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Herman Yau

Herman Yau

Director, cinematographer, writer and producer · Born August 1, 1961 (65) · Hong Kong, British Crown Colony [now China]

Herman Yau Lai-to (Chinese: 邱禮濤), born 1961 in Hong Kong is a film director, actor, cinematographer, scriptwriter and film producer. A Chiuchow by origin, Yau studied film at The Department of Communications, Hong Kong Baptist College from 1981 to 1984 where he spent much of his early days hanging out with music lovers and making independent films. Upon leaving school, Yau devoted most of his time working in the film industry, and writing for a number of magazine and newspapers as a columnist and freelance writer. Yau has also participated in a number of productions including music videos for Chang Kuan, Jie Cheng-jiang, Anthony Wong, Jacky Cheung, Andy Hui and the American jazz player Eric Marienthal. He has also produced TV commercials and promos for the Hong Kong Film Awards. From 1997 to 1998, Yau participated in the filming of a TV series produced by Radio Television Hong Kong. In 2003, to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Independent Committee Against Corruption, the ICAC produced a television drama series and invited Yau to direct one of the episodes. Yau is also one of the founders of the cultural newspaper, Chinese Youth Weekly, and two movie magazines (these three periodicals have stopped releasing). Yau has also published two books of his own. Yau has produced and directed over 70 movies, which include The Untold Story, The Untold Story III, War of the Underworld, Walk In, Ebola Syndrome, Master Q 2001, From the Queen to the Chief Executive and the Troublesome Night series. Yau’s films have also been shown in the Hong Kong International Film Festival and film festivals in Europe and the United States. The Untold Story and Ebola Syndrome were praised as “cult classics” (Yau himself considers Ebola Syndrome as his most achieved work). From the Queen to the Chief Executive was awarded the Golden Torch Award by the International Catholic Organization for Cinema and Audiovisual. In 1997, together with a group of people coming from different fields who share the same belief in writing and the power of words, Herman founded Step Forward which specializes in publication. In 1999, Hong Kong Polytechnic University invited Herman as their first “Artist-in-Residence”. For seven years, from 1996 to 2002, the Hong Kong Art Centre invited Herman to be a member of the jury for the “Hong Kong Independent Short Film and Video Awards”. In 2002 and 2003, Herman was invited as a consultant for the “Master Degree Programme in Multimedia and Entertainment Technology” and Art Consultant for the Hong Kong Art Development Board. —Wikipédia

Read more

Biography from TMDB.

Born
August 1, 1961 (65)
From
Hong Kong, British Crown Colony [now China]
Works as
Director, cinematographer, writer and producer
Titles
39 on MovieCove · 143 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 37 days to Oct 26Down 7% in 30 days

What are Herman Yau's films like?

Across their 34 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Morality and Bonds.

Genres

Action18 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 38th percentile
: browse their Action movies
Comedy7 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 44th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Comedy movies
Crime3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 33rd percentile
: browse their Crime movies
Drama3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 59th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Horror2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 39th percentile
: browse their Horror movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Morality
34%
Bonds
18%
Survival
15%
Power
13%
Self
12%
Ideas
5%
Society
3%
Justice11 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival6 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love4 titles, browse their movies with this themeRevenge5 titles, browse their movies with this themeLoyalty5 titles, browse their movies with this themeBetrayal5 titles, browse their movies with this themeFriendship4 titles, browse their movies with this themeAmbition3 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 34 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Serious: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their serious movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

A split, not a type: Light 7 · Serious 9 · Dark 18

Stylized: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their stylized movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

A split, not a type: Grounded 16 · Stylized 12 · Heightened 6

Intense: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their intense movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

Gentle 3 · Charged 9 · Intense 22

Shifting: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their shifting movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

Steady 13 · Shifting 14 · Whiplash 7

Straight-faced: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their straight-faced movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

Straight-faced 26 · Some laughs 4 · Funny 4

Even-paced: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their even-paced movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 7 · Even-paced 17 · Relentless 10

Engaged: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their engaged movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 12 · Engaged 16 · Full focus 6

Affecting: How much it costs you emotionally; whether you need recovery time. Browse their affecting movies.
Demand · Emotional cost
easyheavy

Easy watch 8 · Affecting 20 · Heavy 6

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 23 · Open-ended 7 · Ambiguous 4

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
29
Thrilling
15
Melancholic
11
Dread
8
Contemplative
6
Other
18

How their films linger

Bittersweet15 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling13 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking10 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun10 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 6 with a twist

  • Happy7
  • Bittersweet13
  • Tragic3
  • Ambiguous11

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Herman Yau's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 13 of their 39 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (10).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Herman Yau's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

143 credits, 39 with a MovieCove page.

  • Angel in White (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2026)

    Director

  • We're Nothing at All(2026)

    Director · Producer · Writer

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films

  • A Gilded Game(2025)

    Director · Writer

    Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all films

  • Customs Frontline(2024)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all films

  • Crisis Negotiators(2024)

    Director · Writer

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films

  • Moscow Mission(2023)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all films

  • Raid on the Lethal Zone(2023)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films

  • Death Notice: A Serial Killer Leaving Notes(2023)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 22nd percentile of all films

  • The White Storm 3: Heaven or Hell(2023)

    Director · Writer

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films

  • Just 1 Day (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2022)

    Producer

  • The Dishwasher Squad (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2021)

    Producer

  • 77 Heartwarmings (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2021)

    Director

  • Chak dan juen ga 2(2020)

    Director · Writer

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • Apart (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2020)

    Producer

  • The White Storm 2: Drug Lords(2019)

    Director · Writer

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films

  • The New King of Comedy(2019)

    Co-Director

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all films

  • A Home with a View (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2019)

    Director

  • G Affairs (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2018)

    Executive Producer

  • The Leakers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2018)

    Director

  • Always Be with You(2017)

    Director · Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all films

  • From Where We've Fallen (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2017)

    Executive Producer

  • 77 Heartbreaks (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2017)

    Director

  • The Sleep Curse(2017)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all films

  • Shock Wave(2017)

    Director · Producer · Writer

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films

  • Nessun Dorma (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)

    Director

  • The Mobfathers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)

    Director

  • An Indigo (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    Thanks

  • An Inspector Calls(2015)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 18th percentile of all films

  • Upon Hatred (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)

    Thanks

  • Kung Fu Angels(2014)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 17th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Sara(2014)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

  • The Second Coming (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)

    Director

  • Beggar (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2013)

    Thanks

  • Ip Man: The Final Fight(2013)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films

  • Nightmare (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2012)

    Director · Screenplay

  • Love Actually... Sucks! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2012)

    Cinematographer · as Director in Party

  • Love Lifting (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2012)

    Director · Writer

  • Turning Point 2(2011)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 28th percentile of all films

  • Cyber Bully (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2011)

    Thanks

  • Paradox (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2011)

    Thanks

  • The Woman Knight of Mirror Lake (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2011)

    Director

  • Vampire Warriors (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2010)

    Cinematographer

  • 1+1 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2010)

    Thanks

  • The Legend Is Born: Ip Man (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2010)

    Director

  • All's Well, Ends Well 2010(2010)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 7th percentile of all films

  • King of Triads(2010)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all films

  • Quattro Hong Kong (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2010)

    Director

  • Rebellion (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    Director · Screenplay

  • Split Second Murders (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    Director

  • Turning Point(2009)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films

  • The First 7th Night (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    Director · Writer

  • A Very Short Life (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    Cinematographer

  • Permanent Residence (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    Cinematographer

  • True Women for Sale (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    Director · Writer

  • Chaos (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    Director

  • Triad Wars(2008)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all films

  • Whispers and Moans(2007)

    Director · Writer

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all films

  • Gong Tau (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    Director · Writer

  • Dancing Lion (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    Cinematographer

  • A Mob Story (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    Director

  • Fatal Contact(2006)

    Cinematographer · Producer

    Midcredits score: 63rd percentile of all films

  • On the Edge (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    Director · Writer

  • Love @ First Note (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    Cinematographer

  • Lethal Ninja (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    Director · Writer

  • Cocktail (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    Director

  • Seven Swords(2005)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

  • The Unusual Youth (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    Cinematographer

  • The Ghost Inside (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    Director

  • Himalaya Singh (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    Director of Operations · Second Unit Director

  • Seventeen Years Buried (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    Director · Screenplay

  • Astonishing (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    Director · Writer

  • Dating Death (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    Director

  • Papa Loves You (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    Director · Producer · Writer

  • Herbal Tea (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    Director · Screenplay

  • Xanda (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    Cinematographer

  • Happy Go Lucky (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    Cinematographer

  • Vampire Hunters(2003)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 12th percentile of all films

  • Give Them a Chance (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    Director · Writer

  • Shark Busters (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    Director

  • The Wall (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    as Cho's gangster boss

  • Happy Family (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    Director · Screenplay · as Applicant for Director Job

  • Killing End (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    Director · Writer

  • Nightmares in Precinct 7 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    Director · Writer

  • Zu Warriors(2001)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films

  • From the Queen to the Chief Executive (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    Director · as Guitar player

  • Old Master Q 2001(2001)

    Director · Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 7th percentile of all films

  • Time and Tide(2000)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all films

  • Crying Heart (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    Cinematographer · Actor

  • The Masked Prosecutor (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    Director

  • The Untold Story 3 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    Director

  • Troublesome Night 6 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    Director · as Camera man

  • Fascination Amour(1999)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 15th percentile of all films

  • Troublesome Night 5 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    Director

  • 9413 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    Cinematographer · Producer

  • Troublesome Night 4 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    Director · as John

  • Troublesome Night 3 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    Director

  • Troublesome Night 2 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    Director

  • '97 Aces Go Places(1997)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 6th percentile of all films

  • Troublesome Night(1997)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all films

  • Walk In (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    Director

  • Mr. Mumble (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    as Guy in red car [cameo]

  • Best of the Best (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    as Yuen Nam Sam

  • War of the Underworld (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    Director · Actor

  • Adventurous Treasure Island (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    Director

  • Ebola Syndrome(1996)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films

  • All of a Sudden (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    Director

  • City Cop (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    Director

  • Red Zone (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    Cinematographer

  • Highway Man (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    Cinematographer

  • New Tenant (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    Actor

  • No Justice for All (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    Director

  • Rock China the Power of Music Live in Hong Kong (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    Director · Editor

  • Cop Image (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    Director · Actor

  • Fearless Match (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    Director

  • Twenty Something (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    Cinematographer

  • Don't Shoot Me, I'm Just a Violinist (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    Director

  • C'est La Vie Mon Cheri (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    as Among Kit's musician friends

  • Taxi Hunter (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    Director · Writer

  • Man of the Times (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    Cinematographer

  • The Eight Immortals Restaurant: The Untold Story(1993)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all films

  • No More Love No More Death (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    Director · Cinematographer

  • Cageman (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    as TV crew member

  • Deadly Dream Woman (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    Executive Producer

  • Best of the Best (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    Director · Writer

  • With or Without You (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    Cinematographer

  • Freedom Run Q (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    Cinematographer

  • The Magic Touch (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    Cinematographer

  • My Flying Wife (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    Cinematographer

  • Fantasy Romance (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    Cinematographer

  • Don't Fool Me (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    Director

  • Stars and Roses(1989)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films

  • Sentenced to Hang(1989)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

  • Triads: The Inside Story(1989)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films

  • Law or Justice? (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    Cinematographer

  • Reunion (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    Cinematographer · Composer · Producer · Script Editor · Actor

  • The Truth (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    Cinematographer

  • No Regret (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    Director

  • Tragic Hero(1987)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films

  • Nemesis In The Dark (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Director

  • Shock Wave 3 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Director

  • The Cinematographer (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Director

  • Time to Go Home (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Director

  • 兩個半爸爸 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Director · Writer

Career shape

A full career of 143 titles, 137 of them dated from 1987 to 2026.

Biggest box office

Chak dan juen ga 2 (2020)

$199M worldwide

Highest rated

We're Nothing at All (2026)

Midcredits 82nd

Most popular right now

Zu Warriors (2001)

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting15 of 143: 6 only acting, 9 with another roleDirecting89 of 143: 54 only directing, 35 with another role · typical Midcredits score40thWriting29 of 143: 0 only writing, 29 with another role · typical Midcredits score42ndProducing11 of 143: 6 only producing, 5 with another roleMusic1 of 143: 0 only music, 1 with another roleCinematography36 of 143: 31 only cinematography, 5 with another role · typical Midcredits score40thEditing1 of 143: 0 only editing, 1 with another roleOther crew7 of 143: 7 only other crew, 0 with another role

143 titles, 39 with more than one role — directing and cinematography overlap on 1 of them.

By decade

1980s8 · 1 acting · 8 crew1990s43 · 10 acting · 38 crew2000s40 · 3 acting · 39 crew2010s33 · 1 acting · 33 crew2020s13 · crew

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored.

How do Herman Yau's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 40th percentile, the median of all 39; across their 34 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 43rd percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

43rdpercentile
Typical film, the median of 34

Approval · how many liked their films

30thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 34

Reach · how many have seen their films

60thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 34

Midcredits score across 39 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up3
  • 50th to 74th9
  • 25th to 49th17
  • Below 25th10

Shape of the crowd

22 of their 39 titles are Mixed.

  • Crowd Pleaser12
  • Broadly Agreed5
  • Mixed22

Most divisive · director

All's Well, Ends Well 2010 (2010)

69th percentile spread · 63% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · director, writer, producer

We're Nothing at All (2026)

Midcredits 82nd · 71% liked

Reviewers score the atmosphere 60/100 and the pacing 48/100 in their films, across 26 reviewed titles. The element that speaks to their work as a director.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Who does Herman Yau work with?

People who share at least 2 of Herman Yau's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Jan-Hung Mak shares the most, 14.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers, cinematographers and editors

Producers

Mixed roles