John Woo
Actor | Director | Producer | Writer
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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.
Filmography - Directing
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Eight & a Half (2020)
An eight-part anthology film exploring the history of Hong Kong from the 1940s to present day.
Directed by: Yuen Woo-ping | Ann Hui | Patrick Tam Kar-Ming | Sammo Hung | Ringo Lam | Tsui Hark | Johnnie To | John Woo
Stars:
Manhunt (2017)
Accused of a murder he didn't commit, a prosecutor sets out on a mission to clear his name.
Runtime: 106 min.
Directed by: John Woo
Stars: Jun Kunimura | Masaharu Fukuyama | Zhang Hanyu | Ha Ji-won | Qi Wei
The Crossing II (2015)
A story of three couples and their intertwining love stories set in 1940s Taiwan and Shanghai, centered around the 1949 sinking of Taiping.
Runtime: 131 min.
Directed by: John Woo
Stars: Takeshi Kaneshiro | Tong Dawei | Zhang Ziyi | Song Hye-kyo | Huang Xiaoming
The Crossing (2014)
During the Chinese Revolution in 1949, three couples flee from China to an island of Taiwan.
Runtime: 129 min.
Directed by: John Woo
Stars: Takeshi Kaneshiro | Tong Dawei | Zhang Ziyi | Song Hye-kyo | Huang Xiaoming
Reign of Assassins (2010)
Set in ancient China, Zeng Jing is a skilled assassin who finds herself in possession of a mystical Buddhist monk's remains. She begins a quest to return the remains to its rightful resting place, and thus places herself in mortal danger because a team of assassins is in a deadly pursuit to possess the remains which holds an ancient power-wielding secret.
Runtime: 117 min.
Directed by: John Woo | Chao-Bin Su
Stars: Shawn Yue | Michelle Yeoh | Barbie Hsu | Wang Xue-qi | Jung Woo-sung
Red Cliff Part II (2009)
The battle of Red Cliff continues and the alliance between Xu and East Wu is fracturing. With Cao Cao's massive forces on their doorstep, will the kingdoms of Xu and East Wu survive?
Runtime: 142 min.
Directed by: John Woo
Stars: Takeshi Kaneshiro | Chang Chen | Tony Leung Chiu-Wai | Zhao Wei | Zhang Fengyi
Red Cliff (2008)
In 208 A.D., in the final days of the Han Dynasty, shrewd Prime Minster Cao convinced the fickle Emperor Han the only way to unite all of China was to declare war on the kingdoms of Xu in the west and East Wu in the south. Thus began a military campaign of unprecedented scale. Left with no other hope for survival, the kingdoms of Xu and East Wu formed an unlikely alliance.
Runtime: 146 min.
Directed by: John Woo
Stars: Takeshi Kaneshiro | Chang Chen | Tony Leung Chiu-Wai | Zhao Wei | Zhang Fengyi
All the Invisible Children (2005)
Seven short films - each one focused on the plight of a different child protagonist.
Runtime: 124 min.
Directed by: John Woo | Emir Kusturica | Ridley Scott | Jordan Scott | Kátia Lund | Spike Lee | Stefano Veneruso | Mehdi Charef
Stars: Uroš Milovanović | Adama Bila | Elysée Rouamba | Rodrigue Ouattara | Dragan Zurovac
The Robinsons: Lost in Space (2004)
In the year 2082, the Earth was invaded by aliens after it was long determine that existence of extra terrestrials was long thought to be science fiction. Major cities crumbled from the destruction of the beings from beyond the stars. The invasion came to a halt when Earth's own armed forces led by Col. John Robinson fought off the invaders and thus Earth won the battle which came to be known ...
Runtime: 43 min.
Directed by: John Woo
Stars: Brad Johnson | Mike Erwin | Jayne Brook | Gil McKinney | Ryan Malgarini
Paycheck (2003)
Michael Jennings is a genius who's hired – and paid handsomely – by high-tech firms to work on highly sensitive projects, after which his short-term memory is erased so he's incapable of breaching security. But at the end of a three-year job, he's told he isn't getting a paycheck and instead receives a mysterious envelope. In it are clues he must piece together to find out why he wasn't ...
Runtime: 119 min.
Directed by: John Woo
Stars: Aaron Eckhart | Paul Giamatti | Uma Thurman | Ben Affleck | Colm Feore
Windtalkers (2002)
Joe Enders is a gung-ho Marine assigned to protect a "windtalker" - one of several Navajo Indians who were used to relay messages during World War II because their spoken language was indecipherable to Japanese code breakers.
Runtime: 134 min.
Directed by: John Woo
Stars: Nicolas Cage | Peter Stormare | Mark Ruffalo | Noah Emmerich | Adam Beach
The Hire: Hostage (2002)
The Driver is hired by the FBI to help defuse a hostage situation. A disgruntled employee has kidnapped a CEO and has hidden her, demanding $5,088,042. The Driver delivers the money, writing the sum on his hand as instructed by the hostage taker. After he is told that he holds the life of a person in his hand, he is ordered to burn the money. As he complies, the federal agents break in and attempt to ...
Runtime: 9 min.
Directed by: John Woo
Stars: Clive Owen | Maury Chaykin | Darius McCrary | Gerry Becker | Kathryn Morris
Mission: Impossible II (2000)
With computer genius Luther Stickell at his side and a beautiful thief on his mind, agent Ethan Hunt races across Australia and Spain to stop a former IMF agent from unleashing a genetically engineered biological weapon called Chimera. This mission, should Hunt choose to accept it, plunges him into the center of an international crisis of terrifying magnitude.
Runtime: 123 min.
Directed by: John Woo
Stars: Richard Roxburgh | Ving Rhames | Thandie Newton | Tom Cruise | Dougray Scott
Blackjack (1998)
After saving Casey, a daughter of his friend, from hired assassins, Jack Devlin is hit with a strange phobia - fear of white color. But when his other friend, who works as a bodyguard for a supermodel, is wounded, Jack decides to step in for him. Now he must confront his fear and the assassin, who seems to be well aware of Jack's problem.
Runtime: 112 min.
Directed by: John Woo
Stars: Fred Williamson | Dolph Lundgren | Kate Vernon | Kam Heskin | Phillip MacKenzie
Face/Off (1997)
An antiterrorism agent goes under the knife to acquire the likeness of a terrorist and gather details about a bombing plot. When the terrorist escapes custody, he undergoes surgery to look like the agent so he can get close to the agent's family.
Runtime: 138 min.
Directed by: John Woo
Stars: Nicolas Cage | Gina Gershon | Alessandro Nivola | John Travolta | Joan Allen
Once a Thief (1996)
Set in Hong Kong and Vancouver, the story follows Mac Ramsey and Li Ann Tsei, lovers and professional thieves who are separated while fleeing the powerful Hong Kong underworld crime lord who raised and trained them. After being imprisoned in Hong Kong, Mac is forcefully recruited into a clandestine international crime-fighting unit by a hard-nosed, menacing Director. He is teamed in Vancouver with Li ...
Runtime: 92 min.
Directed by: John Woo
Stars: Michael Wong | Nicholas Lea | Sandrine Holt | Robert Ito | Ivan Sergei
Broken Arrow (1996)
When rogue stealth-fighter pilot Vic Deakins deliberately drops off the radar while on maneuvers, the Air Force ends up with two stolen nuclear warheads -- and Deakins's co-pilot, Riley Hale, is the military's only hope for getting them back. Traversing the deserted canyons of Utah, Hale teams with park ranger Terry Carmichael to put Deakins back in his box.
Runtime: 108 min.
Directed by: John Woo
Stars: Bob Gunton | Samantha Mathis | Delroy Lindo | Christian Slater | John Travolta
Hard Target (1993)
When a woman's father goes missing, she enlist a local to aid in her search. The pair soon discover that her father has died at the hands of a wealthy sportsman who hunts homeless men as a form of recreation.
Runtime: 97 min.
Directed by: John Woo
Stars: Sven-Ole Thorsen | Lance Henriksen | Yancy Butler | Jean-Claude Van Damme | Arnold Vosloo
Hard Boiled (1992)
A cop who loses his partner in a shoot-out with gun smugglers goes on a mission to catch them. In order to get closer to the leaders of the ring he joins forces with an undercover cop who's working as a gangster hitman. They use all means of excessive force to find them.
Runtime: 128 min.
Directed by: John Woo
Stars: Teresa Mo | Chow Yun-Fat | Anthony Wong | Philip Chan Yan-Kin | Tony Leung Chiu-Wai
Once a Thief (1991)
John Woo directs this action-packed comedy that stars Chow Yun-Fat, Leslie Cheung and Cherie Chung as a trio of art thieves who grew up together as orphans under the tutelage of a cruel crime boss named Chow (Kenneth Tsang). Although Red Bean (Chung) wants the trio to leave their life of crime behind, a million-dollar opportunity -- stealing a priceless French painting -- proves too ...
Runtime: 108 min.
Directed by: John Woo
Stars: Leslie Cheung | Kenneth Tsang | Cherie Chung | Chow Yun-Fat | Paul Chu Kong
Bullet in the Head (1990)
When three close friends escape from Hong Kong to war-time Saigon to start a criminal's life, they all go through a harrowing experience which totally shatters their lives and their friendship forever.
Runtime: 136 min.
Directed by: John Woo
Stars: Simon Yam | Jacky Cheung | Waise Lee | Tony Leung Chiu-Wai | Fennie Yuen
Just Heroes (1989)
The assassination of a gang lord triggers a power struggle amongst his men. Who will win the game the righteous or the villain?
Runtime: 97 min.
Stars: David Chiang | Chen Kuan-Tai | Danny Lee Sau-Yin | Tien Niu | Cally Kwong
The Killer (1989)
Mob assassin Jeffrey is no ordinary hired gun; the best in his business, he views his chosen profession as a calling rather than simply a job. So, when beautiful nightclub chanteuse Jennie is blinded in the crossfire of his most recent hit, Jeffrey chooses to retire after one last job to pay for his unintended victim's sight-restoring operation. But when Jeffrey is double-crossed, ...
Runtime: 111 min.
Directed by: John Woo
Stars: Kenneth Tsang | Sally Yeh | Chow Yun-Fat | Danny Lee Sau-Yin | Paul Chu Kong
A Better Tomorrow II (1987)
A restaurant owner his ex-con brother and a policeman team up to avenge the murder of his old friends daughter by the Triad.
Runtime: 105 min.
Directed by: John Woo
Stars: Leslie Cheung | Kenneth Tsang | Chow Yun-Fat | Guan Shan | Ti Lung
Heroes Shed No Tears (1986)
The Thai government hires a group of Chinese mercenaries to capture a powerful drug lord from the Golden Triangle. The mercenaries manage to capture the drug lord, but soon find themselves pursued by his forces, and the forces of a bitter Thai officer. The Chinese mercenaries are vastly outnumbered, and as their numbers begin to dwindle, their desperation pulls them into a corner as their enemies close ...
Runtime: 93 min.
Directed by: John Woo
Stars: Cécile Le Bailly | Lam Ching-Ying | Eddy Ko | Ma Ying-Chun | Philllip Loffredo
A Better Tomorrow (1986)
A reforming ex-gangster tries to reconcile with his estranged policeman brother, but the ties to his former gang are difficult to break.
Runtime: 95 min.
Directed by: John Woo
Stars: Leslie Cheung | Waise Lee | Emily Chu | Chow Yun-Fat | Ti Lung
The Time You Need a Friend (1985)
John Woo's melodramatic tragicomedy The Time You Need a Friend (1985) stands at the crucial crossroads in the director's career. Woo had been churning out innocuous comedies for more than a few years, and after establishing the "heroic bloodshed" genre, he'd never look back. But this tale of two comedians - estranged former pals who bury the hatchet for one last show together - blends the ...
Runtime: 91 min.
Directed by: John Woo
Stars:
Run Tiger Run (1985)
Two street urchins meet up with a sad and lonely rich kid. They become friends when the kid's shady uncle mistakes them for his nephews.
Runtime: 91 min.
Directed by: John Woo
Stars: Teddy Robin Kwan | Bin Bin | Tsui Hark | Violet Pan Ying-Zi
Plain Jane to the Rescue (1982)
Jane, with plain looks but a heart of gold, is always in between jobs. Once she gets a job, her knack for creating awkward situations immediately loses it for her. Ricky is her suitor, but he gets nowhere as the girl has no time for love. So Ricky goes along with her in job hunting. Somehow, Jane lands on a job as governess. Not to a child, but to an uncouth very old, very rich man who still wants to ...
Runtime: 86 min.
Directed by: John Woo
Stars: David Wu | Josephine Siao | Ricky Hui | Lau Hak-Suen | Wu Fung
To Hell with the Devil (1982)
A shmo makes a deal with the devil so he can become a great Pop star just to impress his dream girl. After he makes the deal, a catholic priest hangs around him to try and convince him that he screwed up and he needs to get his soul back or he'll be damned for eternity. Well, everything goes bad for the shmo and he wants his soul back. But, the devil's lacky doesn't want to give it back. So the ...
Runtime: 88 min.
Directed by: John Woo
Stars: Paul Chun | Ricky Hui | Stanley Fung | Natalis Chan | Jade Hsu
From Riches to Rags (1980)
Ricky and Fatso are friends in need. They are in dire need of money since they are only paid slave wages at the bottling factory. However, they become millionaires overnight after buying a winning lottery ticket. During one of their swingin' nights on the town, Ricky is suddenly attacked by an upset stomach; and in no time, a quack doctor diagnoses the seizure as ...
Runtime: 101 min.
Directed by: John Woo
Stars: Ricky Hui | Johnny Koo | JoJo Chan | Yik Ga | Tong Ching
Last Hurrah for Chivalry (1979)
Kao has purchased a new wife, but an enemy has paid her more money to kill him. Kao must recruit a pair of swordsmen to help defend himself and his family from his ruthless enemy. But Kao has his dark side as well. A complex early action film from master director Woo.
Runtime: 106 min.
Directed by: John Woo
Stars: Damian Lau | Fung Hak-On | Lau Kong | Wai Pak | Chin Yuet-Sang
Hello, Late Homecomers (1978)
An omnibus of tales from the three directors, Sit, Maka and Woo. Each dealing with true love and romance. The third and the best one of the tales deals with a hen-pecked husband trying to kill his wife. An action packed tale written and directed by John Woo who lets the fireworks fly!
Directed by: Lau Tin-Chi | John Woo | Louis Sit
Stars: Louis Lo | Lo Yuen | Yik Ga | Chan Wai-Ying | Resand Lam Hau-Yi
Follow the Star (1978)
On that side of the track is Ah Sing (Roy Chiao), uncouth, unkempt, a garage repairman, a bravado with plenty of tricks up his overall sleeve. And on the other side of the track is rich, young recording artist Gayle (Rowena Cortes), idol of the young with her songs and dances, but an orphan. Harry is her manager. They should not meet, least to say forming some kind of partnership, but they do. Gayle ...
Runtime: 90 min.
Directed by: John Woo
Stars: Roy Chiao | John Woo | Fung Hak-On | Rowena Cortes
The Pilferer's Progress (1977)
Ducky is hired by Rich Chen to transport the "diamonds" he stole from Uncle Pai Mary. Uncles Tough Guy and Mary would like to get the diamond from Ducky, so volunteering to relieve Ducky of his responsibility. Somehow Tough Guy subdues the gunman and finds out the diamonds are just paste. Tough Guy and Ducky are now partners and promise Uncle Pai to recover the real diamonds. Many times they try but they ...
Runtime: 92 min.
Directed by: John Woo
Stars: Richard Ng | Ricky Hui | Angie Chiu | Lee Hoi-Sang | Cheung Ying
The Hand of Death (1976)
A survivor of an attack on a rebel group opposing the Manchu invasion of China creates the Goose Fist fighting technique and tries for revenge on a traitor.
Runtime: 95 min.
Directed by: John Woo
Stars: Jackie Chan | James Tien | John Woo | Sammo Hung | Dorian Tan Tao-Liang
Princess Chang-Ping (1976)
A beautiful Cantonese opera about the forbidden love between a princess and a scholar. The backdrop is Ming dynasty China and the two would rather die than be apart.
Runtime: 102 min.
Directed by: John Woo
Stars: Lung Kim-Sang | Mooi Suet-Si | Liang Tsi-Pak | Leung Sing-Bo | Kong Suet-Liu
The Young Dragons (1975)
The powerful mobster Leung, who is protected by the dangerous and wicked Huan Fai, sells two hundred Japanese weapons and ammunition to a Chinese gang. He uses the smuggler Luy Fu to bring the weapons but the smalltime thief Kim and his gang heist the shipment on the road and dump the cargo into the sea. However, he lures Luy Fu and asks a large amount to return the weapons with the intention ...
Runtime: 95 min.
Directed by: John Woo | Jackie Chan
Stars: Dean Shek | Chin Hu | Tanny Tien-Ni | Henry Yu Yung | Chiang Nan
The Dragon Tamers (1975)
Carter Wong plays a young chinese martial arts student who travels to Korea to learn Taekwondo. Soon he comes up against a vicious gang who want all the local martial arts schools to join their evil association. But before he can defeat the bad guys, he has to learn to master his own strong desire to fight.
Runtime: 107 min.
Directed by: John Woo
Stars: Carter Wong | James Tien | Yuen Wah | Hsu Hsia | Lee Ye-Min
Accidentally (1968)
John Woo's experimental short film, made during his time in college. The line between genuine love and violent obsession is blurred when a man falls for a girl and proceeds to tie her up with rope to him, making her follow him around and bend to his whims until tragedy ultimately befalls them both.
Runtime: 8 min.
Directed by: John Woo
Stars: John Woo