About

Known credits:
158
Birthday:
1946-09-22
Place of birth:
Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China
Website:
N/A

John Woo

Overview

John Woo Yu-Sen SBS 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

Acting
2022 The King of Wuxia Actor Self 59
Average
2021 Life in 24 Frames a Second Actor Self N/A
N/A
2017 John Travolta, le miraculé d'Hollywood Actor Self - Filmmaker (archive footage) 59
Average
2016 Ken San Actor Self 59
Average
2011 Beginning of the Great Revival Actor Lin Sen 58
Average
2011 Kurosawa's Way Actor Self 58
Average
2009 The Founding of a Republic Actor National Army officers 58
Average
2009 The Founding of a Republic Actor Liu Wenhui 58
Average
2009 How Bruce Lee Changed the World Actor Self 60
Fair
2008 Team-Up: John Woo and Shinji Aramaki Actor N/A
N/A
2005 A Century of Light and Shadow Actor Himself N/A
N/A
2004 Crossings: John Woo Actor Self N/A
N/A
2003 The Master: Chang Cheh Documentary Actor N/A
N/A
2003 Cinema Hong Kong: Wu Xia Actor Himself 59
Average
2003 Cinema Hong Kong: Kung Fu Actor Self 59
Average
2002 The Art of Action: Martial Arts in the Movies Actor Self - Interviewee 58
Average
2001 Mission: Improbable Actor John Woo 59
Average
1999 Kurosawa: The Last Emperor Actor Self 59
Average
1998 Jackie Chan: My Story Actor (archive footage) 59
Average
1998 Yang ± Yin: Gender in Chinese Cinema Actor Self 58
Average
1997 Task Force Actor Police Chief 59
Average
1994 Cinema of Vengeance Actor Himself (uncredited) 59
Average
1993 Film ohne Fesseln - Das neue Hongkong Kino Actor Self 59
Average
1992 Hard Boiled Actor Mr. Woo 68
Fair
1992 Twin Dragons Actor Priest 62
Fair
1991 The Banquet Actor Man on stairs 58
Average
1991 Once a Thief Actor Stanley Wu 60
Fair
1990 Rebel from China Actor Kwong N/A
N/A
1990 Bullet in the Head Actor Policeman 64
Fair
1989 Sunset in Paris Actor 59
Average
1988 Starry Is the Night Actor Father Fan 59
Average
1988 I Love Maria Actor 59
Average
1987 The Thirty Million Dollar Rush Actor Ling's Husband 59
Average
1986 A Better Tomorrow Actor Inspector Wu 66
Fair
1985 Love, Lone Flower Actor N/A
N/A
1985 Happy Union 2 Actor N/A
N/A
1982 Plain Jane to the Rescue Actor Self 58
Average
1980 From Riches to Rags Actor [cameo] 58
Average
1979 Itchy Fingers Actor Triad boss on lorry 59
Average
1978 Follow the Star Actor Miss Chen's father 59
Average
1976 Hand of Death Actor Zhang Yi 59
Average
1974 Young Lovers on Flying Wheels Actor Man at bike reclaim centre 59
Average
1974 The Young Dragons Actor Message deliverer 58
Average
1973 The Mandarin Actor 59
Average
1968 Accidentally Actor Young Man 59
Average
1968 Dead Knot Actor N/A
N/A

Directing
2024 The Killer Directing Director 61
Fair
2023 Silent Night Directing Director 61
Fair
2017 Manhunt Directing Director 58
Average
2015 The Crossing II Directing Director 58
Average
2014 The Crossing I Directing Director 58
Average
2010 Reign of Assassins Directing Co-Director 62
Fair
2009 Red Cliff II Directing Director 65
Fair
2008 Red Cliff Directing Director 66
Fair
2005 All the Invisible Children Directing Director 60
Fair
2004 The Robinsons: Lost in Space Directing Director 59
Average
2003 Paycheck Directing Director 61
Fair
2002 Hostage Directing Director 59
Average
2002 Windtalkers Directing Director 61
Fair
2000 Mission: Impossible II Directing Director 61
Fair
1998 Blackjack Directing Director 58
Average
1997 Face/Off Directing Director 69
Fair
1996 Once a Thief Directing Director 58
Average
1996 Broken Arrow Directing Director 60
Fair
1993 Hard Target Directing Director 62
Fair
1992 Hard Boiled Directing Director 68
Fair
1991 Once a Thief Directing Director 60
Fair
1990 Bullet in the Head Directing Director 64
Fair
1989 Just Heroes Directing Director 59
Average
1989 The Killer Directing Director 69
Fair
1987 A Better Tomorrow II Directing Director 63
Fair
1986 Heroes Shed No Tears Directing Director 59
Average
1986 A Better Tomorrow Directing Director 66
Fair
1985 The Time You Need a Friend Directing Director N/A
N/A
1984 Run Tiger Run Directing Director 59
Average
1982 Plain Jane to the Rescue Directing Director 58
Average
1982 To Hell with the Devil Directing Director 59
Average
1980 Laughing Times Directing Director 58
Average
1980 From Riches to Rags Directing Director 58
Average
1979 Last Hurrah for Chivalry Directing Director 59
Average
1978 Hello, Late Homecomers Directing Director 59
Average
1978 Follow the Star Directing Director 59
Average
1977 Money Crazy Directing Director 59
Average
1976 Hand of Death Directing Director 59
Average
1976 Princess Chang-Ping Directing Director 59
Average
1975 The Dragon Tamers Directing Director 59
Average
1974 The Young Dragons Directing Director 58
Average
1973 Fist to Fist Directing Assistant Director 59
Average
1973 Blood Brothers Directing Assistant Director 59
Average
1972 The Boxer from Shantung Directing Assistant Director 59
Average
1968 Dead Knot Directing Director N/A
N/A
1968 Accidentally Directing Director 59
Average
The Killer Directing Director N/A
N/A
X-Crucior Directing Director N/A
N/A

Writing
2024 The Killer Writing Original Film Writer 61
Fair
2017 Manhunt Writing Writer 58
Average
2010 A Better Tomorrow Writing Screenplay 59
Average
2009 Red Cliff II Writing Screenplay 65
Fair
2008 Red Cliff Writing Screenplay 66
Fair
1992 Hard Boiled Writing Story 68
Fair
1991 Once a Thief Writing Story 60
Fair
1991 Once a Thief Writing Screenplay 60
Fair
1990 Bullet in the Head Writing Writer 64
Fair
1989 The Killer Writing Screenplay 69
Fair
1987 A Better Tomorrow II Writing Writer 63
Fair
1986 Heroes Shed No Tears Writing Writer 59
Average
1986 A Better Tomorrow Writing Screenplay 66
Fair
1982 Plain Jane to the Rescue Writing Screenplay 58
Average
1982 To Hell with the Devil Writing Writer 59
Average
1980 Laughing Times Writing Screenplay 58
Average
1980 Laughing Times Writing Writer 58
Average
1980 From Riches to Rags Writing Writer 58
Average
1979 Last Hurrah for Chivalry Writing Writer 59
Average
1978 Hello, Late Homecomers Writing Screenplay 59
Average
1978 Follow the Star Writing Writer 59
Average
1977 Money Crazy Writing Screenplay 59
Average
1976 Hand of Death Writing Screenplay 59
Average
1976 Princess Chang-Ping Writing Screenplay 59
Average
1975 The Dragon Tamers Writing Writer 59
Average
1974 The Young Dragons Writing Writer 58
Average
1968 Dead Knot Writing Writer N/A
N/A

Production
2024 The Killer Production Producer 61
Fair
2023 Silent Night Production Producer 61
Fair
2014 Breaking the Waves Production Executive Producer 58
Average
2012 Warriors of the Rainbow: Seediq Bale Production Producer N/A
N/A
2012 Warriors of the Rainbow: Seediq Bale Production Producer 59
Average
2011 Warriors of the Rainbow: Seediq Bale - Part 2: The Rainbow Bridge Production Producer 62
Fair
2011 Warriors of the Rainbow: Seediq Bale - Part 1: The Sun Flag Production Producer 61
Fair
2010 A Better Tomorrow Production Executive Producer 59
Average
2010 Reign of Assassins Production Producer 62
Fair
2009 Red Cliff II Production Producer 65
Fair
2008 Red Cliff Production Producer 66
Fair
2007 Appleseed: Ex Machina Production Producer 60
Fair
2007 Blood Brothers Production Producer 58
Average
2007 The Making of Stranglehold Production Producer 59
Average
2003 Paycheck Production Producer 61
Fair
2003 Bulletproof Monk Production Producer 56
Average
2002 Red Skies Production Executive Producer 59
Average
2002 Windtalkers Production Producer 61
Fair
1998 Blackjack Production Producer 58
Average
1998 The Big Hit Production Executive Producer 58
Average
1998 The Replacement Killers Production Executive Producer 60
Fair
1996 Somebody Up There Likes Me Production Producer 59
Average
1995 Don't Cry, Nanking Production Producer N/A
N/A
1995 Peace Hotel Production Executive Producer 58
Average
1990 Bullet in the Head Production Producer 64
Fair
1989 A Better Tomorrow III: Love and Death in Saigon Production Producer 59
Average
1986 Heroes Shed No Tears Production Producer 59
Average
1986 A Better Tomorrow Production Producer 66
Fair
1985 Love, Lone Flower Production Producer N/A
N/A
1985 Super Citizen Production Producer N/A
N/A
1985 Happy Union 2 Production Producer N/A
N/A
1984 Run Tiger Run Production Producer 59
Average
The Killer Production Producer N/A
N/A

Crew
1998 The Replacement Killers Crew Choreographer 60
Fair
1973 The Mandarin Crew Second Unit 59
Average

Editing
1992 Hard Boiled Editing Editor 68
Fair
1990 Bullet in the Head Editing Editor 64
Fair