View source for John Woo

== Career ==

===1969–1985: Career beginnings in Hong Kong===
In 1969, Woo was hired as a script supervisor at [[Cathay Organisation|Cathay Studios]]. In 1971, he became an [[assistant director]] at [[Shaw Studios]].<ref name=":92">{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ecTPwICYeBU |title=How Bruce Lee Changed the World |date=17 May 2009 |type=television documentary |publisher=[[History Channel]] / [[Discovery Channel]] |access-date=16 May 2022 |via=[[YouTube]] |archive-date=16 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220516132750/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ecTPwICYeBU&gl=US&hl=en |url-status=live }}</ref> The same year, he watched [[Bruce Lee]]'s ''[[The Big Boss]]'', which left a strong impression on him due to how different it was from earlier [[martial arts films]]. Lee's films inspired Woo to direct his own [[action films]].<ref name=":92"/> Woo worked as assistant director for some films directed by Chang Cheh during the 1970s, and took inspiration from Cheh's work.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Havis |first1=Richard J. |title=The director who revolutionised martial arts movies by making his male characters warriors instead of weaklings |url=https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3100113/director-who-revolutionised-martial-arts-movies-making-his |website=South China Morning Post |date=6 September 2020 |access-date=28 December 2024 |ref=SCMP}}</ref> His directorial debut in 1974 was the feature film ''[[The Young Dragons]]''.<ref>{{Cite web|title=John Woo|url=http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000247/|access-date=2021-06-24|website=IMDb|archive-date=18 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210718151918/https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000247/|url-status=live}}</ref> In the [[kung fu film]] genre, it was choreographed by [[Jackie Chan]].<ref name="Havis">{{cite news |last1=Havis |first1=Richard James |title=Being a stunt double for Bruce Lee made Jackie Chan want to be a star |url=https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3150677/revealed-martial-arts-star-jackie-chan-bruce-lee-everyone |access-date=19 March 2022 |work=[[South China Morning Post]] |date=3 October 2021 |archive-date=19 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220319134532/https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3150677/revealed-martial-arts-star-jackie-chan-bruce-lee-everyone |url-status=live }}</ref> The film was picked up by [[Golden Harvest Studio]], where he went on to direct more martial arts films. He later had success as a comedy director with ''[[Money Crazy]]'' (1977), starring Hong Kong comedian [[Ricky Hui]] and [[Richard Ng]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Andrew Saroch |title=Money Crazy (1977) - Review |url=https://www.fareastfilms.com/?review_post_type=money-crazy |access-date=2022-06-21 |website=Far East Films|archive-date=24 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220524022144/https://www.fareastfilms.com/?review_post_type=money-crazy |url-status=live }}</ref>

===1986–1992: 'Heroic Bloodshed', breakthrough and international recognition===
By the mid-1980s, Woo was experiencing [[occupational burnout]]. Several of his films were commercial disappointments, and he felt a distinct lack of creative control. It was during this period of self-imposed exile that director/producer [[Tsui Hark]] provided the funding for Woo to film a longtime pet project, ''[[A Better Tomorrow]]'' (1986). The story of two brothers—one a law enforcement officer, the other a criminal—was a financial [[blockbuster (entertainment)|blockbuster]]. ''A Better Tomorrow'' became a defining achievement in [[Hong Kong action cinema]].<ref>{{IMDb name|247|section=bio}}</ref>

''John Woo: Interviews'' includes a 36-page interview with Woo by editor [[Robert K. Elder]], which documents the years 1968 to 1990. It includes Woo's early career in working on comedies, his work on kung fu films (during which time he gave [[Jackie Chan]] one of his first major film roles), and more recently, his gunpowder morality plays in Hong Kong.<ref>{{cite book |last=Elder |first=Robert |date=2005 |title=John Woo: Interviews |series=Conversations with filmmakers series |location=Jackson |publisher=University Press of Mississippi |isbn=978-1-57806-776-3}}</ref> In 1992, during a [[Toronto International Film Festival]] press conference for ''[[Reservoir Dogs]]'', [[Quentin Tarantino]] revealed he wrote a screenplay for a film directed by Woo, but went unproduced.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://theplaylist.net/quentin-tarantino-talks-the-screenplay-he-wrote-for-action-filmmaker-john-woo-that-never-materialized-rewind-20250425/ |title=Quentin Tarantino Talks The Screenplay He Wrote For Action Filmmaker John Woo That Never Materialized [Rewind] |website=The Playlist |first=Rodrigo |last=Perez |date=April 25, 2025 |access-date=September 12, 2025}}</ref>

===1993–2000: Move to the United States and international success===
An émigré in 1993, the director experienced difficulty in cultural adjustment while contracted with [[Universal Pictures|Universal Studios]] to direct [[Jean-Claude Van Damme]] in ''[[Hard Target]]''. Like other foreign national film directors confronted with the Hollywood environment, Woo was unaccustomed to pervasive management concerns over matters such as limitations on violence and completion schedules. When initial cuts failed to yield an [[MPAA film rating system|"R" rated film]], the studio assumed control of the project and edited footage to produce a cut "suitable for American audiences".

A three-year hiatus saw Woo next direct [[John Travolta]] and [[Christian Slater]] in ''[[Broken Arrow (1996 film)|Broken Arrow]].'' A frenetic chase-themed film, the director once again found himself hampered by studio management and editorial concerns. Despite a larger budget than his previous ''[[Hard Target]],'' the final feature lacked the trademark Woo style. Public reception saw modest financial success.

Reluctant to pursue projects which would necessarily entail front-office controls, the director cautiously rejected the script for ''[[Face/Off]]'' several times until it was rewritten to suit him. (The futuristic setting was changed to a contemporary one.) [[Paramount Pictures]] also offered the director significantly more freedom to exercise his speciality: emotional characterisation and elaborate action. A complex story of adversaries—each of whom surgically alters their identity—law enforcement agent [[John Travolta]] and terrorist [[Nicolas Cage]] play a cat-and-mouse game, trapped in each other's outward appearance. ''Face/Off'' opened in 1997 to critical acclaim and strong attendance. Grosses in the United States exceeded $100&nbsp;million. ''Face/Off'' was also nominated for an [[Academy Award]] in the category [[Academy Award for Best Sound Editing|Sound Effects Editing]] ([[Mark Stoeckinger]]) at the [[70th Academy Awards]].

Around this period, Woo would also produce and direct several film and TV projects. In 1996, Woo produced and directed ''[[Once a Thief (1996 film)|Once a Thief]]'', a Canadian [[made-for-television]] remake of Woo's 1991 caper film. The teleplay subsequently spawned a [[television series]] [[Once a Thief (TV series)|of the same name]], which Woo executive produced.  In 1998, Woo directed ''[[Blackjack (1998 film)|Blackjack]]'', which featured [[Dolph Lundgren]] as a [[Chromophobia#Terminology|leukophobic]] bodyguard who hunts down an assassin. The film was intended as a [[backdoor pilot]] for a television series, but was not picked up. That same year, Woo served as executive producer and action choreographer on [[Antoine Fuqua]]'s directorial debut ''[[The Replacement Killers]]'', which featured [[Chow Yun-Fat]]'s first international starring role.

Later, Woo directed ''[[Mission: Impossible 2]]'', the second entry in the [[Tom Cruise]]-led [[Mission: Impossible (film series)|action film series]]. Despite receiving mixed reviews, ''Mission: Impossible 2'' grossed over $549 million worldwide, becoming the highest-grossing film of 2000,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.boxofficemojo.com/yearly/chart/?yr=2000&p=.htm|title=2000 Yearly Box Office Results|access-date=19 October 2012|archive-date=6 October 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121006084133/http://boxofficemojo.com/yearly/chart/?yr=2000&p=.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> as well as of Woo's career.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.the-numbers.com/person/154440401-John-Woo#tab=technical&all_technical_credits=od5|title=John Woo - Box Office|access-date=16 October 2023|archive-date=4 December 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231204041225/https://www.the-numbers.com/person/154440401-John-Woo#tab=technical&all_technical_credits=od5|url-status=live}}</ref>

===2001–2007: Decline in Hollywood and other ventures===
Woo made two additional films in Hollywood: ''[[Windtalkers]]'' (2002) and ''[[Paycheck (film)|Paycheck]]'' (2003), both of which fared poorly at the box office and were summarily dismissed by critics. Also in 2003, Woo directed a television pilot entitled ''The Robinsons: Lost in Space'' for The WB Television Network, based on the 1960s television series ''[[Lost in Space]]''. The pilot was not purchased.

Woo also directed and produced the 2007 video game ''[[Stranglehold (video game)|Stranglehold]]'', which is a sequel to his 1992 film, ''[[Hard Boiled]]''. The game features Woo as a multiplayer playable character. That same year he produced the [[anime]] movie, ''[[Appleseed: Ex Machina]]'', the sequel to [[Shinji Aramaki]]'s [[2004 in film|2004 film]] ''[[Appleseed (2004 film)|Appleseed]]''.<ref>Kelly, Kevin (17 December 2007). [https://io9.gizmodo.com/io9-links-up-with-appleseed-ex-machina-director-33339587 "io9 Links Up With 'Appleseed: Ex Machina' Director"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190929225104/https://io9.gizmodo.com/io9-links-up-with-appleseed-ex-machina-director-33339587 |date=29 September 2019 }}. [[Gizmodo]].</ref>

=== 2008–2017: ''Red Cliff'' and return to Asian cinema ===
In 2008, Woo returned to Asian cinema with the completion of the two-part [[epic film|epic]] [[war film]] ''[[Red Cliff (film)|Red Cliff]]'', based on a historical battle from ''[[Records of the Three Kingdoms]]''. Produced on a grand scale, it is his first film in China since he emigrated from Hong Kong to the United States in 1993. Part 1 of the film was released throughout Asia in July 2008, to generally favourable reviews and strong attendance. Part 2 was released in China in January 2009.

Woo was presented with a [[Golden Lion]] award for lifetime achievement at the [[Venice Film Festival]] in 2010.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Woo awarded Golden Lion for lifetime achievement |url=https://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jn8fqNXb3XIs_esDukLr47rR7IvgD9I0JDEO0 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100907000509/https://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jn8fqNXb3XIs_esDukLr47rR7IvgD9I0JDEO0 |archive-date=2010-09-07 |access-date=2025-09-17 |website=Associated Press}}</ref> At this time, Woo also served as co-director and producer of the 2010 [[wuxia]] film ''[[Reign of Assassins]]'', starring [[Michelle Yeoh]].

He followed ''Red Cliff'' with another two-part film, ''[[The Crossing (2014 film)|The Crossing]]'', in 2014 and 2015. Featuring an all-star cast, the four-hour epic tells the parallel stories of several characters who all ultimately find themselves passengers on the doomed [[Taiping (steamer)|Taiping]] steamer, which sank in 1949 en route from mainland China to Taiwan and has been described as "China's ''[[Titanic]]''".

Following the box-office disappointment of ''[[The Crossing (2014 film)|The Crossing]]'', Woo and producer [[Terence Chang]] disbanded Lion Rock Productions.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.screendaily.com/features/interviews/terence-chang-talks-china-market-challenges-and-new-ventures/5119574.article|publisher=[[Screen Daily]]|title=Terence Chang talks China market challenges and new ventures|date=30 June 2017|access-date=10 July 2017|last=Shackleton|first=Liz|archive-date=30 June 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170630174012/http://www.screendaily.com/features/interviews/terence-chang-talks-china-market-challenges-and-new-ventures/5119574.article|url-status=live}}</ref>

Woo followed up ''The Crossing'' with ''[[Manhunt (2017 film)|Manhunt]]'', a remake of the 1976 Japanese crime thriller [[Kimi yo Fundo no Kawa o Watare|of the same name]]. Production started on ''Manhunt'' in June 2016 in [[Osaka]]<ref name="sd-manhunt">{{cite web|url=http://www.screendaily.com/territories/asia-pacific/john-woos-manhunt-starts-shooting-in-osaka/5106038.article|work=Screen Daily|publisher=[[Screen International]]|title=John Woo's 'Manhunt' starts shooting in Osaka|last=Shackleton|first=Liz|date=20 June 2016|accessdate=14 December 2016|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160709011006/http://www.screendaily.com/territories/asia-pacific/john-woos-manhunt-starts-shooting-in-osaka/5106038.article|archivedate=9 July 2016}}</ref> and later reported to be finished filming by the end of November.<ref name="sd-manhunt" /><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.screendaily.com/news/afm-media-asia-launches-love-off-the-cuff-sales/5111068.article|work=Screen Daily|publisher=[[Screen International]]|title=AFM: Media Asia launches 'Love Off The Cuff' sales|accessdate=14 December 2016|last=Shackleton|first=Liz|date=5 November 2016|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170122114837/http://www.screendaily.com/news/afm-media-asia-launches-love-off-the-cuff-sales/5111068.article?referrer=RSS|archivedate=22 January 2017}}</ref> The film, co-led by Chinese actor [[Zhang Hanyu]] and Japanese actor [[Masaharu Fukuyama]], features a large Japanese cast including [[Yasuaki Kurata]], [[Jun Kunimura]], [[Hiroyuki Ikeuchi]], [[Nanami Sakuraba]], [[Naoto Takenaka]] and [[Tao Okamoto]].<ref name="sd-manhunt" /> In addition, Chinese actress [[Qi Wei]], Korean actress [[Ha Ji-won]] and Woo's daughter Angeles were cast in key roles in the film.<ref name="sd-manhunt" /> The film was released in China on 24 November 2017.<ref name="Gewara">{{cite web |url= http://www.gewara.com/movie/307934735|title= 追捕 - Manhunt|accessdate= 6 September 2017|work=Gewara|language= zh|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170906223512/http://www.gewara.com/movie/307934735|archivedate=6 September 2017|publisher=Maoyan}}</ref><ref name="cn-ManhuntReboot">{{cite web|url=http://china.org.cn/arts/2017-01/16/content_40112858.htm|work=China.org.cn|publisher=[[China Internet Information Center]]|title=John Woo remakes 'Manhunt' for career reboot|accessdate=15 May 2017|first=Zhang|last=Rui|date=16 January 2017|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170116180240/http://china.org.cn/arts/2017-01/16/content_40112858.htm|archivedate=16 January 2017}}</ref><ref name="sd-manhunt" />

=== 2021–present: ''Silent Night'' and return to Hollywood ===
Following another hiatus, Woo returned to Hollywood to direct the action thriller ''[[Silent Night (2023 film)|Silent Night]]'', where a normal father heads into the underworld to avenge his young son's death. Produced by [[Basil Iwanyk]], the film starred [[Joel Kinnaman]] and was told entirely without dialogue.<ref name="Deadline">{{cite news|last1=Fleming|first1=Mike Jr.|title=John Woo Returns To Direct Joel Kinnaman In No-Dialogue Action Film 'Silent Night' – AFM|url=https://deadline.com/2021/10/john-woo-hollywood-return-silent-night-joel-kinnaman-wordless-action-film-1234864994/|publisher=Deadline|date=29 Oct 2021|access-date=1 November 2021|archive-date=30 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211030235249/https://deadline.com/2021/10/john-woo-hollywood-return-silent-night-joel-kinnaman-wordless-action-film-1234864994/|url-status=live}}</ref> It was Woo's first American feature film since ''[[Paycheck (film)|Paycheck]]'' (2003).<ref>{{Cite web |last=D'Alessandro |first=Anthony |date=September 22, 2023 |title=John Woo's First American Pic In 20 Years, 'Silent Night', Sets December Release |url=https://deadline.com/2023/09/john-woo-silent-night-release-date-1235554142/ |access-date=October 16, 2023 |website=Deadline |archive-date=3 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231003093448/https://deadline.com/2023/09/john-woo-silent-night-release-date-1235554142/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

Woo commented in 2015 that he would remake ''[[The Killer (2024 film)|The Killer]]'' for American audiences. Initially, actress [[Lupita Nyong'o]] had been cast for the lead role,<ref name="var2018">{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2018/film/news/john-woo-lupita-nyongo-the-killer-remake-universal-1202792353/|work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|title=Lupita Nyong'o to Star in 'The Killer' Remake With John Woo Directing|date=30 April 2018|first=Dave|last=McNary|access-date=2 May 2018|archive-date=2 May 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180502134551/http://variety.com/2018/film/news/john-woo-lupita-nyongo-the-killer-remake-universal-1202792353/|url-status=live}}</ref> however by March 2023, [[Nathalie Emmanuel]] was cast instead,<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://deadline.com/2023/03/game-of-throness-nathalie-emmanuel-omar-sy-universal-pictures-the-killer-remake-peacock-1235298609/ |title='Game of Thrones' Nathalie Emmanuel to Co-Star Opposite Omar Sy in 'The Killer' for Universal, Peacock and John Woo |date=14 March 2023 |access-date=16 October 2023 |archive-date=7 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230607114409/https://deadline.com/2023/03/game-of-throness-nathalie-emmanuel-omar-sy-universal-pictures-the-killer-remake-peacock-1235298609/ |url-status=live }}</ref> with [[Omar Sy]] joining the film as the cop character.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://deadline.com/2022/08/lupins-omar-sy-to-lead-john-woos-reimagining-of-the-killer-for-peacock-1235085318/ | title='Lupin's Omar Sy to Lead John Woo's Reimagining of 'The Killer' for Peacock | date=4 August 2022 | access-date=16 October 2023 | archive-date=4 December 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231204050823/https://deadline.com/2022/08/lupins-omar-sy-to-lead-john-woos-reimagining-of-the-killer-for-peacock-1235085318/ | url-status=live }}</ref> The film was directed by Woo, produced by [[Universal Pictures|Universal Studios]] and released exclusively on [[Peacock (streaming service)|Peacock]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Petski |first=Denise |date=2022-05-02 |title=Original Films From LeBron James, Will Packer & John Woo To Premiere On Peacock In 2023 |url=https://deadline.com/2022/05/original-films-from-lebron-james-will-packer-john-woo-to-premiere-on-peacock-in-2023-1235014097/ |access-date=2022-06-07 |website=Deadline |archive-date=2 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220502165037/https://deadline.com/2022/05/original-films-from-lebron-james-will-packer-john-woo-to-premiere-on-peacock-in-2023-1235014097/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

In September 2024, Woo's official Instagram account and the social media accounts of the duo [[Sparks (band)|Sparks]] all posted a photo of Woo with members [[Ron Mael|Ron]] and [[Russell Mael]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=Sparks Twitter account |url=https://x.com/sparksofficial/status/1831736280407056767 |website=www.x.com}}</ref> strongly hinting at collaborating on a "new project" which would not be an action film.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Sparks Instagram post |url=https://www.instagram.com/p/C_iu4MXtF8_/ |access-date=2024-09-07 |website=www.instagram.com}}</ref> The hashtag #xcrucior points to a musical Sparks have been developing with [[Focus Features]] as their follow-up to ''[[Annette (film)|Annette]]'' and sought a director for. Woo has previously tried to get musical projects in production,<ref>{{Cite web |title=John Woo to Direct New "Killer"-Meets-"Cabaret" Action Moviemusical |author-last1=Hernadez|author-first1=Ernio|date=31 December 2003|url=https://playbill.com/article/films-john-woo-to-direct-new-killer-meets-cabaret-action-moviemusical-com-117125 |website=Playbill}}</ref> and shares a love of French cinema and [[Jacques Demy|Jaques Demy]]'s ''[[The Umbrellas of Cherbourg]]'' with the Mael brothers.<ref name=":1" /> He later confirmed it to be a "half-musical".<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-09-09 |title=John Woo's Next Film Is 'A Half-Musical' With Sparks: 'My First Movie Where I Don't Need A Stuntman' |url=https://www.empireonline.com/movies/news/john-woo-half-musical-sparks-exclusive/ |access-date=2024-09-09 |website=Empire |language=en|author-last1=Travis|author-first1=Ben}}</ref>

===Unrealized film projects===
In May 2008, Woo announced in Cannes that his next movie would be ''1949'', an epic love story set between the end of World War II and [[Chinese Civil War]] to [[History of the People's Republic of China|the founding of the People's Republic of China]], the shooting of which would take place in China and Taiwan. Its production was due to begin by the end of 2008, with a theatrical release planned in December 2009. However, in early April 2009, the film was cancelled due to script right issues. Reports indicated that Woo might be working on another World War II film, this time about the [[American Volunteer Group]], or the [[Flying Tigers]]. The movie was tentatively titled "Flying Tiger Heroes" and Woo is reported as saying it will feature "The most spectacular aerial battle scenes ever seen in Chinese cinema." It was not clear whether Woo would not be directing the earlier war film, or whether it was put on the back burner. Woo has stated that Flying Tiger Heroes would be an "extremely important production" and will "emphasise US-Chinese friendship and the contributions of the Flying Tigers and the Yunnan people during the war of resistance."<ref name="thr">{{cite journal
  | last = Foreman
  | first = Liza
  | title = Woo sets prod'n clock for '1949'
  | journal = The Hollywood Reporter, the Daily from Cannes
  | issue = 8
  | page = 22
  | date = 21 May 2008
  }}</ref> Woo has announced he will be using [[IMAX]] cameras to film the ''Flying Tigers'' project. "It has always been a dream of mine to explore shooting with IMAX cameras and to work in the IMAX format, and the strong visual element of this film is incredibly well-suited to the tastes of cinemagoers today [...] Using IMAX for Flying Tigers would create a new experience for the audience, and I think it would be another breakthrough for Chinese movies".<ref>{{cite web|title=Woo's Flying Tigers to be shot in IMAX format|publisher=ScreenDaily|date=30 October 2010|url=http://www.screendaily.com/territories/asia-pacific/woos-flying-tigers-to-be-shot-in-imax-format/5017532.article|access-date=11 March 2010|archive-date=6 September 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100906074035/http://www.screendaily.com/territories/asia-pacific/woos-flying-tigers-to-be-shot-in-imax-format/5017532.article|url-status=live}}</ref>