John Woo’s Hard Boiled features some of the best fight choreography seen in any action movie from the 1990s. Hard Boiled reunites Woo with actor Chow Yun-fat for a thrilling narrative that follows Chow’s rebellious cop, “Tequila” Yuen, after he joins forces with an undercover cop (Tony Leung) in an attempt to take down an arms dealer. While Hard Boiled didn’t earn the same widespread acclaim as Woo’s seminal A Better Tomorrow, the film still opened to a positive reception, especially among Western audiences.

Currently sitting with a 92% score on Rotten Tomatoes, Hard Boiled is lauded for its incomparable action sequences and is widely considered to be one of Woo’s best movies. The central story, as is the case with many action-heavy movies, isn’t without its shortcomings, but Hard Boiled‘s non-stop action has allowed the film’s legacy to endure and resonate with audiences decades later. The ’90s were an incredible time for action movies, but among all the decade’s compeтιтion, Hard Boiled stands out as being one of the best.

John Woo’s Hard Boiled Had The Best Fights Of Any 1990s Movie

The Film Is Packed With Action From Beginning To End

Woo wastes no time getting into Hard Boiled‘s blood-soaked action, opening up the film with a thrilling shootout at a teahouse. The scene not only establishes “Tequila” Yuen’s backstory, but it also helps set the tone for the remainder of the film’s action. By the end of the teahouse sequence, Hard Boiled‘s body count already surpᴀsses the total counted by the end of other ’90s action movies. With Hard Boiled‘s opening sequence, it quickly becomes apparent to audiences that they are about to embark on a violent, one-of-a-kind journey.

Hard Boiled is bookended by some of the action genre’s most alluring and innovative fight scenes. Closing out the movie is a shootout at a hospital that takes every hard-hitting component of the teahouse opening and cranks it up to a higher level of intensity. In an attempt to rescue hostages taken by triad boss Johnny Wong, Tequila and Alan (Leung) are confronted by enemies at every turn. Soon enough, countless bodies hit the floor, and the duo leaves behind a path of debris as they make their way through the hospital corridors.

Why Hard Boiled Is John Woo’s Greatest Movie

Many Of The Directors’ Signature Filmmaking Techniques Are On Display

Because of its landmark fight scenes, Hard Boiled had a mᴀssive impact on the action genre. After Hard Boiled, Woo made the transition to Hollywood, directing notable films like Face/Off and Mission: Impossible 2. However, the influence of such films pales in comparison to that of Hard Boiled. Recognized as the master of the heroic bloodshed genre, Woo’s signature style is presented best in Hard Boiled, with many American filmmakers aiming to replicate it in their own work.

Though the film’s fight scenes are marked by their dynamic energy and brutal nature, they are also incredibly stylish and well-choreographed. What further sets Hard Boiled‘s fight scenes apart from those of other ’90s action films is the innovative filmmaking techniques that help bring them to life. One of the more famous examples of Woo’s innovation in Hard Boiled is seen in a one-sH๏τ take during the aforementioned hospital scene. During a short elevator ride, Hard Boiled‘s crew works quickly behind the scenes to set up the explosions and practical effects needed for Tequila and Alan to continue their frenzied shootout.

Hard Boiled’s Amazing Fights Still Hold Up In 2025

Woo’s Creative Direction Ensures Hard Boiled Never Gets Old

In the three decades since Hard Boiled’s release, the film’s excess of fight scenes has remained just as enthralling. Many great modern action movies today are filled with non-stop fight sequences, but few can compete with the visual artistry displayed by Woo in Hard Boiled. The director’s use of his signature slow-motion sequences and the way he utilizes sound during the film’s most intense moments are testimony to Hard Boiled‘s legacy.

The commitment to crafting moments of action that are both entertaining and artistically rewarding sets Hard Boiled and much of Woo’s filmography apart from other movies in the action genre. The careful balance of such elements prevents audiences from growing tired of the repeтιтive combative action and helps Hard Boiled‘s quality and impact hold up to this day.