John Woo
- Known for
- Directing
- Born
- September 22, 1946
- Birthplace
- Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China
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
- Gambino
Gambino TBA
Director
Better Tomorrow TBA
Original Film Writer
- X-Crucior
X-Crucior TBA
Director
Twist & Shoot: Mister Suzuki 2026
as Self
The Killer 2024
Director, Producer, Original Film Writer
Silent Night 2023
Producer, Director
The King of Wuxia Part 2 2022
as Self
The King of Wuxia Part 1 2022
as Self
Life in 24 Frames a Second 2021
as Self
A Better Tomorrow 2018
Original Story
Manhunt 2017
Director, Writer
John Travolta, le miraculé d'Hollywood 2017
as Self - Filmmaker (archive footage)
Ken San 2016
as Self
The Crossing II 2015
Director
The Crossing I 2014
Director
Breaking the Waves 2014
Executive Producer
Warriors of the Rainbow: Seediq Bale 2012
Producer
Warriors of the Rainbow: Seediq Bale - Part 2: The Rainbow Bridge 2011
Producer
Warriors of the Rainbow: Seediq Bale - Part 1: The Sun Flag 2011
Producer
Beginning of the Great Revival 2011
as Lin Sen
Kurosawa's Way 2011
as Self
Color Me Love 2010
Producer
A Better Tomorrow 2010
Executive Producer, Screenplay, Original Story
Reign of Assassins 2010
Producer, Director
- Mission: Remarkable - 40 Years of Creating the Impossible
Mission: Remarkable - 40 Years of Creating the Impossible 2010
as Self
My Fair Gentleman 2009
Producer
The Founding of a Republic 2009
as Liu Wenhui, as National Army Officers
How Bruce Lee Changed the World 2009
as Self
Red Cliff II 2009
Screenplay, Director, Producer
Red Cliff 2008
Director, Screenplay, Producer
Team-Up: John Woo and Shinji Aramaki 2008
Actor
Appleseed: Ex Machina 2007
Producer
- The Light and The Dark: The Making of Face/Off
The Light and The Dark: The Making of Face/Off 2007
as Self
Blood Brothers 2007
Producer
The Making of Stranglehold 2007
Actor, Producer
All the Invisible Children 2006
Director
Crossings: John Woo 2004
as Self
The Robinsons: Lost in Space 2004
Director
Paycheck 2003
Director, Producer
Chop Socky: Cinema Hong Kong 2003
as Self
The Master: Chang Cheh Documentary 2003
Actor
The Life and Times of Wu Zhong Xian 2003
as As himself
Bulletproof Monk 2003
Producer
Cinema Hong Kong: Wu Xia 2003
as Self
Cinema Hong Kong: Kung Fu 2003
as Self
Hostage 2002
Director
Red Skies 2002
Executive Producer
Windtalkers 2002
Producer, Director
The Art of Action: Martial Arts in the Movies 2002
as Self - Interviewee
The Test of Time: The Genesis of Hard Boiled 2002
Actor
Mission: Improbable 2000
as John Woo
Mission: Impossible II 2000
Director
Kurosawa: The Last Emperor 1999
as Self
Blackjack 1998
Director, Producer
Yang ± Yin: Gender in Chinese Cinema 1998
as Self
The Big Hit 1998
Executive Producer
The Replacement Killers 1998
Choreographer, Executive Producer
Task Force 1997
as Police Chief
Face/Off 1997
Director, Storyboard
Once a Thief 1996
Director
Somebody Up There Likes Me 1996
Producer
Broken Arrow 1996
Director
Don't Cry, Nanking 1995
Producer
Peace Hotel 1995
Executive Producer
Cinema of Vengeance 1994
as Self (uncredited)
Hard Target 1993
Director
Film ohne Fesseln - Das neue Hongkong Kino 1993
as Self
Hard Boiled 1992
as Mr. Woo, Director, Editor, Story
Twin Dragons 1992
as Priest
The Banquet 1991
as Man on Stairs
Once a Thief 1991
as Stanley Wu, Director, Screenplay, Story
Rebel from China 1990
as Kwong
Bullet in the Head 1990
as Policeman, Producer, Director, Editor, Writer
A Better Tomorrow III: Love and Death in Saigon 1989
Producer
Just Heroes 1989
Director
Sunset in Paris 1989
as Maggie's uncle
The Killer 1989
Director, Screenplay
Starry Is the Night 1988
as Father Fan
I Love Maria 1988
Actor
A Better Tomorrow II 1987
Director, Writer
The Thirty Million Dollar Rush 1987
as Ling's Husband
A Better Tomorrow 1986
as Inspector Wu, Director, Writer
Ghost Bustin 1985
Producer
Love, Lone Flower 1985
Actor, Producer
Super Citizen 1985
Producer
Run Tiger Run 1985
Director, Producer
Happy Union 2 1985
Actor, Producer
Heroes Shed No Tears 1984
Producer, Director, Writer
The Time You Need a Friend 1984
Director
Happy Union 1984
Producer
Plain Jane to the Rescue 1982
as Self, Director, Screenplay
To Hell with the Devil 1982
Director, Writer
- The Idiot Assassin
The Idiot Assassin 1981
Producer
Laughing Times 1980
Screenplay, Director
From Riches to Rags 1980
as [cameo], Director, Writer
Last Hurrah for Chivalry 1979
Director, Writer
Itchy Fingers 1979
as Triad Boss on Lorry
Hello, Late Homecomers 1978
Director, Screenplay
Follow the Star 1978
as Miss Chen's Father, Director, Writer, Screenplay
Money Crazy 1977
Director, Screenplay
The Private Eyes 1976
Producer
Hand of Death 1976
as Zhang Yi, Director, Screenplay
Princess Chang-Ping 1976
Director, Screenplay
The Dragon Tamers 1975
Director, Writer
Young Lovers on Flying Wheels 1974
as Man at Bike Reclaim Centre
The Young Dragons 1974
as Message Deliverer, Writer, Director
The Devils 1973
Assistant Director
Fist to Fist 1973
Assistant Director
The Mandarin 1973
Actor, Second Unit
Blood Brothers 1973
Assistant Director
Four Riders 1972
Assistant Director
Young People 1972
Assistant Director
The Water Margin 1972
Assistant Director
The Boxer from Shantung 1972
Assistant Director
Begging 1970
Thanks
- The Ruthless Heart
The Ruthless Heart 1970
Story
Dead Knot 1969
as Boy, Writer, Producer, Editor, Director
Accidentally 1968
as Young Man, Director, Writer, Editor
Credits from TMDB.