‘A Beng vs Liang Po Po’ Team Up to Take on the Lunar New Year Box Office – Jack Lim and Jack Neo Actually Got Physical?

The movie ‘A Beng vs Liang Po Po’ has been quietly filming in both Malaysia and Singapore since last July, but news of this star crossover has been kept tightly under wraps. Even the press conference was cleverly held on a cruise liner in international waters, successfully creating an air of mystery. Now, the first-ever collaboration between two of the most beloved comedy characters from Malaysia and Singapore is revealed—and it’s full of ‘action’!

The iconic comedy characters A Beng and Liang Po Po, household names in Malaysia and Singapore respectively, are teaming up for the first time ever and are set to return to the big screen together for the 2026 Chinese New Year. However, Jack Lim (A Beng) revealed that during filming, Jack Neo (Liang Po Po) insisted on doing his own action scenes, and accidentally kicked him in the chest, nearly cracking a rib! “It almost fractured, I just have to wait for it to heal slowly, what bad luck!” Jack Neo quickly clarified, “I already kicked very gently!”

Since shooting commenced in July last year across both Malaysia and Singapore, ‘A Beng vs Liang Po Po’ has maintained strict secrecy. Even the film’s press launch was unprecedentedly held on a cruise ship in international waters, with both countries’ invited media completely misled in advance—they believed separate releases for ‘A Beng 2026’ and ‘Liang Po Po Returns’ were on the docket. The real truth was only revealed at the very last moment. Kwong Wah Yit Poh attended this event courtesy of GSC Movies.

Jack Lim, both the movie’s executive producer and lead actor ‘A Beng’, and Jack Neo, producer and lead actress as ‘Liang Po Po’, both showed up at the January 12th presser in character. They poked fun and joked at each other with Malaysia-Singapore in-jokes and self-deprecating humor, constantly creating misdirection, making everyone believe that the two big properties were heading for a box office showdown.

It was only when the two jokingly asked each other, “Who’s your director?” that director Lai Kien Hann made a surprise appearance to reveal the secret: that this truly was a crossover film uniting both comedy icons. Lai explained that holding the press conference on a cruise ship wasn’t just for show, but a creative extension: “The sea symbolizes meeting, the unknown, and collision—just like the encounter of two countries and two sets of values in the movie. This isn’t about confrontation, but a humorous dialogue on family, generations, and cultural backgrounds.”

Talking about what brought the “Double Jack” (Jack Lim and Jack Neo) team together, Lai Kien Hann shared that he had the idea to unite the two as far back as two years ago. After six months’ conceptualization, he personally went to Singapore to pitch it, and Jack Neo almost immediately agreed, resulting in this rare cross-country collaboration.

The trailer shows Liang Po Po ending up in Malaysia as a domestic helper for a wealthy family, by a quirky twist of fate meeting A Beng’s family and engaging in endless banter and laughs. The plot then escalates, with both families joining forces to rescue kidnapped children, their comedy-filled efforts mirroring the emotional bonds shared between Malaysia and Singapore.

Asked which classic character he prefers, Lai Kien Hann smiled, “I love them both.” He described A Beng as grounded and warm in his humor, while Liang Po Po plays against expectations with fiery spirit. He’s tried to blend both comedic styles with his own as director.

Jack Neo, who has always directed and starred in the ‘Liang Po Po’ series, relinquished his director’s chair this time, joking, “After 50 years in showbiz, I’m tired—I just want to rest this year.” He handed directing duties to Lai Kien Hann and focused on acting, quipping, “I’ll earn your ringgit at Singaporean actor rates,” which drew laughter from all present. This is the first time Liang Po Po returns to the silver screen in 27 years—a fact Jack Neo reflected on with emotion, noting the character remains deeply rooted in both countries’ childhood memories.

“Liang Po Po represents a generation’s memories—a stubbornness and persistence, but also a warm elder presence. I’m really happy she can meet audiences again in a new way in this era.”

Jack Lim, who last played A Beng 12 years ago, admitted his current feelings are “complex but deeply touched.” He said, “A Beng is no longer the cheeky young punk who was just about laughs and slapstick. Now, he’s married to ‘Salted Fish Lian’ (Chen Jieyu), and they have a lovely daughter, Xie Zhixuan.”

Worth noting: Jack Lim’s son Lucas Lim Xiu Cheng appears in a featured acting role for the first time, playing the son of major villain ‘Millionaire Wong’ (Dato’ Wong Yixiong). One dramatic crying scene between father and son posed quite a challenge; Lai Kien Hann stressed he didn’t write extra scenes for the executive producer’s son, and that all of Lucas’ performance comes from his own ability.

The press conference was attended by many actors from both Malaysia and Singapore, including Tang Weiyan, Che Zhi Li, ‘3P’ Danny Lee Yuxin, Jestinna Kuan, Wong Yixiong, Lucas Lim, Chen Jieyu, Xie Zhixuan, Cao Guohui, Qiu Yuzhi, and Zhang Wenying.

Denying Hiring Paid Trolls to Attack Rivals, Jack Neo: Making Movies Is All About Real Skill

The press event had a twist: the production team, not realizing it was a problem, brought prop security batons while entering Singapore to board the cruise and were immediately stopped and fined by customs officials. Jack Lim remarked, “Singapore is so strict! Next time I’ll just bring a tongkat (walking stick) instead, not a baton!”

On another note, reporters asked about rumors that two other Lunar New Year films—‘Mom Wants to Remarry Again’ starring Oscar Leung, Benjamin Yuen, and Bob Lam, and Low-Cost Production’s ‘Parasite Underclass’—were allegedly subjected to paid online trolling, with the finger pointed at Jack Lim and Jack Neo. In response, Lai Kien Hann categorically denied the rumors, stating: “If you look closely at those smear comments, it’s obvious they’re written by fake accounts, copy-pasted and spammed—some even attack director Jack Neo. We would never attack our own people.”

Jack Lim also stated firmly, “If you see any abusive comments on my social media, please let me know and I’ll reward you—a zero-tolerance policy for supporters targeting other New Year movies!” Meanwhile, Jack Neo feigned confusion for comic effect: “I don’t know what an internet troll is, but I do know about water ghosts. Movies are about proving yourself with real skill.”