Johnnie To Kei-Fung, 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.
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.
Known For
Vengeance
(2009)
Director
Exiled
(2006)
Director
Blind Detective
(2013)
Director
Election
(2005)
Director
Election 2
(2006)
Director
Drug War
(2012)
Director
The Mad Monk
(1993)
Director
Running Out of Time
(1999)
Director
The Heroic Trio
(1993)
Director
Casino Raiders II
(1991)
Director
Fulltime Killer
(2001)
Director
The Mission
(1999)
Director
The Longest Nite
(1998)
Co-Director
Justice, My Foot!
(1992)
Director
Mad Detective
(2007)
Director
Sparrow
(2008)
Director
Full Filmography
Directing
The Enigmatic Case
(1980)
Director
Happy Ghost III
(1986)
Director
Seven Years Itch
(1987)
Director
The Eighth Happiness
(1988)
Director
The Big Heat
(1988)
Director
It's No Heaven
(1988)
Director
The Betrayal
(1988)
Director
All About Ah-Long
(1989)
Director
The Iron Butterfly
(1989)
Director
Story of Nam
(1989)
Director
The Fun, the Luck & the Tycoon
(1990)
Director
The Story of My Son
(1990)
Director
The Iron Butterfly II
(1990)
Director
Behind Bars
(1990)
Director
Casino Raiders II
(1991)
Director
The Royal Scoundrel
(1991)
Director
Justice, My Foot!
(1992)
Director
Lucky Encounter
(1992)
Director
Iron Butterfly III: Tomorrow
(1992)
Director
The Heroic Trio
(1993)
Director
The Mad Monk
(1993)
Director
The Bare-Footed Kid
(1993)
Director
The Heroic Trio 2: Executioners
(1993)
Director
Dead End
(1994)
Director
Loving You
(1995)
Director
A Moment of Romance III
(1996)
Director
Lifeline
(1997)
Director
A Hero Never Dies
(1998)
Director
Expect the Unexpected
(1998)
Co-Director
The Longest Nite
(1998)
Co-Director
Running Out of Time
(1999)
Director
The Mission
(1999)
Director
Where a Good Man Goes
(1999)
Director
Needing You...
(2000)
Director
Help!!!
(2000)
Director
Fulltime Killer
(2001)
Director
Love on a Diet
(2001)
Director
Running Out of Time 2
(2001)
Director
Wu Yen
(2001)
Director
Fat Choi Spirit
(2002)
Director
My Left Eye Sees Ghosts
(2002)
Director
Running on Karma
(2003)
Director
PTU
(2003)
Director
Turn Left, Turn Right
(2003)
Director
Love for All Seasons
(2003)
Director
1:99 Shorts
(2003)
Director
Throw Down
(2004)
Director
Breaking News
(2004)
Director
Yesterday Once More
(2004)
Director
Election
(2005)
Director
Exiled
(2006)
Director
Election 2
(2006)
Director
Triangle
(2007)
Director
Mad Detective
(2007)
Director
Sparrow
(2008)
Director
Linger
(2008)
Director
Vengeance
(2009)
Director
Don't Go Breaking My Heart
(2011)
Director
Life Without Principle
(2011)
Director
Romancing in Thin Air
(2012)
Director
Drug War
(2012)
Director
Blind Detective
(2013)
Director
Don't Go Breaking My Heart 2
(2014)
Director
Office
(2015)
Director
Three
(2016)
Director
Chasing Dream
(2019)
Director
Septet: The Story of Hong Kong
(2022)
Director
Acting
It's No Heaven
(1988)
The Iron Butterfly II
(1990)
The Banquet
(1991)
Sisters of the World Unite
(1991)
The Royal Scoundrel
(1991)
Taxi Driver
Expect the Unexpected
(1998)
Hong Kong Superstars
(2001)
Himself
Grit & Polish: Heroines from Hong Kong
(2001)
Himself
Katanas, yakuzas y cintas de video
(2004)
(archive footage)
Code Name: Melville
(2008)
Self
Johnnie Got His Gun!
(2010)
Himself
Boundless
(2013)
Self
The Weaving of a Dream: Johnnie To's Vision and Craft
(2016)
Self
In the Mood for Melville
(2017)
Himself
Production
The Iron Butterfly
(1989)
Producer
Story of Nam
(1989)
Producer
A Moment of Romance
(1990)
Producer
Behind Bars
(1990)
Producer
Iron Butterfly III: Tomorrow
(1992)
Producer
A Moment of Romance II
(1993)
Producer
The Heroic Trio
(1993)
Producer
The Heroic Trio 2: Executioners
(1993)
Producer
The Lone Sabre
(1994)
Producer
Dead End
(1994)
Producer
Only Fools Fall in Love
(1995)
Producer
Beyond Hypothermia
(1996)
Producer
A Moment of Romance III
(1996)
Producer
Final Justice
(1997)
Producer
Intruder
(1997)
Producer
The Odd One Dies
(1997)
Producer
Too Many Ways to Be No. 1
(1997)
Producer
Expect the Unexpected
(1998)
Producer
The Longest Nite
(1998)
Producer
A Hero Never Dies
(1998)
Producer
Running Out of Time
(1999)
Producer
Sealed with a Kiss
(1999)
Producer
The Mission
(1999)
Producer
Where a Good Man Goes
(1999)
Producer
Comeuppance
(2000)
Producer
Spacked Out
(2000)
Producer
Help!!!
(2000)
Producer
Needing You...
(2000)
Producer
Fulltime Killer
(2001)
Producer
Gimme Gimme
(2001)
Producer
Running Out of Time 2
(2001)
Producer
Wu Yen
(2001)
Producer
Love on a Diet
(2001)
Producer
Second Time Around
(2002)
Producer
My Left Eye Sees Ghosts
(2002)
Producer
Fat Choi Spirit
(2002)
Producer
Memory of the Youth
(2003)
Producer
PTU
(2003)
Producer
Running on Karma
(2003)
Producer
Looking for Mr. Perfect
(2003)
Producer
Turn Left, Turn Right
(2003)
Producer
Love for All Seasons
(2003)
Producer
Breaking News
(2004)
Producer
Throw Down
(2004)
Producer
Yesterday Once More
(2004)
Producer
Election
(2005)
Producer
2 Become 1
(2006)
Producer
Election 2
(2006)
Producer
Triangle
(2007)
Executive Producer and Producer
Eye in the Sky
(2007)
Producer
Hooked on You
(2007)
Producer
Mad Detective
(2007)
Producer
Tactical Unit - The Code
(2008)
Producer
Linger
(2008)
Producer
Tactical Unit - No Way Out
(2008)
Producer
Tactical Unit - Human Nature
(2008)
Producer
Sparrow
(2008)
Producer
Accident
(2009)
Producer
Tactical Unit: Comrades in Arms
(2009)
Producer
Vengeance
(2009)
Producer
Tactical Unit - Partners
(2009)
Producer
Don't Go Breaking My Heart
(2011)
Producer
Life Without Principle
(2011)
Producer
Punished
(2011)
Producer
Motorway
(2012)
Producer
Drug War
(2012)
Producer
Blind Detective
(2013)
Producer
A Complicated Story
(2013)
Executive Producer
Don't Go Breaking My Heart 2
(2014)
Producer
Office
(2015)
Producer
Three
(2016)
Producer
Trivisa
(2016)
Producer
Chasing Dream
(2019)
Producer
Septet: The Story of Hong Kong
(2022)
Producer
Mad Fate
(2023)
Producer and Executive Producer
Writing