Crime thriller, “Cold War 2” has become the highest grossing Chinese-language film of all time in Hong Kong.

The film has grossed US$8.48 million (HK$65.8 million) after 24 days on release in its Hong Kong home territory. It overtook previous record holder, the Taiwanese-made “You Are The Apple of My Eye.”

Including results from mainland China and other territories, “Cold War 2” has a global cumulative of $115 million to date.

The film stars Aaron Kwok, Eddie Peng Yuyan, Tony Leung Ka-fai and Chow Yun Fat. It tells a story of a massive conspiracy to corrupt the police force.

Audiences in Hong Kong have responded to its relevance and tone which both reflect Hong Kong’s fast changing political climate. But in large measure too they have praised the film for its good value, in that it provides a rollercoaster plot and high production values that mean it has more in common that Hollywood studio movies than low-budget efforts or those seen to pull their punches in order to please mainland Chinese censors.

Produced by Hong Kong’s Edko Films, it is written and directed by Sunny Luk and Longman Leung.

The first “Cold War,” in 2012, was Hong Kong’s top grossing film that year and went on to win 9 major prizes at the Hong Kong Film Awards, including best picture.