15 Most Powerful Movie Performances Of All Time

13. Chow Yun-Fat - The Killer (1989)

Any discussion of John Woo's golden period of 'heroic bloodshed' Hong Kong action movies will typically focus on the director's remarkable flair for balletic gunplay sequences. One aspect that perhaps doesn't get the emphasis it deserves is the sheer brilliance of his leading man. Chow Yun-Fat isn't simply a charismatic action hero; he's a truly brilliant actor, and his work played a key role in elevating Woo's work to the iconic status it celebrates today.

He's never been better than in The Killer, as the professional assassin whose crisis of conscience sees him turned against those closest to him. Look no further than the scene in which his best friend puts a gun to his head.