daunting training that awaits him.

  7. Confronting Thunderleg

    As Freddie undergoes intense training, he encounters Thunderleg, a formidable assassin known for his devastating attack style. Freddie's eagerness to prove himself results in a humiliating defeat, emphasizing his need for proper training.

  8. A Teacher's Plight

    After enduring a series of trials, Freddie learns that Beggar So has been attacked by a martial artist known as the Bamboo King. Knowing he is responsible for his teacher's troubles, Freddie vows to make amends and earn Beggar So's respect.

  9. Learning Drunken Boxing

    In a meaningful moment of mentorship, Beggar So shares the mystical secrets of Drunken Boxing with Freddie, specifically the Eight Drunken Immortals. Freddie diligently trains and masters seven techniques but initially dismisses the last style, believing it to be too feminine.

  10. Thunderleg's Revenge

    As revenge for the earlier embarrassment, Thunderleg confronts Robert Wong, resulting in a fierce battle that leaves Freddie's father injured. This sets the stage for Freddie to step up and confront Thunderleg himself based on the training he received.

  11. The Final Showdown

    Freddie arrives just in time to face Thunderleg. With Beggar So refusing to interfere, Freddie must rely on the skills he has acquired through training to battle the assassin, who demonstrates his powerful hidden technique.

  12. Finding His Path

    During the intense showdown, Freddie admits that he hasn't mastered the final style yet. Drawing upon Beggar So's advice to merge his learned techniques, he channels his creativity to invent his own rendition of the last style.

  13. Victory Against Thunderleg

    Using his newly formed technique, Freddie ultimately defeats Thunderleg, claiming victory in their fight. The triumph not only solidifies his skills but also earns him the admiration and respect from his father, marking a significant turning point in his martial arts journey.

Last updated: October 27, 2024 at 18:29

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Timeline questions answered

Drunken Master Timeline Explained: Your Questions Answered

When does it happen, and why in that order? The questions people ask about the chronology of Drunken Master (1980): time jumps, flashbacks, cause and effect between scenes and the correct order of events, each answered with spoilers.

Q1

Why did Freddie run away from home when Beggar So became his teacher?

Freddie ran away because Beggar So had a notorious reputation for harsh training methods that often left students crippled. His father Robert Wong arranged for Beggar So to teach him as punishment for causing trouble, but Freddie was terrified by stories of Beggar So's brutal teaching style and chose to escape rather than face the grueling training.

  • Freddie Wong
  • Beggar So
  • training
  • running away
  • Robert Wong
Q2

How did Freddie meet Beggar So at the restaurant?

After running away from home, Freddie was broke and tried to con a fellow diner into giving him a free meal. The diner turned out to be the restaurant's owner, leading to a brawl with the owner's henchmen. An old drunkard unexpectedly intervened to help Freddie, revealing himself to be Beggar So in disguise.

  • restaurant
  • Beggar So
  • brawl
  • undercover
  • first meeting
Q3

Why did Beggar So decide to train Freddie after the Bamboo King attack?

When the Bamboo King attacked Beggar So, Freddie felt responsible for his teacher's injuries and expressed genuine remorse rather than using it as an opportunity to escape training. This showed Beggar So that Freddie had developed loyalty and maturity, earning his respect and convincing him to share the secrets of Drunken Boxing.

  • Beggar So
  • Bamboo King
  • attack
  • loyalty
  • respect
  • training
Q4

What are the Eight Drunken Immortals in Drunken Boxing?

The Eight Drunken Immortals are the eight distinct fighting styles that comprise the complete Drunken Boxing technique. Beggar So revealed these mystical secrets to Freddie as the ultimate training, designed to prepare him for the unique demands of this unorthodox martial art.

  • Eight Drunken Immortals
  • Drunken Boxing
  • fighting styles
  • Beggar So
  • secrets
Q5

Why did Freddie dismiss the Drunken Miss Ho style as too feminine?

Freddie initially dismissed the Drunken Miss Ho style because he found its movements and techniques too graceful and feminine, considering them unsuitable for a serious martial artist. This prideful dismissal became significant during his final battle with Thunderleg.

  • Drunken Miss Ho
  • feminine style
  • Freddie's pride
  • dismissal
Q6

How did Freddie defeat Thunderleg despite not mastering the final style?

During the fight, Freddie admitted he hadn't mastered the final Drunken Miss Ho style. Beggar So advised him to blend the seven styles he had learned into a unique move rather than trying to perfectly replicate the missing technique. Freddie took this advice and invented his own interpretation of Drunken Miss Ho, which surprised Thunderleg and led to his victory.

  • Thunderleg
  • Devil's Shadowless Hand
  • final fight
  • creativity
  • Drunken Miss Ho
  • victory
Q7

Why did Mr. Li want revenge on the Wong family?

Mr. Li's vendetta began when Freddie confronted his son after the younger Li humiliated a poor jewel seller. This public defiance embarrassed the Li family, prompting Mr. Li to hire Thunderleg to seek revenge against Robert Wong and his family for the humiliation.

  • Mr. Li
  • revenge
  • Thunderleg
  • humiliation
  • conflict origins
Q8

What was Thunderleg's Devil's Shadowless Hand?

The Devil's Shadowless Hand was Thunderleg's hidden technique, a deadly move he kept secret until the final confrontation with Freddie. It was an extension of his already formidable Devil's Kick attack style, designed to catch opponents off guard with invisible strikes.

  • Thunderleg
  • Devil's Shadowless Hand
  • hidden technique
  • Devil's Kick
Q9

Why did Beggar So refuse to help Freddie during the final fight?

Beggar So made a deliberate choice not to interfere in Freddie's final confrontation with Thunderleg. He had trained Freddie to become a complete martial artist, and interfering would have undermined all of Freddie's growth. His refusal forced Freddie to rely on his own skills and creativity to win.

  • Beggar So
  • final fight
  • no interference
  • letting Freddie fight alone
Q10

How did Freddie's relationship with his father change throughout the film?

Initially, Freddie's father Robert Wong was disappointed in his son's refusal to train and tendency to cause trouble. After Freddie underwent rigorous training, defeated Thunderleg, and proved his martial arts prowess, he finally earned his father's admiration and respect, marking a complete transformation in their relationship.

  • Freddie
  • Robert Wong
  • father
  • respect
  • admiration
  • relationship change
Q11

Why did Robert Wong choose Beggar So as Freddie's teacher?

Robert Wong enlisted Beggar So to teach Freddie as a way to instill discipline and responsibility in his wayward son. Despite Beggar So's terrifying reputation for brutal training, Robert believed this extreme approach was necessary to shape Freddie into a responsible martial artist capable of upholding the family name.

  • Robert Wong
  • Beggar So
  • chosen as teacher
  • discipline
  • responsibility
Q12

What turned Freddie from a reluctant trainee into a committed student?

Freddie's transformation began after his humiliating defeat by Thunderleg, which showed him the consequences of lacking proper training. Later, when Beggar So was attacked by the Bamboo King, Freddie felt responsible and chose to stay, demonstrating loyalty that earned Beggar So's respect and opened the path to true mastery.

  • transformation
  • commitment
  • training
  • Thunderleg defeat
  • loyalty
  • growth

Movie threads

More Movies Like Drunken Master, by Mood & Story

Curated lists built around what makes Drunken Master tick: the same mood, the same kind of story or the same emotional payoff. Each list explains why these movies belong together.

Movies with eccentric mentors and training like Drunken Master

Unlikely masters teach unorthodox skills through humbling and hilarious trials. If you enjoyed the training sequences and master-apprentice relationship in Drunken Master, you'll like these movies. This list features similar stories of unconventional mentors, rigorous training montages, and characters proving themselves through hard-won skill.

  • playful
  • humbling
  • triumphant
  • energetic
  • comical
  • disciplined
  • Tone: light, comical, triumphant
  • Pacing: fast, montage-driven
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative follows a protagonist who must master a unique skill or fighting style under the guidance of an unconventional and demanding teacher. The core of the story is the training process itself, which is often broken into stages or montages, showcasing the student's growth from failure to mastery in a satisfying arc.

Why they belong together: These films are grouped by their focus on the transformative power of training and the unique dynamic between student and master. They share a pattern of comedic struggle, physical or mental discipline, and the ultimate payoff of earning one's abilities.

Lighthearted high-energy action movies like Drunken Master

Fast-paced fights and slapstick humor blend into an energetic, fun experience. For fans of the comedic fights and upbeat vibe of Drunken Master, this list collects movies with a similar feel. You'll find films that mix impressive martial arts or stunts with humor, creating an entertaining and fast-paced watch without heavy drama.

  • energetic
  • comical
  • intense
  • playful
  • triumphant
  • slapstick
  • Tone: light, playful
  • Pacing: fast, action-packed
Why these movies?

The story pattern: Stories in this thread prioritize kinetic energy and entertainment. The plot is often straightforward, serving as a framework for a series of inventive and often humorous confrontations. Character development happens through action, and the overall emotional journey is uplifting rather than weighty.

Why they belong together: They share a unique blend of high-intensity physical action and a light, comedic tone. This mix creates a specific vibe where the spectacle of combat is enjoyable and accessible, avoiding the darkness often associated with violent conflict.

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Movies Like Drunken Master

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Every angle

Drunken Master (1980) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

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