A Better Tomorrow Trilogy (1986 - 1989) (4K + Blu-ray Limited Edition Steelbook Hardbox) (Imprint Asia #44 – 46) [Australia]

[Billy Talent]

Release date: March 25, 2026
Purchase link: Viavision (Pre-orders open Wednesday, January 14th)
Price: AUD $199.95
Notes: Limited to 1500 copies, Hardbox includes a hardcover booklet and Steelbook, featuring A Better Tomorrow (1986), A Better Tomorrow II (1987), and A Better Tomorrow III: Love and Death in Saigon

Spoiler: Special Features and Specifications

A Better Tomorrow Trilogy (1986 – 1989)​

4K UHD + Blu-ray​

SteelBook + Hardcover Booklet​

in Limited Edition Hardbox​

Imprint Asia #44 – 46​

Hong Kong action was never the same after John Woo’s A Better Tomorrow hit the big screen in 1986! Kicking off one of the greatest action trilogies of all time, the sequel A Better Tomorrow II quickly followed in 1987, and the prequel A Better Tomorrow III: Love & Death in Saigon in 1989.

Jam-packed with explosive, truly over-the-top sequences of balletic violence and courageous bloodshed, these films are iconic entries in the pantheon of Hong Kong action and defining works in John Woo’s remarkable filmography.

All three films have been restored from their original camera negatives in 4K UHD with Dolby Vision, accompanied by hours of brand NEW Special Features, including a long-lost workprint of A Better Tomorrow II, featuring over thirty minutes of never-before-seen footage, and the Taiwanese cut of A Better Tomorrow III.

This special collection features an exclusive SteelBook with all three 4K UHD discs, four Blu-ray discs featuring special features and the alternate cuts in a seperate case, plus an 80-page Hardback Booklet with production stills and brand NEW essays, all housed in a Lid Hardbox.

“An action scene should tell a human story. If it doesn’t, the scene won’t work.” —⁠John Woo

1500 copies only.

__________________________________________

A Better Tomorrow (1986) – Imprint Asia #44​

Written and directed by John Woo, produced by Woo and the great Tsui Hark, and starring Ti Lung, Leslie Cheung, and Chow Yun-fat, A Better Tomorrow marked the first of many collaborations for John Woo and Chow Yun-fat, launching a new phase of Woo’s career and shooting Chow Yun-fat to stardom.

A reforming ex-gangster tries to reconcile with his estranged policeman brother, but the ties to his former gang are difficult to break.

The winner of Best Film and Best Actor at the 6th Hong Kong Film Awards, and the winner of Best Director, Best Leading Actor, Best Cinematography, and Best Sound Recording at the 23rd Golden Horse Awards.

Special Features & Technical Specs:

Disc One – 4K UHD

• 2160p Ultra high-definition NEW Dolby Vision / HDR10 presentation on 4K UHD, restored from the original camera negative
• NEW Audio commentary by film critic James Mudge
• Theatrical Trailers
• Audio: Cantonese LPCM 2.0 Mono + Cantonese DTS-HD 7.1 Surround + Mandarin DTS-HD 5.1 Surround + English LPCM 2.0 Mono
• Aspect Ratio 1.85:1
• Optional English Subtitles from a NEW translation

Disc Two – Blu-ray

• 1080p High-definition presentation on Blu-ray of the 4K restoration
• NEW Audio commentary by film critic James Mudge
• NEW Better Than The Best – interview with director John Woo
• NEW Between Friends – interview with producer Terence Chang
• NEW When Tomorrow Comes – interview with screenwriter Chang Hing-ka
• NEW Thoughts on the Future – interview with filmmaker Gordon Chan
• NEW Better and Bombastic – interview with filmmaker Gareth Evans
• Code of Bullets: Part 1 – archival featurette
• Interview with actor Kenneth Tsang
• Interview with actor Waise Lee
• Image Gallery
• Theatrical Trailers
• Audio: Cantonese LPCM 2.0 Mono + Cantonese DTS-HD 7.1 Surround + Mandarin DTS-HD 5.1 Surround + English LPCM 2.0 Mono
• Aspect Ratio 1.85:1
• Optional English Subtitles from a NEW translation

__________________________________________

A Better Tomorrow II (1987) – Imprint Asia #45​

The team behind A Better Tomorrow reunited for the adrenaline-fueled sequel, bringing the action to a whole new level with a body count nearing the hundreds!

A restaurateur teams up with a police officer and his ex-con brother to avenge the death of a friend’s daughter.

Director and writer John Woo, producer Tsui Hark, and stars Ti Lung, Leslie Cheung, and Chow Yun-fat all return (alongside actor Dean Shek joining the team), cementing the film’s reputation as one of the most audacious and influential Hong Kong action films of the 1980s.

Special Features & Technical Specs:

Disc One – 4K UHD

• 2160p Ultra high-definition NEW Dolby Vision / HDR10 presentation on 4K UHD, restored from the original camera negative
• NEW Audio commentary by film critic James Mudge
• Theatrical Trailers
• Audio: Cantonese LPCM 2.0 Mono + Cantonese DTS-HD 7.1 Surround + Mandarin DTS-HD 5.1 Surround + English LPCM 2.0 Mono
• Aspect Ratio 1.85:1
• Optional English Subtitles from a NEW translation

Disc Two – Blu-ray

• 1080p High-definition presentation on Blu-ray of the 4K restoration
• NEW Audio commentary by film critic James Mudge
• NEW A Tumultuous Tomorrow – interview with director John Woo
• NEW Better Than Ever – interview with film historian Frank Djeng
• Code of Bullets: Part 2 – archival featurette
• Image Gallery
• Theatrical Trailers
• Audio: Cantonese LPCM 2.0 Mono + Cantonese DTS-HD 7.1 Surround + Mandarin DTS-HD 5.1 Surround + English LPCM 2.0 Mono
• Aspect Ratio 1.85:1
• Optional English Subtitles from a NEW translation

__________________________________________

A Better Tomorrow III: Love and Death in Saigon (1989) – Imprint Asia #46​

Producer Tsui Hark took to the director’s chair for this third film in the franchise, a prequel to the original events of A Better Tomorrow.

The year is 1974, and a young Mark travels to Saigon to make his fortune. There, he encounters a mysterious femme fatale known as the lovely Kit. As he becomes more involved in her various underworld deals, a tragic romance develops. On the eve of the outbreak of war, Kit’s past returns to endanger her, and Mark must risk everything for the one true love of his life.

Actor Chow Yun-fat returns as Mark, starring alongside Anita Mui and Tony Leung, in this thrilling finale to the A Better Tomorrow series.

Special Features & Technical Specs:

Disc One – 4K UHD

• 2160p Ultra high-definition NEW Dolby Vision / HDR10 presentation on 4K UHD, restored from the original camera negative
• NEW Audio commentary by critic and author David West
• Theatrical Trailer
• Audio: Cantonese LPCM 2.0 Mono + Cantonese DTS-HD 7.1 Surround + Mandarin DTS-HD 5.1 Surround + English LPCM 2.0 Mono
• Aspect Ratio 1.85:1
• Optional English Subtitles from a NEW translation

Disc Two – Blu-ray

• 1080p High-definition presentation on Blu-ray of the 4K restoration
• NEW Audio commentary by critic and author David West
• NEW Third Time Lucky – interview with screenwriters Yiu-Ming Leung and Foo Ho Tai
• NEW All Our Tomorrows – interview with Hong Kong filmmaker and academic Gilbert Po
• NEW Nam Flashbacks – interview with Vietnam War researcher Dr. Aurélie Basha i Novosejt
• Code of Bullets: Part 3 – archival featurette
• Deleted scenes
• Image Gallery
• Theatrical Trailer
• Audio: Cantonese LPCM 2.0 Mono + Cantonese DTS-HD 7.1 Surround + Mandarin DTS-HD 5.1 Surround + English LPCM 2.0 Mono
• Aspect Ratio 1.85:1
• Optional English Subtitles from a NEW translation

__________________________________________

Blu-ray Bonus Disc​

Special Features & Technical Specs:

• Long-Lost A Better Tomorrow II Workprint featuring over 30 minutes of never-before-seen footage! (Audio: Cantonese DTS-HD Master Audio Mono)
• A Better Tomorrow III – Taiwanese Cut (Audio: Mandarin DTS-HD Master Audio Mono)

__________________________________________

Hardcover Booklet​

An exclusive 80-page hardcover booklet featuring production stills and brand NEW essays:

• A Trilogy to Remember: A Journey from Counterfeit to Real Money by Victor Fan, Professor of Film and Media Philosophy, King’s College London
• BLOOD BROTHERS: The Love and Death of Brotherhood in the A Better Tomorrow Trilogy by film historian Travis Woods

 

[NateDog]

Definitely interested but waiting to see the pricing. Not too sure I'm keen on going with Imprint after the whole Halloween kerfuffle, especially given Arrow should be doing these too.

 

[TheWildEye]

Arrow will be doing this trilogy for sure.
Will it be a cool AF steelbook though?
That's a great look right there...but I'll probably wait for arrow too.

 

[andreasp19]

They need to chill with these hardboxes though, it's the only reason stopping me from buying them. Space is key with physical media.

 

[sbarker]

They need to chill with these hardboxes though, it's the only reason stopping me from buying them. Space is key with physical media.

Feel the same but isn't just taking the steel out for display the way to go if space is an issue? Correct me if I'm wrong but the box is only to hold the steel and booklet no?

 

[Leshita]

Interesting, anyone know whether the Steelbook inside the hardbox is sealed or not?

 

[NateDog]

Preorders are live, $199.95.

 

[andreasp19]

Preorders are live, $199.95.

- Trying to claw back funds fromm the failed Halloween set eh? LOL

 

[larson1977]

- Trying to claw back funds fromm the failed Halloween set eh? LOL

100$ is not too bad, is it?

 

[NateDog]

- Trying to claw back funds fromm the failed Halloween set eh? LOL

Initially I thought it was very pricey, but it works out at around €115, and in the end it is a trio of 4K movies in a steelbook and hardbox plus a booklet. I can't say I can expect buying Arrow's trilogy will be much cheaper so I am considering it.

 

[TheWildEye]

Initially I thought it was very pricey, but it works out at around €115, and in the end it is a trio of 4K movies in a steelbook and hardbox plus a booklet. I can't say I can expect buying Arrow's trilogy will be much cheaper so I am considering it.

Don't Arrow usually push out a trilogy box set at about £50 for a "lesser" known and most likely harder to market, trilogy like A Better Tomorrow?
I get that The Dollars trilogy commanded a three premium release individual sets; I just can't see them doing that for these.
Maybe like the double set of Conan films or the Turtles Trilogy. They were/are both around £50/€57.
Surely shipping wouldn't push that anywhere near €115?

 

[NateDog]

Don't Arrow usually push out a trilogy box set at about £50 for a "lesser" known and most likely harder to market, trilogy like A Better Tomorrow?
I get that The Dollars trilogy commanded a three premium release individual sets; I just can't see them doing that for these.
Maybe like the double set of Conan films or the Turtles Trilogy. They were/are both around £50/€57.
Surely shipping wouldn't push that anywhere near €115?

True, they could do. Guess I'm just looking at the Hard Boiled release and expecting that A Better Tomorrow 1 and 2 at least would get the detailed and more expensive treatment. Hard to know though. I'm going to give this a week or two and if it's still available then then I'll have a better think on it. Thing is I know Arrow are reliable but haven't any experience with ViaVision.