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Derek Tsang

Derek Tsang

Actor and director, also writer and producer · Born November 8, 1979 (46) · Hong Kong, China

Derek Tsang Kwok-Cheung (曾國祥; born 8 November 1979) is a Hong Kong film director and actor. The son of actor Eric Tsang, Chi-Wai Tsang got his start in the Hong Kong film industry working for director Peter Chan Ho-Sun after graduating from the University of Toronto Scarborough in 2001. He made his acting debut in Men Suddenly in Black (2003) and directorial debut with Lover's Discourse (2010), sharing the directing credit with Jimmy Wan Chi-Man. The duo was nominated for a Golden Horse Award for Best New Director in 2010. His solo directorial debut Soul Mate (2016) was critically praised, receiving a Hong Kong Film Award for Best Film nomination at the 36th Hong Kong Film Awards. His next film Better Days (2019) was the Hong Kong submission for the Academy Awards and received a Best International Feature Film nomination, becoming the first Hong Kong submission directed by a Hong Kong native to do so. After graduation, he moved back to Hong Kong, where his father arranged for him to work under director Peter Chan Ho-Sun. There, he met producer Jojo Hui and director Jimmy Wan Chi-man, both of whom would go on to be Tsang's frequent collaborators. Despite not pursuing an acting career, Tsang has had a variety of acting roles since the start of his career, which he attributed to other actors not wanting to be typecast into roles with unflattering characteristics. He made his screen debut in Men Suddenly in Black (2003), cameoing as the younger version of his father's character. There he met director Pang Ho-cheung, whom Tsang would later collaborate with on various projects. Tsang made his solo directorial debut with Soul Mate (2016). He was subsequently nominated for Best Director awards at various film award ceremonies, including at the 36th Hong Kong Film Awards and the 53rd Golden Horse Awards. His next film, Better Days (2019), won eight out of 12 categories at the 39th Hong Kong Film Awards, including Best Film and Best Director. The film was subsequently chosen as the official entry for Hong Kong for Best International Feature Film at the 93rd Academy Awards. It was shortlisted but lost to Denmark's Another Round. He was the first native Hong Kong director in the category. Tsang said his influences are primarily derived from art-house cinema, with early influences from director Wong Kar-Wai and the French New Wave, as opposed to his father's works, which consisted of mostly of mainstream comedies. Tsang married actress Venus Wong Yik-Man in 2019. He has expressed a reluctance to cast Wong due to the negative perception of nepotism.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
November 8, 1979 (46)
From
Hong Kong, China
Works as
Actor and director, also writer and producer
Titles
21 on MovieCove · 58 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 37 days to Oct 26Down 38% in 30 days

What are Derek Tsang's films like?

Across their 14 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Self and Bonds.

Genres

Action6 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 26th percentile
: browse their Action movies
Drama4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 28th percentile
: browse their Drama movies
Comedy2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 68th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Comedy movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Self
32%
Bonds
23%
Survival
15%
Morality
15%
Power
13%
Society
2%
Friendship5 titles, browse their movies with this themeCorruption3 titles, browse their movies with this themeComing of age3 titles, browse their movies with this themePurpose3 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice3 titles, browse their movies with this themeTrauma2 titles, browse their movies with this themeMemory2 titles, browse their movies with this themeDeception2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 14 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Serious: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their serious movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

A split, not a type: Light 4 · Serious 4 · Dark 6

Stylized: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their stylized movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

A split, not a type: Grounded 9 · Stylized 4 · Heightened 1

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

Gentle 0 · Charged 8 · Intense 6

Shifting: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their shifting movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

Steady 0 · Shifting 10 · Whiplash 4

Some laughs: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their some laughs movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

A split, not a type: Straight-faced 9 · Some laughs 2 · Funny 3

Even-paced: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their even-paced movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 1 · Even-paced 11 · Relentless 2

Engaged: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their engaged movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 4 · Engaged 8 · Full focus 2

Open-ended: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their open-ended movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

A split, not a type: Resolved 7 · Open-ended 4 · Ambiguous 3

Roles they play

3 analyzed roles
Hero
1 of 3
Trickster
1 of 3
Ally
1 of 3

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
10
Thrilling
5
Melancholic
4
Warm
3
Dread
2
Other
9

How their films linger

Unsettling4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 3 with a twist

  • Happy4
  • Bittersweet5
  • Tragic1
  • Ambiguous4

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Derek Tsang's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 10 of their 21 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (6).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Derek Tsang's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

58 credits, 21 with a MovieCove page; 2 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • As Written (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2025)

    Director

  • 3 Body Problem(2024)

    Show 8 episodes · Director · Co-Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all shows

  • Anita (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2021)

    as ENT Doctor

  • A New Awakening (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2021)

    Director

  • Unspeakable Love (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2020)

    Director

  • Three Gold Coins (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2020)

    Director

  • Stoma (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2020)

    as Lim's Brother

  • Better Days(2019)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • Missbehavior (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2019)

    as Security Officer

  • The Brink(2017)

    as Sheng

    Midcredits score: 28th percentile of all films

  • Love Off the Cuff(2017)

    as Cherie's Younger Brother

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films

  • S Storm(2016)

    as Joe Ma

    Midcredits score: 16th percentile of all films

  • Soulmate(2016)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films

  • Good Take! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)

    Director

  • Robbery (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)

    as Lau Kin-Ping

  • From Vegas to Macau III(2016)

    as Interpol

    Midcredits score: 1st percentile of all films

  • House of Wolves (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)

    as Steve Shit

  • Lazy Hazy Crazy(2015)

    as Madame Glaze

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all films

  • The Challenge (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)

    Show 17 episodes · Actor

  • Two for the Night (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)

    Actor

  • Zombie Fight Club(2014)

    as David

    Midcredits score: 6th percentile of all films

  • Z Storm(2014)

    as Joe Ma

    Midcredits score: 24th percentile of all films

  • Aberdeen(2014)

    Actor

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films

  • Naked Ambition 3D (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)

    as Simon Yuen

  • Golden Chickensss(2014)

    as Male Prostitute

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films

  • SDU: Sex Duties Unit(2013)

    as Dried Shrimp

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all films

  • My Sassy Hubby (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2012)

    as Robber

  • Triad (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2012)

    as Xiang

  • The Thieves(2012)

    as Johnny

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all films

  • Lacuna(2012)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 21st percentile of all films

  • Love in the Buff(2012)

    as Cherie's Brother

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all films

  • Lover's Discourse (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2010)

    Director · Writer

  • Devil Nail Clippers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2010)

    Director

  • Girl$ (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2010)

    as Chun

  • Ex (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2010)

    as Sol

  • Once a Gangster (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2010)

    as Young Roast Pork

  • Dream Home(2010)

    Producer · Screenplay · as Cheung Jai

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • Crossing Hennessy(2010)

    as Doctor at Emergency Ward

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • Claustrophobia (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    as John

  • Ocean Flame (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    as Third Brother's Assistant

  • Tactical Unit - No Way Out (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    as Fai

  • Run Papa Run (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    as Chicken

  • Scare 2 Die (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    as Mahjong Player B

  • Dead Air (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    as Rock/Lok Chun

  • Single Blog (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    Actor

  • My Name Is Fame (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    as Lok

  • On the Edge (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    as Mini B

  • Midnight Running (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    as Peter

  • The Third Eye (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    as Gum

  • Isabella (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    Writer · as Yan's Suitor

  • Cocktail (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    as Kuen

  • AV(2005)

    as Band-Aid

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films

  • It Had To Be You (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    Actor

  • Room (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    Editor · Producer

  • The Eye 2(2004)

    as Joey's Co-Worker

    Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films

  • The Park (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    as Dan

  • Men Suddenly in Black(2003)

    as Young Tin Yau

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films

  • Shadow (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    Actor

Career shape

Star power in the 94th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 58 titles from 2001 to 2025; peak year 2017.

Biggest box office

Better Days (2019)

$227M worldwide

Highest rated

Better Days (2019)

Midcredits 97th

Film career

20012025

Peak 2017 · at the high point of their film career. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.

  • 2003Screen debut· Men Suddenly in Black
  • 2016First top-billed film· Robbery
  • 2016Career best· Robbery

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting46 of 58: 44 only acting, 2 with another role · typical Midcredits score38thDirecting11 of 58: 9 only directing, 2 with another roleWriting3 of 58: 0 only writing, 3 with another roleProducing2 of 58: 0 only producing, 2 with another roleEditing1 of 58: 0 only editing, 1 with another role

58 titles, 5 with more than one role.

By decade

2000s20 · 19 acting · 2 crew2010s31 · 25 acting · 7 crew2020s7 · 2 acting · 5 crew

Billing

usually 9th · top billed in 6% of 18 roles
0313

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30; the columns are the share of top-billed roles in each era, 5-year spans from the year on the label, merged until each holds at least 5 roles.

How do Derek Tsang's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 42nd percentile, the median of all 20; across their 14 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 42nd percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

42ndpercentile
Typical film, the median of 14

Approval · how many liked their films

29thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 14

Reach · how many have seen their films

68thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 14

Midcredits score across 21 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up3
  • 50th to 74th7
  • 25th to 49th5
  • Below 25th6

Shape of the crowd

8 of their 21 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved1
  • Universally Panned2
  • Crowd Pleaser8
  • Broadly Agreed3
  • Mixed7

Most divisive · actor

Lazy Hazy Crazy (2015)

65th percentile spread · 32% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · director

Better Days (2019)

Midcredits 97th · 85% liked

Reviewers score the acting 70/100 in their films, across 11 reviewed titles; fans 78, detractors 42. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Is Derek Tsang's work okay for kids?

Across up to 5 MovieCove titles with content scores, sex & nudity runs heavier than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore3 titlesmedian 60 · intenseMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity5 titles24–76 · median 64 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 32

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted. The band's colour is the severity of their median, named beside it.

Who does Derek Tsang work with?

People who share at least 2 of Derek Tsang's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Pang Ho-Cheung shares the most, 6.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers, cinematographers and editors

Producers