Once a Thief (1991): cast, story & where to watch
1991 · Film · ★ 6.7
Released in 1991, Once a Thief is an action, comedy, thriller and crime film directed by John Woo, running about 103 minutes. “They only stop to reload.” — that tagline sets the tone.
What it’s about. Three orphans grow up to become art thieves under the tutelage of a crime boss. Romance complicates matters when the trio are double-crossed.
Who’s in it. Once a Thief stars Chow Yun-fat as Red Bean Puddin / Joe, Leslie Cheung as James / Jim, Cherie Chung as Red Bean / Cherie and Paul Chu Kong as Chu / Godfather, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 6.7/10, Once a Thief has drawn a solid, mixed-to-positive response. It went on to earn $4.3M at the box office.
Where to watch. In US you can stream it on Criterion Channel and Shout! Factory Amazon Channel and rent or buy it from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies and YouTube. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch Once a Thief page.
If you liked it. Fans of Once a Thief tend to enjoy The Dark Knight, The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, Inception and The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch Once a Thief (1991)?
- In US, Once a Thief is available to stream on Criterion Channel and Shout! Factory Amazon Channel, and rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store and Google Play Movies. Availability varies by country — check our where-to-watch page for every region.
- Is Once a Thief worth watching?
- Once a Thief holds an audience score of 6.7 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy action, comedy, thriller and crime. Reactions are mixed, so it may depend on taste.
- Who stars in Once a Thief?
- Once a Thief stars Chow Yun-fat, Leslie Cheung, Cherie Chung, Paul Chu Kong and Kenneth Tsang.
- When was Once a Thief released?
- Once a Thief was released in 1991, with a runtime of about 103 minutes.