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John Cho

John Cho

Actor, also producer · Born June 16, 1972 (54) · Seoul, South Korea

Independent Spirit Award nominee

John Cho is a Korean American actor best known as playing Harold in the Harold and Kumar film series, as well as playing helmsman Hikaru Sulu in 2009's Star Trek.

Biography from TMDB.

Born
June 16, 1972 (54)
From
Seoul, South Korea
Works as
Actor, also producer
Titles
85 on MovieCove · 116 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 25% in 30 days

What are John Cho's films like?

Across their 44 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Self and Bonds.

Genres

Comedy12 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 30th percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Drama8 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 59th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Action4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 87th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Action movies
Adventure3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 61st percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Adventure movies
Animation2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 75th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Animation movies
Crime2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 52nd percentile
: browse their Crime movies
Documentary2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 75th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Documentary movies
Horror2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 10th percentile
: browse their Horror 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
Self
36%
Bonds
22%
Survival
12%
Society
10%
Morality
9%
Power
6%
Ideas
5%
Identity13 titles, browse their movies with this themePurpose9 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds13 titles, browse their movies with this themeFriendship8 titles, browse their movies with this themeGrief8 titles, browse their movies with this themeSelf-worth6 titles, browse their movies with this themeCommunity6 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love4 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 37 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Serious: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their serious movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

Light 13 · Serious 13 · Dark 11

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

A split, not a type: Grounded 17 · Stylized 10 · Heightened 10

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

Gentle 10 · Charged 18 · Intense 9

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

Steady 14 · Shifting 17 · Whiplash 6

Some laughs: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their some laughs movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

A split, not a type: Straight-faced 16 · Some laughs 7 · Funny 14

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

Slow burn 12 · Even-paced 19 · Relentless 6

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

Casual 20 · Engaged 12 · Full focus 5

Affecting: How much it costs you emotionally; whether you need recovery time. Browse their affecting movies.
Demand · Emotional cost
easyheavy

Easy watch 16 · Affecting 16 · Heavy 5

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

Resolved 26 · Open-ended 8 · Ambiguous 3

Roles they play

22 analyzed roles

Usually the Hero: 6 of 22 analyzed roles.

Hero
6 of 22
Ally
5 of 22
Mentor
4 of 22
Shapeshifter
2 of 22
Threshold guardian
2 of 22
Herald
1 of 22
Trickster
1 of 22
Shadow
1 of 22
Show the 22 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
20
Melancholic
15
Absurd
12
Joyful
14
Contemplative
14
Other
49

How their films linger

Fun12 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good12 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful14 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet12 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking11 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling10 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 13 with a twist

  • Happy15
  • Bittersweet16
  • Tragic2
  • Ambiguous11

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 John Cho's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 56 of their 85 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service.

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for John Cho'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

116 credits, 85 with a MovieCove page; 18 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Your Mother Your Mother Your Mother(2026)

    as Pastor Kwan

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films

  • Tempest(2025)

    Show 9 episodes · as Anderson Miller

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all shows

  • Long Story Short(2025)

    Show 1 episode · as (voice)

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all shows

  • Murderbot(2025)

    Show 4 episodes · as Captain

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all shows

  • The Graduates(2023)

    Executive Producer · as John

    Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films

  • Afraid(2024)

    as Curtis

    Midcredits score: 11th percentile of all films

  • The Sympathizer(2024)

    Show 2 episodes · as James Yoon

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all shows

  • Krapopolis(2023)

    Show 1 episode · as Thief (voice)

    Midcredits score: 28th percentile of all shows

  • Praise Petey(2023)

    Show 10 episodes · as Bandit (voice)

    Midcredits score: 17th percentile of all shows

  • Ghosted(2023)

    as The Leopard

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films

  • Poker Face(2023)

    Show 1 episode · as Guy / Alec

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all shows

  • Don't Make Me Go(2022)

    as Max

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films

  • The Afterparty(2022)

    Show 10 episodes · as Ulysses

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all shows

  • Cowboy Bebop(2021)

    Show 10 episodes · as Spike Spiegel

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all shows

  • Namoo (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2021)

    Executive Producer

  • Wish Dragon(2021)

    as Long (voice)

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films

  • Over the Moon(2020)

    as Father (voice)

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

  • Home Movie: The Princess Bride (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2020)

    Show 1 episode · as Inigo Montoya

  • Tigertail(2020)

    Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all films

  • The Grudge(2019)

    as Peter Spencer

    Midcredits score: 4th percentile of all films

  • Between Two Ferns: The Movie(2019)

    as John Cho

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all films

  • Korea: The Never-Ending War(2019)

    as Narrator

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films

  • The Twilight Zone(2019)

    Show 1 episode · as Raff Hanks

    Midcredits score: 18th percentile of all shows

  • The Oath(2018)

    as Peter

    Midcredits score: 34th percentile of all films

  • Searching(2018)

    as David Kim

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films

  • Do You Want to See a Dead Body? (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2017)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Columbus(2017)

    as Jin

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films

  • Gemini(2017)

    as Detective Edward Ahn

    Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all films

  • A Happening of Monumental Proportions(2017)

    as Mr. Ramirez

    Midcredits score: 14th percentile of all films

  • Literally, Right Before Aaron(2017)

    as Mark

    Midcredits score: 7th percentile of all films

  • The Exorcist(2016)

    Show 10 episodes · as Andrew Kim

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all shows

  • Star Trek Beyond(2016)

    as Lieutenant Hikaru Sulu

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all films

  • Get a Job(2016)

    as Brian Bender

    Midcredits score: 13th percentile of all films

  • The Hindenburg Explodes! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)

    as Reggie

  • Zipper(2015)

    as EJ

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all films

  • Difficult People(2015)

    Show 4 episodes · as Todd Ross

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all shows

  • Parallel Man: Infinite Pursuit (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    as Agent Nick Morgan (voice)

  • Grandma(2015)

    as Chau

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all films

  • Selfie (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)

    Show 13 episodes · as Henry Higgs

  • BoJack Horseman(2014)

    Show 2 episodes · as Male Improviser (voice)

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all shows

  • That Burning Feeling(2013)

    as Roger Whitacre

    Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all films

  • Sleepy Hollow(2013)

    Show 7 episodes · as Andy Brooks

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all shows

  • Star Trek Into Darkness(2013)

    as Lieutenant Hikaru Sulu

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films

  • Identity Thief(2013)

    as Daniel Casey

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all films

  • The Mindy Project(2012)

    Show 1 episode · as Big Murder

    Midcredits score: 63rd percentile of all shows

  • Go On (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2012)

    Show 22 episodes · as Steven

  • Total Recall(2012)

    as McClane

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all films

  • American Reunion(2012)

    as John

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

  • House of Lies(2012)

    Show 1 episode · as Sean Chew

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all shows

  • A Very Harold & Kumar Christmas(2011)

    as Harold Lee

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

  • Harold & Kumars Yuletide Jamz (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2011)

    as Harold Lee

  • New Girl(2011)

    Show 1 episode · as Daniel Grant

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all shows

  • NTSF:SD:SUV(2011)

    Show 1 episode · as Chip

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all shows

  • Caller ID: Entity (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2010)

    as Kamal

  • Saint John of Las Vegas(2009)

    as Smitty

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all films

  • Flashforward(2009)

    Show 22 episodes · as Demetri Noh

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all shows

  • Star Trek(2009)

    as Lieutenant Hikaru Sulu

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • Childrens Hospital(2008)

    Show 1 episode · as Park

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all shows

  • Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist(2008)

    as Hype Man

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • Harold & Kumar Go to Amsterdam (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    as Harold

  • Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay(2008)

    as Harold Lee

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films

  • Smiley Face(2007)

    as Mikey

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films

  • West 32nd (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    as John Kim

  • The Air I Breathe(2007)

    as Banker

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all films

  • 30 Rock(2006)

    Show 1 episode · as Lorne

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all shows

  • Ugly Betty(2006)

    Show 3 episodes · as Kenny

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all shows

  • 'Til Death(2006)

    Show 1 episode · as Lucas Bender

    Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all shows

  • Bickford Shmeckler's Cool Ideas(2006)

    as Bob

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films

  • American Dreamz(2006)

    as Ittles

    Midcredits score: 22nd percentile of all films

  • How I Met Your Mother(2005)

    Show 1 episode · as Jeff Coatsworth

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all shows

  • Kitchen Confidential (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    Show 9 episodes · as Teddy Wong

  • Bam Bam and Celeste(2005)

    as Stephan

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all films

  • Grey's Anatomy(2005)

    Show 1 episode · as Dr. Marshall Stone

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all shows

  • American Dad!(2005)

    Show 6 episodes · as Vince Chung (voice)

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all shows

  • In Good Company(2004)

    as Petey

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films

  • House(2004)

    Show 1 episode · as Harvey Park

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all shows

  • Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle(2004)

    as Harold Lee

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films

  • See This Movie (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    as Larry Finkelstein

  • The Men's Room (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    Show 4 episodes · as Bob

  • American Pie: Revealed (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    Thanks · as Self

  • American Wedding(2003)

    as John

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films

  • Better Luck Tomorrow(2002)

    as Steve Choe

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films

  • Solaris(2002)

    as DBA Emissary

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • Big Fat Liar(2002)

    as Dustin Wong

    Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all films

  • Off Centre (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    Show 28 episodes · as Chau Presley

  • Earth vs. the Spider(2001)

    as Han

    Midcredits score: 9th percentile of all films

  • American Pie 2(2001)

    as John

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films

  • Evolution(2001)

    as Student

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all films

  • Pavilion of Women(2001)

    as Fengmo Wu

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films

  • Down to Earth(2001)

    as Phil Quon

    Midcredits score: 21st percentile of all films

  • The Division (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    Show 1 episode · as Raymond

  • Delivering Milo(2001)

    as Mr. Hugo

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all films

  • Static Shock(2000)

    Show 1 episode · as Navigator (voice) · as Tantrum / Thomas Kim (voice)

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all shows

  • The Flintstones in Viva Rock Vegas(2000)

    as Parking Valet

    Midcredits score: 3rd percentile of all films

  • Daddio (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    Show 1 episode · as Delivery Guy

  • American Beauty(1999)

    as Sale House Man #1

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • Bowfinger(1999)

    as Nightclub Cleaner

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films

  • American Pie(1999)

    as John

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films

  • Charmed(1998)

    Show 1 episode · as Mark Chao

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all shows

  • Felicity(1998)

    Show 1 episode · as Larry

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all shows

  • V.I.P. (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    Show 1 episode · as Flower Delivery Guy

  • Yellow (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    as Joey

  • The Magnificent Seven(1998)

    Show 1 episode · as Wo Chin

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all shows

  • The Tiger Woods Story(1998)

    as Jerry Chang

    Midcredits score: 6th percentile of all films

  • Wag the Dog(1997)

    as Aide #3

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all films

  • Shopping for Fangs (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    as Clarance

  • USA High (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    Show 1 episode · as Waiter

  • Boston Common (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    Show 1 episode · as Larry

  • The Tonight Show with Jay Leno (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Exchange Value (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Actor

  • Rhona Who Lives by the River (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Show 1 episode · as D'John

  • Slime (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    as (voice)

  • The Off Weeks (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Show Actor

  • Untitled Harold & Kumar Sequel (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    as Harold Lee

  • Up All Night (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Actor

  • Wish Dragon 2 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    as Long (voice)

Career shape

Star power in the 99th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 116 titles, 109 of them dated from 1992 to 2026; peak year 2018.

Biggest box office

Star Trek (2009)

$386M worldwide

Highest rated

Star Trek (2009)

Midcredits 97th

Most popular right now

Your Mother Your Mother Your Mother (2026)

Film career

19922026

Peak 2018 · steadily prominent in film for years. Top draw in 23 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
Acting113 of 116: 112 only acting, 1 with another role · typical Midcredits score57thProducing3 of 116: 2 only producing, 1 with another roleOther crew1 of 116: 1 only other crew, 0 with another role

By decade

1990s14 · acting2000s40 · 39 acting · 1 crew2010s36 · acting2020s19 · 17 acting · 3 crew

Billing

usually 7th · top billed in 19% of 48 roles
9904091419

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.

Awards

Nominated for an Independent Spirit Award in 2019, Best Male Lead.

Major bodies only: the Oscars, Primetime Emmys, Golden Globes, BAFTAs and Screen Actors Guild Awards are named; Cannes, Venice, the Berlinale, Sundance, the directors', writers' and producers' guilds, the Grammys, Critics Choice and the Independent Spirit Awards count as other major bodies. Festival and regional prizes are not counted. Source: IMDb.

How do John Cho's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 50th percentile, the median of all 54; across their 37 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 41st percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

41stpercentile
Typical film, the median of 37

Approval · how many liked their films

48thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 37

Reach · how many have seen their films

90thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 37

Midcredits score across 85 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up23
  • 50th to 74th25
  • 25th to 49th24
  • Below 25th13

Shape of the crowd

39 of their 85 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved9
  • Universally Panned2
  • Divisive1
  • Cult Classic1
  • Crowd Pleaser39
  • Broadly Agreed8
  • Mixed25

Most divisive · actor

Tempest (2025)

91st percentile spread · 71% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

American Beauty (1999)

Midcredits 99th · 90% liked

Reviewers score the acting 67/100 in their films, across 35 reviewed titles; fans 77, detractors 45. 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 John Cho's work okay for kids?

Across up to 27 MovieCove titles with content scores, profanity runs heavier than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore23 titles25–81 · median 46 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity27 titles15–76 · median 40 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity23 titles35–91 · median 57 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs21 titles10–87 · median 35 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense21 titles16–59 · 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 John Cho work with?

People who share at least 2 of John Cho's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Chris Weitz shares the most, 7.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers and editors

Producers