Dec. 8, 2023

Chinese Actors Strike Big in Hollywood

China’s film industry has grown leaps and bounds over the last few decades, becoming one of the most prominent countries in filmmaking. Consisting of talented actors and compelling storylines, China’s films and actors have made their way into Hollywood as they thrive in the worldwide box office. By: Dylan Low

Through the popularity of Chinese films in present times, it has not only appealed to local viewers in China but also international audiences worldwide. Hollywood studios have made efforts to collaborate with China, which has led to many Chinese films distributed internationally. This has granted attention to not only Chinese movies; it also includes notable Chinese actors that have become public sensations overnight. We look into popular Chinese actors in Hollywood that have made waves in the industry. 

A household name that everyone should know today is Bruce Lee. Known by many as an American-Chinese martial artist popular for his action films, it can be argued that he is the most iconic Chinese actor in Hollywood and other countries worldwide, even to this day. He is recognised for his roles in five feature films, namely The Big Boss and Fist of Fury directed by Lo Wei, alongside Enter the Dragon distributed by Warner Bros. Lee also directed, wrote, starred in his own film Way of the Dragon and The Game of Death.

Through these blockbuster films, he built a large following and amassed plenty of film success. He was estimated to have made US$10 million at the time of his passing.

Today, another Chinese actor that has visibly impacted Hollywood is Jackie Chan. Like Bruce Lee, he has built a prominent reputation as a martial artist in Hollywood films, featuring in many notable action shows on the big screen. Chan has had a long tenure in the film industry, having begun acting in the 1970s to present times. Some of his acclaimed film titles are Drunken Master, a fan-favourite film in the martial arts audience, the beginning of the Rush Hour franchise starring Chris Tucker and the ever-famous Karate Kid film starring notable actor Jaden Smith.

Through his long star-studded career, he truly stands out as one of the most influential Chinese cinematic stars in our modern times, raking in plenty of box office success. According to 2023 Forbes, his film revenue is stated to be $2.6 billion internationally.

Looking at the younger Chinese actors in Hollywood, Simu Liu stands out as a trending name in the industry. As a Chinese-Canadian, he was born in Harbin, China and raised in Canada. He made history back in 2021, featuring as a main character in a Marvel film, in the movie Shang Chi and the Ten Rings. The blockbuster became the highest grossing in 2021, amassing US$400 million - a staggering amount excluding the China film market. He also gained mainstream popularity with his lead role, continuing his stardom featuring in iconic film Barbie and is slated to join John Cena and Awkwafina, in a new action-comedy movie Grand Death Lotto. With incredible acting capability, Liu has won the hearts of international audiences in his latest Hollywood film performances - earning up to US$20 million in net worth.

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