Actor

Joan Chen: Movies, Awards & Box Office

films: 56
as director: 2
on screen: 1979–2026
box office: $797M
nomination: 1
average score: 65

Born: April 26, 1961 (age 65)
Birthplace: Shanghai, China
Full name: Chen Chong
Citizenship: Chinese, American
Occupations: Actress, Director
Years active: 1975-present
Spouses: Jim Lau, Peter Hui
Children: 2

Known for

The Best Joan Chen Movies

The highest-rated films Joan Chen is credited on, by the Movie Echo Score that blends critic reviews, audience ratings and lasting impact. Sheep Without a Shepherd (2019) scores highest, at 84. The full ranking adds the biggest box office hits and the most awarded films.

Full ranking

Career at a glance

Joan Chen's Career in Numbers

Joan Chen's films in numbers — as an actor, not counting appearances as themselves: when they were made, the genres Joan Chen works in most and the milestones along the way. The filmography runs from The Little Flower (1979) to Remarkably Bright Creatures (2026), and the 1990s were the busiest decade.

Joan Chen Movies by Decade

1970s 1
1980s 6
1990s 14
2000s 11
2010s 12
2020s 10

The 1990s were Joan Chen's busiest decade, with 14 films.

Joan Chen Movies by Genre

Drama 18
Romance 6
Comedy 5
Action 4
Sci-Fi 4
Mystery 3
Crime 3
Thriller 3
Horror 2
War 2

Drama is the genre Joan Chen has worked in most, with 18 films, ahead of romance (6).

Joan Chen Career Milestones

First film: The Little Flower 1979
Biggest box office hit: Sheep Without a Shepherd $192M worldwide
Best-rated film: Sheep Without a Shepherd Movie Echo Score 84
Newest film: Remarkably Bright Creatures 2026

56 credits

Joan Chen Filmography: Every Movie

Every film Joan Chen is credited on, newest first, with the role, the box office and the Movie Echo Score. 2 as director and 52 as actor. Rated films average a score of 65. Re-order the list to see the best-rated films or the biggest hits first.

Movies Directed by Joan Chen

Joan Chen Movies as an Actor

Joan Chen in Documentaries & Specials

1 nomination

Joan Chen: Awards & Nominations

1 nomination across 1 award body. Every ceremony is listed newest first, with the category and the film.

All movie awards

40th Independent Spirit Awards
- Joan Chen: Nominated Best Supporting Performance Dìdi

Biography

Who Is Joan Chen?

Joan Chen was born in Shanghai, China in 1961 and is 65 years old. Credited on films since 1979, as an actor. The background, training and the roles that shaped the career.

Joan Chen (born April 26, 1961) is a Chinese-American actress and film director who began her career in China in the 1970s before transitioning to Hollywood in the 1980s. Chen became a star in China for her performance in the 1979 film Little Flower and received international recognition for her role in the 1987 film The Last Emperor, which won nine Academy Awards including Best Picture. Her other notable roles include Twin Peaks, Red Rose White Rose, Saving Face, and The Home Song Stories. As a director, Chen is known for the acclaimed feature film Xiu Xiu: The Sent Down Girl.

Born to a family of pharmacologists in Shanghai, Chen was discovered at the age of 14 by Jiang Qing, the wife of Chinese leader Mao Zedong. She was selected for the Actors' Training Program by the Shanghai Film Studio in 1975 and made her cinematic debut in the 1977 film Youth. She later attended the Shanghai International Studies University, where she majored in English, before moving to the United States at age 20. In Hollywood, she gained further recognition with roles in films like Tai-Pan and the TV show Miami Vice. As an actress, she is particularly known for her versatility, having portrayed a wide range of characters.

Works with

Who Joan Chen Makes Movies With

The actors and directors Joan Chen shares the most films with. Kyle MacLachlan comes first, with 5 films together, followed by Ray Wise (4).

FAQ

Joan Chen: Questions & Answers

How many movies Joan Chen has made, the biggest hit, the best-rated film, the award record and more, answered from the filmography above.

How many movies has Joan Chen been in?

Joan Chen is credited on 56 films, from 1979 to 2026. 52 of them as an actor and 2 as a director. The filmography on this page lists every one of them, newest first, with the role and the Movie Echo Score.

What is Joan Chen's highest-grossing movie?

Sheep Without a Shepherd (2019) is Joan Chen's biggest box office hit, with $192M worldwide, ahead of Under the Light (2023) ($189M). Across every film with box office figures, Joan Chen's movies have made $797M.

Joan Chen's biggest hits

What is the best Joan Chen movie?

By the Movie Echo Score, which blends critic reviews, audience ratings and lasting impact, Joan Chen's best-rated film is Sheep Without a Shepherd (2019) with a score of 84, followed by The Wedding Banquet (2025) (75).

Best Joan Chen movies, ranked

Has Joan Chen won an Oscar?

Joan Chen has not been nominated for an Oscar. Across every ceremony in the awards database, Joan Chen has 0 wins from 1 nomination.

How old is Joan Chen?

Joan Chen is 65 years old, born on April 26, 1961 in Shanghai, China.

What is Joan Chen's newest movie?

The most recent film on Joan Chen's filmography is Remarkably Bright Creatures (2026).

Who does Joan Chen work with most often?

Joan Chen shares the most films with Kyle MacLachlan (5 films), Ray Wise (4 films) and Gary Hershberger (4 films).

The Best Joan Chen Movies, Ranked

Top rated, most awarded and biggest box office hits from 56 credits.

See the ranking

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