Because he was well acquainted with the producer, Alan Tang, Wong was given considerable freedom in the making of "As Tears Go By". His cast included what he considered some of "the hottest young idols in Hong Kong": singer Andy Lau, Maggie Cheung, and Jacky Cheung. "As Tears Go By" was released in June 1988 and was popular with audiences. It was also a critical success, as several journalists named Wong among the "Hong Kong New Wave". While it was a conventional crime film, critic David Bordwell said that Wong " out from his peers by abandoning the kinetics of comedies and action movies in favour of more liquid atmospherics." "As Tears Go By" received no attention from Western critics upon its initial release, but was selected to be screened during Directors' Fortnight of the 1989 Cannes Film Festival.