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Chen-Nan Tsai

Chen-Nan Tsai

Actor · Born July 26, 1954 (72) · Chiayi, Taiwan

Chen-Nan Tsai was born in 1954 in Jiayi County, Taiwan. He is an actor, known for She's Family (2017), A Borrowed Life (1994) and Ending Cut (2009).

Biography from IMDb.

Born
July 26, 1954 (72)
From
Chiayi, Taiwan
Works as
Actor
Titles
8 on MovieCove · 53 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 31% in 30 days

What are Chen-Nan Tsai's films like?

Across their 8 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Self.

Genres

Action4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 31st percentile
: browse their Action movies
Drama3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 90th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama 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%
Self
24%
Power
23%
Survival
14%
Society
3%
Family bonds5 titles, browse their movies with this themePower3 titles, browse their movies with this themeSelf-worth2 titles, browse their movies with this themePurpose2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 7 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 1 · Dark 5

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

Grounded 5 · Stylized 2 · Heightened 0

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

Gentle 1 · Charged 4 · Intense 2

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

A split, not a type: Steady 3 · Shifting 4 · Whiplash 0

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

Straight-faced 6 · Some laughs 1 · 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 4 · Relentless 0

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

Casual 2 · Engaged 5 · Full focus 0

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

Resolved 5 · Open-ended 2 · Ambiguous 0

Roles they play

2 analyzed roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Melancholic
5
Tense
3
Warm
3
Romantic
2
Contemplative
2
Other
7

How their films linger

Bittersweet4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end

  • Bittersweet6
  • Tragic1
  • Ambiguous1

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 Chen-Nan Tsai's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 5 of their 8 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, on Netflix (5).

Subscription and free streaming for Chen-Nan Tsai'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

53 credits, 8 with a MovieCove page.

  • A Dance with Rainbows (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2026)

    Actor

  • Gatao: Big Brothers(2025)

    as Yung

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all films

  • Them, Behind the Door (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2024)

    as Uncle Shan

  • Two Old Fellas (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2024)

    as Rong-Nan Gao

  • Tales of Taipei (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2024)

    as Wing's boyfriend's father (segment "Papa in Law")

  • Gatao: Like Father Like Son(2024)

    as Yung Sang

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films

  • What the Hell Is Love (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2023)

    Show 1 episode · as Tsai Chen-nan

  • Marry My Dead Body(2022)

    as Lin Hsiao Yuan

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films

  • You Are On My Mind (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2022)

    as Cai Fu-shun

  • LANG, Always by Your Side (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2022)

    Show 8 episodes · as Yu-er's Dad

  • Tavern by the Lethe (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2021)

    Show 30 episodes · Actor

  • Enter the Dumpling (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2021)

    Actor

  • Man in Love(2021)

    as A-Cheng's Father

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films

  • 必勝大丈夫 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2019)

    Show 3 episodes · Actor

  • Someone in the Clouds (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2019)

    as Xiao Beigong

  • Safety First (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2018)

    as Wan

  • Back to the Good Times (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2018)

    as Zheng Guang-Huei

  • A Boy Named Flora A(2017)

    Show 7 episodes · as 鄭光輝

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all shows

  • She's Family (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2017)

    Actor

  • 媽媽不見了 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2017)

    Show 2 episodes · Actor

  • Shia Wa Se (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)

    Show 14 episodes · as Li Huotai

  • Gatao(2015)

    as Yung

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all films

  • The Missing Piece (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    Actor

  • Kara-Orchestra (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    Actor

  • The Boar King (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)

    Actor

  • When a Wolf Falls in Love with a Sheep (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2012)

    as Photocopy shop boss

  • The Ghost Tales (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2012)

    as SUNG Ting Po

  • Hotel Blackcat (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2011)

    as Mr. Tang

  • 艋胛耀輝 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2011)

    Show 117 episodes · as 刘金豹

  • Ending Cut (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2010)

    Actor

  • Crossing The sentiMENtal Desert (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2010)

    as Wang

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

    Actor

  • The Year of Happiness and Love (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    Show 33 episodes · as A Sheng

  • Miss Kicki (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    as Polisen

  • Game Winning Hit (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    Show 40 episodes · as 阿公

  • Da-Yu: The Touch of Fate (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    as Police Officer

  • Say Yes Enterprise (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    Show 6 episodes · as 郑伯伯

  • Comes the Black Dog (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    Actor

  • Betelnut Beauty (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    as Ming

  • Pure Accidents (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    Actor

  • The Cabbie (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    as Coordination Lead

  • Lament of the Sand River (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    Actor

  • Cop Abula (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    Actor

  • Connection by Fate (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    Actor

  • A Borrowed Life(1994)

    as Sega

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all films

  • Good Men, Good Women (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    as Ah Nan

  • Heartbreak Island (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    as Jin Guang

  • The Puppetmaster (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    as Xu Jinmu

  • Dust of Angels (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    as Ah Nan

  • My Nostalgia, My Songs (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    Composer

  • A City of Sadness(1989)

    as Singer

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films

  • The Immortal Lives (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Actor

  • 黑狗來了 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Actor

Career shape

Star power in the 84th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 53 titles, 51 of them dated from 1989 to 2026; peak year 2022.

Biggest box office

Man in Love (2021)

$53M worldwide

Highest rated

A City of Sadness (1989)

Midcredits 96th

Most popular right now

Gatao: Big Brothers (2025)

Film career

19892026

Peak 2022 · at the high point of their film career. 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.

  • 1989Screen debut· A City of Sadness

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting52 of 53: 52 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score80thMusic1 of 53: 1 only music, 0 with another role

By decade

1980s1 · acting1990s8 · 7 acting · 1 crew2000s10 · acting2010s19 · acting2020s13 · acting

Billing

usually 5th · top billed in 0% of 5 roles

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.

How do Chen-Nan Tsai's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 86th percentile, the median of all 7; across their 7 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 84th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

84thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 7

Approval · how many liked their films

84thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 7

Reach · how many have seen their films

66thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 7

Midcredits score across 8 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up4
  • 50th to 74th1
  • 25th to 49th2
  • Below 25th1

Shape of the crowd

4 of their 8 titles are Mixed.

  • Universally Loved1
  • Crowd Pleaser3
  • Mixed4

Most divisive · actor

A Boy Named Flora A (2017)

58th percentile spread · 13% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

A City of Sadness (1989)

Midcredits 96th · 84% liked

Reviewers score the acting 81/100 in their films, across 4 reviewed titles; fans 84, detractors 57. 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.

Who does Chen-Nan Tsai work with?

People who share at least 2 of Chen-Nan Tsai's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Jack Kao shares the most, 4.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers, cinematographers and editors

Producers

Mixed roles