The 60+ Best James Hong Movies, Ranked By Fans

Some actors have a handful of iconic roles. James Hong has an entire multiverse of them.
With more than 600 credits across seven decades, the Minnesota-born character actor has popped
up in everything from noir classics like Chinatown to sci-fi landmarks like
Blade Runner, animated hits like Kung Fu Panda, and the
Oscar-sweeping Everything Everywhere All at Once.

Fans have been quietly ranking James Hong’s movies for years on sites like Ranker and IMDb, where
cult favorites duke it out with prestige pictures for the top spots.
The result is a surprisingly consistent consensus: certain films are must-watch Hong, others are
delightful deep cuts, and almost all of them prove that no one steals a scene quite like he does.

This guide pulls together fan rankings, critic lists, and film-nerd debates to highlight the
60+ best James Hong movies, explain why they resonate, and help you plan the perfect Hong movie
marathon. Pop some popcornMr. Ping would approveand let’s dive in.

Why Fans Can’t Get Enough of James Hong

A career that refuses to slow down

James Hong started acting in the 1950s, originally dubbing Asian films into English, before
building a resume that may genuinely be one of the largest in Hollywood historymore than 600
film and TV roles and counting. He moved from engineer to
full-time actor, popped up on classic TV shows, co-founded the influential Asian American theater
company East West Players, and later became a go-to face (and voice) for everything from villains
and sorcerers to sweet dads and animated ducks.

What makes him so beloved isn’t just the sheer volume of work, but the versatility. He’s equally
convincing as a sinister sorcerer like David Lo Pan in Big Trouble in Little China,
a weary genetic engineer in Blade Runner, or a noodle-shop dad in
Kung Fu Panda. His characters feel specific, weird, and aliveeven when he’s on
screen for only a couple of minutes.

How this fan ranking works

Fan-driven sites like Ranker list over 60 James Hong movies, letting people upvote their favorite
titles. As of a recent update, the top of that list is dominated by
Blade Runner, Big Trouble in Little China, and
Chinatown. Other outlets like Collider and MovieWeb add in
cult picks and animated hits such as Kung Fu Panda, The Vineyard,
and Turning Red.

For this article, we’ve blended those fan rankings with critic lists and Hong’s own comments on
his favorite roles. The result isn’t a rigid, mathematical order so much as a curated tour through
his best-loved filmswith extra shout-outs to movies that showcase his range.

The Top Tier: Essential James Hong Movies Ranked by Fans

#1 – Blade Runner (1982)

In Ridley Scott’s neon-soaked sci-fi noir, James Hong plays Hannibal Chew, the eye-designer who
quietly helps Harrison Ford’s Deckard track down rogue replicants. His screentime is short, but
unforgettable: bundled in a heavy coat, shivering in a walk-in freezer, calmly bragging,
“I do eyes.” That brief appearance crystallizes what Hong does bestturning a tiny role
into a fully realized human being in a single scene.

Fans consistently vote Blade Runner near the top of any James Hong ranking
because the film itself is a masterpiece, and because Chew is such an iconic piece of its world:
a man literally surrounded by eyes in a movie obsessed with what it means to truly see.

#2 – Big Trouble in Little China (1986)

If you’ve ever wanted to watch James Hong unleash his full supervillain powers, this is the one.
As David Lo Pan, he’s a cursed sorcerer desperate to regain his physical form, tormenting Kurt
Russell’s hilariously out-of-his-depth truck driver. The movie is a wild mash-up of martial arts,
fantasy, comedy, and practical-effects spectacleand Hong is at the center of the storm, cackling
in ornate robes, glowing eyes and all.

Fans love Big Trouble in Little China because it’s one of the rare films that
lets Hong go big. He gets monologues, magic powers, and some of the best line deliveries of his
career. It’s hammy, campy, and completely delightful.

#3 – Chinatown (1974)

Roman Polanski’s Chinatown is one of the defining American noirs, and Hong appears
as the quietly crucial butler Kahn. Opposite Jack Nicholson and Faye Dunaway, he has to hold his
own in a story spinning around corruption, water rights, and family secrets. His performance is
understatedalmost the opposite of Lo Panbut that’s the point. He brings a grounded, human
presence to a movie full of monsters in suits.

Fans rank Chinatown highly in part because of its classic status, and in part
because it’s one of the earliest examples of Hong being cast in prestige material, not just
stereotypes.

#4 – Everything Everywhere All at Once (2022)

Nearly 70 years after his first screen credits, Hong turned up in the multiverse mayhem of
Everything Everywhere All at Once as Gong Gong, the stern grandfather who’s more
than he appears. The Daniels’ film swept the 2023 Oscars and earned Hong a Screen Actors Guild
ensemble award.

What fans adore here is the emotional arc: Gong Gong starts out as the traditional, slightly
terrifying elder and ends up part of a messy, loving, very weird family reconciliation across
universes. It’s a testament to Hong’s longevity that he’s just as magnetic in A24 arthouse chaos
as he was in ‘80s fantasy flicks.

#5 – The Kung Fu Panda Series (2008–2024)

As Mr. Ping, the anxious, noodle-loving goose who raised Po, Hong gets to tap into his comedic and
tender side. Across multiple Kung Fu Panda films, he turns what could have been a
one-note cartoon dad into one of the emotional anchors of the series.

Fans especially love the adoption storylineMr. Ping clinging to his son, worrying about losing
him to heroism, then proudly supporting Po’s destiny. If your eyes didn’t water at least once
during a Mr. Ping scene, you might be a stone.

#6 – Airplane! (1980)

The disaster-movie spoof Airplane! is one of the most quoted comedies of all time,
and James Hong joins the chaos as a hilariously intense military officer in the “Dung chow” scene.
It’s small, but perfectly absurd, and it foreshadows the deadpan comedic energy he would later
bring to other movies and TV shows.

#7 – Mulan (1998)

Disney’s animated Mulan features Hong as Chi-Fu, the uptight, slightly cowardly
imperial official who spends much of the movie being outraged. He’s the perfect comic foil for
Mulan’s braveryforever complaining, sputtering, and admonishing, only to be proven wrong at
every turn.

For many fans who grew up in the ‘90s, Chi-Fu was their first exposure to Hong’s voice work, and
it left a mark: annoying, yes, but in the most entertaining way.

#8 – Turning Red (2022)

In Pixar’s Turning Red, Hong plays Mr. Gao, the friendly local shop owner and
spiritual guide who helps Mei and her friends navigate rituals, pandas, and puberty. It’s a small
role, but one that perfectly fits his late-career vibe: a wise, slightly mischievous elder who
nudges the younger generation toward understanding themselves.

#9 – Balls of Fury (2007)

Is Balls of Fury a ridiculous ping-pong comedy? Absolutely. Does James Hong steal
it anyway? Also absolutely. As Master Wong, he teaches the disgraced pro played by Dan Fogler how
to redeem himself through underground ping-pong battles. Hong leans into parody here, winking at
decades of “mystical master” stereotypes while still being genuinely funny.

#10 – The Vineyard (1989)

This is one of Hong’s deep-cut cult favorites, where he also steps behind the camera as co-writer
and co-director. The Vineyard is a horror movie about a winemaker who may or may
not be extending his life in extremely cursed ways. Is it campy? Very. Is it beloved by horror
fans who enjoy strange late-night discoveries? Also yes.

More Fan-Favorite James Hong Movies You Shouldn’t Skip

Beyond the top 10, fan lists and critic rankings regularly highlight dozens of other James Hong
movies. You’ll often see the following titles bubbling up in “best of” conversations:

• Safe (2012) – A gritty Jason Statham action flick with Hong as a ruthless triad boss.
• The Day the Earth Stood Still (2008) – A sci-fi remake where he brings gravitas to a supporting role.
• R.I.P.D. (2013) – A supernatural buddy cop movie; Hong has fun in the afterlife bureaucracy.
• Wayne’s World 2 (1993) – As Jeff Wong, he combines overprotective-dad energy with martial arts spoofing.
• Big Trouble in Little China spin-offs and references – His Lo Pan persona has lived on in memes, merch, and fan art.
• Tango & Cash (1989) – Another action favorite where his presence adds flavor to the chaos.
• Missing in Action (1984) – A Chuck Norris vehicle where Hong elevates the antagonist side of the story.

And that’s still scratching the surface. Dig further into his filmography and you’ll hit everything
from indie dramas to cheesy TV movies, each with at least one moment where Hong does something
unexpecteda line reading, a facial expression, a tiny gesturethat sticks with you long after the
credits roll.

Why James Hong’s Roles Hit So Hard

He made “character actor” a superpower

For decades, Hollywood typecast Asian actors into narrow roles. Hong has been candid about working
through eras of yellowface, accent caricatures, and a general lack of opportunity, even as he kept
showing up and pushing for better representation.

Yet within those limitations, he carved out nuance. A shopkeeper becomes memorable. A villain gets
surprising depth. A side character in a cartoon becomes the emotional center of the story. Fans
respond to that craftit’s why his supporting roles often stand out more than some leads.

He bridges generations of movie lovers

Older fans know him from Chinatown and ‘70s TV. ‘80s kids remember Lo Pan.
‘90s kids grew up with Mulan. Millennials and Gen Z met him in
Kung Fu Panda, Turning Red, and
Everything Everywhere All at Once. That cross-generational reach is rare, and it’s
part of why “best James Hong movies” lists feel so personalpeople latch onto whichever role they
encountered first.

How to Build Your Own James Hong Movie Marathon

Want to experience the 60+ best James Hong movies the way fans do? Try this flexible marathon plan:

1. Start with the “Holy Trinity”:
   Blade Runner, Big Trouble in Little China, and Chinatown. You’ll see
   sci-fi, fantasy, and classic noir in one swoop.
2. Add animated comfort watches:
   Queue up Kung Fu Panda (at least the first two) and Mulan. These are your cozy,
   heartwarming stops.
3. Throw in a modern hit:
   Watch Everything Everywhere All at Once or Turning Red to see how Hong’s legacy
   is still evolving.
4. End with a cult-night double feature:
   Pair something delightfully odd like The Vineyard with an over-the-top comedy such as
   Balls of Fury. Embrace the weird.

By the time you finish, you won’t just know why fans rank these as the best James Hong movies.
You’ll feel like you’ve taken a guided tour through decades of Hollywood historyled by the guy
who somehow has been everywhere without always being front and center.

Fan Experiences: What It’s Like to Dive into 60+ James Hong Movies

Watching James Hong’s filmography isn’t just a checklist; it’s an oddly emotional experience.
At first, it feels like a running gag. You sit down to watch some random moviemaybe a cheesy
‘80s action flick, an old TV episode, or a new animated featureand there he is again. The more
you notice him, the funnier it gets. Fans on Reddit joke that he has “more credits than time
itself,” and once you start seeing him everywhere, you can’t unsee it.

But somewhere around the tenth or twentieth James Hong sighting, the joke turns into appreciation.
You begin to realize how consistently good he is, no matter the project. In a low-budget B-movie,
he’s often the one taking the material seriously, grounding scenes that could easily be throwaway.
In big studio releases, he can walk into a frame crowded with stars and instantly draw your eye.

A common fan experience goes like this: you rewatch a childhood favorite and notice that the voice
that made you laugh back thenMr. Ping in Kung Fu Panda, Chi-Fu in Mulan, or even
a one-off character in a cartoon episodeis James Hong. Then you watch a noir classic in film
school and realize the butler in Chinatown is also James Hong. Later, you get into
sci-fi and discover he’s in Blade Runner. Finally, you show up to a contemporary hit like
Everything Everywhere All at Once and there he is again, still delivering the goods at 90-plus.
The effect is like finding the same friend’s signature in different corners of your life.

If you intentionally set out to watch 60+ of his best movies, patterns emerge. You notice how he
uses his voice differently depending on the rolesharp and clipped for bureaucrats like Chi-Fu,
airy and paternal for Mr. Ping, deep and ominous for villains like Lo Pan. You see how he adjusts
his physicality: shoulders hunched and shivering in Blade Runner, towering and theatrical
in Big Trouble in Little China, soft and frail as Gong Gong before revealing hidden depths.
It becomes a masterclass in character work.

There’s also a deeper, more personal layer. For Asian American viewers especially, seeing Hong
pop up over and over can feel like tracking a quiet revolution. Here’s an actor who worked through
eras when Asian roles were rare, stereotyped, or relegated to the background, yet he kept showing
up, kept pushing, and eventually helped open the door for richer representationculminating in
stories like Everything Everywhere All at Once and Turning Red, where Asian
families are at the center, not the margins.

Even if you’re just in it for the fun, a James Hong marathon is joyful. You get quotable villains,
heartfelt dads, weird uncles, and oddball side characters who pop in, steal a scene, and vanish.
You get camp, prestige, action, horror, animation, and heartfelt indie moments. And each time he
appears, you feel that little jolt of recognitionoh, it’s this guy againfollowed by the
certainty that whatever happens next, it’s going to be a little bit better because he’s there.

By the time you’ve binged 60+ of the best James Hong movies, the rankings almost stop mattering.
Sure, you’ll have personal favoritesmaybe you’ll swear by Big Trouble in Little China
while someone else rides hard for Kung Fu Panda. But the real takeaway is the body of work
itself: decades of showing up, elevating every project, and making sure that even the smallest role
has a heartbeat. That’s why fans keep voting, keep ranking, and keep watching.

Conclusion

Whether you arrive through cult classics, animated comfort films, or Oscar-winning multiverse chaos,
one thing becomes clear fast: the best James Hong movies aren’t just a list, they’re a timeline.
They chart Hollywood’s evolution, the growth of Asian and Asian American representation, and the
career of a performer who refused to fade into the background. From Blade Runner and
Chinatown to Kung Fu Panda and Everything Everywhere All at Once, fans
have spokenthese are the roles that define him, and the ones that keep us coming back for more.

meta_title: Best James Hong Movies Ranked By Fans

meta_description:
Discover 60+ of the best James Hong movies, ranked by fans, with must-watch roles, cult classics,
and animated favorites.

sapo:
James Hong isn’t just a familiar facehe’s a one-man tour through seven decades of movie history.
From Blade Runner and Chinatown to Big Trouble in Little China,
Kung Fu Panda, and Everything Everywhere All at Once, fans have ranked over
60 of his best films. This in-depth guide breaks down his most beloved roles, highlights cult
favorites and deep cuts, and shows you how to build the ultimate James Hong marathon so you can
fully appreciate one of Hollywood’s most prolific and versatile actors.

keywords:
best James Hong movies, James Hong filmography, James Hong roles, James Hong movies ranked,
Big Trouble in Little China, Blade Runner, Kung Fu Panda