Nope was one of the most anticipated movies of 2022, and despite what Logan Paul said, it did not disappoint. Jordan Peele's third film continued his trend of making thought-provoking thrillers that challenge societal tendencies while compiling some of the greatest talents Hollywood has to offer. One of those talents is the highly underrated Steven Yeun in one of his most prominent roles yet. But while those in fandom know him as Glenn from AMC's The Walking Dead, he has proven to be a formidable actor who deserves a career as an A-Lister star. Let's look at some of Yeun's greatest roles and why he deserves to get talked about among the greatest in the industry.
The Walking Dead Put Steven Yeun on the Map
Despite leaving The Walking Dead over six years ago, Yeun's iconic performance as Glenn, the lovable delivery guy turned hero, is what he gets recognized for the most. And for many, Glenn's brutal death at the hands of Negan marked the end of their love affair with the show. Of course, his departure clearly didn't signal the end of the series, as that will come this November with a slew of spin-offs coming in its wake. Glenn was the perfect break-out role for an up-and-coming actor like Yeun. He was able to market his ability to do drama, comedy and action to a vast audience. However, Yeun sadly hasn't gotten to be a part of another project on that scale until his recent turn in Jordan Peele's Nope.
The Walking Dead is available to stream on both Netflix and AMC+.
Steven Yeun Leads a Strike in Sorry to Bother You
In 2018, Boots Riley made his directorial debut with Sorry to Bother You. And thanks to the clout he had built up over his decades-long career, Riley pulled together a slew of big names in the industry for his first feature, including Lakeith Stanfield, Tessa Thompson and the legendary Danny Glover. But he also enlisted Yeun. In the film, Yeun plays one of Cash's (Stanfield) co-workers at a shady call center that organizes a union and leads a strike against Regalview. Yeun makes the most of his limited screen time by chewing the scenery and matching the film's tone with precision. His role could have been overshadowed by the film's bombastic visual style and mind-melting ending, but Yeun knew what he had to do to stick out.
Stream Boots Riley's Sorry to Bother You anytime on Hulu.
Minari Makes Steven Yeun a Demanding Father
A24's 2020 awards darling Minari is one of the best family dramas in recent memory. The Lee Issac Chung feature is a semi-autobiographical retelling of his experience as a child immigrating to the United States in the early 1980s. Yeun plays Jacob, the headstrong and pragmatic patriarch of the family. The film got nominated for six Academy Awards, but Yeun sadly did not make the cut. Regardless, his performance is heartbreaking, complex and relatable to many second-generation Americans. Yeun is able to capture the dichotomy of someone wanting to provide for their family so badly that they ultimately end up neglecting them. Minari may be one of the least seen performances Yeun has given, but it is one of his best and most heartfelt.
Minari is available for rent on Prime Video.
Steven Yeun Played an Animal Rights Activist in Okja
Okja may not be the best movie that Netflix has ever released, but it is certainly not the worst. The Bong Joon-ho film seemingly came and went when it was released in the summer of 2017 as Netflix original films were still building up steam. Remember that this was released before the streamer started gaining notice from awards groups with films like Roma and The Irishman. But fans of Parasite and Bong's previous works should give this one a revisit or first watch on Netflix as it's a wild ride. And a lot of the fun is thanks to Yeun's performance as K, the leader of the animal rights group that protects Okja. He gets to work overtime as a translator for the protagonist, Mjia, who only speaks Korean. And in tense moments, this added layer makes for some brilliant moments of drama and comedy.
To give Okja some love, stream it now on Netflix.
Burning Let Steven Yeun Access His Wild Side
Yeun's character in the 2018 Korean film Burning certainly wishes that he was the Human Torch. The story of Burning is an intimate psychological thriller that follows an aspiring novelist named Jong-su and his rekindled relationship with a childhood friend named Shin Hae-mi. Jong-su, who has fallen hard for Hae-mi, watches her cat while she is on vacation. Upon her return, Hae-mi introduces Jong-su to a man she met while stuck in the airport named Ben (Yeun). Ben reveals that, as a hobby, he enjoys burning down abandoned greenhouses every two months. Saying much more about the film would ruin its twists and turns. What's great about this film is that Ben is a different character than the type Yeun usually falls into. Burning also allows him to access an off-kilter and eerie performance.
Burning is available for rent on Prime Video.
Steven Yeun Suits Up in Amazon's Invincible
In addition to his live-action work, Yeun has made a name for himself in the voice-over world. During his Walking Dead years, he surprised fans when he voiced the first Avatar, Wan, in The Legend of Korra. Since then, he created an iconic performance by reteaming with Walking Dead creator Robert Kirkman on Prime Video's Invincible. Yeun voices the series' protagonist Mark, the son of the world's strongest superhero. The first season puts Mark through the wringer and gives Yeun the challenge of using his voice to capture a massive range of emotions, from excitement to confusion, as he comes to terms with his newfound responsibilities. Despite being surrounded by a cast of all-star actors, Yeun's vocal performance grounds the show's broad yet focused tone.
Invincible is available to stream now on Prime Video.