6 Michelle Yeoh Movies To Watch After Everything Everywhere All At Once

I think I speak for most movie-goers when I say one of the most surprising experiences in the theater this year so far was Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert’s Everything Everywhere All at Once.

It’s a wild ride that got about as many tears out of me as it did laughs. The film was many things, but maybe most important of all, it provided modern international audiences with a mainstream introduction to Hong Kong superstar, Michelle Yeoh. It became clear to me in conversations shortly after the film’s release that not everyone grew up with a Supercop VHS in their collection or had a childhood obsession with Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.

It seemed the next natural step was to provide a list of films that would serve as a great jumping off point for anyone unfamiliar with Yeoh’s filmography. While most of her films reside in the action genre, she provides a unique charisma and acting range that elevates every film she’s been a part of. Just so you know, Supercop is still widely available in VHS format as you’ll inevitably want your own copy after reading this.

 

1. Yes, Madam! (1985)

Director: Corey Yuen

To even begin to understand Yeoh’s legacy as an action icon, look no further than the opening five minutes of her first leading role in 1985’s Yes, Madam! as Inspector Ng. Immediately after the opening credits, she’s seen rolling over cars, dodging bullets and touting a shotgun. It’s a brilliant showcase for both Yeoh’s gravitas and physical power as an actor. It’s also the perfect introduction for a role that audiences didn’t see much of from a woman at the time.

The rest of the film is somewhat of a mixed bag. It unfolds with a mostly nonsensical plot involving microfilm, fake guns and crime lords. It also focuses on a trio of bumbling thieves that takes away from Yeoh’s buddy-cop dynamic with the always-awesome Cynthia Rothrock.

Thankfully, the last 20 minutes is an energetic and tightly edited ballet of swords and fists that reminds us why we pressed play in the first place. Yeoh and Rothrock look as good as any iconic action duo standing back to back, before they acrobatically wipe out a room full of goons. The spectacle is heightened by the fact that they each perform most of their own stunts, which will give you wild moments that’ll have you cheering at the screen. Yeoh’s pose and snarky smile after an insane spin kick around a railing will forever be among the most memorable moments in her career.

 

2. Supercop (1992)

Director: Stanley Tong

After a brief hiatus from acting in the late 80s, Michelle Yeoh returned to star alongside international superstar Jackie Chan in 1992’s Supercop (aka Police Story 3: Super Cop). In a rare move for the time, she was cast as neither a romantic lead nor a damsel in distress, but as Chan’s reluctant partner and equal. Needless to say, she was more than up to the task.

The film was an introduction for many western audiences to Yeoh’s work. Despite being the third installment in a franchise, Supercop is mostly a standalone film. It follows Chan’s rogue cop Kevin and Yeoh’s Inspector Yang as they are forced to work together to take down a Hong Kong drug ring. What follows is a blend of slapstick humor and non-stop action that delivers an experience that can only be described as a caffeinated lovechild of James Bond and a John Woo flick.

On top of being a showcase for Yeoh’s martial arts prowess, the film also has her following Jackie’s lead in doing all of her own stunts. The third act sees the two going tit for tat with death-defying set pieces, including Chan dangling from a helicopter in mid-air and Yeoh driving a motorcycle off a ledge and landing onto a moving train. This combined with the leads’ shared chemistry resulted in an infectiously fun and rewatchable action comedy classic.

 

3. Far North (2007)

Director: Asif Kapadia

The title of 2007’s Far North serves a dual purpose, as it describes both the subarctic setting of the plot as well as the film’s relationship with the rest of Yeoh’s filmography. Instead of the breezy, often comedic tone seen frequently in her early career, Far North has a cold harshness, a tone reflective of its setting. It tells the story of Saiva (Yeoh’s role in the film) as she travels with Anja across a desolate Siberian tundra, surviving on scarce resources. When they run into the stranded Loki, a complicated tension sets in that builds slowly to boiling point.

Director Asif Kapadia directs with a slow and steady hand as things patiently unfold between the three characters. The film also uses sparse dialogue, which results in every spoken word carrying extra weight. Alongside Michelle Krusiec and Sean Bean, Yeoh is a powerhouse in what may be her most complex role to date. In just 89 minutes, she delivers a performance that is gripping, graceful, tragic and terrifying – all at once.

The film’s final disturbing moments require a strong stomach and a suspension of disbelief, but it is nonetheless a shining example of Yeoh’s bravery as a performer.

 

4. Crazy Rich Asians

Director: Jon M. Chu

I’ll keep this one brief since it’s arguably the most-viewed film on the list, but I couldn’t leave out the cultural phenomenon that was Crazy Rich Asians.

It’s a delightful love letter to Asian cinema and tradition, featuring a huge ensemble of talented Asian American character actors. Yeoh as the tough and stubborn mother who disapproves of the central romance due to differences in class and culture is easily the standout.

An argument can also be made for this being a natural precursor to her role as Evelyn in Everything Everywhere All at Once.

 

5. The Heroic Trio (1993)

Director: Johnnie To

As weird and wild as it gets, Everything Everywhere All At Once was far from Yeoh’s first foray into the truly bizarre. For proof of this, check out 1993’s The Heroic Trio. Directed by Johnnie To, the film stars Yeoh alongside fellow female action stars Maggie Cheung and Anita Mui as superheroines out to stop a baby-napping, sewer-dwelling warlord who aims to breed a new emperor. Eventually, as that premise alone implies, mayhem ensues.

From beginning to end, an earnest love for camp shines through every frame, taking things just seriously enough to avoid ever feeling like a parody. The meticulous cinematography and fight choreography make every skirmish feel diverse and an absolute blast to witness. The ingenious blend of high-flying wuxia combat with impressive practical effects create something akin to the perfect Mortal Kombat movie I’ve always hoped for.

At the center of it all is Yeoh’s performance as Invisible Woman (yes, that’s the character’s name). She’s simply stunning as a warrior caught between good and evil, elevating the film into a pulpy melodrama that keeps you invested in between gonzo set pieces. As is tradition with a Michelle Yeoh joint, this one ends with another show-stopping finale, complete with acrobatics, pyrotechnics and gore effects you’ll have to see to believe. The Heroic Trio may not be for everyone, but hardcore genre fans like myself will immediately embrace it as a cult classic.

 

6. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000)

Director: Ang Lee

There’s not much to say about this romantic and sprawling wuxia masterpiece that hasn’t already been said. On the surface, it’s the tale of a sacred sword stolen from the hands of aging swordsman Li Mu-Bai and the violence and betrayal that follows. Upon a closer glance, however, the film is so much more.

Yeoh, Chow Yun-Fat and Zhang Ziyi lead a stellar ensemble with unforgettable performances. Despite possibly being the third most “important” character in the film, the silent soulfulness in Yeoh’s portrayal of Shu Lien provides an emotional backbone to the story that is both relatable and heartbreaking. Her longing for Mu-Bai, that betrays tradition and her maternal empathy toward Zhang’s Jen, hangs over every scene, even those seemingly unrelated to these dynamics.

The story unfolds with the help of Ang Lee’s precise direction, sweeping cinematography and balletic choreography by action legend Yuen Woo-Ping. All of these elements reach a thrilling fever pitch in a duel between Shu Lien and Jen that involves almost every weapon known to 18th century China. It’s cinematic poetry at its finest.

Still, the film never forgets that its most important element is its characters. Even in the action set pieces, we are learning more about them and watching dynamics grow and shift. 22 years later, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon hasn’t aged a day and is still likely to enrapture anyone seeing it for the first time. Much like Yeoh herself, it never ceases to remind viewers of the strength and beauty to be found in subtlety, even in a martial arts epic.

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