A group of over-achieving East Asian American high school seniors enjoy a power trip when they dip into extracurricular criminal activities.A group of over-achieving East Asian American high school seniors enjoy a power trip when they dip into extracurricular criminal activities.A group of over-achieving East Asian American high school seniors enjoy a power trip when they dip into extracurricular criminal activities.
- Awards
- 1 win & 2 nominations
- Director
- Writers
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaAccording to an April 2003 NPR radio interview with Elvis Mitchell, Justin Lin's production company was on the verge of folding unless Lin could secure a certain amount of funding. Lin had essentially resigned himself to failure; but on a whim called a celebrity he had met once in Las Vegas. Lin got a call the day before the deadline from the celeb saying that he had read the script and wanted to provide some backing. Two hours later, the new investor had wired Lin the money and saved the production. The celebrity: M.C. Hammer.
- GoofsWhile Ben and Stephanie are studying, they're discussing biology and Ben flips through a textbook looking up an answer - but the diagrams in the book show that it's really a math book and not bio.
- Quotes
Steve Choe: Are you happy?
Ben Manibag: I don't know.
Steve Choe: Fuck. That's the most truthful thing I've ever heard.
- Alternate versionsIn the version shown at the 2002 Sundance Film Festival, Ben Manibag, played by Parry Shen, has taken part in the killing of a romantic rival, and towards the end he is heard saying, in effect, "Well, what I did wasn't right ...but I've got college to think about, and I've got a good life to look forward to, and I'm gonna move on."
- ConnectionsFeatured in The 2004 IFP/West Independent Spirit Awards (2004)
- SoundtracksBlood on the Motorway
Written by Josh Paul Davis & Marc Z
Performed by DJ Shadow
Courtesy of Universal-MCA Music Publishing, a division of Universal Studios on behalf of Mo Wax Music,
Ltd. (ASCAP) and Universal-Island Records, Ltd.
Under license from Universal Music Enterprises
Contains a sample of "It's Easy" by Marc Z
Featured review
I finally saw Better Luck Tomorrow this weekend. I simply cannot the critical praise that has been lavished on this film. I don't care what it's trying to do to challenge Asian American stereotypes - this move sucks ass.
The premise (straight-laced overachievers by day, gangsters by night) is interesting enough and could have made for a good film, but this isn't it. It utterly fails to explore (or even plausibly explain) why and how these kids fall into a life of suburban thuggery. The violence feels weirdly forced and is devoid of emotional impact (on either the audience or the characters). And the lead character (Ben) is absolutely unwatchable - I'm supposed to believe this vacant mama's boy is some kind of badass? There is just so much wrong with this film I don't even know what else to say about it.
The premise (straight-laced overachievers by day, gangsters by night) is interesting enough and could have made for a good film, but this isn't it. It utterly fails to explore (or even plausibly explain) why and how these kids fall into a life of suburban thuggery. The violence feels weirdly forced and is devoid of emotional impact (on either the audience or the characters). And the lead character (Ben) is absolutely unwatchable - I'm supposed to believe this vacant mama's boy is some kind of badass? There is just so much wrong with this film I don't even know what else to say about it.
- How long is Better Luck Tomorrow?Powered by Alexa
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Official site
- Language
- Also known as
- 火爆麻吉
- Filming locations
- Production companies
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
Box office
- Budget
- $250,000 (estimated)
- Gross US & Canada
- $3,802,390
- Opening weekend US & Canada
- $360,772
- Apr 13, 2003
- Gross worldwide
- $3,809,226
- Runtime1 hour 41 minutes
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 1.85 : 1
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