John Woo
Directing
Born: September 22, 1946 (age 79) · Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China
Highest Rated
Biography
John Woo Yu-Sen SBS (born September 22, 1946) is a Hong Kong film director and producer. Recognized for his stylised films of highly choreographed action sequences, Mexican standoffs, and use of slow-motion, Woo has directed several notable Hong Kong action films, among them, A Better Tomorrow, The Killer, Hard Boiled and Red Cliff. His Hollywood films include Hard Target, Broken Arrow, Face/Off and Mission: Impossible 2. He also created the comic series Seven Brothers, published by Virgin Comics. Woo was described by Dave Kehr in The Observer in 2002 as "arguably the most influential director making movies today". Woo cites his three favorite films as David Lean's Lawrence of Arabia, Akira Kurosawa's Seven Samurai, and Jean-Pierre Melville's Le Samouraï.
Known for
Mission: Impossible II
2000
Face/Off
1997
Paycheck
2003
Broken Arrow
1996
Windtalkers
2002
Hard Target
1993
Bulletproof Monk
2003
Silent Night
2023
Hard Boiled
1992
The Killer
1989
Red Cliff
2008
A Better Tomorrow
1986
Photos (8)
Movies (31)
Hard Boiled
Mr. Woo
A Better Tomorrow
Inspector Wu
Bullet in the Head
Policeman
Twin Dragons
Priest
Once a Thief
Stanley Wu
Hand of Death
Zhang Yi
The Founding of a Republic
Liu Wenhui
The Founding of a Republic
National Army Officers
I Love Maria
1988
The Banquet
Man on Stairs
The Thirty Million Dollar Rush
Ling's Husband
Beginning of the Great Revival
Lin Sen
Young Lovers on Flying Wheels
Man at Bike Reclaim Centre
The Young Dragons
Message Deliverer
The Mandarin
1973
The Master: Chang Cheh Documentary
2003
Starry Is the Night
Father Fan
Task Force
Police Chief
Mission: Improbable
John Woo
Happy Union 2
1985
Rebel from China
Kwong
Dead Knot
Boy
Itchy Fingers
Triad Boss on Lorry
The Making of Hard Boiled
2007
Follow the Star
Miss Chen's Father
From Riches to Rags
[cameo]
The Making of Stranglehold
2007
Sunset in Paris
Maggie's uncle
Love, Lone Flower
1985
Team-Up: John Woo and Shinji Aramaki
2008
Accidentally
Young Man
TV Shows (4)
Self / Appearances (21)
Golden Horse Awards
Self · 1 eps
A Century of Light and Shadow
Self · 8 eps
How Bruce Lee Changed the World
Self
Kurosawa's Way
Self
The Art of Action: Martial Arts in the Movies
Self - Interviewee
John Travolta, le miraculé d'Hollywood
Self - Filmmaker (archive footage)
Film ohne Fesseln - Das neue Hongkong Kino
Self
Chop Socky: Cinema Hong Kong
Self
大侠胡金铨
self · 2 eps
Crossings: John Woo
Self
Ken San
Self
Kurosawa: The Last Emperor
Self
The King of Wuxia Part 1
Self
Cinema Hong Kong: Wu Xia
Self
Cinema of Vengeance
Self (uncredited)
The Life and Times of Wu Zhong Xian
As himself
Yang ± Yin: Gender in Chinese Cinema
Self
Plain Jane to the Rescue
Self
Cinema Hong Kong: Kung Fu
Self
The King of Wuxia Part 2
Self
Life in 24 Frames a Second
Self
Upcoming (2)
Directing (51)
Mission: Impossible II
Director
Face/Off
Director
Hard Target
Director
Hard Boiled
Director
Broken Arrow
Director
Paycheck
Director
The Killer
Director
Red Cliff
Director
The Killer
Director
A Better Tomorrow
Director
Silent Night
Director
Windtalkers
Director
Bullet in the Head
Director
The Hire
Director
Once a Thief
Director
Red Cliff II
Director
A Better Tomorrow II
Director
Reign of Assassins
Director
Manhunt
Director
Blood Brothers
Assistant Director
Hand of Death
Director
Blackjack
Director
Heroes Shed No Tears
Director
The Crossing II
Director
The Water Margin
Assistant Director
Just Heroes
Director
Last Hurrah for Chivalry
Director
The Crossing I
Director
Four Riders
Assistant Director
The Boxer from Shantung
Assistant Director
Hostage
Director
All the Invisible Children
Director
The Young Dragons
Director
Once a Thief
Director
Laughing Times
Director
Hello, Late Homecomers
Director
Money Crazy
Director
To Hell with the Devil
Director
The Dragon Tamers
Director
The Devils
Assistant Director
Run Tiger Run
Director
Dead Knot
Director
Princess Chang-Ping
Director
Plain Jane to the Rescue
Director
Fist to Fist
Assistant Director
The Robinsons: Lost in Space
Director
Young People
Assistant Director
Follow the Star
Director
From Riches to Rags
Director
The Time You Need a Friend
Director
Accidentally
Director
Writing (31)
Face/Off
Storyboard
Hard Boiled
Story
The Killer
Original Film Writer
Red Cliff
Screenplay
The Killer
Screenplay
A Better Tomorrow
Writer
Bullet in the Head
Writer
Once a Thief
Screenplay
Once a Thief
Story
Red Cliff II
Screenplay
A Better Tomorrow II
Writer
Manhunt
Writer
Hand of Death
Screenplay
Heroes Shed No Tears
Writer
Last Hurrah for Chivalry
Writer
A Better Tomorrow
Original Story
A Better Tomorrow
Screenplay
A Better Tomorrow
Original Story
The Young Dragons
Writer
Laughing Times
Screenplay
Hello, Late Homecomers
Screenplay
Money Crazy
Screenplay
To Hell with the Devil
Writer
The Dragon Tamers
Writer
Dead Knot
Writer
Princess Chang-Ping
Screenplay
Plain Jane to the Rescue
Screenplay
Follow the Star
Writer
Follow the Star
Screenplay
From Riches to Rags
Writer
Accidentally
Writer
Producing (36)
Paycheck
Producer
The Killer
Producer
Red Cliff
Producer
The Replacement Killers
Executive Producer
Silent Night
Producer
Windtalkers
Producer
Bullet in the Head
Producer
Bulletproof Monk
Producer
The Big Hit
Executive Producer
Red Cliff II
Producer
Reign of Assassins
Producer
A Better Tomorrow III: Love and Death in Saigon
Producer
Appleseed: Ex Machina
Producer
Blackjack
Producer
Heroes Shed No Tears
Producer
The Private Eyes
Producer
Warriors of the Rainbow: Seediq Bale - Part 1: The Sun Flag
Producer
Peace Hotel
Executive Producer
Warriors of the Rainbow: Seediq Bale - Part 2: The Rainbow Bridge
Producer
Red Skies
Executive Producer
A Better Tomorrow
Executive Producer
Blood Brothers
Producer
Somebody Up There Likes Me
Producer
Warriors of the Rainbow: Seediq Bale
Producer
Don't Cry, Nanking
Producer
Happy Union 2
Producer
Ghost Bustin
Producer
Run Tiger Run
Producer
Dead Knot
Producer
Color Me Love
Producer
The Making of Stranglehold
Producer
Breaking the Waves
Executive Producer
Super Citizen
Producer
Love, Lone Flower
Producer
Happy Union
Producer
My Fair Gentleman
Producer
