Director Ringo Lam’s “City on Fire” is considered one of the masterpieces of Hong Kong action cinema, showcasing thrilling car chases and intense gunfights reminiscent of “The French Connection.” Action superstar Chow Yun Fat portrays a conflicted cop tasked with maintaining his double life as both a boyfriend and an undercover agent. His character grapples with guilt after betraying the trust of a criminal he had befriended during his covert operation.

The film follows Chow Yun Fat’s character as he infiltrates a gang of ruthless criminals, leading to a climactic showdown where the killers and the undercover cop find themselves trapped in a shack. This memorable scene, lasting 15 minutes, is often credited with inspiring Quentin Tarantino’s iconic film “Reservoir Dogs.” It features a tense “Mexican standoff,” a motif later used by Tarantino in multiple films.