Personal Info

Known For

Directing

Known Credits

Gender

Male

Birthday

1946-09-22 (78 years old)

Place of Birth

Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China

Also Known As

Wu Yu-Sheng
Wu Yu-Shen
Wu Yao-Shen
John Y. S. Woo
John Y. Woo
Ng Yue-Sum

John Woo

Biography

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

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Acting

2022		The King of Wuxia Part 2 as Self
2022		The King of Wuxia Part 1 as Self

2021

Life in 24 Frames a Second as Self

2017

John Travolta, le miraculé d'Hollywood as Self - Filmmaker (archive footage)

2016

Ken San as Self

2012

Voice

2011		Beginning of the Great Revival as Lin Sen
2011		Kurosawa's Way as Self

2009		The Founding of a Republic as Liu Wenhui
2009		The Founding of a Republic as National Army Officers
2009		How Bruce Lee Changed the World as Self

2008

Team-Up: John Woo and Shinji Aramaki

2007		The Light and the Dark: The Making of 'Face/Off' as Self
2007		Bokura no Jidai

2005

A Century of Light and Shadow as Self

2004

Crossings: John Woo as Self

2003		Chop Socky: Cinema Hong Kong as Self
2003		The Master: Chang Cheh Documentary
2003		Cinema Hong Kong: Wu Xia as Self
2003		Cinema Hong Kong: Kung Fu as Self

2002

The Art of Action: Martial Arts in the Movies as Self - Interviewee

2001

Mission: Improbable as John Woo

1999

Kurosawa: The Last Emperor as Self

1998		Jackie Chan: My Story as (archive footage)
1998		Yang ± Yin: Gender in Chinese Cinema as Self

1997

Task Force as Police Chief

1994

Cinema of Vengeance as Self (uncredited)

1993

Film ohne Fesseln - Das neue Hongkong Kino as Self

1992		Hard Boiled as Mr. Woo
1992		Twin Dragons as Priest

1991		The Banquet as Man on Stairs
1991		Once a Thief as Stanley Wu

1990		Rebel from China as Kwong
1990		Bullet in the Head as Policeman

1989		Sunset in Paris
1989		Celebrity Talk Show as 吴宇森

1988		Starry Is the Night as Father Fan
1988		I Love Maria

1987

The Thirty Million Dollar Rush as Ling's Husband

1986

A Better Tomorrow as Inspector Wu

1985		Love, Lone Flower
1985		Happy Union 2

1982

Plain Jane to the Rescue as Self

1980

From Riches to Rags as [cameo]

1979

Itchy Fingers as Triad Boss on Lorry

1978

Follow the Star as Miss Chen's Father

1976

Hand of Death as Zhang Yi

1974		Young Lovers on Flying Wheels as Man at Bike Reclaim Centre
1974		The Young Dragons as Message Deliverer

1973

The Mandarin

1968		Accidentally as Young Man
1968		Dead Knot

1962

Golden Horse Awards as Self

Creator

1996

Once a Thief as Creator

Crew

1998

The Replacement Killers as Choreographer

1973

The Mandarin as Second Unit

Directing

—

X-Crucior as Director

2024

The Killer as Director

2023

Silent Night as Director

2017

Manhunt as Director

2015

The Crossing II as Director

2014

The Crossing I as Director

2010

Reign of Assassins as Co-Director

2009

Red Cliff II as Director

2008

Red Cliff as Director

2005

All the Invisible Children as Director

2004

The Robinsons: Lost in Space as Director

2003

Paycheck as Director

2002		Hostage as Director
2002		Windtalkers as Director

2001

The Hire as Director

2000

Mission: Impossible II as Director

1998

Blackjack as Director

1997

Face/Off as Director

1996		Once a Thief as Director
1996		Broken Arrow as Director

1993

Hard Target as Director

1992

Hard Boiled as Director

1991

Once a Thief as Director

1990

Bullet in the Head as Director

1989		Just Heroes as Director
1989		The Killer as Director

1987

A Better Tomorrow II as Director

1986

A Better Tomorrow as Director

1985		Run Tiger Run as Director
1985		The Time You Need a Friend as Director

1984

Heroes Shed No Tears as Director

1982		Plain Jane to the Rescue as Director
1982		To Hell with the Devil as Director

1980		Laughing Times as Director
1980		From Riches to Rags as Director

1979

Last Hurrah for Chivalry as Director

1978		Hello, Late Homecomers as Director
1978		Follow the Star as Director

1977

Money Crazy as Director

1976		Hand of Death as Director
1976		Princess Chang-Ping as Director

1975

The Dragon Tamers as Director

1974

The Young Dragons as Director

1973		Fist to Fist as Assistant Director
1973		Blood Brothers as Assistant Director
1973		The Devils as Assistant Director

1972		Four Riders as Assistant Director
1972		Young People as Assistant Director
1972		The Water Margin as Assistant Director
1972		The Boxer from Shantung as Assistant Director

1968		Dead Knot as Director
1968		Accidentally as Director

Editing

1992

Hard Boiled as Editor

1990

Bullet in the Head as Editor

Production

2024

The Killer as Producer

2023

Silent Night as Producer

2014

Breaking the Waves as Executive Producer

2012

Warriors of the Rainbow: Seediq Bale as Producer

2011		Warriors of the Rainbow: Seediq Bale - Part 2: The Rainbow Bridge as Producer
2011		Warriors of the Rainbow: Seediq Bale - Part 1: The Sun Flag as Producer

2010		Color Me Love as Producer
2010		A Better Tomorrow as Executive Producer
2010		Reign of Assassins as Producer

2009		My Fair Gentleman as Producer
2009		Red Cliff II as Producer

2008

Red Cliff as Producer

2007		Appleseed: Ex Machina as Producer
2007		Blood Brothers as Producer
2007		The Making of Stranglehold as Producer

2003		Paycheck as Producer
2003		Bulletproof Monk as Producer

2002		Red Skies as Executive Producer
2002		Windtalkers as Producer

1998		Blackjack as Producer
1998		The Big Hit as Executive Producer
1998		The Replacement Killers as Executive Producer

1996

Somebody Up There Likes Me as Producer

1995		Don't Cry, Nanking as Producer
1995		Peace Hotel as Executive Producer

1990

Bullet in the Head as Producer

1989

A Better Tomorrow III: Love and Death in Saigon as Producer

1986

A Better Tomorrow as Producer

1985		Ghost Bustin as Producer
1985		Love, Lone Flower as Producer
1985		Super Citizen as Producer
1985		Run Tiger Run as Producer
1985		Happy Union 2 as Producer

1984		Heroes Shed No Tears as Producer
1984		Happy Union as Producer

1981

The Idiot Assassin as Producer

1976

The Private Eyes as Producer

Writing

2024

The Killer as Original Film Writer

2017

Manhunt as Writer

2010

A Better Tomorrow as Screenplay

2009

Red Cliff II as Screenplay

2008

Red Cliff as Screenplay

1992

Hard Boiled as Story

1991		Once a Thief as Screenplay
1991		Once a Thief as Story

1990

Bullet in the Head as Writer

1989

The Killer as Screenplay

1987

A Better Tomorrow II as Writer

1986

A Better Tomorrow as Screenplay

1984

Heroes Shed No Tears as Writer

1982		Plain Jane to the Rescue as Screenplay
1982		To Hell with the Devil as Writer

1980		Laughing Times as Writer
1980		Laughing Times as Screenplay
1980		From Riches to Rags as Writer

1979

Last Hurrah for Chivalry as Writer

1978		Hello, Late Homecomers as Screenplay
1978		Follow the Star as Writer
1978		Follow the Star as Screenplay

1977

Money Crazy as Screenplay

1976		Hand of Death as Screenplay
1976		Princess Chang-Ping as Screenplay

1975

The Dragon Tamers as Writer

1974

The Young Dragons as Writer

1970

The Ruthless Heart as Story

1968

Dead Knot as Writer