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Tzi Ma

Tzi Ma

Actor, also producer · Born June 10, 1962 (64) · Hong Kong, British Crown Colony [now China]

Tzi Ma (Chinese: 馬泰;) is a Hong Kong-American actor. He is well known for his roles in television shows, such as The Man in the High Castle and 24, and films, such as Dante's Peak, Rush Hour, Rush Hour 3, Arrival, The Farewell, Tigertail, and Mulan. In 2021, he starred in the American martial arts television series Kung Fu on The CW.

Read more

Biography from TMDB.

Born
June 10, 1962 (64)
From
Hong Kong, British Crown Colony [now China]
Works as
Actor, also producer
Titles
80 on MovieCove · 106 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Official site (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 155 days to Oct 26Down 36% in 30 days

What are Tzi Ma's films like?

Across their 32 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Morality and Bonds.

Genres

Action9 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 32nd percentile
: browse their Action movies
Drama9 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 66th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Comedy6 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 49th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Comedy movies
Crime5 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 31st percentile
: browse their Crime 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
Morality
26%
Bonds
26%
Self
21%
Survival
10%
Society
8%
Power
6%
Ideas
3%
Family bonds11 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice9 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love7 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity6 titles, browse their movies with this themePurpose4 titles, browse their movies with this themeBetrayal5 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival4 titles, browse their movies with this themeSelf-worth3 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 29 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 7 · Serious 9 · Dark 13

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

Grounded 21 · Stylized 7 · Heightened 1

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

Gentle 5 · Charged 12 · Intense 12

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

Steady 11 · Shifting 15 · Whiplash 3

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

Straight-faced 20 · Some laughs 5 · Funny 4

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

Slow burn 11 · Even-paced 15 · Relentless 3

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

Casual 11 · Engaged 12 · Full focus 6

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 7 · Affecting 9 · Heavy 13

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

Resolved 17 · Open-ended 9 · Ambiguous 3

Roles they play

15 analyzed roles

Usually the Shadow: 4 of 15 analyzed roles.

Shadow
4 of 15
Mentor
4 of 15
Ally
2 of 15
Hero
2 of 15
Threshold guardian
2 of 15
Herald
1 of 15
Show the 15 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
20
Melancholic
12
Thrilling
9
Hopeful
10
Warm
5
Other
30

How their films linger

Thought-provoking13 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet9 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 6 with a twist

  • Happy8
  • Bittersweet15
  • Tragic2
  • Ambiguous7

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 Tzi Ma's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 65 of their 80 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Prime Video (21).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Tzi Ma'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

106 credits, 80 with a MovieCove page; 4 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Whatcha Want(2026)

    Producer · Actor

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films

  • the death (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2026)

    as idris

  • Gunslingers(2025)

    as Lin

    Midcredits score: 8th percentile of all films

  • Watson(2024)

    Show 2 episodes · as Uncle Jun

    Midcredits score: 13th percentile of all shows

  • Interior Chinatown(2024)

    Show 8 episodes · as Joe Wu

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all shows

  • Five Blind Dates(2024)

    as Xien

    Midcredits score: 18th percentile of all films

  • Believer 2(2023)

    as Professor Lee

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films

  • A Father's Son (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2022)

    as Krang Li

  • A Shot Through the Wall(2020)

    as Chow Tan

    Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all films

  • Kung Fu(2021)

    Show 39 episodes · as Jin Shen

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all shows

  • Invincible(2021)

    Show 2 episodes · as Mr. Liu (voice) · as Mr. Liu / Dragon (voice)

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all shows

  • A Sugar & Spice Holiday(2020)

    as Pete Yung

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • The Kid Detective(2020)

    as Mr. Chang

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films

  • Mulan(2020)

    as Hua Zhou

    Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films

  • Tigertail(2020)

    as Grover

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all films

  • Treadstone(2019)

    Show 1 episode · as General Chin-Hwa Kwon

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all shows

  • Wu Assassins(2019)

    Show 6 episodes · as Mr. Young

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all shows

  • The Farewell(2019)

    as Haiyan

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films

  • Star Wars: Resistance(2018)

    Show 2 episodes · as Hamato Xiono (voice)

    Midcredits score: 5th percentile of all shows

  • Bad Company (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2018)

    as Hawking

  • Skyscraper(2018)

    as Fire Chief Sheng

    Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all films

  • The Resident(2018)

    Show 1 episode · as Ted Zhou

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all shows

  • The Jade Pendant(2017)

    as Yu Hing

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all films

  • Meditation Park(2017)

    as Bing

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films

  • An American Girl Story - Ivy & Julie 1976: A Happy Balance (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2017)

    as Gung-Gung

  • Ransom(2017)

    Show 1 episode · as Lormong Vang

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all shows

  • Arrival(2016)

    as General Shang

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • Pali Road(2015)

    as Mr. Zhang

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films

  • Angie Tribeca (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)

    Show 1 episode · as Joseph Takagi

  • Diablo(2015)

    as Quok Mi

    Midcredits score: 8th percentile of all films

  • Baby Steps(2015)

    as Mr. Lin

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films

  • The Man in the High Castle(2015)

    Show 6 episodes · as General Onada

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all shows

  • Bosch(2014)

    Show 2 episodes · as Brent Charles

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all shows

  • Man Seeking Woman(2015)

    Show 1 episode · as Master Sheng

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all shows

  • Madam Secretary(2014)

    Show 1 episode · as President Miguel Da Silva

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all shows

  • A Good Man(2014)

    as Mr. Chen

    Midcredits score: 8th percentile of all films

  • Million Dollar Arm(2014)

    as Chang

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films

  • Silicon Valley(2014)

    Show 3 episodes · as Yao

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all shows

  • Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.(2013)

    Show 1 episode · as Agent Kwan

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all shows

  • #1 Serial Killer (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2013)

    as Mr. Chang

  • Someone I Used to Know(2013)

    as Simo Kim

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Elementary(2012)

    Show 1 episode · as Xi Hai Ching

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all shows

  • The Campaign(2012)

    as Mr. Zheng

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films

  • Perception(2012)

    Show 1 episode · as Prof. Arthur Wei

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all shows

  • Veep(2012)

    Show 4 episodes · as Lu Chi-Jang

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all shows

  • Hell on Wheels(2011)

    Show 5 episodes · as Tao

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all shows

  • Once Upon a Time(2011)

    Show 3 episodes · as The Dragon

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all shows

  • Hawaii Five-0(2010)

    Show 1 episode · as Mr. Chi

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all shows

  • NCIS: Los Angeles(2009)

    Show 1 episode · as Jun Lee

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all shows

  • Dollhouse(2009)

    Show 1 episode · as Matsu

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all shows

  • Management(2008)

    as Truc Quoc

    Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all films

  • Lie to Me(2009)

    Show 1 episode · as Mr. Chen

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all shows

  • All God's Children Can Dance(2008)

    as Glen

    Midcredits score: 21st percentile of all films

  • Fringe(2008)

    Show 1 episode · as Ming Che

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all shows

  • The Sensei (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    as Buddhist Monk

  • Baby(2007)

    as Pops

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films

  • Battle in Seattle(2007)

    as Governor

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

  • Rush Hour 3(2007)

    as Solon Han

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • Dragon Boys (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    Show 2 episodes · as Henry Wah

  • Akeelah and the Bee(2006)

    as Mr. Chiu

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films

  • The Unit(2006)

    Show 1 episode · as Rudy Hartano

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all shows

  • Commander in Chief(2005)

    Show 2 episodes · as Chinese Ambassador

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all shows

  • Red Doors(2005)

    as Ed Wong

    Midcredits score: 52nd percentile of all films

  • Grey's Anatomy(2005)

    Show 1 episode · as Mr. Patterson

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all shows

  • American Dad!(2005)

    Show 5 episodes · as Bah Bah (voice)

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all shows

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

    Show 1 episode · as Joseph Dao

  • The Ladykillers(2004)

    as The General

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films

  • Jake 2.0 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    Show 1 episode · as Nanda Sang

  • The Quiet American(2002)

    as Hinh

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all films

  • Hawaiian Gardens(2001)

    as Mr. Hu'o'ng

    Midcredits score: 4th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • The Bernie Mac Show(2001)

    Show 1 episode · as Ed

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all shows

  • 24(2001)

    Show 14 episodes · as Cheng Zhi

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all shows

  • Catfish in Black Bean Sauce (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    as Vinh

  • Martial Law (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    Show 5 episodes · as Lee Hei

  • Rush Hour(1998)

    as Consul Han

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films

  • The Magnificent Seven(1998)

    Show 1 episode · as Wo Chin's Father

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all shows

  • Red Corner(1997)

    as Li Cheng

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films

  • The Practice(1997)

    Show 1 episode · as Tang Jingyu

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all shows

  • Dante's Peak(1997)

    as Stan

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all films

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

    Show 1 episode · as Captain Youfook Law · as Dr. Takashi

  • Chain Reaction(1996)

    as Lu Chen

    Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all films

  • Nash Bridges(1996)

    Show 2 episodes · as Jimmy Zee

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all shows

  • JAG(1995)

    Show 1 episode · as Inspector Chang

    Midcredits score: 43rd percentile of all shows

  • ER(1994)

    Show 1 episode · as Mr. Yeung

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all shows

  • Chicago Hope (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    Show 1 episode · as Mr. Wang

  • Vanishing Son (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Golden Gate(1994)

    as Chen Jung Song

    Midcredits score: 18th percentile of all films

  • The Adventures of Brisco County, Jr.(1993)

    Show 1 episode · as Chan

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all shows

  • Rapid Fire(1992)

    as Kinman Tau

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films

  • Law & Order(1990)

    Show 1 episode · as Deputy Counsel General Li Chen

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all shows

  • RoboCop 2(1990)

    as Tak Akita

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films

  • Forbidden Nights (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    as Li Dao

  • Yellowthread Street (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    Show 6 episodes · as Det. Eddie Pak

  • The Forgotten (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    as Premier

  • Star Trek: The Next Generation(1987)

    Show 1 episode · as Biomolecular Physiologist

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all shows

  • The Money Pit(1986)

    as Hwang

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films

  • MacGyver (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    Show 1 episode · as Wing Lee

  • The Equalizer (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    Show 1 episode · as Mr. Lin

  • The Cosby Show(1984)

    Show 1 episode · as Mr. Lee

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all shows

  • American Playhouse (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    Show 1 episode · as Chen Jung Song

  • They All Laughed(1981)

    as (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films

  • Cocaine Cowboys (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    as Jimmy Lee

  • The Chinatown Diner (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Actor

  • The Horseman (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Actor

  • The Way You Dance (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Producer · as Ming Lee

  • Unarmed (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Actor

Career shape

Star power in the 98th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 106 titles, 102 of them dated from 1979 to 2026; peak year 2019.

Biggest box office

Rush Hour (1998)

$245M worldwide

Highest rated

Arrival (2016)

Midcredits 97th

Film career

19792026

Peak 2019 · fewer prominent film roles lately. Top draw in 5 MovieCove titles. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting106 of 106: 105 only acting, 1 with another role · typical Midcredits score57thProducing1 of 106: 0 only producing, 1 with another role

By decade

1970s1 · acting1980s8 · acting1990s21 · acting2000s24 · acting2010s33 · acting2020s15 · acting

Billing

usually 7th · top billed in 4% of 24 roles
90001020

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. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30; the columns are the share of top-billed roles in each era, 5-year spans from the year on the label, merged until each holds at least 5 roles.

How do Tzi Ma's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 48th percentile, the median of all 40; across their 29 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 45th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

45thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 29

Approval · how many liked their films

44thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 29

Reach · how many have seen their films

79thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 29

Midcredits score across 80 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up31
  • 50th to 74th19
  • 25th to 49th20
  • Below 25th10

Shape of the crowd

32 of their 80 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved15
  • Divisive3
  • Cult Classic5
  • Crowd Pleaser32
  • Broadly Agreed8
  • Mixed17

Most divisive · actor

Someone I Used to Know (2013)

97th percentile spread · 36% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Silicon Valley (2014)

Midcredits 98th · 94% liked

Reviewers score the acting 63/100 in their films, across 26 reviewed titles; fans 76, detractors 32. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

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.

Is Tzi Ma's work okay for kids?

Across up to 13 MovieCove titles with content scores, profanity runs heavier than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore11 titles20–66 · median 51 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity13 titles8–51 · median 26 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity11 titles26–76 · median 47 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs11 titles11–46 · median 35 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense11 titles33–52 · median 38 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 39

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted. The band's colour is the severity of their median, named beside it.

Who does Tzi Ma work with?

People who share at least 2 of Tzi Ma's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Joan Chen shares the most, 3.

Directors

Actors

Composers

Producers