Cold War 1994 has topped China's presale box office on the first day of the May Day holiday, signaling strong demand for the 14-year-old Hong Kong police thriller franchise.

A prequel to Cold War (2012) and Cold War 2 (2016), the new film unfolds across two timelines. One is set in 1994, when the kidnapping of a tycoon shakes Hong Kong and triggers a complex power struggle among multiple forces. The other takes place in 2017, when an internal police probe reopens the case, gradually uncovering truths buried for more than two decades.

Featuring a glittering ensemble of 40 stars — including 10 winners of the Hong Kong Film Award for Best Actor — the film held its global premiere on April 24 in Shenzhen, Guangdong province. Stars such as Chow Yun-fat, Aaron Kwok, Tony Leung Ka-fai and Daniel Wu walked the red carpet, posed for photos and signed autographs for cheering fans.

Producer Bill Kong explained the intention behind reviving the franchise after a decade. "Few films have been talked about consistently for more than a decade without ever stopping," he said, adding that making a new installment had become a responsibility.

Chow, 70, plays a veteran lawyer in the film. Looking back at his decades-long career, Chow said, "Being an actor really depends on luck. In fact, it's like everyone holding a surfboard — you jump out when you see a wave. If the wave is too big, you might get swept away and drown. But if you ride it just right, you succeed." He added that while filmmaking is demanding, the younger generation's persistence shows a strong sense of responsibility, urging them to keep pushing forward.

At a Beijing preview, director Longman Leung Lok-Man said the script was crafted with tight, precise dialogue despite the large cast. Some lines carry layered meanings, he noted, and he hopes audiences will connect them to contemporary life for a deeper reading of the story.