The Lady is the Boss Poster

The Lady is the Boss 1983

★ 6.213 votes93 min📅 1983-03-31

Set in the vibrant martial-arts underworld of 1980s Hong Kong, *The Lady is the Boss (1983)* pits old-school honor against brash, modern ambition.

Director: Lau Kar-Leung

Cast

Lau Kar-Leung
Lau Kar-Leung
Wang Hsieh Yun
Ku Feng
Ku Feng
Wah Chaing Martial Arts Association Member
Gordon Liu Chia-Hui
Gordon Liu Chia-Hui
Lee Hon Man
Kara Hui Ying-Hung
Kara Hui Ying-Hung
Chan Mei Ling
Cheung Chin-Pang
Cheung Chin-Pang
Ng Ming Fat
Hsiao Ho
Hsiao Ho
Cheuk Jin Shing
Wong Yu
Wong Yu
Ah Yung / Ah Wing
Robert Mak Tak-Law
Robert Mak Tak-Law
Wong Yuen Shuei
Lam Fai-Wong
Lam Fai-Wong
Ah Fai
Sun Chien
Sun Chien
Ah Chang

Frequently Asked Questions

What is The Lady is the Boss (1983) about?

The film follows Wong Hsia Yuan, a traditional martial arts master whose stubborn refusal to adapt threatens his school's future. Enter Chan Mei Ling, an ambitious practitioner from America who shakes things up with her modern tactics—until local triads force the rivals to unite against a common enemy.

Who directed The Lady is the Boss?

The Lady is the Boss was directed by Lau Kar-Leung, the legendary filmmaker known for blending martial arts with sharp comedic storytelling.

Who stars in The Lady is the Boss?

The cast includes Lau Kar-Leung, Ku Feng, Gordon Liu Chia-Hui, Kara Hui Ying-Hung, and Cheung Chin-Pang, delivering a mix of action and humor.

Is The Lady is the Boss (1983) worth watching?

With its dynamic fight choreography and clever comedic timing, *The Lady is the Boss* offers a fun snapshot of Hong Kong's martial arts scene. While subjective, fans of Lau Kar-Leung's work or classic action-comedies will likely find plenty to enjoy in this 93-minute gem.

How long is The Lady is the Boss?

The Lady is the Boss has a runtime of 93 minutes.

🎥 Trailer

The Lady is the Boss (1983) — Classic Hong Kong Action-Comedy Clash

Set in the vibrant martial-arts underworld of 1980s Hong Kong, *The Lady is the Boss (1983)* pits old-school honor against brash, modern ambition. Lau Kar-Leung's energetic blend of action and comedy follows Wong Hsia Yuan, a rigid martial arts master whose traditional school faces extinction when Chan Mei Ling, a sharp-witted and cosmopolitan heiress from America, arrives to revolutionize its approach. With her progressive methods and unorthodox recruitment tactics—sometimes edging into morally gray territory—she rattles the status quo, leaving Yuan's outdated ideals in tatters.

The clash escalates when local triads muscle in, turning martial-arts politics into a high-stakes battle for survival. Lau Kar-Leung's signature choreography meets playful wit, crafting a story where discipline meets disruption, and honor collides with innovation. At its core, this film celebrates the timeless clash between tradition and progress, wrapped in breathtaking fight sequences and the charm of classic Hong Kong cinema.