John Woo
Film director · 7 films (1986–2024)
John Woo is a director whose work here spans A Better Tomorrow (1986) to The Killer (2024) (2024), across action and crime. 3 of those films were photographed by Horace Wong Wing-Hang. The work runs close — 30% of frames across the 7 films indexed here, against 21% library-wide. All 376 frames from 7 films are indexed here, searchable by lighting, lens, shot size, colour and mood.
John Woo Yu-Sen SBS is a Hong Kong film director and producer. Recognized for his stylised films of highly choreographed action sequences, Mexican standoffs, and use of slow-motion, Woo has directed several notable Hong Kong action films, among them, A Better Tomorrow, The Killer, Hard Boiled and Red Cliff.
Born 22 September 1946 · Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China
Directing style
John Woo constructs tense action-thrillers primarily within dark, interior night environments, utilizing a shallow depth of field to isolate subjects from their backgrounds. He favors eye-level medium shots and closeups, framing characters with practical light sources, sunlight, and fluorescent fixtures. The visual tone is defined by a cool, desaturated color grade, dominated by a palette of muted grays, slate blues, and dark, earthy undertones.
Awards
- Golden Horse Award for Best Director · 1986
- Bronze Bauhinia Star
- Hong Kong Film Award for Best Director
- Silver Bauhinia Star
Films directed by John Woo
About John Woo
When was John Woo born?
John Woo was born on 22 September 1946 in Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China.
What films has John Woo directed?
FrameThrower holds stills from 7 of them: A Better Tomorrow (1986), The Killer (1989), Hard Boiled (1992), Hard Target (1993), Mission: Impossible II (2000), Silent Night (2023) and The Killer (2024) (2024).
What awards has John Woo won?
Golden Horse Award for Best Director (1986), Bronze Bauhinia Star, Hong Kong Film Award for Best Director and Silver Bauhinia Star.
Search every frame of John Woo’s films
All 376 indexed frames from 7 films directed by John Woo — searchable by lighting, lens, shot size, mood or plain language.