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IMDbPro

John Woo(I)

  • Director
  • Producer
  • Writer
IMDbProStarmeterTop 5,000440
John Woo at an event for Paycheck - Die Abrechnung (2003)
Set during the end of China's Han Dynasty, two rivaling warlords make a pact to turn their respective armies against a power hungry general bent on taking over their kingdoms.
Play trailer2:14
Red Cliff (2008)
4 Videos
47 Photos
Born in southern China, John Woo grew up in Hong Kong, where he began his film career as an assistant director in 1969, working for Shaw Brothers Studios. He directed his first feature in 1973 and has been a prolific director ever since, working in a wide variety of genres before City Wolf (1986) established his reputation as a master stylist specializing in ultra-violent gangster films and thrillers, with hugely elaborate action scenes shot with breathtaking panache. After gaining a cult reputation in the US with The Killer (1989), Woo was offered a Hollywood contract. He now works in the US.
BornSeptember 22, 1946
  • More at IMDbPro
    • Contact info
    • Agent info
    • Resume
BornSeptember 22, 1946
IMDbProStarmeterTop 5,000440
  • View contact info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 21 wins & 18 nominations

    Photos47

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    + 41
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    Known for

    Chow Yun-Fat, Leslie Cheung, and Lung Ti in City Wolf (1986)
    City Wolf
    7.4
    • Director
    • 1986
    Takeshi Kaneshiro, Tony Leung Chiu-wai, and Fengyi Zhang in Red Cliff (2008)
    Red Cliff
    7.3
    • Director
    • 2008
    Chow Yun-Fat in Hard Boiled (1992)
    Hard Boiled
    7.7
    • Director
    • 1992
    Chow Yun-Fat and Danny Lee in The Killer (1989)
    The Killer
    7.7
    • Director
    • 1989

    Credits

    Edit
    IMDbPro

    Director

    • Omar Sy and Nathalie Emmanuel in The Killer (2024)
      The Killer
      5.7
      • Director
      • 2024
    • Joel Kinnaman in Silent Night: Stumme Rache (2023)
      Silent Night: Stumme Rache
      5.3
      • Director (directed by)
      • 2023
    • Notwehr (2017)
      Notwehr
      5.2
      • Director
      • 2017
    • The Crossing 2 (2015)
      The Crossing 2
      6.0
      • Director
      • 2015
    • Takeshi Kaneshiro, Masami Nagasawa, Ziyi Zhang, Song Hye-kyo, and Xiaoming Huang in The Crossing (2014)
      The Crossing
      6.1
      • Director
      • 2014
    • Dark Stone - Reign of Assassins (2010)
      Dark Stone - Reign of Assassins
      6.8
      • co-director
      • 2010
    • Takeshi Kaneshiro, Tony Leung Chiu-wai, and Fengyi Zhang in Chi bi: Jue zhan tian xia (2009)
      Chi bi: Jue zhan tian xia
      7.5
      • Director
      • 2009
    • Takeshi Kaneshiro, Tony Leung Chiu-wai, and Fengyi Zhang in Red Cliff (2008)
      Red Cliff
      7.3
      • Director
      • 2008
    • Stranglehold (2007)
      Stranglehold
      7.8
      Video Game
      • Director
      • 2007
    • Alle Kinder dieser Welt (2005)
      Alle Kinder dieser Welt
      7.4
      • Director (segment Song Song and Little Cat)
      • 2005
    • The Robinsons: Lost in Space (2004)
      The Robinsons: Lost in Space
      5.4
      TV Movie
      • Director
      • 2004
    • Paycheck: Alternate Ending (2004)
      Paycheck: Alternate Ending
      6.9
      Video
      • Director
      • 2004
    • The Hire (2003)
      The Hire
      7.4
      Short
      • Director (segment Hostage)
      • 2003
    • Paycheck - Die Abrechnung (2003)
      Paycheck - Die Abrechnung
      6.3
      • Director
      • 2003
    • Hostage (2002)
      Hostage
      7.2
      Short
      • Director
      • 2002

    Producer

    • Monkey Master
      • producer
      • In Development
    • Omar Sy and Nathalie Emmanuel in The Killer (2024)
      The Killer
      5.7
      • producer (p.g.a.)
      • 2024
    • Joel Kinnaman in Silent Night: Stumme Rache (2023)
      Silent Night: Stumme Rache
      5.3
      • producer
      • 2023
    • Nuts! (2016)
      Nuts!
      Short
      • executive producer
      • 2016
    • Joe Chen and Xiaoming Huang in Ji Lang Qing Chun (2014)
      Ji Lang Qing Chun
      4.2
      • chief producer
      • 2014
    • 7 Brothers
      4.8
      TV Series
      • executive producer
      • 2011
    • Sai de ke · ba lai: Cai hong qiao (2011)
      Sai de ke · ba lai: Cai hong qiao
      7.6
      • producer
      • 2011
    • Warriors of the Rainbow (2011)
      Warriors of the Rainbow
      7.5
      • producer
      • 2011
    • Dark Stone - Reign of Assassins (2010)
      Dark Stone - Reign of Assassins
      6.8
      • producer
      • 2010
    • Ju Jin-mo, Song Seung-heon, Kim Kang-woo, and Jo Han-sun in Moo-jeok-ja (2010)
      Moo-jeok-ja
      5.7
      • executive producer
      • 2010
    • Yao tiao shen shi (2009)
      Yao tiao shen shi
      5.8
      • supervising producer
      • 2009
    • Takeshi Kaneshiro, Tony Leung Chiu-wai, and Fengyi Zhang in Chi bi: Jue zhan tian xia (2009)
      Chi bi: Jue zhan tian xia
      7.5
      • producer
      • 2009
    • Takeshi Kaneshiro, Tony Leung Chiu-wai, and Fengyi Zhang in Red Cliff (2008)
      Red Cliff
      7.3
      • chief producer
      • producer
      • 2008
    • Appleseed: Ex Machina (2007)
      Appleseed: Ex Machina
      7.0
      • producer
      • 2007
    • Tian tang kou (2007)
      Tian tang kou
      5.5
      • producer
      • 2007
    • Stranglehold (2007)
      Stranglehold
      7.8
      Video Game
      • producer
      • 2007

    Writer

    • Omar Sy and Nathalie Emmanuel in The Killer (2024)
      The Killer
      5.7
      • based on the motion picture written and directed by
      • 2024
    • Notwehr (2017)
      Notwehr
      5.2
      • Writer
      • 2017
    • Ju Jin-mo, Song Seung-heon, Kim Kang-woo, and Jo Han-sun in Moo-jeok-ja (2010)
      Moo-jeok-ja
      5.7
      • original screenplay
      • 2010
    • Takeshi Kaneshiro, Tony Leung Chiu-wai, and Fengyi Zhang in Chi bi: Jue zhan tian xia (2009)
      Chi bi: Jue zhan tian xia
      7.5
      • screenplay
      • 2009
    • Takeshi Kaneshiro, Tony Leung Chiu-wai, and Fengyi Zhang in Red Cliff (2008)
      Red Cliff
      7.3
      • screenplay
      • 2008
    • Once a Thief: Family Business (1998)
      Once a Thief: Family Business
      5.7
      TV Movie
      • based on the film by
      • 1998
    • Once a Thief: Brother Against Brother (1997)
      Once a Thief: Brother Against Brother
      6.0
      TV Movie
      • based on the film by
      • 1997
    • Chow Yun-Fat in Hard Boiled (1992)
      Hard Boiled
      7.7
      • story
      • 1992
    • Chow Yun-Fat, Leslie Cheung, and Cherie Chung in Killer Target (1991)
      Killer Target
      6.7
      • screenplay
      • story
      • 1991
    • Jacky Cheung in Bullet in the Head (1990)
      Bullet in the Head
      7.5
      • screenplay by
      • 1990
    • Chow Yun-Fat and Danny Lee in The Killer (1989)
      The Killer
      7.7
      • written by
      • 1989
    • Chow Yun-Fat, Leslie Cheung, Dean Shek, and Lung Ti in City Wolf II - Abrechnung auf Raten (1987)
      City Wolf II - Abrechnung auf Raten
      7.2
      • Writer
      • 1987
    • Chow Yun-Fat, Leslie Cheung, and Lung Ti in City Wolf (1986)
      City Wolf
      7.4
      • written by
      • 1986
    • Xiao jiang (1985)
      Xiao jiang
      5.4
      • screenplay
      • 1985
    • Eddy Ko in Blast Heroes (1984)
      Blast Heroes
      6.3
      • Writer
      • 1984
    • In-development projects at IMDbPro

    Videos4

    Red Cliff
    Trailer 2:14
    Red Cliff
    Red Cliff UK trailer
    Trailer 1:41
    Red Cliff UK trailer
    Red Cliff UK trailer
    Trailer 1:41
    Red Cliff UK trailer
    The Hand of Death
    Trailer 1:54
    The Hand of Death
    John Woo Presents STRANGLEHOLD - Sneak Peek
    Promo 1:31
    John Woo Presents STRANGLEHOLD - Sneak Peek

    Personal details

    Edit
    • Alternative names
      • Ng Yu Chen
    • Height
      • 1.64 m
    • Born
      • September 22, 1946
      • Guangzhou, China
    • Spouse
      • Anne Woo1976 - present (3 children)
    • Children
      • Angeles Woo
    • Other works
      Commercial: Nike Brazilian Football Commercial (1998)
    • Publicity listings
      • 3 Biographical Movies
      • 3 Print Biographies
      • 10 Interviews
      • 17 Articles
      • 2 Pictorials
      • 1 Magazine Cover Photo

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Woo's many American admirers include the likes of Martin Scorsese, Sam Raimi (who compared his mastery of action to Alfred Hitchcock's mastery of suspense) and Quentin Tarantino (who, replying to a studio executive saying "I suppose Woo can direct action scenes" said "Sure, and Michelangelo can paint ceilings!").
    • Quotes
      I'm not a master; I'm just a hard-working filmmaker. I would like everyone to see me as a friend rather than a master.
    • Trademarks
        Uses pleasant music that heavily contrasts with some of the more violent action on screen.

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