We’ve ranked the top five Steven Yeun movies. The rankings are based on each film’s Tomatometer score on Rotten Tomatoes. This comes ahead of the July 25 release of Avatar Aang: The Last Airbender on Paramount+, which is also featured in this list. To qualify for the awards season, Paramount Pictures has also finally given the animated movie its long-awaited limited theatrical screenings.
Best Steven Yeun movies ranked by RT score
5) Avatar Aang: The Last Airbender (2026) – 89%
In fifth place is the upcoming Avatar Aang: The Last Airbender movie, which will feature Yeun voicing Fire Lord Zuko. So far, the film has already garnered an 89% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Despite the controversial leak three months ago, the fantasy animated movie was able to triumph over this thanks to the support of loyal fans who have been waiting for the film’s release for a long time. Ahead of its Paramount+ release, the film has been receiving universal praise for its visually stunning animation style. Many critics are also commending the creative team for creating something that respects the legacy of the beloved original show. They believe that each character’s growth was shown beautifully through the story’s entertaining and emotional plot.
4) The Humans (2021) – 91%
Placing fourth is A24’s 2021 psychological drama film The Humans from writer-director Stephen Karam. It has a 91% Fresh score on Rotten Tomatoes. In the movie, Yeun played Beanie Feldstein’s kind-hearted boyfriend whose wealthy background makes him an outsider at his girlfriend’s working-class family’s Thanksgiving dinner. Many critics were impressed by the film’s haunting, claustrophobic atmosphere, which effectively heightened the tension in the story’s dysfunctional family drama. It was also praised for its honest, raw portrayal of family dynamics, which was further elevated by the ensemble cast’s incredible performances.
3) Sorry to Bother You (2018) – 93%
The third spot goes to Boots Riley’s 2018 feature-length directorial debut Sorry to Bother You, which received a 93% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes. In the film, Yeun plays the key role of Squeeze, who’s introduced as a labor union uprising leader opposite LaKeith Stanfield’s Cash. Riley was acknowledged by critics for his unique, bold vision and unconventional style of filmmaking. The movie’s ensemble cast also received praise, particularly the flawless performances from Stanfield and Tessa Thompson.
2) Burning (2018) – 95%
2018’s South Korean thriller film Burning takes second place, after garnering a 95% Fresh score on Rotten Tomatoes. Yeun played the sociopathic and enigmatic Ben, whose charm and upper class status hide a menacing truth about himself. Most critics loved Yeun’s leading performance opposite co-stars Yoo Ah-in and Jeon Jong-seo, describing it as one of his career-defining roles. The film’s slow-burn suspense was also commended for delivering an effective build-up to the story’s unexpected climax.
1) Minari (2020) – 98%
Yeun’s highest-rated movie to date is A24’s 2020 critically acclaimed drama Minari from Lee Isaac Chung. During its theatrical run, it received a near-perfect Fresh score of 98% on Rotten Tomatoes. In the film, Yeun played Jacob Yi, the ambitious patriarch of a Korean-American family who moves to a rural town in hopes of fulfilling his dream. For his leading performance, The Walking Dead vet earned his first Academy Award nomination for Best Actor. Besides Yeun, the rest of the main cast also received wide praise from critics and audiences, particularly Youn Yuh-jung’s phenomenal portrayal of an unconventional grandmother. Because of this, Youn swept the awards season, winning a Golden Globe and an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress.
