John Woo
- Known For
- Directing
- Born
- September 22, 1946 in Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China
- Active Years
- 1962–2024 (63 Years)
- Total Credits
- 189 credits in database
Directing Born Sep 22, 1946 Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China 189 credits
Biography
John Woo is a Hong Kong film director and producer born on September 22, 1946. He is recognized for his stylized films featuring highly choreographed action sequences, Mexican standoffs, and use of slow-motion. Woo has directed several notable Hong Kong action films, including A Better Tomorrow, The Killer, Hard Boiled, and Red Cliff. He has also worked on Hollywood films such as Hard Target, Broken Arrow, Face/Off, and Mission: Impossible 2. Woo's work has been influential, with critic Dave Kehr describing him as "arguably the most influential director making movies today." His favorite films include David Lean's Lawrence of Arabia and Akira Kurosawa's films.
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Career overview
John Woo is a Hong Kong film director and producer. He is recognized for his stylized films featuring highly choreographed action sequences, Mexican standoffs, and the use of slow-motion. Woo has directed several notable Hong Kong action films, including A Better Tomorrow, The Killer, Hard Boiled, and Red Cliff.
In addition to his work in Hong Kong, Woo has also directed films in Hollywood. His Hollywood films include Hard Target, Broken Arrow, Face/Off, and Mission: Impossible 2. Woo's directing style has been influential in the film industry, with some considering him one of the most influential directors making movies today.
Woo's career has spanned multiple mediums, including film and comics. He created the comic series Seven Brothers, published by Virgin Comics. With a career spanning over 127 credits, Woo has established himself as a prominent figure in the film industry.
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Frequent co-stars
Career timeline
The Killer · DirectorThe Killer · ProducerThe Killer · Original Film Writer
Silent Night · ProducerSilent Night · Director
大侠胡金铨The King of Wuxia Part 1The King of Wuxia Part 2
Life in 24 Frames a Second
A Better Tomorrow · Original Story
Manhunt · DirectorManhunt · WriterJohn Travolta, le miraculé d'Hollywood
Ken San
The Crossing II · Director
The Crossing I · DirectorBreaking the Waves · Executive Producer
VoiceWarriors of the Rainbow: Seediq Bale · Producer
Kurosawa's WayWarriors of the Rainbow: Seediq Bale - Part 2: The Rainbow Bridge · ProducerBeginning of the Great RevivalWarriors of the Rainbow: Seediq Bale - Part 1: The Sun Flag · Producer
Reign of Assassins · ProducerReign of Assassins · DirectorMission: Remarkable - 40 Years of Creating the ImpossibleA Better Tomorrow · Executive ProducerA Better Tomorrow · Screenplay
Red Cliff II · ScreenplayRed Cliff II · DirectorRed Cliff II · ProducerThe Founding of a RepublicThe Founding of a Republic
Red Cliff · ScreenplayRed Cliff · DirectorRed Cliff · ProducerTeam-Up: John Woo and Shinji Aramaki
Bokura no JidaiAppleseed: Ex Machina · ProducerBlood Brothers · ProducerThe Making of Hard BoiledThe Making of Stranglehold
Be My GuestAll the Invisible Children · Director
A Century of Light and Shadow
Crossings: John WooThe Robinsons: Lost in Space · Director
Paycheck · DirectorPaycheck · ProducerBulletproof Monk · ProducerChop Socky: Cinema Hong KongCinema Hong Kong: Wu Xia
Windtalkers · DirectorWindtalkers · ProducerRed Skies · Executive ProducerThe Art of Action: Martial Arts in the MoviesHostage · Director
The Hire · DirectorMission: Improbable
Mission: Impossible II · Director
Kurosawa: The Last Emperor
The Replacement Killers · ChoreographerThe Replacement Killers · Executive ProducerThe Big Hit · Executive ProducerBlackjack · DirectorBlackjack · Producer
Face/Off · DirectorFace/Off · StoryboardTask Force
Once a Thief · CreatorBroken Arrow · DirectorOnce a Thief · DirectorSomebody Up There Likes Me · Producer
Peace Hotel · Executive ProducerDon't Cry, Nanking · Producer
Cinema of Vengeance
Hard Target · DirectorFilm ohne Fesseln - Das neue Hongkong Kino
Hard BoiledHard Boiled · DirectorHard Boiled · EditorHard Boiled · StoryTwin Dragons
Full Filmography
189 titles- The Killer (2024) Director
- The Killer (2024) Producer
- The Killer (2024) Original Film Writer
- Silent Night (2023) Producer
- Silent Night (2023) Director
- 大侠胡金铨 (2022) as self
- The King of Wuxia Part 1 (2022) as Self
- The King of Wuxia Part 2 (2022) as Self
- Life in 24 Frames a Second (2021) as Self
- A Better Tomorrow (2018) Original Story
- Manhunt (2017) Director
- Manhunt (2017) 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
- Voice (2012)
- Warriors of the Rainbow: Seediq Bale (2012) Producer
- Kurosawa's Way (2011) as Self
- Warriors of the Rainbow: Seediq Bale - Part 2: The Rainbow Bridge (2011) Producer
- Beginning of the Great Revival (2011) as Lin Sen
- Warriors of the Rainbow: Seediq Bale - Part 1: The Sun Flag (2011) Producer
- Reign of Assassins (2010) Producer
- Reign of Assassins (2010) Director
- Mission: Remarkable - 40 Years of Creating the Impossible (2010) as Self
- A Better Tomorrow (2010) Executive Producer
- A Better Tomorrow (2010) Screenplay
- A Better Tomorrow (2010) Original Story
- Color Me Love (2010) Producer
- Red Cliff II (2009) Screenplay
- Red Cliff II (2009) Director
- Red Cliff II (2009) Producer
- The Founding of a Republic (2009) as Liu Wenhui
- The Founding of a Republic (2009) as National Army Officers
- How Bruce Lee Changed the World (2009) as Self
- My Fair Gentleman (2009) Producer
- Red Cliff (2008) Screenplay
- Red Cliff (2008) Director
- Red Cliff (2008) Producer
- Team-Up: John Woo and Shinji Aramaki (2008)
- Bokura no Jidai (2007)
- Appleseed: Ex Machina (2007) Producer
- Blood Brothers (2007) Producer
- The Making of Hard Boiled (2007)
- The Making of Stranglehold (2007)
- The Making of Stranglehold (2007) Producer
- The Light and The Dark: The Making of Face/Off (2007) as Self
- Be My Guest (2006)
- All the Invisible Children (2006) Director
- A Century of Light and Shadow (2005) as Self
- Crossings: John Woo (2004) as Self
- The Robinsons: Lost in Space (2004) Director
- Paycheck (2003) Director
- Paycheck (2003) Producer
- Bulletproof Monk (2003) Producer
- Chop Socky: Cinema Hong Kong (2003) as Self
- Cinema Hong Kong: Wu Xia (2003) as Self
- Cinema Hong Kong: Kung Fu (2003) as Self
- The Master: Chang Cheh Documentary (2003)
- The Life and Times of Wu Zhong Xian (2003) as As himself
- Windtalkers (2002) Director
- Windtalkers (2002) Producer
- Red Skies (2002) Executive Producer
- The Art of Action: Martial Arts in the Movies (2002) as Self - Interviewee
- Hostage (2002) Director
- The Hire (2001) Director
- Mission: Improbable (2001) as John Woo
- Mission: Impossible II (2000) Director
- Kurosawa: The Last Emperor (1999) as Self
- The Replacement Killers (1998) Choreographer
- The Replacement Killers (1998) Executive Producer
- The Big Hit (1998) Executive Producer
- Blackjack (1998) Director
- Blackjack (1998) Producer
- Yang ± Yin: Gender in Chinese Cinema (1998) as Self
- Face/Off (1997) Director
- Face/Off (1997) Storyboard
- Task Force (1997) as Police Chief
- Once a Thief (1996) Creator
- Broken Arrow (1996) Director
- Once a Thief (1996) Director
- Somebody Up There Likes Me (1996) Producer
- Peace Hotel (1995) Executive Producer
- Don't Cry, Nanking (1995) 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
- Hard Boiled (1992) Director
- Hard Boiled (1992) Editor
- Hard Boiled (1992) Story
- Twin Dragons (1992) as Priest
- Once a Thief (1991) as Stanley Wu
- Once a Thief (1991) Screenplay
- Once a Thief (1991) Director
- Once a Thief (1991) Story
- The Banquet (1991) as Man on Stairs
- Bullet in the Head (1990) as Policeman
- Bullet in the Head (1990) Producer
- Bullet in the Head (1990) Director
- Bullet in the Head (1990) Editor
- Bullet in the Head (1990) Writer
- Rebel from China (1990) as Kwong
- Celebrity Talk Show (1989) as 吴宇森
- The Killer (1989) Director
- The Killer (1989) Screenplay
- A Better Tomorrow III: Love and Death in Saigon (1989) Producer
- Just Heroes (1989) Director
- Sunset in Paris (1989) as Maggie's uncle
- I Love Maria (1988)
- Starry Is the Night (1988) as Father Fan
- A Better Tomorrow II (1987) Writer
- A Better Tomorrow II (1987) Director
- The Thirty Million Dollar Rush (1987) as Ling's Husband
- A Better Tomorrow (1986) as Inspector Wu
- A Better Tomorrow (1986) Director
- A Better Tomorrow (1986) Writer
- Run Tiger Run (1985) Director
- Run Tiger Run (1985) Producer
- Super Citizen (1985) Producer
- Love, Lone Flower (1985)
- Love, Lone Flower (1985) Producer
- Ghost Bustin (1985) Producer
- Happy Union 2 (1985)
- Happy Union 2 (1985) Producer
- Heroes Shed No Tears (1984) Producer
- Heroes Shed No Tears (1984) Director
- Heroes Shed No Tears (1984) Writer
- Happy Union (1984) Producer
- The Time You Need a Friend (1984) Director
- To Hell with the Devil (1982) Writer
- To Hell with the Devil (1982) Director
- Plain Jane to the Rescue (1982) as Self
- Plain Jane to the Rescue (1982) Director
- Plain Jane to the Rescue (1982) Screenplay
- The Idiot Assassin (1981) Producer
- Laughing Times (1980) Screenplay
- Laughing Times (1980) Director
- From Riches to Rags (1980) as [cameo]
- From Riches to Rags (1980) Director
- From Riches to Rags (1980) Writer
- Last Hurrah for Chivalry (1979) Writer
- Last Hurrah for Chivalry (1979) Director
- Itchy Fingers (1979) as Triad Boss on Lorry
- Hello, Late Homecomers (1978) Director
- Hello, Late Homecomers (1978) Screenplay
- Follow the Star (1978) as Miss Chen's Father
- Follow the Star (1978) Director
- Follow the Star (1978) Writer
- Follow the Star (1978) Screenplay
- Money Crazy (1977) Director
- Money Crazy (1977) Screenplay
- The Private Eyes (1976) Producer
- Hand of Death (1976) as Zhang Yi
- Hand of Death (1976) Director
- Hand of Death (1976) Screenplay
- Princess Chang-Ping (1976) Director
- Princess Chang-Ping (1976) Screenplay
- The Dragon Tamers (1975) Director
- The Dragon Tamers (1975) Writer
- The Young Dragons (1974) as Message Deliverer
- The Young Dragons (1974) Writer
- The Young Dragons (1974) Director
- Young Lovers on Flying Wheels (1974) as Man at Bike Reclaim Centre
- Blood Brothers (1973) Assistant Director
- The Devils (1973) Assistant Director
- Fist to Fist (1973) Assistant Director
- The Mandarin (1973)
- The Mandarin (1973) Second Unit
- The Water Margin (1972) Assistant Director
- The Boxer from Shantung (1972) Assistant Director
- Four Riders (1972) Assistant Director
- Young People (1972) Assistant Director
- Begging (1970) Thanks
- The Ruthless Heart (1970) Story
- Dead Knot (1969) as Boy
- Dead Knot (1969) Writer
- Dead Knot (1969) Producer
- Dead Knot (1969) Editor
- Accidentally (1968) as Young Man
- Accidentally (1968) Director
- Accidentally (1968) Writer
- Accidentally (1968) Editor
- Golden Horse Awards (1962) as Self
- X-Crucior Director
- Better Tomorrow Original Film Writer
- Twist & Shoot: Mister Suzuki as Self
- Gambino Director
Frequently Asked Questions
What movies or TV shows is John Woo best known for?
John Woo is widely recognized for notable roles and projects including The Killer (2024), The Killer (2024), The Killer (2024), Silent Night (2023).
When and where was John Woo born?
John Woo was born on September 22, 1946 in Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China.
How many credits does John Woo have?
John Woo has accumulated over 189 film and television credits across a career spanning from 1962 to 2024.
What is John Woo's background in cinema and television?
John Woo is a Hong Kong film director and producer born on September 22, 1946. He is recognized for his stylized films featuring highly choreographed action sequences, Mexican standoffs, and use of slow-motion. Woo has directed several notable Hong Kong action films, including A Better Tomorrow, The Killer, Hard Boiled...
John Woo by the numbers
189credits
180films
9TV series
1962–2024active years
Age in their best-rated roles
- Celebrity Talk Show (1989) as 吴宇森 — aged about 42
- Golden Horse Awards (1962) as Self — aged about 15
- Bullet in the Head (1990) as Policeman — aged about 43
- Hard Boiled (1992) as Mr. Woo — aged about 45
- A Better Tomorrow (1986) as Inspector Wu — aged about 39
- Once a Thief (1991) as Stanley Wu — aged about 44
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