High Forces

High Forces

Company type	Film
Industry	Motion picture
Founded	2024
Founder	Oxide Pang (director), Andy Lau (producer)
Headquarters	Hong Kong, China
Key people	Andy Lau (producer and lead actor), Oxide Pang (director)
Products	Action thriller film

High Forces, initially titled Crisis Route, is a 2024 action movie co-produced by Hong Kong and China, directed by Oxide Pang. The film is produced by Andy Lau, who also leads the cast alongside Zhang Zifeng and Qu Chuxiao. Lau plays an international security specialist tasked with thwarting hijackers aboard an Airbus A380.

The project was first announced in March 2020, with filming commencing on 27 September 2021 and concluding on 19 November 2021. The movie premiered in theaters on 10 October 2024 and has earned $41.6 million in box office revenue.

Plot

Gao Haojun, afflicted by mania, was involved in a car crash during a severe manic episode that resulted in his daughter, Gao Xiaojun, losing her sight. This incident caused a rift in the family, leading his wife Fu Yuan to leave with their daughter, while Haojun remained overwhelmed by remorse.

Several years later, Haojun—now employed as an international security expert for Hangyu Airlines—boards the inaugural flight of their new Airbus A380, where he unexpectedly encounters his former wife and daughter. During the journey, a group of 12 hijackers takes control of the aircraft carrying 800 passengers. As chaos unfolds, Haojun leverages his skills to confront the threat, receiving covert assistance from his family.

The ordeal concludes with an emergency landing facilitated by a specialized truck on a ring road; all hijackers are either subdued or apprehended.

Cast

• Andy Lau as Gao Haojun (高皓軍), an international security professional living with mania.
• Zhang Zifeng as Gao Xiaojun (高小軍), an 18-year-old blind daughter of Haojun possessing remarkable observational abilities.
• Qu Chuxiao as Mike, the leader of the hijackers.
• Liu Tao as Fu Yuan (傅源), Haojun’s ex-wife and Xiaojun’s mother.
• Guo Xiaodong as Li Hangyu (李航宇), CEO of Hangyu Airlines.
• Jiang Mengjie
• Jiang Chao
• Gao Shuguang
• Wang Longzheng
• Eric Chou
• Zhang Yao
• Zhang Yang

Production

Universe Entertainment’s chairman Daneil Lam revealed the film in March 2020 under the working title A380, with plans for Andy Lau to star and production targeted for summer.

On 9 March 2021, Lau was officially announced as both lead actor and producer, alongside co-producer Alvin Lam and director Oxide Pang. Cast additions included Liu Tao and Zhang Zifeng portraying Lau’s character’s wife and daughter, respectively. The film’s title was updated to Crisis Route, with filming scheduled to begin in early September.

Principal photography started on 27 September 2021—coinciding with Lau's 60th birthday—in Qingdao, marked by a production launch event and birthday celebration. An interactive teaser poster incorporated a QR code directing viewers to a plane hijacking announcement performed by Guo Xiaodong, who plays the airline CEO. Notably, this production is the first Chinese-language film to depict the interior of an Airbus A380, investing HK$300 million to construct a full-scale set replica.

Filming concluded on 19 November 2021.

At the 2023 Hong Kong Film & TV Market (FILMART), new promotional materials unveiled the finalized English title, High Forces.

Release

High Forces debuted theatrically in Hong Kong on 10 October 2024.

Box office

In its Hong Kong debut, the film ranked sixth at the box office, earning HK$1.85 million (US$188,839) within its first four days including preview screenings. It climbed to second place during its second weekend with HK$1.53 million (US$196,722), bringing its cumulative total to HK$3.38 million (US$435,166). The third weekend saw it earn HK$918,124 (US$118,161), ranking third overall and accumulating HK$4.71 million (US$606,641). By its fourth weekend, it added HK$282,801 (US$36,364), reaching a total of HK$4.99 million (US$642,470).

In China, High Forces opened at number five with US$25.2 million during its first weekend. It advanced to third place in its second weekend with US$8.4 million, totaling US$33.6 million. Maintaining third position in its third weekend, it earned US$5.9 million for a cumulative US$39.5 million. Its fourth weekend brought US$2.7 million at number six, increasing its total to US$42.3 million.

Critical reception

Edmund Lee from the South China Morning Post awarded the movie a 2 out of 5 rating, calling it "strangely conceived" but occasionally engaging. He pointed out flaws in the screenplay's coherence and expressed concern that Andy Lau, who stars and co-produces, might risk his reputation by associating with such subpar narratives.

See also

• Andy Lau filmography