- Known For
- Directing
- Born
- September 22, 1946
- Place of Birth
- Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China
John Woo
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.
Filmography
movieThe Killer
2024 · Director, Producer, Original Film Writer
movieSilent Night
2023 · Producer, Director
movieThe King of Wuxia Part 2
2022 · Self
movieThe King of Wuxia Part 1
2022 · Self
tv大侠胡金铨
2022 · self
movieLife in 24 Frames a Second
2021 · Self
movieA Better Tomorrow
2018 · Original Story
movieManhunt
2017 · Director, Writer
movieJohn Travolta, le miraculé d'Hollywood
2017 · Self - Filmmaker (archive footage)
movieKen San
2016 · Self
movieThe Crossing II
2015 · Director
movieThe Crossing I
2014 · Director
movieBreaking the Waves
2014 · Executive Producer
tvVoice
2012
movieWarriors of the Rainbow: Seediq Bale
2012 · Producer
movieWarriors of the Rainbow: Seediq Bale - Part 2: The Rainbow Bridge
2011 · Producer
movieWarriors of the Rainbow: Seediq Bale - Part 1: The Sun Flag
2011 · Producer
movieBeginning of the Great Revival
2011 · Lin Sen
movieKurosawa's Way
2011 · Self
movieColor Me Love
2010 · Producer
movieA Better Tomorrow
2010 · Executive Producer, Screenplay, Original Story
movieReign of Assassins
2010 · Producer, Director
Mission: Remarkable - 40 Years of Creating the Impossible
movieMission: Remarkable - 40 Years of Creating the Impossible
2010 · Self
movieMy Fair Gentleman
2009 · Producer
movieThe Founding of a Republic
2009 · Liu Wenhui, National Army Officers
movieHow Bruce Lee Changed the World
2009 · Self
movieRed Cliff II
2009 · Screenplay, Director, Producer
movieRed Cliff
2008 · Screenplay, Director, Producer
movieTeam-Up: John Woo and Shinji Aramaki
2008
movieAppleseed: Ex Machina
2007 · Producer
movieBlood Brothers
2007 · Producer
movieThe Making of Hard Boiled
2007
movieThe Making of Stranglehold
2007 · , Producer
tvBokura no Jidai
2007
tvBe My Guest
2006
movieAll the Invisible Children
2006 · Director
movieA Century of Light and Shadow
2005 · Self
tvA Century of Light and Shadow
2005 · Self
movieCrossings: John Woo
2004 · Self
movieThe Robinsons: Lost in Space
2004 · Director
moviePaycheck
2003 · Director, Producer
movieChop Socky: Cinema Hong Kong
2003 · Self
movieThe Master: Chang Cheh Documentary
2003
movieThe Life and Times of Wu Zhong Xian
2003 · As himself
movieBulletproof Monk
2003 · Producer
movieCinema Hong Kong: Wu Xia
2003 · Self
movieCinema Hong Kong: Kung Fu
2003 · Self
movieHostage
2002 · Director
movieRed Skies
2002 · Executive Producer
movieWindtalkers
2002 · Director, Producer
movieThe Art of Action: Martial Arts in the Movies
2002 · Self - Interviewee
movieMission: Improbable
2001 · John Woo
tvThe Hire
2001 · Director
movieMission: Impossible II
2000 · Director
movieKurosawa: The Last Emperor
1999 · Self
movieBlackjack
1998 · Director, Producer
movieYang ± Yin: Gender in Chinese Cinema
1998 · Self
movieThe Big Hit
1998 · Executive Producer
movieThe Replacement Killers
1998 · Choreographer, Executive Producer
movieTask Force
1997 · Police Chief
movieFace/Off
1997 · Director
movieOnce a Thief
1996 · Director
tvOnce a Thief
1996 · Creator
movieSomebody Up There Likes Me
1996 · Producer
movieBroken Arrow
1996 · Director
movieDon't Cry, Nanking
1995 · Producer
moviePeace Hotel
1995 · Executive Producer
movieCinema of Vengeance
1994 · Self (uncredited)
movieHard Target
1993 · Director
movieFilm ohne Fesseln - Das neue Hongkong Kino
1993 · Self
movieHard Boiled
1992 · Mr. Woo, Director, Editor, Story
movieTwin Dragons
1992 · Priest
movieThe Banquet
1991 · Man on Stairs
movieOnce a Thief
1991 · Stanley Wu, Screenplay, Director, Story
movieRebel from China
1990 · Kwong
movieBullet in the Head
1990 · Policeman, Producer, Director, Editor, Writer
movieA Better Tomorrow III: Love and Death in Saigon
1989 · Producer
movieJust Heroes
1989 · Director
movieSunset in Paris
1989 · Maggie's uncle
movieThe Killer
1989 · Director, Screenplay
tvCelebrity Talk Show
1989 · 吴宇森
movieStarry Is the Night
1988 · Father Fan
movieI Love Maria
1988
movieA Better Tomorrow II
1987 · Writer, Director
movieThe Thirty Million Dollar Rush
1987 · Ling's Husband
movieA Better Tomorrow
1986 · Inspector Wu, Director, Writer
movieGhost Bustin
1985 · Producer
movieLove, Lone Flower
1985 · , Producer
movieSuper Citizen
1985 · Producer
movieRun Tiger Run
1985 · Director, Producer
movieHappy Union 2
1985 · , Producer
movieHeroes Shed No Tears
1984 · Producer, Director, Writer
movieThe Time You Need a Friend
1984 · Director
movieHappy Union
1984 · Producer
moviePlain Jane to the Rescue
1982 · Self, Director, Screenplay
movieTo Hell with the Devil
1982 · Writer, Director
The Idiot Assassin
movieThe Idiot Assassin
1981 · Producer
movieLaughing Times
1980 · Screenplay, Director
movieFrom Riches to Rags
1980 · [cameo], Director, Writer
movieLast Hurrah for Chivalry
1979 · Writer, Director
movieItchy Fingers
1979 · Triad Boss on Lorry
movieHello, Late Homecomers
1978 · Director, Screenplay
movieFollow the Star
1978 · Miss Chen's Father, Director, Writer, Screenplay
movieMoney Crazy
1977 · Director, Screenplay
movieThe Private Eyes
1976 · Producer
movieHand of Death
1976 · Zhang Yi, Director, Screenplay
moviePrincess Chang-Ping
1976 · Director, Screenplay
movieThe Dragon Tamers
1975 · Director, Writer
movieYoung Lovers on Flying Wheels
1974 · Man at Bike Reclaim Centre
movieThe Young Dragons
1974 · Message Deliverer, Writer, Director
movieThe Devils
1973 · Assistant Director
movieFist to Fist
1973 · Assistant Director
movieThe Mandarin
1973 · , Second Unit
movieBlood Brothers
1973 · Assistant Director
movieFour Riders
1972 · Assistant Director
movieYoung People
1972 · Assistant Director
movieThe Water Margin
1972 · Assistant Director
movieThe Boxer from Shantung
1972 · Assistant Director
movieBegging
1970 · Thanks
The Ruthless Heart
movieThe Ruthless Heart
1970 · Story
movieDead Knot
1969 · Boy, Writer, Producer, Editor
movieAccidentally
1968 · Young Man, Director, Writer, Editor
tvGolden Horse Awards
1962 · Self
Twist & Shoot: Mister Suzuki
movieTwist & Shoot: Mister Suzuki
— · Self
X-Crucior
movieX-Crucior
— · Director
movieBetter Tomorrow
— · Original Film Writer
Gambino
movieGambino
— · Director