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Chito S. Roño

Chito S. Roño

Director and writer · Born April 26, 1954 (72) · Calbayog, Samar, Philippines

Chito S. Roño, also known as Sixto Kayko, is a Filipino writer, film producer and film director known for his expansive vision and special-effects-heavy films, most notably Yamashita: The Tiger's Treasure (2001) for which he won the Metro Manila Film Festival for best director. He is also known for his 1997 film, Nasaan ang Puso, which earned him his first MMFF for best director. His film Signal Rock was selected as the Filipino entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 91st Academy Awards, but it was not nominated.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
April 26, 1954 (72)
From
Calbayog, Samar, Philippines
Works as
Director and writer
Titles
16 on MovieCove · 57 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 156 days to Oct 27Down 22% in 30 days

What are Chito S. Roño's films like?

Across their 16 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Morality.

Genres

Drama8 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 61st percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Horror3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 25th percentile
: browse their Horror movies
Action2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 62nd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Action movies
Comedy2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 69th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Comedy 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
Bonds
36%
Morality
21%
Survival
18%
Power
11%
Self
10%
Society
4%
Family bonds10 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival4 titles, browse their movies with this themeFriendship3 titles, browse their movies with this themeGuilt3 titles, browse their movies with this themeOppression2 titles, browse their movies with this themeSelf-worth2 titles, browse their movies with this themeBetrayal2 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 16 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 1 · Serious 7 · Dark 8

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

Grounded 10 · Stylized 6 · Heightened 0

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

Gentle 0 · Charged 9 · Intense 7

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

Steady 3 · Shifting 12 · Whiplash 1

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

Straight-faced 14 · Some laughs 2 · Funny 0

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

Slow burn 3 · Even-paced 11 · Relentless 2

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

Casual 4 · Engaged 12 · Full focus 0

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

A split, not a type: Easy watch 1 · Affecting 6 · Heavy 9

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

Resolved 11 · Open-ended 5 · Ambiguous 0

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
12
Dread
10
Melancholic
9
Hopeful
5
Bittersweet
3
Other
3

How their films linger

Unsettling7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 3 with a twist

  • Happy1
  • Bittersweet10
  • Ambiguous5

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 Chito S. Roño's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 1 of their 16 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, on Netflix (1).

Subscription and free streaming for Chito S. Roño'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

57 credits, 16 with a MovieCove page.

  • Espantaho(2024)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all films

  • Mama Susan's Friends (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2023)

    Director

  • Mars Ravelo's Darna (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2022)

    Show 65 episodes · Director

  • Signal Rock (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2018)

    Director

  • Unli Life (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2018)

    Story

  • The Ghost Bride(2017)

    Director · Screenplay · Story

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films

  • Etiquette for Mistresses(2015)

    Director · Story

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films

  • Feng Shui 2(2014)

    Director · Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all films

  • The Trial(2014)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • Boy Golden: Shoot-To-Kill (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2013)

    Director

  • Maria Mercedes (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2013)

    Show 80 episodes · Director

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

    Director

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

    Director

  • Lost Command (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2012)

    Director

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

    Director

  • Shake, Rattle, and Roll Fourteen: The Invasion (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2012)

    Director · Story

  • The Healing(2012)

    Director · Writer

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

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

    Director · Story

  • Imortal (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2010)

    Show 148 episodes · Director

  • Emir (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2010)

    Director

  • Magkano Ang Iyong Dangal? (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2010)

    Show 77 episodes · Director

  • T2(2009)

    Director · Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films

  • Caregiver(2008)

    Director · Story

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • Lastikman (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    Show 89 episodes · Director

  • The Wedding Curse(2006)

    Director · Screenplay · Story

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

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

    Show 108 episodes · Director

  • Feng Shui(2004)

    Director · Writer

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films

  • Spirit Warriors: The Shortcut (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    Director

  • The Seventies(2002)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films

  • Yamashita: The Tiger's Treasure (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    Director

  • La Vida Rosa (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    Director

  • Spirit Warriors(2000)

    Director · Writer

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all films

  • Laro sa Baga (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    Director

  • Always Looking for You (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    Director

  • Woman by the Window (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    Director

  • Lea's Story(1998)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films

  • Curacha: The Restless Woman (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    Director · Story

  • Nasaan ang Puso (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    Director

  • Istokwa (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    Director · Screenplay

  • Dahas (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    Director

  • Di Mapigil Ang Init (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    Director

  • Kill Barbara with Panic(1995)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

  • Eskapo(1995)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • A Separated Woman (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    Director

  • Bakit Pa Kita Minahal (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    Director

  • Sige... Hataw Mo! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    Director

  • Minsan lang kitang iibigin(1994)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

  • Only You (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    Director · Screenplay

  • Stella Magtanggol (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    Director

  • My Heart Is Here (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    Director

  • When Will You Be Mine (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    Director

  • A Moment Too Long (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    Director

  • Kasalanan Bang Sambahin Ka? (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    Director

  • Baleleng and the Golden Mermaid (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    Director · Story

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

    Director

  • Olongapo: The Great American Dream (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    Director

  • Private Show (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    Director

Career shape

A full career of 57 titles from 1985 to 2025.

Biggest box office

Caregiver (2008)

$3.1M worldwide

Highest rated

The Seventies (2002)

Midcredits 93rd

Most popular right now

Espantaho (2024)

By role

only this rolewith another role
Directing56 of 57: 42 only directing, 14 with another role · typical Midcredits score58thWriting15 of 57: 1 only writing, 14 with another role · typical Midcredits score50th

57 titles, 14 with more than one role — directing and writing overlap on 14 of them.

By decade

1980s4 · crew1990s20 · crew2000s12 · crew2010s18 · crew2020s3 · 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 Chito S. Roño's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 58th percentile, the median of all 16; across their 16 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 61st percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

61stpercentile
Typical film, the median of 16

Approval · how many liked their films

48thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 16

Reach · how many have seen their films

43rdpercentile
Typical film, the median of 16

Midcredits score across 16 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up3
  • 50th to 74th7
  • 25th to 49th5
  • Below 25th1

Shape of the crowd

6 of their 16 titles are Divisive.

  • Loved with Detractors1
  • Divisive6
  • Cult Classic5
  • Mixed4

Most divisive · director

The Trial (2014)

98th percentile spread · 48% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · director

The Seventies (2002)

Midcredits 93rd · 81% liked

Reviewers score the atmosphere 62/100 and the pacing 46/100 in their films, across 8 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 Chito S. Roño work with?

People who share at least 2 of Chito S. Roño's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Charo Santos-Concio shares the most, 14.

Writers

Actors

Composers, cinematographers and editors

Producers