John Woo

Chinese Director
John Woo is a renowned Hong Kong film director known for his influential work in the action film genre. He is a pioneer of the "bullet ballet" action sequences, with his stylized imagery, Mexican standoffs, and frequent use of slow motion. Woo has directed several notable action films, including A Better Tomorrow, The Killer, and Hard Boiled, before making his debut in Hollywood with films like Hard Target, Broken Arrow, and Face/Off.

About John Woo

John Woo Yu-sen (Chinese: Wu Yu Sen ; born 22 September 1946) is a Hong Kong film director known as a highly influential figure in the action film genre. He is a pioneer of heroic bloodshed films and the gun fu genre in Hong Kong action cinema, before working in Hollywood films. He is known for his highly chaotic “bullet ballet” action sequences, stylized imagery, Mexican standoffs, frequent use of slow motion and allusions to wuxia, film noir and Western cinema.

Considered one of the major figures of Hong Kong cinema, Woo has directed several notable action films including A Better Tomorrow (1986), The Killer (1989), Hard Boiled (1992) and Red Cliff (2008/2009). Hard Target (1993) was his first American film directorial debut, and the first major Hollywood film made by a Chinese director. His other Hollywood films include Broken Arrow (1996), Face/Off (1997) and Mission: Impossible 2 (2000). He also created the comic series Seven Brothers, published by Virgin Comics. He is the founder and chairman of the production company Lion Rock Productions.

Woo is a winner of the Hong Kong Film Awards for Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Editing, as well as a Golden Horse Award, an Asia Pacific Screen Award and a Saturn Award.

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Frequently asked questions about John Woo

John Woo is a Hong Kong film director known as a highly influential figure in the action film genre. He is a pioneer of heroic bloodshed films and the gun fu genre in Hong Kong action cinema.

Some of John Woo’s most notable action films include A Better Tomorrow (1986), The Killer (1989), Hard Boiled (1992), and Red Cliff (2008/2009). He also directed several Hollywood films like Hard Target (1993), Broken Arrow (1996), and Face/Off (1997).

John Woo is known for his highly chaotic ,bullet ballet, action sequences, stylized imagery, Mexican standoffs, and frequent use of slow motion. His films often have allusions to wuxia, film noir, and Western cinema.

John Woo is a winner of the Hong Kong Film Awards for Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Editing, as well as a Golden Horse Award, an Asia Pacific Screen Award, and a Saturn Award.

In addition to his filmmaking, John Woo has also created the comic series Seven Brothers, published by Virgin Comics. He is the founder and chairman of the production company Lion Rock Productions.

Quotes by John Woo

My films are always concerned with family, friendship, honor, and patriotism.

John Woo

The movies I like to make are very rich and full of passion. Some people see me as an action director, but action is not the only thing in my movies. I always like to show human nature – something deep inside the heart.

John Woo