For over 50 years, acclaimed Hong Kong filmmaker John Woo has changed the way action movies are made. Known for classics like The Killer and Hard-Boiled, Woo’s unique style has blended powerful storytelling with intense action. His signature techniques, like slow-motion shootouts, dramatic standoffs, and twin-gun fights, have influenced directors worldwide, including Hollywood’s Robert Rodriguez and Michael Bay.
While many fans recognize John Woo for his Hollywood hits like Face/Off and Mission : Impossible 2, his breakout 1986 film, A Better Tomorrow, remains a defining work. It’s a movie that kickstarted the “heroic bloodshed” subgenre and transformed its lead actor, Chow Yun-Fat, into a global star.
A Better Tomorrow : John Woo’s First Major Hit
Before making A Better Tomorrow, Woo worked mainly on martial arts movies and Jackie Chan-style comedies. But he had a different vision a crime-thriller inspired by French director Jean-Pierre Melville’s Le Cercle Rouge and Martin Scorsese’s Mean Streets. With support from producer Tsui Hark, Woo finally had the chance to bring his vision to life.
In A Better Tomorrow, two brothers find themselves on opposite sides of the law, testing themes of family, loyalty, and redemption. Ho (Ti Lung) and Mark (Chow Yun-Fat) work as Hong Kong triad members, dealing in counterfeit money. Ho’s younger brother, Kit (Leslie Cheung), an aspiring police officer, knows nothing about Ho’s criminal life. When a rival gang turns against them, Ho is imprisoned, his father is killed, and Mark is left injured. Three years later, Ho returns, hoping to start over, but finds his brother’s anger and the triad’s new ruthless leadership standing in his way.
Woo’s storytelling in A Better Tomorrow highlights themes that resonate universally family loyalty and the struggle for redemption. Much like The Godfather, this film captures the cost of crime on family bonds. Ho is torn between loyalty to his brother Kit, who seeks justice for their father, and his friendship with Mark, who desires revenge.
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The Rise of Chow Yun-Fat as a Global Action Icon
Although A Better Tomorrow initially focused on Ti Lung and Leslie Cheung, Chow Yun-Fat’s portrayal of the charismatic gangster Mark became iconic. At the time, Yun-Fat was primarily a television actor. But Woo saw his potential and created a character that would make Yun-Fat a superstar. In one memorable scene, Mark takes down a group of men responsible for Ho’s troubles, executing them in classic Woo slow-motion style with twin pistols blazing. This performance made Chow Yun-Fat an instant icon, with his character’s look duster trenchcoat and Alain Delon sunglasses becoming a cultural trend.
Why A Better Tomorrow is Essential Viewing for Action Fans
A Better Tomorrow was a turning point for the action genre. Its deep emotions and complex relationships set it apart from typical action films of the ‘80s, paving the way for today’s more nuanced movies like John Wick. If you want to understand how John Woo’s influence transformed action movies, A Better Tomorrow is a great place to start.
Though A Better Tomorrow isn’t available to stream in the U.S. right now, it’s a must-watch for any fan of action cinema wanting to explore the origins of the genre’s evolution.