John Woo Biography: TV Series, Net Worth, Siblings, Height, Parents, Age, Child, Wife, Movies

Wu Yu-sen, also known as John Woo, is a legendary Hong Kong film director best known for action-packed movies such as A Better Tomorrow, The Killer, and Face/Off.

His stylish gunfights and slow-motion scenes have inspired filmmakers worldwide.

John’s a proud Hong Kong filmmaker who’s put Chinese cinema on the global map with his unique vision.

Profile

• Full Name: Wu Yu-sen
• Stage Name: John Woo
• Born: September 22, 1946
• Age: 79 years old
• Birthplace: Guangzhou, China
• Nationality: Hong Kong, Chinese
• Occupation: Film Director, Producer, Screenwriter
• Height: 5 feet 4 inches (164 cm)
• Religion: Christian
• Parents: Mr. Woo, Mrs. Woo
• Siblings: Unknown
• Spouse: Anne Chun-Lung Niu (m. 1976)
• Children: Angeles Woo
• Relationship: Married
• Net Worth: $60 million to $70 million

Early Life And Education

John Woo was born on September 22, 1946, in Guangzhou, China. His parents, Mr. and Mrs. Woo, were middle-class but faced tough times during the Chinese Civil War. His ethnicity is Chinese, and he’s proud of his roots, which shine through in his films.

At age three, John had spinal surgery, leaving his right leg shorter, and he couldn’t walk properly until he was eight. As a kid, he loved church and movies, especially American musicals and Westerns, which sparked his dream of becoming a filmmaker.

Career

John began his career in 1969 as a script supervisor at Cathay Studios, then moved to Shaw Brothers as an assistant director in 1971. His first film, The Young Dragons (1974), was a kung fu movie choreographed by Jackie Chan but banned for violence until 1975.

He directed martial arts films like Hand of Death (1976) and comedies like Money Crazy (1977). By the mid-1980s, he was burned out from a lack of creative control, but director Tsui Hark gave him a chance with A Better Tomorrow (1986), a gangster film that broke box-office records and made Chow Yun-Fat a star.

John’s “heroic bloodshed” style took off with films like The Killer (1989), Hard Boiled (1992), and A Better Tomorrow II (1987). In 1993, he moved to Hollywood, directing Hard Target (1993) with Jean-Claude Van Damme, his first major Hollywood film as an Asian director.

He faced studio struggles but found success with Broken Arrow (1996), Face/Off (1997), and Mission: Impossible 2 (2000), which grossed over $549 million. Later films like Windtalkers (2002) and Paycheck (2003) flopped, so he returned to Asia to direct the epic Red Cliff (2008–2009), which broke China’s box-office records.

In 2024, he remade The Killer for Peacock, and in 2025, he’s set to release Silent Night and The Correspondent. John also created the comic series Seven Brothers and founded Lion Rock Productions. He’s a Hong Kong legend who’s shaped action cinema.

Social Media

• Facebook: John Woo

Personal Life

John, 79, lives in Los Angeles with his wife, Anne Chun-Lung Niu, whom he married in 1976. They have three children, including a daughter named Angeles Woo. His height is 5 feet 4 inches (164 cm), and he’s known for his gentle demeanour. John’s Christian faith shapes his films, with doves symbolizing peace and redemption.

He’s never owned a car and prefers a quiet life, avoiding Hollywood’s politics. He’s faced challenges, like surviving Hong Kong’s slums and health issues from childhood, but he never gave up. John’s a proud Hong Kong filmmaker who credits his brutal past for his strong spirit. He loves musicals and says they gave him hope as a kid.

Net Worth

John Woo’s net Worth is estimated at $60 million to $70 million. His money comes from directing blockbuster films such as Mission: Impossible 2, Face/Off, and Red Cliff, as well as from producing The Replacement Killers (1998).

His comic series, Seven Brothers, and his work with Lion Rock Productions also add to his wealth. His long career in Hong Kong and Hollywood has made him a wealthy filmmaker.

Filmography

The Young Dragons (1974) – Director

Hand of Death (1976) – Director

Money Crazy (1977) – Director

A Better Tomorrow (1986) – Director

A Better Tomorrow II (1987) – Director

The Killer (1989) – Director

Bullet in the Head (1990) – Director

Once a Thief (1991) – Director

Hard Boiled (1992) – Director

Hard Target (1993) – Director

Broken Arrow (1996) – Director

Face/Off (1997) – Director

Mission: Impossible 2 (2000) – Director

Windtalkers (2002) – Director

Paycheck (2003) – Director

Red Cliff (2008–2009) – Director

Reign of Assassins (2010) – Co-director

The Crossing (2014–2015) – Director

Search (2017) – Director

Silent Night (2023) – Director

The Killer (2024, remake) – Director

The Correspondent (2025) – Director