Skinny Tiger, Fatty Dragon

Skinny Tiger, Fatty Dragon

Year: 1990

Runtime: 104 mins

Language: Cantonese

ComedyActionCrime

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!

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Timeline – Skinny Tiger, Fatty Dragon (1990)

Trace every key event in Skinny Tiger, Fatty Dragon (1990) with our detailed, chronological timeline. Perfect for unpacking nonlinear stories, spotting hidden connections, and understanding how each scene builds toward the film’s climax. Whether you're revisiting or decoding for the first time, this timeline gives you the full picture.

1

Jewelry robbery triggers investigation

Fatty and Baldy, two detectives, confront a jewelry heist tied to a Triad gang. They begin following leads that pull them into the gang's world. The case sets the stage for escalating danger they will face.

Hong Kong
2

Encounter with Lai and trouble in the changing room

They locate Lai, a woman connected to the gang, but their attempt to mingle with her past ends badly when they are busted for entering a women's changing room. The incident marks Lai as a key figure connected to the gang. The detectives realize they may have bitten off more than they can chew.

3

Wing eliminates a leak and asserts control

Wing learns that Johnny leaked secrets and stabs him, signaling his tight grip on the gang. The killing escalates tension between the gang and the detectives. Fatty and Baldy become targets as internal power struggles spill over into their investigation.

Gang headquarters
4

Escape from Lai's house and car theft

During their investigation at Lai's house, things go very wrong and the detectives are forced to improvise. They imitate robbers to escape and steal Lai's car, triggering a brief chase with the gangsters. The car is wrecked in the pursuit, but Fatty and Baldy survive the confrontation.

late City streets
5

Meeting arranged at an abandoned building; wedding disruption

Lai calls Fatty and arranges a meeting at an abandoned building where a fight breaks out with Wing's men. The pursuit of Lai's boss, 'Prince' Tak, escalates as Fatty inadvertently disrupts the English Deputy Commissioner's wedding. The stakes of the case rise sharply.

late night Abandoned building
6

Escape to Singapore

Fatty and Baldy are ordered to leave Hong Kong to let things settle, so they head for Singapore. The forced exile marks a new phase in their pursuit of the gang. The journey overseas broadens the scope of the case.

Singapore
7

Lai killed by Thai transsexual assassins

Lai, who has turned against her gang, is killed by a pair of transsexual assassins from Thailand. Her death removes a key connection for the detectives and intensifies the gang's vendetta. The danger they face grows as cross-border threats emerge.

8

Dinner ruin leads to a confrontation

When Fatty prepares to have dinner with Baldy and his girlfriend, he inadvertently ruins their relationship. The pair then share a meal outside, which leads to another confrontation with the gang. Personal costs mount as tensions flare.

evening Restaurant
9

Outdoor duel: henchmen and assassins clash

Baldy defeats two English henchmen, while Fatty fights the transsexual assassins. The two detectives display different fighting styles as they hold their own against formidable foes. The danger level remains high as the night intensifies.

night Outdoor area near dinner spot
10

Family and loved ones hospitalized

In the aftermath of the violence, Fatty's father and Baldy's girlfriend are hospitalized. The personal toll of the pursuit becomes painfully clear. The detectives are driven by a desire to protect their families as much as to stop Wing.

Hospital
11

Tak captured at the gas-filled warehouse

Realising there will be no peace until Wing is stopped, Fatty and Baldy corner Tak at an abandoned warehouse full of gas cylinders. The location provides a hazardous setting for a final confrontation. The tension of the pursuit reaches its peak as they close in on him.

Abandoned warehouse
12

Final battle and gas explosion

The plan goes sour as the finale unfolds. English henchmen press in on Baldy while Fatty wields a nunchaku. Fatty briefly knocks Tak's brother down and goes for Tak, but Tak's brother fires, hitting the gas cylinders and triggering a blast that kills everyone in the process as Fatty and Baldy escape.

finale Abandoned warehouse
13

Police intervention ends the feud

In the aftermath, the police chief stops Fatty and Baldy from fighting each other after a money dispute. The immediate danger subsides, but the detectives must live with the consequences of their actions. The story ends on a note of uneasy resolution rather than clear triumph.

aftermath Police HQ

Last Updated: October 09, 2025 at 14:54

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Characters, Settings & Themes in Skinny Tiger, Fatty Dragon

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