Since beginning work as a professional actor in the late 1990s, John Cho has successfully made the transition from one-off TV roles to mainstream movie performances in such major franchises as Star Trek.

Cho, who was born in South Korea and moved to the United States as a child, first appeared on TV screens in the late '90s, with minor parts on several popular shows, including The Jeff Foxworthy ShowandCharmed. Shortly after, he began working in film, landing a small but memorable role as the "MILF Guy" in American Pie(which also led to appearances in sequels American Pie 2, American Wedding, and American Reunion).

A little more than five years after making his professional acting debut, Cho landed his breakout role in Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle, co-starring in that film (and its two sequels) with Kal Penn. From there, he maintained a steady stream of TV work, appearing in everything from medical dramas (Grey's Anatomy) to gritty comedies (Kitchen Confidential) to popular sitcoms (How I Met Your Mother). He also continued building his film résumé with performances in movies from Nick and Norah's Infinite PlaylisttoSaint John of Las Vegas.

Over the past decade, Cho has appeared in three Star Trek films while also acting on such TV comedies as The Mindy Project, New Girl, andAmerican Dad!. More recently, he's starred in Netflix's live-action anime series Cowboy Bebop and the film drama Don't Make Me Go, streaming on Prime Video; and signed on to appear in the second season of Apple TV+'s murder mystery comedy series The Afterparty.

Here, Metacritic highlights the best movies and TV shows Cho has acted in, ranked by Metascore.

Columbus

Metascore: 89
Best for: Fans of indie dramas
Where to watch:

, fuboTV, Google Play, iTunes,
Runtime: 100 minutes

Cho stars as Jin Lee, who comes to take care of his accomplished architect father after he falls ill before giving an academic lecture in Columbus, Ohio. While there, he befriends Casey (Haley Lu Richardson), an aspiring architect who lives in the area and takes care of her drug-addicted mother. Together, the pair bond over their struggles with their parents, as well as their hopes and dreams for the future. Columbus, which was released in 2017, was directed, written, and edited by Kogonada, who first made a name for himself by creating video essays about popular Hollywood movies and directors.

"The quietly stirring, exquisitely photographed Columbus is an art-house gem that beautifully illuminates not only the architecture of a small Indiana town, but also the characters that inhabit it." — David Lewis, San Francisco Chronicle

The Tale of The Princess Kaguya

Metascore: 89
Best for: Fans of international animated films
Where to watch:

, Google Play, HBO Max, iTunes, Vudu
Runtime: 137 minutes

The Tale of The Princess Kaguya is an animated Japanese movie about a small girl who's found in a bamboo shoot and later grows up to become a princess. After being discovered in the plant, she's raised by a bamboo cutter and his wife, who both believe that she has a powerful presence — and as she matures, it becomes clear that she is no ordinary girl. The original film was released in Japanese, with an English dub version coming out a year afterward. Cho lends his voice to the English version, appearing as the character Middle Counselor Isonokami. 

"This delicate, hand-drawn marvel is lyrical and heartbreaking in ways that most live-action movies never approach." — Peter Rainer, The Christian Science Monitor

Felicity

Metascore: 87
Best for: Fans of teen and college dramas
Where to watch:

, Google Play, , iTunes,
Seasons: 4

Created by J.J. Abrams and Matt Reeves, Felicity is a coming-of-age drama that follows California native Felicity Porter (Keri Russell) as she moves across the country to attend college. While in school, she spends time with a co-ed crew that includes her resident advisor Noel Crane (Scott Foley), roommate Meghan Rotundi (Amanda Foreman), and high-school crush Ben Covington (Scott Speedman). Cho appears in one first-season episode ("The Last Stand"), playing a college student named Larry who seeks guidance from Noel. Over its four-season run, Felicity won several major awards, including a Golden Globe and a Primetime Emmy.

"What really makes Felicity enjoyable... is that despite its requisite melodrama, it is emotionally plausible and endearing." — James Collins, Time

American Beauty

Metascore: 84
Best for: Fans of satirical dramas
Where to watch:

, Google Play, iTunes, Vudu
Runtime: 122 minutes

Released in 1999, American Beauty is a dark dramedy about Lester Burnham (Kevin Spacey), an unhappy middle-class man going through a midlife crisis. In the process, he makes a series of questionable decisions, including buying an expensive new car, using drugs, and pursuing a relationship with high-school cheerleader Angela Hayes (Mena Suvari). Cho has a minor role in the movie, playing a potential home buyer who views a house listed by Lester's wife, Carolyn (Annette Bening). After its release, American Beauty was a critical and commercial success, winning five Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Actor.

"A brilliant, exhilarating piece of filmmaking." — Marc Savlov, The Austin Chronicle

BoJack Horseman

Metascore: 82
Best for: Fans of animated comedies
Where to watch: Netflix
Seasons: 6

The Netflix original series depicts the life of former TV star BoJack Horseman, a half-man, half-horse character voiced by Will Arnett. The show keeps up with BoJack as he navigates his post-acting life, which he typically fills with drinking and self-loathing, as well as plotting his comeback — with the help of Diane Nguyen (Alison Brie), a ghostwriter helping him pen his memoir. Cho has a brief stint in the show's second season, in episodes "Yes And" and "Out to Sea," as Lead Improv-er, a member of a cult-like improv comedy group.

"A combination of droll and naughty that seems improbable but works deliciously." — Neil Genzlinger, The New York Times

Star Trek

Metascore: 82
Best for: Fans of sci-fi epics
Where to watch:

, Google Play, iTunes, Vudu
Runtime: 127 minutes

Star Trek, the Abrams-directed reboot of the original Star Trek TV series, reunites the franchise's most memorable characters, including James T. Kirk (Chris Pine) and Spock (Zachary Quinto), as they fight a villain named Nero (Eric Bana) and save the crew of the USS Enterprise. In the film (and its sequels), Cho appears as crew member Hikaru Sulu, a character originally played by George Takei. Star Trek, which was released in 2009, was nominated for four Oscars (winning for Best Makeup) and spawned a pair of follow-up films:Star Trek Into DarknessandStar Trek Beyond.

"It's a real family film, relatively light on the violence and funny without being overly crude; it even has some touching moments." — Mary Pols, Time

Mirai

Metascore: 81
Best for: Fans of kid-friendly adventure flicks
Where to watch:

, Google Play, iTunes, Netflix, Vudu
Runtime: 98 minutes

This 2018 Japanese animated film that has also been dubbed in English follows a young boy named Kun Ota (voiced by Moka Kamishiraishi in the original and Jaden Waldman in English), who becomes jealous and withdrawn after the birth of his sister, Mirai (Haru Kuroki in the original, Victoria Grace in English). With less attention on him, Kun begins to spend more time alone and enters into a fantasy world where he meets his relatives at various ages of their lives. Cho voices Kun and Mirai's father in the English dub version of Mirai. The film was later nominated for Best Animated Feature at the Academy Awards, Critics' Choice Awards, and Golden Globes.

"The film balances spiralling flights of fancy with glinting observations on parenting and family dynamics." — Wendy Ide, Screen Daily

Difficult People

Metascore: 80
Best for: Fans of best-friend comedies
Where to watch:

, Google Play, , iTunes,
Seasons: 3

Created by and starring Julie Klausner, Difficult People revolves on best friends and aspiring comedians Julie Kessner (played by Klausner) and Billy Epstein (Billy Eichner). It follows the pair throughout their day-to-day life in New York City, where they experience the highs and lows of the competitive comedy industry and constantly find themselves in awkward scenarios. Cho has a recurring role in the final season of the series, appearing in four episodes as Billy's boyfriend and advertising executive Todd Ross. Co-produced by Amy Poehler, Difficult People premiered on Hulu in 2015 and lasted three seasons.

"The writing is hilariously great, as are the performances." — David Wiegand, San Francisco Chronicle

Grandma

Metascore: 77
Best for: Fans of family-centric comedies
Where to watch:

, Google Play, , iTunes, Vudu
Runtime: 79 minutes

Grandma is a 2015 comedy about Elle Reid (Lily Tomlin), a grieving poet who hits the road with her pregnant granddaughter Sage (Julia Garner) to help find enough money for an abortion. Along the way, the duo meets and reconnects with an outrageous cast of characters, including tattoo artist Deathy (Laverne Cox) and Elle's ex-husband Karl (Sam Elliott). Cho appears as coffee shop employee Chau, who asks Elle and Sage to leave after causing a scene in front of other customers. 

"It's predictable in many places and acerbic in others, sentimental when you expect it and poignant when you don't." — Ty Burr, The Boston Globe

House

Metascore: 80
Best for: Fans of medical dramas
Where to watch:

, Google Play, iTunes, ,
Seasons: 8

Set at the fictional Princeton-Plainsboro Teaching Hospital in New Jersey, House depicts the professional and personal lives of an elite team of doctors led by Dr. Gregory House (Hugh Laurie). The team works together to diagnose and treat unusual cases, to varying degrees of success. In "Love Hurts," an episode in House's first season, Cho plays a patient named Harvey Park, who's experiencing a series of seemingly unrelated medical issues, including teeth grinding and strokes. The series, which debuted in 2004, received several major awards over its eight-season run, including two Golden Globes and two Primetime Emmys.

"Entertaining, genre-bending." — Sid Smith, Chicago Tribune

Ugly Betty

Metascore: 75
Best for: Fans of female-led dramedies 
Where to watch:

, Google Play, , iTunes,
Seasons: 4

Based on a Colombian telenovela, Ugly Betty is an ABC sitcom starring America Ferrera as Betty Suarez, a sweet and geeky young woman who lands a job at a well-known fashion magazine — despite her lack of fashion sense. At work, she deals with criticism and bullying from her co-workers but makes a few true friends, including accountant Henry Grubstick (Christopher Gorham). Cho appears in three episodes of the second season of Ugly Betty, playinga character named Kenny, who is close friends with Henry. The series received critical and industry acclaim, taking home two Golden Globes and a SAG Award (among others).

"A show and a heroine larger than life, twice as colorful and infinitely more adorable." — Matt Roush, TV Guide Magazine