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Johnnie To

Director

Johnnie To

Born April 22, 1955 in Hong Kong, British Crown Colony [now China]68 films

Johnnie To Kei-Fung (Chinese: 杜琪峯, born 22 April 1955) is a Hong Kong film director and producer. Popular in his native Hong Kong,  To has also found acclaim overseas. Intensely prolific, To has made films in a variety of genres, though in the West he is best known for his action and crime movies, which have earned him critical respect  and a cult following.

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His films, often made in collaboration with the same group of actors, screenwriters and cinematographers, frequently explore themes of friendship, fate and the changing face of Hong Kong society. Sometimes described as "multifaceted and chameleonic" due to his ability to switch tones and genres between movies, To is nonetheless seen as having a consistent style, which involves mixing subdued realism and social observation with highly stylized visual and acting elements. To heads the Hong Kong-based production company Milkyway Image with his frequent co-director Wai Ka-Fai.

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The best way into Johnnie To's work
Election 2 posterFirst watchElection 220067.4As election time nears, current Triad chairman Lok faces competition from his godsons. At the same time, Jimmy looks to increase his business relations with mainland China.View film

Essential films

Ranked by acclaim and reach
Election poster7.2Election2005Exiled poster7.2Exiled2006Drug War poster6.9Drug War2012The Mission poster7.5The Mission1999Mad Detective poster7.1Mad Detective2007Running Out of Time poster7.3Running Out of Time1999PTU poster7.0PTU2003Breaking News poster6.9Breaking News2004

Filmography

68 films as director
  1. TBAUntitled Johnnie To Gangster FilmDirector
  2. TBATwo-Gun CohenDirector
  3. 2022Septet: The Story of Hong KongDirector
  4. 2019Chasing DreamDirector
  5. 2016ThreeDirector
  6. 2015OfficeDirector
  7. 2014Don't Go Breaking My Heart 2Director
  8. 2013Blind DetectiveDirector
  9. 2012Drug WarDirector
  10. 2012Romancing in Thin AirDirector
  11. 2011Life Without PrincipleDirector
  12. 2011Don't Go Breaking My HeartDirector
  13. 2009VengeanceDirector
  14. 2008SparrowDirector
  15. 2008LingerDirector
  16. 2007Mad DetectiveDirector
  17. 2007TriangleDirector
  18. 2006ExiledDirector
  19. 2006Election 2Director
  20. 2005ElectionDirector
  21. 2005The Open RoadDirector
  22. 2004Yesterday Once MoreDirector
  23. 2004Throw DownDirector
  24. 2004Breaking NewsDirector
  25. 2003Running on KarmaDirector
  26. 2003Turn Left, Turn RightDirector
  27. 20031:99 ShortsDirector
  28. 2003PTUDirector
  29. 2003Love for All SeasonsDirector
  30. 2002My Left Eye Sees GhostsDirector
  31. 2002Fat Choi SpiritDirector
  32. 2001Running Out of Time 2Director
  33. 2001Fulltime KillerDirector
  34. 2001Love on a DietDirector
  35. 2001Wu YenDirector
  36. 2000Help!!!Director
  37. 2000Needing You...Director
  38. 1999The MissionDirector
  39. 1999Running Out of TimeDirector
  40. 1999Where a Good Man GoesDirector
  41. 1998A Hero Never DiesDirector
  42. 1997LifelineDirector
  43. 1996A Moment of Romance IIIDirector
  44. 1995Loving YouDirector
  45. 1995Dead EndDirector
  46. 1993Heroic Trio 2: ExecutionersDirector
  47. 1993The Mad MonkDirector
  48. 1993The Bare-Footed KidDirector
  49. 1993The Heroic TrioDirector
  50. 1992Iron Butterfly III: TomorrowDirector
  51. 1992Justice, My Foot!Director
  52. 1992Lucky EncounterDirector
  53. 1991Casino Raiders IIDirector
  54. 1991The Royal ScoundrelDirector
  55. 1990Behind BarsDirector
  56. 1990The Story of My SonDirector
  57. 1990The Iron Butterfly IIDirector
  58. 1990The Fun, the Luck & the TycoonDirector
  59. 1989Story of NamDirector
  60. 1989The Iron ButterflyDirector
  61. 1989All About Ah-LongDirector
  62. 1988The Big HeatDirector
  63. 1988The Eighth HappinessDirector
  64. 1988It's No HeavenDirector
  65. 1988The BetrayalDirector
  66. 1987Seven Years ItchDirector
  67. 1986Happy Ghost IIIDirector
  68. 1980The Enigmatic CaseDirector