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John Woo

John Woo

Highest Rated: 100% Bullet in the Head (1990)

Lowest Rated: 23% Bulletproof Monk (2003)

Birthday: May 1, 1946

Birthplace: Guangzhou, China

Once hailed by action star Jean-Claude Van Damme as "the Martin Scorsese of Asia," John Woo was a legendary action director in the Hong Kong film industry long before immigrating to Hollywood to direct his first American film, "Hard Target" (1993). Reportedly the first Asian to direct a major Hollywood studio film, Woo made his name with action-packed, emotionally florid thrillers like "A Better Tomorrow" (1986), "The Killer" (1989), "A Bullet in the Head" (1990) and "Hard-Boiled" (1992). Enthusiastically embraced by English-speaking critics, Woo was a bold visual stylist who learned his meticulous choreography of movement, graceful camera moves and over-the-top violence from the likes of Sergio Leone, Sam Peckinpah and Jean-Pierre Melville. Though soaked in blood, his films were marked by old-fashioned morality and chastely gallant attitudes toward women, while, even among villains, valuing friendship and loyalty. Woo remained an influential figure among a new generation of filmmakers like Quentin Tarantino and Robert Rodriguez, who eagerly adopted his signature moves.

Highest rated movies

93% 89% A Better Tomorrow
44% 49% Twin Dragons
25% 28% The Beginning of the Great Revival

Filmography

Movies

Credit
57% 51% The Killer Director,
Producer
- 2024
59% 50% Silent Night Director,
Producer
$8.0M 2023
No Score Yet No Score Yet Silent Revenge Director,
Producer
- 2023
67% 27% Manhunt Director,
Screenwriter
- 2017
No Score Yet 33% The Crossing 2 Director,
Screenwriter
- 2015
No Score Yet No Score Yet The Crossing Director,
Screenwriter
- 2014
69% 77% Warriors of the Rainbow: Seediq Bale Producer - 2011
25% 28% The Beginning of the Great Revival Lin Sen (Character) - 2011
70% 70% Reign of Assassins Co-Director,
Producer
- 2010
No Score Yet 82% Red Cliff II Director,
Screenwriter,
Producer
- 2009
90% 78% Red Cliff Director,
Screenwriter,
Producer
$626.8K 2008
No Score Yet No Score Yet Blood Brothers Producer - 2007
No Score Yet 77% Appleseed: Ex Machina Producer - 2007
No Score Yet 71% All the Invisible Children Director - 2005
27% 45% Paycheck Director,
Producer
$53.8M 2003
23% 38% Bulletproof Monk Producer $23.0M 2003
33% 50% Windtalkers Director,
Producer
$40.9M 2002
No Score Yet No Score Yet Red Skies Executive Producer - 2002
56% 42% Mission: Impossible II Director,
Cinematographer
$215.4M 2000
No Score Yet No Score Yet Once a Thief: Family Business Executive Producer,
Director
- 1998
No Score Yet 27% Blackjack Director,
Executive Producer
- 1998
No Score Yet No Score Yet Once a Thief: Brother Against Brother Executive Producer - 1998
41% 57% The Big Hit Executive Producer $27.1M 1998
37% 47% The Replacement Killers Executive Producer $19.0M 1998
No Score Yet No Score Yet Face/Off Director - 1997
93% 82% Face/Off Director $112.3M 1997
80% 53% Once a Thief Director - 1996
54% 44% Broken Arrow Director $70.6M 1996
No Score Yet 64% Somebody Up There Likes Me Producer - 1996
No Score Yet 28% Peace Hotel Producer - 1995
60% 49% Hard Target Director $31.5M 1993
92% 92% Hard-Boiled Director,
Writer
- 1992
60% 55% Once a Thief Director,
Writer
- 1991
44% 49% Twin Dragons Priest (Character) $8.3M 1991
100% 87% Bullet in the Head Director,
Producer,
Screenwriter,
Film Editing
- 1990
95% 92% The Killer Director,
Screenwriter
- 1989
No Score Yet 34% A Better Tomorrow III: Love and Death in Saigon Producer - 1989
No Score Yet No Score Yet Just Heroes Director,
Writer
- 1987
80% 82% A Better Tomorrow II Director,
Writer
- 1987
No Score Yet 55% Heroes Shed No Tears Director,
Screenwriter,
Producer
- 1986
93% 89% A Better Tomorrow Inspector Wu (Character),
Director,
Writer,
Producer
- 1986
No Score Yet No Score Yet Plain Jane to the Rescue Director - 1982
No Score Yet No Score Yet To Hell With the Devil Director,
Screenwriter,
Cinematographer
- 1982
No Score Yet No Score Yet Laughing Times Director,
Screenwriter
- 1981
100% 84% Last Hurrah for Chivalry Director,
Writer
- 1978
No Score Yet No Score Yet The Pilferer's Progress Director,
Screenwriter
- 1977
No Score Yet No Score Yet Princess Chang Ping Director - 1976
No Score Yet 47% Hand of Death Scholar Cheng (Character),
Director,
Screenwriter
- 1976