Yuen Woo PingFilmography

Born:
January 1, 1945 in Guangzhou, China
Occupation:
Director, Executive Producer, Fights Choreographer, Action Director
Biography:
A legendary Hong Kong choreographer/actor/director whose first exposure to many stateside moviegoers came with his work in the Wachowski Brothers' 1999 breakthrough action flick The Matrix, Yuen Wo Ping has subsequently crafted an impressive international career with work on such high-profile...Read More
  • Snow and the Seven

    Crew: Fights Choreographer

    Synopsis: Walt Disney Pictures presents a new spin on a time-honored fairy tale with Snow and the Seven, a Francis Lawrence (Constantine) film that follows a 19th century British girl who's trained by seven monks to be the savior in a cataclysmic fight between good and evil. ~ Jeremy Wheeler, All Movie Read More

    1/1/10
  • The Forbidden Kingdom

    Crew: Executive Producer, Fights Choreographer

    Actors: Jackie Chan, Jet Li, Collin Chou, Liu Yifei, Li Bingbing

    Synopsis: Legendary martial arts stars Jackie Chan and Jet Li come together onscreen for the first time ever in director Rob Minkoff's time-traveling take on the Monkey King fable that finds an American teen transported back to ancient China after wandering into a pawn shop and discovering the king's Read More

    4/18/08
  • Fearless

    Crew: Choreography

    Actors: Jet Li, Betty Sun, Dong Yong, Shidou Nakamura, Collin Chou

    Synopsis: Fearless opens in Shanghai, China, circa 1910, when wushu master Huo Yuanjia (martial arts superstar Jet Li) prepares to battle one Japanese opponent, Tanaka (Shidou Nakamura), and three American opponents (Anthony de Longis, Jean-Claude Leuyer, and Brandon Rhea) in a massive tournament. The Read More

    1/26/06
  • The Banquet

    Crew: Action Director, Executive Producer

    Actors: Zhang Ziyi, Ge You, Daniel Wu, Huang Xiaoming, Zhou Xun

    Synopsis: A World Without Thieves director Feng Xiaogang shifts his focus from modern-day con artists to tenth century intrigue with this tale of internal turmoil in the age of Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms starring Zhang Ziyi, Daniel Wu, and Ge You. Her empire on the verge of a massive revolution as Read More

    2006
  • The Legend of Zu

    Crew: Action Director

    Synopsis: Directed by Tsui Hark, The Legend of Zu is an adaptation of the 64-volume epic novel of the same name, and follows several warriors training in the mysterious Zu mountains. Somehow, the powers of the mountain are absorbed by the warriors and subsequently used to help combat the evil forces Read More

    8/19/05
  • Unleashed

    Crew: Fights Choreographer

    Actors: Jet Li, Morgan Freeman, Bob Hoskins, Kerry Condon

    Synopsis: Two men cut off from the world in different ways become unlikely friends and protectors in this offbeat action drama. Danny (Jet Li) is a physically powerful but emotionally stunted man; never given any sort of proper education, Danny has learned little in his lifetime but how to fight, and his Read More

    5/13/05
  • Kung Fu Hustle

    Crew: Action Director

    Actors: Yuen Qiu, Stephen Chow, Yuen Wah, Leung Siu Lung, Dong Zhi Hua

    Synopsis: The work of international superstar Stephen Chow, Kung Fu Hustle is a humorous, special-effects-filled, action-packed martial arts epic set in early '40s China. A bumbling thief named Sing (Stephen Chow) desires to be the toughest member of the dreaded gangster hit squad known as The Axe Gang, but Read More

    4/8/05
  • House of Fury

    Crew: Action Director

    Synopsis: A pair of teenage kung fu experts find that their widowed father's far-fetched tales of adventure may hold more water than they thought in this martial arts adventure featuring fight choreography from The Matrix action director Yuen Woo Ping. In his day, Teddy (Anthony Wong) was a force to be Read More

    2005
  • Kill Bill Vol. 2

    Crew: Fights Choreographer

    Actors: Uma Thurman, David Carradine, Michael Madsen, Daryl Hannah, Gordon Liu

    Synopsis: Quentin Tarantino's sprawling homage to action films of both the East and the West reaches its conclusion in this continuation of 2003's ultra-violent Kill Bill Vol. 1. Having dispatched several of her arch-enemies in the first film, The Bride (Uma Thurman) continues in Kill Bill Vol. 2 on her Read More

    4/16/04
  • The Matrix Revolutions

    Crew: Fights Choreographer

    Actors: Keanu Reeves, Carrie-Anne Moss, Laurence Fishburne, Hugo Weaving, Jada Pinkett Smith

    Synopsis: Shot back-to-back with The Matrix Reloaded, the third and final installment of Andy Wachowski and Larry Wachowski's sci-fi action saga picks up where the second film left off. Neo (Keanu Reeves) remains unconscious in the real world, caught in a mysterious subway station that lies between the Read More

    11/5/03
  • Kill Bill Vol. 1

    Crew: Fights Choreographer, Martial Arts Instructor/Coordinator

    Actors: Uma Thurman, Lucy Liu, Vivica A. Fox, Daryl Hannah, Julie Dreyfus, David Carradine, Michael Madsen

    Synopsis: Perhaps the most highly anticipated film of 2003, Kill Bill Vol. 1 marked the return of renowned filmmaker Quentin Tarantino after a six-year hiatus. Re-teaming the director with Uma Thurman for the first time since 1994's Pulp Fiction, the film was originally the first half of what was to be a Read More

    10/10/03
  • The Matrix Reloaded

    Crew: Fights Choreographer

    Actors: Keanu Reeves, Carrie-Anne Moss, Laurence Fishburne, Hugo Weaving, Jada Pinkett Smith

    Synopsis: After creating an international sensation with the visually dazzling and intellectually challenging sci-fi blockbuster The Matrix, the Wachowski brothers returned with the first of two projected sequels that pick up where the first film left off. Neo (Keanu Reeves) and Trinity (Carrie-Anne MossRead More

    5/15/03
  • The Tai Chi Master

    Crew: Director

    Actors: Jacky Wu, Billy Chow, Amy Fan

    Synopsis: Yuen Woo Ping's martial arts action film The Tai Chi Master stars Jacky Wu as a young man named Wu who leaves his home in order to learn Tai Chi. However the Tai Chi master refuses to teach Wu because Wu is not of the proper lineage. The master's daughter secretly teaches Wu one of the signature Read More

    2003
  • Black Mask 2: City of Masks

    Crew: Action Director

    Actors: Traci Lords, Jon Polito, Rob Van Dam, Andy On

    Synopsis: The Black Mask (Andy On replacing Jet Li) faces-off against a series of gruesome mutants while frantically searching for a cure for his ability not to feel pain in this flashy sequel to the 1996 original. When the Black Mask learns that genetic scientists worldwide are falling victim to an unknown Read More

    2002
  • Iron Monkey

    Crew: Director

    Actors: Yu Rongguang, Donnie Yen, Jean Wang, Tsang Sze Man, Yuen Shun-Yi

    Synopsis: This kung fu classic weaving fact and myth earned a theatrical release in the U.S. from Miramax eight years after it was produced, following a successful retrospective screening at the 2001 Los Angeles Film Festival. Wong Kei Ying (Donnie Yen) is a master of the Hung Gar style of boxing in Read More

    10/12/01
  • Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon

    Crew: Fights Choreographer

    Actors: Chow Yun-Fat, Michelle Yeoh, Zhang Ziyi, Chang Chen, Sihung Lung, Cheng Pei-Pei

    Synopsis: Taiwanese filmmaker Ang Lee took a break from making Western period dramas to fashion this wild and woolly martial arts spectacular featuring special effects and action sequences courtesy of the choreographer of The Matrix (1999), Yuen Woo Ping. In the early 19th century, martial arts master Li Mu Read More

    12/8/00
  • Black Mask

    Crew: Action Director

    Actors: Jet Li

    Synopsis: Martial arts star Jet Li donned a black hat and mask to portray a comic book superhero in this pulp action tale that gets the full-blown Hong Kong treatment from choreographer Yuen Wo Ping, who later designed the fight scenes for The Matrix (1999). Li stars as Tsui Chik, leader of Squad 701, an Read More

    5/14/99
  • The Matrix

    Crew: Fights Choreographer

    Actors: Keanu Reeves, Laurence Fishburne, Carrie-Anne Moss, Hugo Weaving, Gloria Foster, Joe Pantoliano

    Synopsis: What if virtual reality wasn't just for fun, but was being used to imprison you? That's the dilemma that faces mild-mannered computer jockey Thomas Anderson (Keanu Reeves) in The Matrix. It's the year 1999, and Anderson (hacker alias: Neo) works in a cubicle, manning a computer and doing a little Read More

    3/31/99
  • Iron Monkey 2

    Crew: Action Director

    Actors: Donnie Yen

    Synopsis: In this sequel to the martial arts cult classic Iron Monkey, Cool Head (Chen Kwun Tai) is a Kung Fu master and strong-arm man with the Monkey Fist. With a beautiful warrior (Judy Lee) at his side, Cool Head is sent out to vanquish a team of hired killers who intend to topple the government. Iron Read More

    1996
  • Tai Chi II

    Crew: Action Director, Director, Screenwriter

    Actors: Jacky Wu, Billy Chow

    Synopsis: This Hong Kong martial arts thriller stars Jacky Wu as a Tai Chi master who is waging war against both police and outlaws who are allowing China to be flooded with opium. Meanwhile, he's also vying to win the heart of a revolutionary who possesses both beauty and brains (Christy Chung). ~ Mark Read More

    1996
  • The Red Wolf

    Crew: Director

    Synopsis: From the man who brought you the jaw-dropping fight choreography of The Matrix, Kill Bill, and Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon comes this explosive tale of terrorism on the high seas. When all-star cop Alan (Kenny Ho) lands a job as chief of security on a luxury cruise liner, he thinks it's all Read More

    1995
  • Fist of Legend

    Crew: Action Director

    Actors: Jet Li

    Synopsis: Jet Li stars in this historical Hong Kong action film, as Chen Zhen, a Chinese student in Japan in the 1920s. When his master is killed during the Japanese occupation of China, he returns to avenge his teacher's death. Back in China, he finds himself caught in the escalating racial tensions Read More

    1994
  • Wing Chun

    Crew: Action Director, Director

    Actors: Michelle Yeoh, Donnie Yen

    Synopsis: Wing Chun is a martial-arts film with an unusual feminist bent, inspired by a true historical figure. In 19th-century China, a pack of bandits attacks a remote village, attempting to kidnap a beautiful young widow named Charmy. However, they are foiled by Yim Wing Chun, a local tofu-shop owner who Read More

    1994
  • Fire Dragon

    Crew: Director

    1994
  • Tai Chi Master

    Crew: Director, Fights Choreographer

    Actors: Jet Li, Michelle Yeoh

    Synopsis: Hong Kong star Jet Li portrays the inventor of T'ai Chi in this entertaining if not historically accurate martial-arts movie. Junbao (Li) and Tienbao (Chin Siu-Ho) are a pair of young monks studying kung fu in a Shaolin temple. Junbao is balanced and humble, but Tienbao is competitive and eager to Read More

    1993
  • Last Hero In China

    Crew: Action Director

    Actors: Jet Li

    Synopsis: Wong Fei-hung runs a martial arts academy in Canton, and is the exemplar of all sorts of native Chinese virtues. He is appalled to discover that the rent on his space in Canton was raised significantly while he was away in Hong Kong. In addition, he has to face the escalating enmity of a local Read More

    1993
  • Heroes Among Heroes

    Crew: Director, Producer

    Actors: Yuen Kit, Ying Ng, Donnie Yen

    Synopsis: As officer Lam Che Chu (Fong Pao) and Wong Fei Hong (Yuk Wong) join forces to fight a gang of determined opium smugglers, Beggar So Chen (Kwan Hoi-Shan) takes on the dreaded Fire Lotus Gang in this martial-arts classic from Drunken Master director Yuen Woo Ping. As the tireless trio do their best Read More

    1993
  • The Wicked City

    Crew: Director

    Actors: Jacky Cheung, Leon Lai, Tatsuya Nakadai

    Synopsis: Peter Mak Tai-kit spins this exuberant, visually dense adaptation from the popular similarly named Japanese anime. The film is set in a world where shape-shifting alien creatures known as Raptors have infiltrated human society. To deal with this problem, Hong Kong has fashioned a secret government Read More

    1992
  • Game Kids

    Actors: Andy Lau Tak-wah, Aaron Kwok, Ng Man Tat, Yuen Woo Ping, Rosamund Kwan

    Synopsis: Gordon Chan Kar-seung directs this critically panned crime comedy starring Andy Lau Tak-wah as Wong Kau-tai, an idiot savant who is mistaken for the head of a massive and ruthless crime syndicate after his mobland doppelganger is arrested in India. Everyone quickly becomes concerned with Wong's Read More

    1992
  • Tiger Cage 3

    Crew: Director

    Synopsis: Yuen Woo-ping returns to direct the final installment in this series. In this go around, the film centers around earnest cop James (Cheung Kwok-leung) who works for the Commercial Crime Bureau and is keeping a sharp eye on slick business man Lee Siu-pong (Wong Kam-kong). When his business Read More

    1991
  • Tiger Cage 2

    Crew: Director

    Actors: Donnie Yen

    Synopsis: In this name-only sequel to the 1988 Tiger Cage, Hong Kong cop Dragon Yau (Donnie Yen Chi-tan) is having a truly bad day: His wife is demanding a divorce, he is almost killed in a bloody robbery attempt, and he gets thrown from a speeding ambulance. Worse still, he finds himself not only framed Read More

    1990
  • In the Line of Duty 4

    Crew: Director

    Actors: Cynthia Yang Li-ching, Donnie Yen

    Synopsis: Cynthia Yang Li-chang stars again in this fourth installment of the popular series directed by Yuen Woo-ping. The film opens with straight arrow American longshoreman Luk Wan-ting (Yuen Yat-chor) stumbling into a police raid, in which he gets blamed for a DEA agent's death. Now a murder suspect Read More

    1989
  • Tiger Cage

    Crew: Director

    Actors: Jacky Cheung

    Synopsis: Director turned hot Hollywood fight choreographer Yuen Woo-ping spins this propulsive action-thriller. When officer Hsiu (Leung Kar-yan) successfully cracks into a major drug ring, he is able to arrest everyone except the group's ruthless ringleader, Swatow (Johnny Wang Lung-wei). The following Read More

    1988
  • 1986
  • Drunken Tai-Chi

    Crew: Director

    Actors: Donnie Yen, Wang Tao

    Synopsis: Prolific Hong Kong filmmaker Yuen Woo-ping directed this amusing martial arts spoof which marked the film debut of popular genre actor Donnie Yen. Yen plays Chin Dao, an unruly rascal who continually runs headlong into trouble. After causing the son of a local boss to lose face, Chin Dao compounds Read More

    1984
  • The Instant Kung-Fu Man

    Crew: Action Director

    Actors: John Liu

    Synopsis: Instant Kung-Fu Man stars John Liu...and John Liu. The story concerns twin brothers; more specifically, the story concerns one twin being mistaken for the other. One of the Lius is a martial-arts expert; the other isn't. The less physically prepared brother finds it expedient to learn a few tricks Read More

    1984
  • Shaolin Drunkard

    Crew: Director

    Actors: Simon Yuen, Yuen Cheung-Yan

    Synopsis: Legendary martial arts choreographer Yuen Wo Ping takes the helm for this wild and unconventional epic action adventure. When the Shaolin Temple comes under the attack of the dreaded Wu Tang sect, the master of liquor style (aka drunken boxing) must swing into action to save the day. Featuring Read More

    1983
  • The Champions

    Crew: Executive Producer

    Actors: Yuen Biao, Eddy Ko

    Synopsis: Hong Kong filmmaker Brandy Yuen wrote and directed this breezy sports comedy set in the 1960s soccer scene. Yuen Biao stars as Lee Tong, who leaves his remote farming village after accidentally injuring the chieftain's son and travels to the big city. While settling in, Lee meets Suen (Cheung Read More

    1983
  • The Miracle Fighters

    Crew: Director

    Actors: Yuen Cheung-Yan

    Synopsis: Yuen Woo Ping directs the Hong Kong martial arts action film The Miracle Fighters. A high priest has ridden the coattails of a prince in order to gain power. The prince dies, forcing the priest to set up a stooge to take the prince's place. The newcomer rebels, learns martial arts, and then takes Read More

    1982
  • Secret Master

    Crew: Director

    1982
  • Dreadnaught

    Crew: Director

    Actors: Yuen Biao, Kwan Tak-Hing

    Synopsis: Director and master choreographer Yuen Woo-ping spins this brilliant kung-fu-thriller featuring future star Yuen Biao. The film opens with serial killer White Tiger (Yuen Shun-yee) fleeing from the authorities of rural China and hiding in a small town's opera troupe. There he covers his prominent Read More

    1981
  • Tower of Death

    Crew: Action Director, Martial Arts Instructor/Coordinator

    Actors: Bruce Lee

    Synopsis: Ng See Yuen directs Bruce Lee and Tang Lung in the martial arts film Tower of Death. Jim Koo's funeral service takes an unexpected turn when his coffin is stolen by a helicopter. His best friend falls to his death after grabbing onto the helicopter as it flies off. The best friend's brother tracks Read More

    1981
  • The Magnificent Butcher

    Crew: Director, Stunts Coordinator

    Actors: Sammo Hung

    Synopsis: Yuen Woo-ping directs this classic of the period kung fu epic. Butcher Wing (Sammo Hung) is the most talented and the most troublesome pupil of Master Wong (Kwan Tak-hing). One day while helping to stop a robbery, Butcher runs afoul of the power, and evil, Master Ko (Lee Hoi-sang), resulting Read More

    1980
  • The Buddhist Fist

    Crew: Director

    Synopsis: Famed martial arts director and choreographer Yuen Woo-ping spins this old school period kung-fu flick featuring some particularly amazing fight scenes. The film opens with inept coiffeur Shang (Yuen Shun-Yi) getting canned from his job and returning to the hinterland to find his old man. Once Read More

    1979
  • Dance of the Drunk Mantis

    Crew: Director

    Actors: Simon Yuen

    Synopsis: Famed choreographer and martial arts director Yuen Woo-ping follows up on his wildly successful Jackie Chan vehicle with this kung-fu comedy. Sam the Seed (Simon Yuen Siu-tien) is one of the finest drunken boxers around, in spite of his shambled appearance. He returns home after a prolonged jaunt Read More

    1979
  • Drunken Master

    Crew: Director, Screenwriter

    Actors: Yuen Siu Tin, Hsia Hsu, Jackie Chan, Simon Yuen, Hwang Jang Lee, Dean Shek, Yuen Shun-Yi

    Synopsis: One of the earliest major films starring Jackie Chan, this 1978 Hong Kong offering highlights the relationship between a student and his martial arts master. This theme would dominate the American martial arts genre for years to come, as evidenced by The Karate Kid and many films to follow. Wong Read More

    1978
  • Snake in the Eagle's Shadow

    Crew: Director, Producer

    Actors: Hwang Jang Lee, Jackie Chan, Simon Yuen

    Synopsis: Shangkuan I-yun (Hwang Jang-li) has developed the deadly eagle claw style to devastating effect on the follower of the Snake Fist technique, killing all except the group's dithering leader Pai Chang-tien (Simon Yuen Siu-tien). When harried orphan Chien Fu (Jackie Chan) saves Pai's life, the master Read More

    1978
  • The Secret Rivals 2

    Crew: Action Director

    Synopsis: The martial arts sequel Crash Masters: Secret Rivals 2 continues the story from the first film by having the brother of the defeated Silver Fox swear revenge upon Northern Leg and Southern Fist. Gold Fox can only track down the brother of Southern Fist who is promptly rescued by Northern Leg. Gold Read More

    1977
  • The Shadow Boxer

    Crew: Martial Arts Instructor/Coordinator

    Actors: Chen Wo-fu

    Synopsis: Real like Shadow Boxing champion Chen Wo-fu stars as a humble construction worker who is compelled to mete out justice after his girlfriend is viciously assaulted by gangsters. Ku Ting is a quiet man and lightning-fast shadow boxer who keeps his fighting skills a carefully guarded secret. But his Read More

    1974
  • From China With Death

    Crew: Fights Choreographer

    Synopsis: The hero is orphaned early on in From China With Death. The culprit is a powerful warlord, who not only kills the protagonist's mom and dad, but everyone else in the family. Thirsting for revenge, the young man trains diligently in the martial arts. By the time he's ready to take on the villain Read More

    1974
  • Awaken Punch

    Crew: Action Director

    Synopsis: Yuen Woo Ping directs the action of 1973's Awaken Punch (also known as Village on Fire). Chan Sing plays a young man who lives in a village that is getting raided by gangsters. In order to save his village, he is motivated to violently remove the gangsters. He uses a special killing move called Read More

    1973
  • The Bastard

    Crew: Action Director

    1973
  • Bloody Fists

    Crew: Action Director

    Actors: Chen Sing

    Synopsis: Yuen Woo Ping, who would in time become one of the world's leading martial arts choreographers, blocked the fight scenes for this Kung Fu action extravaganza. A small Chinese town is being torn apart by a conflict between local farmers and Japanese soldiers of fortune, who have been brought to Read More

    1972

Movie data provided by AMG

Yuen Woo Ping  not available

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