Michelle Yeoh’s Everything Everywhere All At Once has been a massive success. From humble beginnings as a martial artist doing movies, Yeoh has amassed a diverse number of roles under her belt. From playing "tiger mom" matriarch Eleanor Young in Crazy Rich Asians to Bond girl in Tomorrow Never Dies, Michelle Yeoh is also one of the few actresses to play two different characters within the Marvel Universe: Aleta Ogord and Ying Nan from Guardians of the Galaxy Vol.2 and Shang Chi and the Legend of the 10 Rings respectively.
With over 65 plus film credits to her name, the indications are that Yeoh is certainly not slowing down. In honor of the actress' stellar career, let's take a look at some of the best movies starring Michelle Yeoh.
Updated March 14, 2023 by Mark Sammut: Everything Everywhere All at Once was the big winner of the 2023 Academy Awards, which included a Best Actress award for Michelle Yeoh. If someone is looking to try out a few more of the performer's features, they should start with the following movies.
13 Far North (2007)
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86% |
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In Far North, Yeoh stars as Saiva, an outcast of a Siberian tribe whose shaman foretold that she was cursed at birth and would bring harm to anyone she cared for. Despite this, she is accompanied by her daughter who together, forage and hunt in the wilderness. One day they rescue a lost soldier, Loki, played by Sean Bean, whose fate of course is sealed.
Set against a gorgeous yet desolate backdrop, the characters struggle to survive the harsh cold as tensions rise between the three people. Brutal, haunting, and raw, Far North showcases Yeoh’s ability to get gritty and savage for her roles.
12 Tomorrow Never Dies (1997)
The film that propelled Michelle Yeoh towards international acclaim and stardom, Tomorrow Never Dies features the actress as Chinese spy Wai Lin. She must work with 007 to take down a power-hungry media mogul bent on initiating World War 3.
Some might argue that Michelle Yeoh eclipses Pierce Brosnan in this action flick since her skills as a fighter appear more pronounced and fluid. Despite having to be rescued by Bond, Michelle honors her character with strength, intelligence, grace, and independence, demonstrating that she is much more than a typical Bond girl.
11 The Lady (2011)
A grand biopic based on the life of Aung San Suu Kyi, Burma’s most prominent non-violent female politician who endured years of house arrest and was ousted by the Burmese military several times. The Lady chronicles Suu Kyi’s political struggle and her love life with Oxford university sweetheart and historian, Michael Aris.
Given the hardships that Suu Kyi faced, Yeoh was able to demonstrate her versatility and prowess as an actress, portraying a respectable, believable, and vulnerable depiction of Suu Kyi. Yeoh’s portrayal was praised by both critics and the public.
10 Memoirs Of A Geisha (2005)
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35% |
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Based on Robin Swicord's novel, Memoirs of a Geisha attracted controversy for a number of reasons, including its romanticized and shallow look into its subject. If somebody is looking to learn about the geisha world, this 2005 film is not going to offer much insight; however, if a viewer mainly wants gorgeous cinematography and just an overall top-notch presentation, they will find it in Memoirs of a Geisha.
As Mameha, Michelle Yeoh exudes elegance, poise, beauty, and determination. The character primarily serves as a mentor and aid to Ziyi Zhang's Chiyo Sakamoto, but she still plays a crucial role in the story.
9 Police Story 3: Supercop (1992)
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92% |
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Also known as Police Story 3: Supercop, the film stars Michelle Yeoh alongside Jackie Chan who must team up in another buddy-cop scenario who must infiltrate and take down a drug lord based in Hong Kong. Interestingly, this is the first Jackie Chan film from Hong Kong to utilize what is known as sync sound, allowing actors on set to have their voices recorded as previously, voices would be dubbed later after shooting.
The film demonstrates Yeoh’s ability to match Jackie Chan in terms of his stunt and martial arts ability. Yeoh would go on to take center stage in 1993's Supercop 2. While not reaching the heights of its predecessor, the sequel is still a decent action romp.
8 Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings (2021)
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91% |
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The Marvel Cinematic Universe has not been on that great of a run in recent years, but Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings largely avoided the flaws that plagued most Phase Four releases. Containing arguably the best action sequences in the MCU, the film benefits significantly from its decision to prioritize martial arts, which adds weight and credibility to most of the fight scenes.
Michelle Yeoh has a fairly small role in the movie, although she does get a few moments to shine during the film's second half. While not one of the best Michelle Yeoh movies since she is a (relatively) minor character, Shang-Chi is one of her better Hollywood productions.
7 The Soong Sisters (1997)
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This movie is based on the real Soong sisters who married the founders of the Republic of China. The story follows their journey of how they studied overseas, returned home to China, married, and ultimately influenced their husbands, changing the course of Chinese history forever.
Michelle Yeoh plays the eldest sister, Soong Ai-Ling, and was nominated for Best Supporting Actress at the 1998 Hong Kong Film Awards. The film was released at a very precarious time for Hong Kong and Chinese cinema as the former was restored under the latter's mainland sovereignty.
6 Wing Chun (1994)
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Released shortly after Supercop, Wing Chun maintained Michelle Yeoh's momentum as an action star while further proving that she could lead a feature with no ties to a franchise. Inspired by the origin of the eponymous martial art style, Wing Chun blends action and humor to create a thoroughly enjoyable romp that serves as a showcase of Yeoh's many talents.
The actress earned her reputation as one of China's greatest modern action stars through films like Wing Chun. While it might not be well known in Western nations, this project is worth seeking out.
5 Sunshine (2007)
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76% |
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Although not Michelle Yeoh’s first foray into sci-fi, Sunshine was her most high-profile entry in the genre. The movie features an ensemble of prominent actors (including Michelle Yeoh) as astronauts who go on a dangerous mission to revive a dying sun.
Despite being among an ensemble, Yeoh stands out in the crew and holds her own as the ship’s biologist. Danny Boyle even changed the character's direction to suit Yeoh, and she even convinced the director to change a few other things in the script.
4 Yes, Madam! (1985)
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Yes, Madam is Michelle Yeoh’s first leading role and was the first film in a line of others that would catapult her toward fame during the early 90s. A buddy-cop film where Yeoh partners up with Cynthia Rothrock in an east-meets-west police collaboration to recover some stolen microfilm.
Known for its incredible action sequences, Michelle Yeoh is said to have spent 8 hours at a gym every day to prepare for her role. The film was popular enough that it spawned the In The Line Of Duty film series.
3 Crazy Rich Asians (2018)
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91% |
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N/A |
Although Crazy Rich Asians may not be considered the finest film ever created, the film did set a new standard for Asian-American and Asian representation in Hollywood films. It is the first film by a Hollywood studio to feature a majority Asian (or Chinese) cast since The Joy Luck Club back in 1993.
Michelle Yeoh once again is exceptional in her role as Eleanor Young. Despite playing a dominant dragon lady, she doesn’t fall into the stereotype. Instead, Yeoh brings a distinct vulnerability to the role whilst retaining her authority, highlighting the nuances within the delicate and often difficult relationships between Asian parents and their children.
2 Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon (2000)
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98% |
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As one of the greatest and most successful Wuxia films of all time, Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon cemented Michelle Yeoh’s reputation as a skilled martial artist and actress. Though Michelle Yeoh starred in a series of prominent Hong Kong action films in the early 1990s where she performed her stunts, it was this film that brought her international recognition, and she was nominated for a BAFTA award for best actress.
Following the success of the film, Yeoh would go on to star in multiple Hollywood productions and found her own company, Mythical Films which was set up in 2002. It was noted that Michelle Yeoh did not speak mandarin well at the time and learned all her lines phonetically.
1 Everything Everywhere All At Once (2022)
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95% |
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Everything Everywhere All at Once swept the 95th Academy Awards, and the film deserved every ounce of praise and success thrown its way. In some ways, the 2022 movie seems like a celebration of Yeoh's overall career, highlighting the actress' capacity for stunts, drama, and comedy.
As memorable as the action set pieces are, some of the movie's and Yeoh's greatest moments are when things slow down to emphasize the family drama at the heart of the story. Arguably the best multiverse movie of all time, Everything Everywhere All at Once will be remembered and rewatched for decades to come.