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IMDbPro

John Woo(I)

  • Director
  • Producer
  • Writer
IMDbProStarmeterTop 5,000827
John Woo at an event for Paycheck (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 A Better Tomorrow (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 5,000827
  • View contact info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 21 wins & 19 nominations total

    Photos47

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    + 41
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    Known for

    Chow Yun-Fat, Leslie Cheung, and Lung Ti in A Better Tomorrow (1986)
    A Better Tomorrow
    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
    Nicolas Cage and John Travolta in Face/Off (1997)
    Face/Off
    7.3
    • Director
    • 1997

    Credits

    Edit
    IMDbPro

    Director



    • Omar Sy and Nathalie Emmanuel in The Killer (2024)
      The Killer
      5.7
      • Director
      • 2024
    • Joel Kinnaman in Silent Night (2023)
      Silent Night
      5.3
      • Director
      • 2023
    • Manhunt (2017)
      Manhunt
      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
    • Reign of Assassins (2010)
      Reign of Assassins
      6.8
      • co-director
      • 2010
    • Takeshi Kaneshiro, Tony Leung Chiu-wai, and Fengyi Zhang in Red Cliff II (2009)
      Red Cliff II
      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
    • All the Invisible Children (2005)
      All the Invisible Children
      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
      6.7
      Video
      • Director
      • 2004
    • The Hire (2003)
      The Hire
      7.4
      Short
      • Director (segment "Hostage")
      • 2003
    • Paycheck (2003)
      Paycheck
      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 (2023)
      Silent Night
      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
    • Warriors of the Rainbow: Seediq Bale II (2011)
      Warriors of the Rainbow: Seediq Bale II
      7.6
      • producer
      • 2011
    • Warriors of the Rainbow: Seediq Bale I (2011)
      Warriors of the Rainbow: Seediq Bale I
      7.5
      • producer
      • 2011
    • Reign of Assassins (2010)
      Reign of Assassins
      6.8
      • producer
      • 2010
    • Ju Jin-mo, Song Seung-heon, Kim Kang-woo, and Jo Han-sun in A Better Tomorrow (2010)
      A Better Tomorrow
      5.7
      • executive producer
      • 2010
    • My Fair Gentleman (2009)
      My Fair Gentleman
      5.8
      • supervising producer
      • 2009
    • Takeshi Kaneshiro, Tony Leung Chiu-wai, and Fengyi Zhang in Red Cliff II (2009)
      Red Cliff II
      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
    • Blood Brothers (2007)
      Blood Brothers
      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
    • Manhunt (2017)
      Manhunt
      5.2
      • Writer
      • 2017
    • Ju Jin-mo, Song Seung-heon, Kim Kang-woo, and Jo Han-sun in A Better Tomorrow (2010)
      A Better Tomorrow
      5.7
      • original screenplay
      • 2010
    • Takeshi Kaneshiro, Tony Leung Chiu-wai, and Fengyi Zhang in Red Cliff II (2009)
      Red Cliff II
      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
      6.1
      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 Once a Thief (1991)
      Once a Thief
      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 A Better Tomorrow II (1987)
      A Better Tomorrow II
      7.2
      • Writer
      • 1987
    • Chow Yun-Fat, Leslie Cheung, and Lung Ti in A Better Tomorrow (1986)
      A Better Tomorrow
      7.4
      • written by
      • 1986
    • The Time You Need a Friend (1985)
      The Time You Need a Friend
      5.4
      • screenplay
      • 1985
    • Eddy Ko in Heroes Shed No Tears (1984)
      Heroes Shed No Tears
      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
      • 5′ 4½″ (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
      • 4 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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