From martial arts essentials like Kung Fu Hustle to slow-burn romances such as In the Mood for Love, these are some of the best Hong Kong movies.

Locally made movies are again contenders at Hong Kong’s box offices and film awards, but they differ from the crime thrillers and kung fu epics of past decades.

First things first: it’s pronounced Choy Hock. As in Tsui Hark, the man who for two decades has been Hong Kong cinema’s pre-eminent creative force. His best movies are made with such verve and ...