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Donnie Yen

Donnie Yen

Actor, editor and producer, also director and writer · Born July 27, 1963 (63) · Guangzhou, Guangdong, China

Donnie Yen Chi-tan (Chinese: 甄子丹; Jyutping: jan1 zi2 daan1; pinyin: Zhēn Zǐdān; born 27 July 1963) is a Hong Kong actor, filmmaker, martial artist, and action director. His accolades include three Golden Horse Awards and five Hong Kong Film Awards. He is best known for portraying Wing Chun grandmaster Ip Man in the Ip Man film series, namely Ip Man (2008), Ip Man 2 (2010), Ip Man 3 (2015), and Ip Man 4: The Finale (2019). He also served as a co-producer of the spin-off Master Z: Ip Man Legacy (2018). Born in Guangdong, Yen developed an interest in martial arts at a young age and began experimenting with various styles, including tai chi and other traditional Chinese martial arts. At age 18, he auditioned for action choreographer Yuen Woo-ping in Hong Kong. He landed his first starring role in the 1984 Hong Kong martial arts action film  Drunken Tai Chi. He made his breakthrough role as the antagonist General Nap-lan in Once Upon a Time in China II (1992), opposite Jet Li's character. He appeared in several other Hong Kong kung fu films, including Iron Monkey (1993) and Wing Chun (1994). In 1997, he starred in his directorial debut film, Legend of the Wolf. Yen made his American debut in Highlander: Endgame (2000), followed by a cameo in Blade II (2002). He went on to appear in the American films Shanghai Knights (2003), Rogue One (2016), XXX: Return of Xander Cage (2017), Mulan (2020), and John Wick: Chapter 4 (2023). He has continued to be active in Hong Kong cinema, appearing in the well-received films Hero (2002), SPL: Sha Po Lang (2005), Flash Point (2007), 14 Blades (2010), Wu Xia (2011), Kung Fu Jungle (2014), Chasing the Dragon (2017), Enter the Fat Dragon (2020), Raging Fire (2021), and The Prosecutor (2024), among others. In television, Yen portrayed fictional character Chen Zhen in the television series Fist of Fury (1995); he reprised the role in the 2010 film Legend of the Fist: The Return of Chen Zhen. For portraying Ip Man in the Ip Man film series (2008–2019), Yen is credited by many for contributing to the popularisation of Wing Chun in China. Alongside Kung fu, particularly Wing Chun, Yen is also known for incorporating elements of mixed martial arts (MMA) into his action choreography. Aside from his acting, in 1997, he established his own production company, Bullet Films, which choreographed the action for Western blockbusters like Blade II (2002) and Stormbreaker (2006). Description above from the Wikipedia article Donnie Yen, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

Read more

Biography from TMDB.

Born
July 27, 1963 (63)
From
Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
Works as
Actor, editor and producer, also director and writer
Titles
68 on Motif · 114 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 157 days to Oct 28Down 17% in 30 days

What are Donnie Yen's films like?

Across their 63 Motif titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Morality and Bonds.

Genres

Action51 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 61st percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Action movies
Comedy4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 16th percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Documentary4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 85th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Documentary movies
Adventure2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 28th percentile
: browse their Adventure movies

Their Motif 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
32%
Bonds
21%
Self
18%
Power
10%
Society
9%
Survival
7%
Ideas
4%
Justice17 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity10 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds12 titles, browse their movies with this themeCommunity9 titles, browse their movies with this themeLoyalty9 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love9 titles, browse their movies with this themeBetrayal7 titles, browse their movies with this themeRedemption9 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 62 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 19 · Serious 21 · Dark 22

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

A split, not a type: Grounded 10 · Stylized 23 · Heightened 29

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

Gentle 5 · Charged 19 · Intense 38

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

Steady 12 · Shifting 45 · Whiplash 5

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 41 · Some laughs 10 · Funny 11

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

Slow burn 7 · Even-paced 28 · Relentless 27

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

Casual 19 · Engaged 40 · Full focus 3

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

Easy watch 24 · Affecting 26 · Heavy 12

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

Resolved 53 · Open-ended 8 · Ambiguous 1

Roles they play

57 analyzed roles

Usually the Hero: 35 of 57 analyzed roles.

Hero
35 of 57
Mentor
7 of 57
Ally
6 of 57
Shadow
5 of 57
Threshold guardian
2 of 57
Trickster
2 of 57
Show the 57 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
42
Thrilling
37
Melancholic
22
Joyful
11
Triumphant
12
Other
42

How their films linger

Rousing27 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet26 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun20 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful16 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good10 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteCathartic10 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 6 with a twist

  • Happy25
  • Bittersweet30
  • Tragic4
  • Ambiguous4

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 Donnie Yen's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 42 of their 68 Motif titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (31).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Donnie Yen's titles on Motif; 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

114 credits, 68 with a Motif page; 9 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • You Are the Best(2025)

    as Alex Yang

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • The Prosecutor(2024)

    Director · Producer · as Fok Chi Ho

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • Crush Over (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2023)

    Show 13 episodes · Actor

  • John Wick: Chapter 4(2023)

    as Caine

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films

  • Sakra(2023)

    Director · Producer · as Qiao Feng / Xiao Feng

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all films

  • The Monkey King: The Legend Begins(2022)

    as Sun Wukong / Monkey King

    Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films

  • Polar Rescue(2022)

    Producer · as A De

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all films

  • New Kung Fu Cult Master 2(2022)

    as Zhang Sanfeng

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all films

  • New Kung Fu Cult Master(2022)

    as Zhang Sanfeng

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all films

  • Kung Fu Stuntmen(2020)

    Actor

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films

  • Raging Fire(2021)

    Action Director · Producer · as Bong

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • Wuhan Wuhan(2021)

    Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Bravo Youngsters! (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2020)

    Show 10 episodes · Actor

  • Mulan(2020)

    as Commander Tung

    Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films

  • 2次重塑 (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2020)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Enter the Fat Dragon(2020)

    Producer · as Fallon Zhu

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films

  • Ip Man 4: The Finale(2019)

    Producer · as Ip Man

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films

  • Master Z: The Ip Man Legacy(2018)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all films

  • The 40th Anniversary of Chinese Film Since China's Reform and Opening-Up (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2018)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Iceman: The Time Traveller(2018)

    Producer · as Ying

    Midcredits score: 11th percentile of all films

  • Big Brother(2018)

    Action Director · Producer · as Henry Chen Xia

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films

  • Guardians of Martial Arts (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2017)

    as Master Yen

  • Chasing the Dragon(2017)

    Producer · as Crippled Ho

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all films

  • xXx: Return of Xander Cage(2017)

    Fight Choreographer · as Xiang

    Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all films

  • Roast (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2017)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Rogue One: A Star Wars Story(2016)

    as Chirrut Imwe

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films

  • 鲁豫有约一日行 (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2016)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: Sword of Destiny(2016)

    as Silent Wolf

    Midcredits score: 43rd percentile of all films

  • Ip Man 3(2015)

    as Ip Man

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films

  • An Inspector Calls(2015)

    as Band Members

    Midcredits score: 18th percentile of all films

  • Kung Fu Jungle(2014)

    Action Director · as Hahou Mo

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films

  • Chef Nic (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2014)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Iceman(2014)

    Producer · as Ying

    Midcredits score: 12th percentile of all films

  • Golden Chickensss(2014)

    as Yip Man

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films

  • The Monkey King: Havoc in Heaven's Palace(2014)

    as Sun Wukong / Monkey King

    Midcredits score: 20th percentile of all films

  • Special ID(2013)

    Producer · as Dragon Chan

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all films

  • Together (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2013)

    as Chan Kwok-Wah

  • All's Well, Ends Well 2012(2012)

    as Carl Tam

    Midcredits score: 11th percentile of all films

  • Dragon(2011)

    Action Director · as Liu Jinxi / Tang Long

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films

  • The Lost Bladesman(2011)

    Choreographer · as Guan Yunchang

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all films

  • All's Well, Ends Well 2011(2011)

    as Cheng Yu-keung / Arnold Cheng

    Midcredits score: 14th percentile of all films

  • Legend of the Fist: The Return of Chen Zhen(2010)

    Martial Arts Choreographer · as Chen Zhen

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • Running Man (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2010)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Ip Man 2(2010)

    as Ip Man

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films

  • 14 Blades(2010)

    as Qinglong

    Midcredits score: 52nd percentile of all films

  • Bodyguards and Assassins(2009)

    as Shum Chung Yang

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films

  • The Founding of a Republic(2009)

    as Tian Han

    Midcredits score: 24th percentile of all films

  • All's Well, Ends Well 2009(2009)

    as Wedding Guest (cameo)

    Midcredits score: 15th percentile of all films

  • Club Sparkle (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2009)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Ip Man(2008)

    as Yip Man

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all films

  • Painted Skin(2008)

    as Pang Yong

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • An Empress and the Warriors(2008)

    as General Muyong Xuehu

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all films

  • Flash Point(2007)

    Action Director · Producer · as Ma

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all films

  • Dragon Tiger Gate(2006)

    Action Director · Co-Producer · as Dragon Wong

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • Stormbreaker(2006)

    Action Director · Stunts

    Midcredits score: 15th percentile of all films

  • Be My Guest (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2006)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Kill Zone(2005)

    Martial Arts Choreographer · as Inspector Ma Kwun

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all films

  • Seven Swords(2005)

    as Chu Zhaonan

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

  • The Twins Effect II(2004)

    Stunt Coordinator · as General Lone

    Midcredits score: 15th percentile of all films

  • Love on the Rocks (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2004)

    as Victor Tsui

  • Protégé de la Rose Noire (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2004)

    Director

  • The Twins Effect(2003)

    Co-Director · Action Director

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all films

  • Shanghai Knights(2003)

    as Wu Chow

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films

  • Hero(2002)

    as Sky

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • The Kung Fu Master (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2002)

    as Hung Hei-Kwun

  • Fist of Fury (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2002)

    as Chen-Jun

  • Blade II(2002)

    Martial Arts Choreographer · as Snowman

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • The Princess Blade (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2001)

    Action Director · Stunts

  • Fist of Fury - Sworn Revenge (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2001)

    Martial Arts Choreographer · as Chen Zhen

  • Reflections on 'the Little Dragon' (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2001)

    Actor

  • Highlander: Endgame(2000)

    Martial Arts Choreographer · as Jin Ke

    Midcredits score: 10th percentile of all films

  • Der Puma - Kämpfer mit Herz (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1999)

    Stunts

  • Moonlight Express(1999)

    Action Director · Choreographer

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films

  • City of Darkness (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1999)

    as Ozone

  • Shanghai Affairs(1998)

    Director · as Tong Shan

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films

  • Ballistic Kiss (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1998)

    Director · Martial Arts Choreographer · Producer · Writer · as Cat Lee

  • Legend of the Wolf(1997)

    Director · Martial Arts Choreographer · Producer · Screenplay · as Fung Man-hin

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films

  • Black Rose II (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1997)

    as Boxing School Owner

  • 义侠勇闯上海滩 (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1997)

    as 唐山

  • Satan Returns (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1996)

    as Nam

  • Iron Monkey 2(1996)

    as Iron Monkey

    Midcredits score: 20th percentile of all films

  • Fist of Fury(1995)

    Show 30 episodes · Editor · as 陈真

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all shows

  • The Saint of Gamblers(1995)

    as Lung Chat

    Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all films

  • High Voltage (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1995)

    as Chiang Ho-Wa

  • Circus Kids (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1994)

    as Danton Lee

  • Revenge of the Kung Fu Master (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1994)

    as Hung-Hei Kwun

  • The Kung Fu Master (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1994)

    Show 30 episodes · as Hung Hei-gun

  • Wing Chun(1994)

    Action Director · Martial Arts Choreographer · as Leung Pok To

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all films

  • Heroes Among Heroes (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1993)

    as So Chan

  • Iron Monkey(1993)

    as Wong Kei-ying

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films

  • Butterfly and Sword (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1993)

    as Yip Cheung

  • Dragon Inn(1992)

    Stunt Double · as Eunuch Tso Siu Yan

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films

  • Once Upon a Time in China II(1992)

    as Commander Lan

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all films

  • Crystal Hunt (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1992)

    as Leung / Brett Chan

  • Cheetah on Fire (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1992)

    as Ronnie

  • A New Life (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1991)

    Show 15 episodes · Actor

  • Holy Virgin vs. The Evil Dead(1991)

    as Shiang Chin-Fei

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all films

  • The Crime File (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1991)

    Show 13 episodes · Actor

  • Donnie Yen UK Tour 1991 (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1991)

    Actor

  • Tiger Cage II(1990)

    Martial Arts Choreographer · as Dragon Yau

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films

  • Flying Squads (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1989)

    Show 20 episodes · as Cheung Ho-nam

  • In the Line of Duty IV(1989)

    as Captain Donnie Yan

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films

  • File Noir (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1989)

    Show 20 episodes · Actor

  • Tiger Cage(1988)

    Martial Arts Choreographer · as Terry

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all films

  • The Last Conflict (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1988)

    as Dickson Kwan

  • The Close Encounters of Vampire (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1986)

    Choreographer

  • Mismatched Couples(1985)

    as Eddie

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films

  • Drunken Tai Chi (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1984)

    as Chan Chuen Chung

  • The Miracle Fighters(1982)

    Stunt Double

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films

  • Caine (not in the Motif catalog yet)

    Director · Executive Producer · as Caine

  • Flash Point: Resurgence (not in the Motif catalog yet)

    as Det. Sgt. Ma Jun

  • Ip Man 5 (not in the Motif catalog yet)

    as Ip Man

  • Kung Fu (not in the Motif catalog yet)

    Actor

  • 狠家伙 (not in the Motif catalog yet)

    Executive Producer

Career shape

Star power in the 99th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 114 titles, 109 of them dated from 1982 to 2025; peak year 2009.

Biggest box office

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016)

$1.1B worldwide

Highest rated

Ip Man (2008)

Midcredits 98th

Most popular right now

John Wick: Chapter 4 (2023)

Film career

19822025

Peak 2009 · steadily prominent in film for years. Top draw in 29 Motif 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.

  • 1988Screen debut· Tiger Cage
  • 1990First top-billed film· Tiger Cage II
  • 2008Career best· Ip Man

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting103 of 114: 75 only acting, 28 with another role · typical Midcredits score50thDirecting8 of 114: 1 only directing, 7 with another role · typical Midcredits score38thWriting2 of 114: 0 only writing, 2 with another roleProducing16 of 114: 3 only producing, 13 with another role · typical Midcredits score56thOther crew27 of 114: 6 only other crew, 21 with another role · typical Midcredits score62nd

114 titles, 29 with more than one role — acting and other crew overlap on 20 of them.

By decade

1980s9 · 7 acting · 3 crew1990s29 · 27 acting · 8 crew2000s26 · 22 acting · 11 crew2010s29 · 28 acting · 9 crew2020s16 · 15 acting · 6 crew

Billing

usually 1st · top billed in 54% of 52 roles
889398081318

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 Motif, 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 Donnie Yen's films land?

Their typical Motif film has a Midcredits score in the 51st percentile, the median of all 67; across their 62 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 53rd percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

53rdpercentile
Typical film, the median of 62

Approval · how many liked their films

52ndpercentile
Typical film, the median of 62

Reach · how many have seen their films

82ndpercentile
Typical film, the median of 62

Midcredits score across 68 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up17
  • 50th to 74th18
  • 25th to 49th18
  • Below 25th15

Shape of the crowd

30 of their 68 titles are Mixed.

  • Universally Loved6
  • Cult Classic3
  • Crowd Pleaser28
  • Broadly Agreed1
  • Mixed30

Most divisive · actor

The Founding of a Republic (2009)

86th percentile spread · 39% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Ip Man (2008)

Midcredits 98th · 91% liked

Reviewers score the acting 61/100 in their films, across 55 reviewed titles; fans 72, detractors 37. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on Motif; 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 Motif 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 Donnie Yen's work okay for kids?

Across up to 18 Motif titles with content scores, violence & gore and frightening / intense run heavier than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore14 titles53–88 · median 69 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity18 titles6–45 · median 24 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity13 titles6–58 · median 39 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs12 titles6–60 · median 34 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense12 titles34–69 · median 58 · moderateheavier than most 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 Donnie Yen work with?

People who share at least 2 of Donnie Yen's Motif titles, grouped by what they did on them; Ka-Fai Cheung shares the most, 13.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers and editors

Producers

Mixed roles