Year: 1990
Runtime: 104 mins
Language: Cantonese
Two bumbling detectives, the wiry Skinny (Karl Maka) and the rotund Fatty (Sammo Hung), blow up their boss’s wedding while chasing drug lord Tak, getting them dismissed from the force. On a Singapore holiday they each fall for attractive women, but Tak kidnaps the girlfriends, forcing the ex‑cops into a wild, comic‑filled rescue that showcases Hung’s trademark martial‑arts antics.
Warning: spoilers below!
Haven’t seen Skinny Tiger, Fatty Dragon 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!
Read the complete plot breakdown of Skinny Tiger, Fatty Dragon (1990), including all key story events, major twists, and the ending explained in detail. Discover what really happened—and what it all means.
Fatty Dragon and Baldy Mak Sui Fu are a pair of detectives who take on a ruthless crime syndicate of Triad gangsters. Their case begins after a jewelry robbery, when they cross paths with Lai, a woman closely connected to the gang, and their investigation quickly spirals into trouble after an inadvertent slip into the women’s changing room. The gang’s leader Wing discovers that one of his trusted henchmen, Johnny, has betrayed him by leaking secrets, and he personally confronts Johnny in a tense, fatal stabbing.
As Fatty Dragon and Baldy dig deeper at Lai’s house, the situation goes disastrously wrong. To escape the mounting danger, they improvise by adopting criminal disguises and end up stealing Lai’s car, triggering a wild, breathless chase that leaves the vehicle wrecked. That night, Lai calls for a meeting at an abandoned building, where a brutal new confrontation unfolds and a pursuit of Lai’s boss, Prince Tak, ensues. In the chaos, Fatty Dragon even disrupts the English Deputy Commissioner’s wedding, underscoring how tangled and unpredictable the case has become.
With orders to leave Hong Kong to cool the tensions, the duo heads for Singapore, hoping to lay low. But Lai, who has shifted away from her former gang, is killed by a pair of Thai transsexual assassins, a shocking turn that intensifies the danger surrounding them. A dinner that night with Baldy and his girlfriend is interrupted when Fatty’s misstep undercuts their personal lives, prompting a tense, public separation that leaves both detectives estranged in part from those closest to them. The mood shifts into a drawn-out confrontation as Baldy fends off two English henchmen while Fatty fights the transsexual assailants, each man fighting to survive the escalating violence.
The human cost of the conflict becomes clear when Fatty’s father and Baldy’s girlfriend are hospitalized in the aftermath. Realizing there will be no real peace until Wing is stopped, the two detectives trace Tak to an abandoned warehouse packed with gas cylinders. The plan to bring down the gang falters, leading to a climactic showdown where the English henchmen close in on Baldy, and Fatty wields nunchaku in a desperate bid to subdue Tak. In the final moments, Tak’s brother pulls a gun, strikes the gas cylinders, and the ensuing explosion erupts as Baldy and Fatty barely escape, taking everyone around them with them. The dust settles with the police chief stepping in to halt the ongoing confrontation, arguing over the spoils of the investigation amid the wreckage of the city’s uneasy balance between justice and vengeance.
Last Updated: October 09, 2025 at 14:54
Don't stop at just watching — explore Skinny Tiger, Fatty Dragon 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 Skinny Tiger, Fatty Dragon is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.
Track the full timeline of Skinny Tiger, Fatty Dragon with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.
Discover movies like Skinny Tiger, Fatty Dragon that share similar genres, themes, and storytelling elements. Whether you’re drawn to the atmosphere, character arcs, or plot structure, these curated recommendations will help you explore more films you’ll love.
Skinny Tiger, Fatty Dragon (1990) Scene-by-Scene Movie Timeline
Skinny Tiger, Fatty Dragon (1990) Movie Characters, Themes & Settings
Skinny Tiger, Fatty Dragon (1990) Spoiler-Free Summary & Key Flow
Movies Like Skinny Tiger, Fatty Dragon – Similar Titles You’ll Enjoy
Enter the Fat Dragon (2020) Ending Explained & Film Insights
Undercover Hidden Dragon (2006) Detailed Story Recap
Shanghai Shanghai (1990) Ending Explained & Film Insights
Lung Fung Restaurant (1990) Spoiler-Packed Plot Recap
Drunken Tai Chi (1984) Ending Explained & Film Insights
Tiger on the Beat (1988) Full Summary & Key Details
Tiger Cage (1988) Spoiler-Packed Plot Recap
Dragon Fight (1989) Complete Plot Breakdown
Tiger on the Beat 2 (1990) Detailed Story Recap
Deadly Angels (1977) Film Overview & Timeline
Tough Beauty And The Sloppy Slop (1995) Plot Summary & Ending Explained
Kill a Dragon (1967) Plot Summary & Ending Explained
The Cub Tiger from Kwang Tung (1973) Full Summary & Key Details
Dirty Tiger, Crazy Frog (1978) Story Summary & Characters
Twin Dragons (1992) Detailed Story Recap