---
name: "Herman Yau"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/herman-yau"
fi1m_id: "herman-yau"
imdb_id: "nm0946875"
tmdb_id: 92831
wikidata_id: "Q3134110"
roles: ["Director"]
born: "1 August 1961"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 1
average_as: "director"
average_over: 1
updated: "2026-10-05T15:38:06.011740+00:00"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Herman Yau

## Identity

Herman Yau

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/herman-yau
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** herman-yau
- **IMDb ID:** nm0946875
- **TMDB ID:** 92831
- **Wikidata ID:** Q3134110
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herman_Yau, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q3134110, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0946875/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/92831

Director. Born 1 August 1961 in Hong Kong, British Crown Colony [now China].

## Details

- **Work:** Director
- **Born:** 1 August 1961, Hong Kong, British Crown Colony [now China]
- **Also known as:** Herman Yau Lai-To, Yau Lai-To
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herman_Yau, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q3134110, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0946875/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/92831

## Streaming the US now

- **Amazon Prime Video:** [*Shock Wave 2*](https://film.one/film/shock-wave-2.md) (65)

For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country.

## Biography

Herman Yau Lai-to is a Hong Kong film director, screenwriter and cinematographer. He studied at the Department of Communications, Hong Kong Baptist College in the early 1980s.

Yau began his career in the 1980s and 1990s with a series of Category III films, including *The Untold Story* (1993) and *Ebola Syndrome* (1996). He later directed mainstream action and crime films such as *The Legend Is Born: Ip Man* (2010), *Ip Man: The Final Fight* (2013), *Shock Wave* (2017) and its 2020 sequel, which he also wrote.

He has directed dozens of features across genres and has worked as a cinematographer on several productions.

*Sources: en.wikipedia.org, imdb.com, scmp.com.*

## On Fi1m (1)

- *Shock Wave 2* (2020), Fi1m 65, Director, Writer — [page](https://film.one/film/shock-wave-2.md)

## Complete filmography (142)

Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page.

- *We're Nothing at All* (2026), Director, Writer, Producer
- *A Gilded Game* (2025), Director, Writer
- *Customs Frontline* (2024), Director
- *Crisis Negotiators* (2024), Director, Writer
- *Moscow Mission* (2023), Director
- *Raid on the Lethal Zone* (2023), Director
- *Death Notice* (2023), Director
- *The White Storm 3: Heaven or Hell* (2023), Director, Writer
- *Just 1 Day* (2022), Producer
- *The Dishwasher Squad* (2021), Producer
- *77 Heartwarmings* (2021), Director
- *Shock Wave 2* (2020), Director, Writer — Fi1m 65, [page](https://film.one/film/shock-wave-2.md)
- *Apart* (2020), Producer
- *The White Storm 2: Drug Lords* (2019), Director, Writer
- *The New King of Comedy* (2019), Co-Director
- *A Home with a View* (2019), Director
- *G Affairs* (2018), Executive Producer
- *The Leakers* (2018), Director
- *Always Be with You* (2017), Director, Screenplay
- *From Where We've Fallen* (2017), Executive Producer
- *77 Heartbreaks* (2017), Director
- *The Sleep Curse* (2017), Director
- *Shock Wave* (2017), Director, Writer, Producer
- *Nessun Dorma* (2016), Director
- *The Mobfathers* (2016), Director
- *An Indigo* (2015), Thanks
- *An Inspector Calls* (2015), Director
- *Upon Hatred* (2014), Thanks
- *Kung Fu Angels* (2014), Director
- *Sara* (2014), Director
- *The Second Coming* (2014), Director
- *Beggar* (2013), Thanks
- *Ip Man: The Final Fight* (2013), Director
- *Nightmare* (2012), Director, Screenplay
- *Love Actually... Sucks!* (2012), as Director in Party · Cinematography
- *Love Lifting* (2012), Director, Writer
- *Turning Point 2* (2011), Director
- *Cyber Bully* (2011), Thanks
- *Paradox* (2011), Thanks
- *The Woman Knight of Mirror Lake* (2011), Director
- *Vampire Warriors* (2010), Director of Photography
- *1+1* (2010), Thanks
- *The Legend Is Born: Ip Man* (2010), Director
- *All's Well End's Well Too 2010* (2010), Director
- *Bad Blood* (2010), Director of Photography
- *Quattro Hong Kong* (2010), Director
- *Rebellion* (2009), Director, Screenplay
- *Split Second Murders* (2009), Director
- *Turning Point* (2009), Director
- *The First 7th Night* (2009), Director, Writer
- *A Very Short Life* (2009), Director of Photography
- *Permanent Residence* (2009), Cinematography
- *True Women for Sale* (2008), Director, Writer
- *Chaos* (2008), Director
- *Triad Wars* (2008), Director of Photography
- *Whispers and Moans* (2007), Director
- *Gong Tau* (2007), Director, Writer
- *Dancing Lion* (2007), Cinematography
- *A Mob Story* (2007), Director
- *Fatal Contact* (2006), Director of Photography
- *On the Edge* (2006), Director, Writer
- *Love @ First Note* (2006), Director of Photography
- *Lethal Ninja* (2006), Director, Writer
- *Cocktail* (2006), Director
- *Seven Swords* (2005), Cinematography
- *The Unusual Youth* (2005), Director of Photography
- *The Ghost Inside* (2005), Director
- *Himalaya Singh* (2005), Director of Operations, Second Unit Director
- *Seventeen Years Buried* (2005), Director, Screenplay
- *Astonishing* (2004), Director, Writer
- *Dating Death* (2004), Director
- *Papa Loves You* (2004), Director, Producer, Writer
- *Herbal Tea* (2004), Director, Screenplay
- *Xanda* (2004), Director of Photography
- *Happy Go Lucky* (2003), Director of Photography
- *Vampire Hunters* (2003), Director of Photography
- *Give Them a Chance* (2003), Director, Writer
- *Shark Busters* (2002), Director
- *The Wall* (2002), as Cho's gangster boss
- *Happy Family* (2002), Applicant for Director Job, Director, Screenplay
- *Killing End* (2001), Director, Writer
- *Nightmares in Precinct 7* (2001), Director, Writer
- *Zu Warriors* (2001), Director of Photography
- *From the Queen to the Chief Executive* (2001), as Guitar player · Director
- *Master Q 2001* (2001), Director, Screenplay
- *Time and Tide* (2000), Director of Photography
- *Crying Heart* (1999), as Director of Photography
- *The Masked Prosecutor* (1999), Director
- *The Untold Story 3* (1999), Director
- *Troublesome Night 6* (1999), Camera man, Director
- *Fascination Amour* (1999), Director
- *Troublesome Night 5* (1999), Director
- *9413* (1998), Cinematography, Producer
- *Troublesome Night 4* (1998), as John · Director
- *Troublesome Night 3* (1998), Director
- *Troublesome Night 2* (1997), Director
- *97 Aces Go Places* (1997), Director of Photography
- *Troublesome Night* (1997), Director
- *Walk In* (1997), Director
- *Mr. Mumble* (1996), as Guy in red car [cameo]
- *Best of the Best* (1996), as Yuen Nam Sam
- *War of the Underworld* (1996), Director
- *Adventurous Treasure Island* (1996), Director
- *Ebola Syndrome* (1996), Director
- *All of a Sudden* (1996), Director
- *City Cop* (1995), Director
- *Red Zone* (1995), Director of Photography
- *Highway Man* (1995), Director of Photography
- *New Tenant* (1995), Actor
- *No Justice for All* (1995), Director
- *Rock China the Power of Music Live in Hong Kong* (1994), Director, Editor
- *Cop Image* (1994), Director
- *Fearless Match* (1994), Director
- *Twenty Something* (1994), Director of Photography
- *Don't Shoot Me, I'm Just a Violinist* (1994), Director
- *C'est La Vie Mon Cheri* (1993), as Among Kit's musician friends
- *Taxi Hunter* (1993), Director, Writer
- *Man of the Times* (1993), Cinematography
- *The Untold Story* (1993), Director
- *No More Love No More Death* (1993), Director, Director of Photography
- *Cageman* (1992), as TV crew member
- *Deadly Dream Woman* (1992), Executive Producer
- *Best of the Best* (1992), Director, Writer
- *With or Without You* (1992), Director of Photography
- *Freedom Run Q* (1992), Cinematography
- *The Magic Touch* (1992), Director of Photography
- *My Flying Wife* (1991), Director of Photography
- *Fantasy Romance* (1991), Cinematography
- *Don't Fool Me* (1991), Director
- *Stars and Roses* (1989), Director of Photography
- *Sentenced to Hang* (1989), Director of Photography
- *Triads: The Inside Story* (1989), Director of Photography
- *Law or Justice?* (1988), Director of Photography
- *Reunion* (1988), Producer, Director of Photography, Music, Script Editor
- *The Truth* (1988), Director of Photography
- *No Regret* (1987), Director
- *Tragic Hero* (1987), Director of Photography
- *Shock Wave 3*, Director
- *兩個半爸爸*, Writer, Director
- *Nemesis In The Dark*, Director
- *Angel in White*, Director
- *The Cinematographer*, Director

## Gallery

- ![Herman Yau](https://film.one/media/person/6056855/gallery-ad8a55fcd8dd.jpg) Herman Yau — 中国新闻网, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b6/Herman_Yau_2019.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![HK SKD 寶琳 Po Lam MCP Discovery mall event 電影 film 我們不是什麼 We're Nothing at All 見面會 meeting party in April 2026](https://film.one/media/person/6056855/gallery-da2025e7ce49.jpg) HK SKD 寶琳 Po Lam MCP Discovery mall event 電影 film 我們不是什麼 We're Nothing at All 見面會 meeting party in April 2026 — DAHAOI Taoh MINGWHUA, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/45/HK_SKD_%E5%AF%B6%E7%90%B3_Po_Lam_MCP_Discovery_mall_event_%E9%9B%BB%E5%BD%B1_film_%E6%88%91%E5%80%91%E4%B8%8D%E6%98%AF%E4%BB%80%E9%BA%BC_We%27re_Nothing_at_All_%E8%A6%8B%E9%9D%A2%E6%9C%83_meeting_party_April_2026_N13P_203.jpg/1280px-HK_SKD_%E5%AF%B6%E7%90%B3_Po_Lam_MCP_Discovery_mall_event_%E9%9B%BB%E5%BD%B1_film_%E6%88%91%E5%80%91%E4%B8%8D%E6%98%AF%E4%BB%80%E9%BA%BC_We%27re_Nothing_at_All_%E8%A6%8B%E9%9D%A2%E6%9C%83_meeting_party_April_2026_N13P_203.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![HK SKD 寶琳 Po Lam MCP Discovery mall event 電影 film 我們不是什麼 We're Nothing at All 見面會 meeting party in April 2026](https://film.one/media/person/6056855/gallery-185944a3f2ae.jpg) HK SKD 寶琳 Po Lam MCP Discovery mall event 電影 film 我們不是什麼 We're Nothing at All 見面會 meeting party in April 2026 — DAHAOI Taoh MINGWHUA, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/11/HK_SKD_%E5%AF%B6%E7%90%B3_Po_Lam_MCP_Discovery_mall_event_%E9%9B%BB%E5%BD%B1_film_%E6%88%91%E5%80%91%E4%B8%8D%E6%98%AF%E4%BB%80%E9%BA%BC_We%27re_Nothing_at_All_%E8%A6%8B%E9%9D%A2%E6%9C%83_meeting_party_April_2026_N13P_205.jpg/1280px-HK_SKD_%E5%AF%B6%E7%90%B3_Po_Lam_MCP_Discovery_mall_event_%E9%9B%BB%E5%BD%B1_film_%E6%88%91%E5%80%91%E4%B8%8D%E6%98%AF%E4%BB%80%E9%BA%BC_We%27re_Nothing_at_All_%E8%A6%8B%E9%9D%A2%E6%9C%83_meeting_party_April_2026_N13P_205.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![HK SKD 寶琳 Po Lam MCP Discovery mall event 電影 film 我們不是什麼 We're Nothing at All 見面會 meeting party in April 2026](https://film.one/media/person/6056855/gallery-ba32751db380.jpg) HK SKD 寶琳 Po Lam MCP Discovery mall event 電影 film 我們不是什麼 We're Nothing at All 見面會 meeting party in April 2026 — DAHAOI Taoh MINGWHUA, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4a/HK_SKD_%E5%AF%B6%E7%90%B3_Po_Lam_MCP_Discovery_mall_event_%E9%9B%BB%E5%BD%B1_film_%E6%88%91%E5%80%91%E4%B8%8D%E6%98%AF%E4%BB%80%E9%BA%BC_We%27re_Nothing_at_All_%E8%A6%8B%E9%9D%A2%E6%9C%83_meeting_party_April_2026_N13P_206.jpg/1280px-HK_SKD_%E5%AF%B6%E7%90%B3_Po_Lam_MCP_Discovery_mall_event_%E9%9B%BB%E5%BD%B1_film_%E6%88%91%E5%80%91%E4%B8%8D%E6%98%AF%E4%BB%80%E9%BA%BC_We%27re_Nothing_at_All_%E8%A6%8B%E9%9D%A2%E6%9C%83_meeting_party_April_2026_N13P_206.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Herman Yau](https://film.one/media/person/6056855/gallery-c5885e4b71a0.jpg) Herman Yau — Image via TMDB
- ![Herman Yau](https://film.one/media/person/6056855/gallery-a7b99f8a68c6.jpg) Herman Yau — Image via TMDB
- ![Herman Yau](https://film.one/media/person/6056855/gallery-2625c6d0dc61.jpg) Herman Yau — Image via TMDB
- ![HK SKD 寶琳 Po Lam MCP Discovery mall event 電影 film 我們不是什麼 We're Nothing at All 見面會 meeting party in April 2026](https://film.one/media/person/6056855/gallery-0e8ae01f4b62.jpg) HK SKD 寶琳 Po Lam MCP Discovery mall event 電影 film 我們不是什麼 We're Nothing at All 見面會 meeting party in April 2026 — DAHAOI Taoh MINGWHUA, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/38/HK_SKD_%E5%AF%B6%E7%90%B3_Po_Lam_MCP_Discovery_mall_event_%E9%9B%BB%E5%BD%B1_film_%E6%88%91%E5%80%91%E4%B8%8D%E6%98%AF%E4%BB%80%E9%BA%BC_We%27re_Nothing_at_All_%E8%A6%8B%E9%9D%A2%E6%9C%83_meeting_party_April_2026_N13P_213.jpg/1280px-HK_SKD_%E5%AF%B6%E7%90%B3_Po_Lam_MCP_Discovery_mall_event_%E9%9B%BB%E5%BD%B1_film_%E6%88%91%E5%80%91%E4%B8%8D%E6%98%AF%E4%BB%80%E9%BA%BC_We%27re_Nothing_at_All_%E8%A6%8B%E9%9D%A2%E6%9C%83_meeting_party_April_2026_N13P_213.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![HK SKD 寶琳 Po Lam MCP Discovery mall event 電影 film 我們不是什麼 We're Nothing at All 見面會 meeting party in April 2026](https://film.one/media/person/6056855/gallery-2cd9d21ff6f6.jpg) HK SKD 寶琳 Po Lam MCP Discovery mall event 電影 film 我們不是什麼 We're Nothing at All 見面會 meeting party in April 2026 — DAHAOI Taoh MINGWHUA, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/ac/HK_SKD_%E5%AF%B6%E7%90%B3_Po_Lam_MCP_Discovery_mall_event_%E9%9B%BB%E5%BD%B1_film_%E6%88%91%E5%80%91%E4%B8%8D%E6%98%AF%E4%BB%80%E9%BA%BC_We%27re_Nothing_at_All_%E8%A6%8B%E9%9D%A2%E6%9C%83_meeting_party_April_2026_N13P_214.jpg/1280px-HK_SKD_%E5%AF%B6%E7%90%B3_Po_Lam_MCP_Discovery_mall_event_%E9%9B%BB%E5%BD%B1_film_%E6%88%91%E5%80%91%E4%B8%8D%E6%98%AF%E4%BB%80%E9%BA%BC_We%27re_Nothing_at_All_%E8%A6%8B%E9%9D%A2%E6%9C%83_meeting_party_April_2026_N13P_214.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Herman Yau](https://film.one/media/person/6056855/gallery-bf3b01d427ad.jpg) Herman Yau — Image via TMDB
- ![Herman Yau](https://film.one/media/person/6056855/gallery-a27aee87205e.jpg) Herman Yau — Image via TMDB

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/herman-yau