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Fan Liao

Fan Liao

Actor · Born February 14, 1974 (52) · Changsha, Hunan Province, China

Liao Fan (Chinese: 廖凡; born 14 February 1974) is a Chinese film and theatre actor. He is a graduate of Shanghai Theatre Academy. In February 2014 he won the Silver Bear for Best Actor at the 64th Berlin International Film Festival, for his performance in the film Black Coal, Thin Ice (directed by Diao Yinan). Description above from the Wikipedia article Liao Fan, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
February 14, 1974 (52)
From
Changsha, Hunan Province, China
Works as
Actor
Titles
14 on MovieCove · 69 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 39 days to Oct 28Down 20% in 30 days

What are Fan Liao's films like?

Across their 11 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Morality and Self.

Genres

Action6 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 70th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Action movies
Crime3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 72nd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Crime movies
Comedy2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 54th percentile
: browse their Comedy 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
33%
Self
19%
Bonds
18%
Survival
11%
Power
9%
Ideas
5%
Society
4%
Purpose2 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love2 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice3 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival3 titles, browse their movies with this themeLoyalty2 titles, browse their movies with this themeRedemption2 titles, browse their movies with this themeSacrifice2 titles, browse their movies with this themeFate2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 11 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 3 · Serious 1 · Dark 7

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

Grounded 4 · Stylized 4 · Heightened 3

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

Gentle 1 · Charged 4 · Intense 6

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

Steady 3 · Shifting 7 · Whiplash 1

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

Straight-faced 6 · Some laughs 4 · Funny 1

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

Slow burn 3 · Even-paced 7 · Relentless 1

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 7 · Full focus 2

Open-ended: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their open-ended movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 5 · Open-ended 5 · Ambiguous 1

Roles they play

7 analyzed roles

Usually the Shadow: 3 of 7 analyzed roles.

Shadow
3 of 7
Hero
2 of 7
Ally
1 of 7
Shapeshifter
1 of 7
Show the 7 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
9
Melancholic
6
Hopeful
3
Thrilling
2
Absurd
2
Other
7

How their films linger

Thought-provoking6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 2 with a twist

  • Happy1
  • Bittersweet8
  • 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 Fan Liao's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 7 of their 14 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (5).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Fan Liao'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

69 credits, 14 with a MovieCove page; 1 appearance as themselves is hidden until asked for.

  • 莫得闲 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2026)

    Show 3 episodes · as 山童

  • Gezhi Town(2025)

    Actor

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films

  • The Sun Rises on Us All(2025)

    Thanks

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

  • Dead End (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2025)

    Show 18 episodes · as Ran Xi

  • Mostly Sunny (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2025)

    as Policeman

  • The Silent Storm (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2024)

    Show 16 episodes · as Wu Yu

  • Bound in Heaven (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2024)

    as Song

  • Kang Zhan Zhong De Wen Yi (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2024)

    as Ba Jin

  • You're Here Anyway (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2024)

    Actor

  • Fearless Blood (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2023)

    Show 18 episodes · as Old Sun

  • Tale of the Night (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2023)

    as Sorehead Man

  • Gold Panning (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2022)

    Show 12 episodes · as Wu Jianchao

  • The Long Night (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2020)

    Show 12 episodes · as Yan Liang

  • The Wild Goose Lake(2019)

    as Captain Liu

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films

  • Savage(2018)

    as Old Da

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films

  • Ash Is Purest White(2018)

    as Guo Bin

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all films

  • Hidden Man(2018)

    as Zhu Qianlong

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films

  • Lost in 1949 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2018)

    Show 46 episodes · as Old Guo

  • 挟刀揉手 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2017)

    as 自己

  • Guilty of Mind (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2017)

    as Tai Wei

  • The Final Master(2015)

    as Chen Shi

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films

  • Only You(2015)

    Actor

    Midcredits score: 15th percentile of all films

  • I Can I BB (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)

    Show 2 episodes · Actor

  • All Quiet in Peking (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)

    Show 53 episodes · as 梁经纶

  • Black Coal, Thin Ice(2014)

    as Zhang Zili

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all films

  • 床上关系2 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)

    as 郑重

  • Meng's Palace (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2013)

    Show 40 episodes · Actor

  • 女人帮 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2013)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Chinese Zodiac(2012)

    as David Liao

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films

  • Voice (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2012)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Full Circle (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2012)

    as 司机

  • Love (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2012)

    Actor

  • Love is Not Blind (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2011)

    as Young Teacher Chen

  • Love on Credit (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2011)

    as Jiang Cheng

  • Beginning of the Great Revival(2011)

    as Zhu De

    Midcredits score: 3rd percentile of all films

  • Legend of Wind (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2011)

    Show 30 episodes · as Lao Pan

  • If You Are the One 2 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2010)

    as Jianguo

  • Let the Bullets Fly(2010)

    as The Third

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films

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

    Actor

  • The Line (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    Show 48 episodes · as 欧阳山川

  • 谍影重重之上海 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    Show 28 episodes · Actor

  • 愤怒的天使 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    Show 31 episodes · as 张东洋

  • Ocean Flame (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    as Wang Yao

  • The Poem for the Oak (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    Show 29 episodes · as Dongfang Lingxiao

  • Getting Home(2007)

    as Young Cop

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films

  • Assembly(2007)

    as Jiao Dapeng

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all films

  • 为爱结婚 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    Show 25 episodes · Actor

  • Curiosity Kills the Cat (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    as Liu Fendou

  • 随风飞扬 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    Show 21 episodes · Actor

  • 风吹云动星不动 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    Show 38 episodes · as Xiao Huang

  • Gimme Kudos (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    as Tan Wei

  • Hero of the Year (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    Show 32 episodes · as Ma Xiaodong

  • The Game of Killing (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    as Dawei

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

    Show 22 episodes · as 司马波-司马瑜

  • Baober in Love (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    as Li Yang

  • Green Hat (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    as Wang Yao

  • Chicken Poets (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    as Chen Xiaoyang

  • 爱在阳光灿烂时 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    Show 20 episodes · as Pan Xiaoxing

  • Love Story in Shanghai (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    Show 30 episodes · as 吴伯平

  • 相约青春 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    Show 20 episodes · Actor

  • 咏春狂想曲 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    Show 2 episodes · Actor

  • 致命邂逅 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    Show 21 episodes · Actor

  • 三坊七巷 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    Show 20 episodes · as 麻仔

  • Cherish Our Love Forever (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    Show 20 episodes · as Yu Sen

  • 北京深秋的故事 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    Show 20 episodes · Actor

  • Fate Finds Us (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Show 1 episode · as Gu Qun

  • Mamma Dunhuang (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Actor

  • Red Snow (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Actor

  • 无界之爱 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Actor

Career shape

Star power in the 97th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 69 titles, 65 of them dated from 1995 to 2026; peak year 2014.

Biggest box office

Chinese Zodiac (2012)

$171M worldwide

Highest rated

Let the Bullets Fly (2010)

Midcredits 93rd

Most popular right now

Chinese Zodiac (2012)

Film career

19952026

Peak 2014 · fewer prominent film roles lately. Top draw in 4 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
Acting68 of 69: 68 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score72ndOther crew1 of 69: 1 only other crew, 0 with another role

By decade

1990s2 · acting2000s24 · acting2010s26 · acting2020s13 · 12 acting · 1 crew

Billing

usually 5th · top billed in 14% of 14 roles
0712

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 Fan Liao's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 72nd percentile, the median of all 14; across their 11 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 74th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

74thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 11

Approval · how many liked their films

70thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 11

Reach · how many have seen their films

77thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 11

Midcredits score across 14 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up6
  • 50th to 74th4
  • 25th to 49th2
  • Below 25th2

Shape of the crowd

7 of their 14 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved2
  • Divisive1
  • Crowd Pleaser7
  • Broadly Agreed2
  • Mixed2

Most divisive · actor

Gezhi Town (2025)

91st percentile spread · 15% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Let the Bullets Fly (2010)

Midcredits 93rd · 82% liked

Reviewers score the acting 71/100 in their films, across 10 reviewed titles; fans 77, detractors 51. 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 Fan Liao's work okay for kids?

Across a limited sample of up to 3 MovieCove titles with content scores.

Their medianMedian of all films
Sex & Nudity3 titlesmedian 38 · moderateMedian of all films: 32

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted.

Who does Fan Liao work with?

People who share at least 2 of Fan Liao's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Yi'nan Diao shares the most, 3.

Directors

Actors

Cinematographers and editors

Producers