Skip to content
MovieCove
Justin Chon

Justin Chon

Actor, director, producer and writer · Born May 29, 1981 (45) · Garden Grove, California, USA

Cannes award nominee · Sundance award winner · Independent Spirit Award winner

Justin Jitae Chon (born May 29, 1981) is a South Korean-American actor and filmmaker. He has directed three films, Gook (2017), Ms. Purple (2019), and Blue Bayou (2021). He is also known for portraying Eric Yorkie in The Twilight Saga film series. He is a member of the K-pop parody group Boys Generally Asian. Description above from the Wikipedia article Justin Chon, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

Read more

Biography from TMDB.

Born
May 29, 1981 (45)
From
Garden Grove, California, USA
Works as
Actor, director, producer and writer
Titles
31 on MovieCove · 47 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 155 days to Oct 26Up 18% in 30 days

What are Justin Chon's films like?

Across their 19 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Self.

Genres

Comedy6 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 35th percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Drama4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 60th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Action3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 16th percentile
: browse their Action movies
Crime2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 73rd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Crime 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
Bonds
29%
Self
23%
Survival
17%
Society
16%
Morality
9%
Ideas
5%
Power
2%
Family bonds8 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival7 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity4 titles, browse their movies with this themeCommunity3 titles, browse their movies with this themeComing of age3 titles, browse their movies with this themeSelf-worth2 titles, browse their movies with this themePrejudice2 titles, browse their movies with this themeFriendship2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 17 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 10 · Serious 0 · Dark 7

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

A split, not a type: Grounded 9 · Stylized 7 · Heightened 1

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

Gentle 4 · Charged 9 · Intense 4

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

Steady 5 · Shifting 9 · Whiplash 3

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 8 · Some laughs 4 · Funny 5

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

Slow burn 5 · Even-paced 12 · Relentless 0

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

Casual 10 · Engaged 5 · Full focus 2

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

A split, not a type: Easy watch 9 · Affecting 3 · Heavy 5

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

Resolved 12 · Open-ended 4 · Ambiguous 1

Roles they play

8 analyzed roles

Usually the Trickster: 3 of 8 analyzed roles.

Trickster
3 of 8
Hero
3 of 8
Ally
1 of 8
Mentor
1 of 8
Show the 8 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
8
Joyful
7
Melancholic
5
Absurd
5
Triumphant
4
Other
22

How their films linger

Feel-good7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful8 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteDevastating3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 2 with a twist

  • Happy4
  • Bittersweet10
  • Tragic2
  • Ambiguous3

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 Justin Chon's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 25 of their 31 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (7).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Justin Chon'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

47 credits, 31 with a MovieCove page.

  • Chief of War(2025)

    Show 2 episodes · Director · Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all shows

  • Coming Home Again (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2023)

    as Changrae

  • Jamojaya (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2023)

    Director · Executive Producer · Writer

  • Pachinko(2022)

    Show 8 episodes · Director · Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all shows

  • Blue Bayou(2021)

    Director · Producer · Screenplay · as Antonio LeBlanc

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films

  • Ms. Purple(2019)

    Director · Producer · Writer

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • We Gon' Be Alright (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2019)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • High Resolution(2018)

    as Paul

    Midcredits score: 9th percentile of all films

  • The One That Got Away (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2018)

    as Man

  • Deception(2018)

    Show 13 episodes · as Jordan Kwon

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all shows

  • Gook(2017)

    Director · Producer · Screenplay · as Eli

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all films

  • Dead Trigger(2017)

    as Daniel Chen

    Midcredits score: 5th percentile of all films

  • Heartbeats(2017)

    as Jae Juarez

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all films

  • Satanic(2016)

    as Seth

    Midcredits score: 2nd percentile of all films

  • Dramaworld (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)

    Show 20 episodes · as Seth Ko

  • Like Lambs (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)

    as Jasper Cho

  • Dr. Ken(2015)

    Show 5 episodes · as Jae

    Midcredits score: 13th percentile of all shows

  • Twinsters(2015)

    Executive Producer · as Jeff Chang

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films

  • Man Up (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    Director · Executive Producer · Writer · as Randall

  • Sin City Saints (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    Show 8 episodes · as Byron Summers

  • Seoul Searching(2015)

    as Sid Park

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films

  • Revenge of the Green Dragons(2014)

    as Sonny

    Midcredits score: 16th percentile of all films

  • Innocent Blood (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2013)

    as Brad Lee

  • From the Rough(2011)

    as Ji-Kyung

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • 21 & Over(2013)

    as Jeff Chang

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films

  • Hang Loose(2012)

    as BJ

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films

  • Rock Jocks(2012)

    as Seth

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all films

  • Detention of the Dead(2012)

    as Ash

    Midcredits score: 10th percentile of all films

  • The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 1(2011)

    as Eric

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all films

  • Jin (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2011)

    as Jin

  • New Girl(2011)

    Show 1 episode · as Brian

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all shows

  • Glory Daze (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2010)

    Show 1 episode · as Asian Frat Bro

  • Gigantic(2010)

    Show 1 episode · as Byron Letts Jr.

    Midcredits score: 6th percentile of all shows

  • The Twilight Saga: Eclipse(2010)

    as Eric

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all films

  • The Twilight Saga: New Moon(2009)

    as Eric

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all films

  • Turbo (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    as Hugo Park

  • Crossing Over(2009)

    as Yong Kim

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • Balls Out: Gary the Tennis Coach(2009)

    as Joe Chang

    Midcredits score: 22nd percentile of all films

  • Twilight(2008)

    as Eric

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films

  • Hack!(2007)

    as Ricky

    Midcredits score: 8th percentile of all films

  • Just Jordan (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    Show 29 episodes · as Tony Lee

  • Wendy Wu: Homecoming Warrior(2006)

    as Peter

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films

  • House(2004)

    Show 1 episode · as Harold Lam

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all shows

  • The O.C.(2003)

    Show 1 episode · as Big Korea

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all shows

  • Capsule (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Director

  • Tommy Karate (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Director · Screenplay

  • Untitled Sublime Biopic (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Director · Writer

Career shape

Star power in the 98th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 47 titles, 44 of them dated from 2003 to 2025; peak year 2016.

Biggest box office

21 & Over (2013)

$48M worldwide

Highest rated

Twinsters (2015)

Midcredits 93rd

Most popular right now

Chief of War (2025)

Film career

MilestoneAward win
20032025

Peak 2016 · steadily prominent in film for years. Top draw in 8 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
Acting39 of 47: 36 only acting, 3 with another role · typical Midcredits score33rdDirecting10 of 47: 1 only directing, 9 with another role · typical Midcredits score80thWriting7 of 47: 0 only writing, 7 with another roleProducing7 of 47: 1 only producing, 6 with another role · typical Midcredits score87th

47 titles, 9 with more than one role — acting and directing overlap on 3 of them.

By decade

2000s10 · acting2010s29 · 27 acting · 4 crew2020s5 · 2 acting · 4 crew

Billing

usually 6th · top billed in 24% of 17 roles
061116

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

2 major awards from 5 major nominations, 2017–2023.

WinNomination
  1. 2023
    • Independent Spirit Award, nominated · Best New Scripted Series
  2. 2021
    • Cannes award, nominated
  3. 2019
    • Sundance award, nominated · Dramatic
  4. 2018
    • Independent Spirit Award, won
  5. 2017
    • Sundance award, won · Best of Next!

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 Justin Chon's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 33rd percentile, the median of all 23; across their 17 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 40th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

40thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 17

Approval · how many liked their films

42ndpercentile
Typical film, the median of 17

Reach · how many have seen their films

69thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 17

Midcredits score across 31 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up10
  • 50th to 74th3
  • 25th to 49th8
  • Below 25th10

Shape of the crowd

11 of their 31 titles are Mixed.

  • Universally Loved3
  • Universally Panned1
  • Divisive2
  • Cult Classic5
  • Crowd Pleaser8
  • Broadly Agreed1
  • Mixed11

Most divisive · actor

Hang Loose (2012)

92nd percentile spread · 28% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · director, producer

Pachinko (2022)

Midcredits 96th · 91% liked

Reviewers score the acting 61/100 in their films, across 17 reviewed titles; fans 74, detractors 33. 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 Justin Chon's work okay for kids?

Across up to 6 MovieCove titles with content scores, violence & gore, sex & nudity and profanity run heavier than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore5 titles56–81 · median 67 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity6 titles9–66 · median 48 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity5 titles42–87 · median 74 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs3 titlesmedian 42 · moderateMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense4 titlesmedian 63 · intenseMedian 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 Justin Chon work with?

People who share at least 2 of Justin Chon's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Alan Pao shares the most, 6.

Actors

Composers, cinematographers and editors

Producers

Mixed roles