Don Lee's 10 Best Movies & TV Shows, Ranked (2024)

South Korean actor Ma Dong-seok, also known as Don Lee, made his Hollywood debut in the MCU's Eternals as Gilgamesh, but he has plenty of other great performances, too. Don Lee began his career in America by working as a personal trainer, notably training mixed martial artists, before transitioning into acting. Known for his roles that often blend brute strength with a soft heart, Lee has redefined the archetype of action heroes in Korean cinema. His imposing physique, coupled with his charismatic screen presence, has garnered him a reputation as one of the most compelling action stars.

Ma's international popularity soared with his performance in Train to Busan. He continued to achieve both critical and commercial success with leading roles in Derailed, The Outlaws, and Unstoppable. Lee also recently starred in the Netflix movie Badland Hunters as a wasteland hunter, showing that his career in both K-cinema and Hollywood is definitely on the rise.

10 Eternals (2021)

Gilgamesh

Eternals, a Marvel Cinematic Universe film directed by Chloé Zhao, introduces 10 immortal beings who have been protecting Earth from Deviants for 7,000 years. The diverse cast includes Sersi (Gemma Chan), involved with Ikaris (Richard Madden) and a human, Dane (Kit Harington), alongside characters like the strongman Gilgamesh (Don Lee) in the Australian outback. The narrative spans millennia, focusing on reuniting the team to save Earth.

Despite Lee's great performance and the film's epic scope, Eternals struggles with a lack of character development and balancing its vast storyline. However, it was also seen as one of the most daring and visually compelling MCU movies to date with Oscar-winner Zhao going for more practical locations than the typical green screen sets. The mixed reaction to the movie put hopes of an Eternals sequel into question, but hopefully, Lee's Gilgamesh will make a return at some point.

9 Deep Trap (2015)

Park Seong-cheol

Deep Trap, a must-watch South Korean thriller directed by Kwon Hyeong-jin, showcases Don Lee's acting range before his rise to fame. The plot revolves around a couple, played by Jo Han-sun and Kim Min-kyung, visiting a rural island restaurant for a getaway. They encounter Lee's character, Park Seong-cheol, the intimidating owner, creating a tense atmosphere. It soon becomes clear that the couple has entered into a living nightmare from which they might not be able to escape. The fact that the movie is based on a true story makes it all the more unsettling.

It is always interesting when "good guy" actors play villains, and despite Lee being an effective hero in many movies, he is truly terrifying in this menacing role. The film's narrative balances the Lee character's unpredictable violence with underlying motivations, highlighting his ability to portray complex, dark characters.

Deep Trap is a good, straightforward horror experience that builds suspense through its reveal of unsettling details. There is also the effective use of the isolated location which makes the audience feel trapped in the creepy and increasingly threatening situation. However, above all else, it is Lee's villainous turn that makes the movie worth watching.

8 Bad Guys (2014)

Park Woong-cheol

Though he is a bonafide movie star in South Korea, Lee has also starred in some memorable TV series as well. Bad Guys, a gripping 2014 Korean drama with just 11 episodes, is known for its fast-paced action and unconventional storyline. The series revolves around Detective Oh Gu-tak, who is suspended for excessive force and assembles a team of criminals, including Don Lee as gangster Woong Cheol, to solve crimes. This special unit, also comprising a young serial killer and a contract killer, delves into violent and action-packed scenarios, offering a fresh take on crime-solving.

The series is like a gritty thriller version of The Suicide Squad with a ragtag band of misfit characters living outside the law and forming an unexpected team that gives them a shot at redemption. Despite some underdeveloped characters, the show's fast pace and intriguing plot make it an exciting watch. It's fun to see the show's fresh take on crime genre archetypes, from the gangster to the hitman with a code to the chilling serial killer, and how it brings them all together in one story. A sequel series premiered in 2017 but with a new cast of characters.

7 Derailed (2016)

Hyung-suk

Derailed is a tense film that stands out for its engrossing performances. Choi Min-ho plays Jin-il, a young runaway who, along with his friends, devises a motel scheme in which they lure men with the promise of sex and then rob them. Lee's Hyung-suk is a man who is chosen as an intended target for the scheme, but he is not interested in the services they are offering. After the group robs Hyung-suk, they learn too late that they have picked the wrong man to mess with.

Lee delivers a nuanced performance, playing the part of an intimidating antagonist with ease. The movie's realistic portrayal of societal darkness is commendable, though the graphic violence may overwhelm some viewers. The movie also complicates its plot with too many storylines. While they all converge in a satisfying ending, with so much going on, it feels as though the movie doesn't have enough time to really delve into any of its characters in a meaningful way.

6 The Royal Tailor (2014)

Pan-Soo

Given how well-known he is for his modern action films, it's fun to see Lee pop up in a period K-drama movie. The Royal Tailor, a visually stunning film by director Lee Won-suk, brings to life a sartorial rivalry akin to Yves Saint Laurent and Jean Paul Gaultier set in the Joseon dynasty. In the palace drama, Lee stars alongside Han Suk-kyu, Go Soo, and Park Shin-hye as Pan Soo, a charismatic palace official who introduces the new tailor, Lee Gong-jin, to the royal court to design for the queen.

Fans who know Lee from his action and crime roles will be surprised by this slower-paced drama, but that doesn't mean they won't be pleased with it in the end. It offers a beautiful-looking and engrossing story of a friendship and rivalry that takes a tragic turn. While there are some terrific performances, including Lee's stand-out supporting role, the real stars of the show are the costume designers who create extraordinary looks that befits the premise of the movie.

5 Unstoppable (2018)

Dong-Chul

This is one of the movies that helped Lee gain more of an international following as an action movie star. It is also more in line with what fans have come to expect from the actor, as it serves as his version of Liam Neeson in Taken. In Unstoppable, Lee plays Dong-Chul, a former thug turned fish market worker whose life takes a turn when his wife is kidnapped. Determined to get her back, Dong Chul teams up with his best friend and a criminal investigator to rescue his wife.

Lee's portrayal of Dong-Chul is both powerful and relentless, fitting the film's title. Unstoppable stands out for its exciting action sequences and for demonstrating Lee's range as an actor, navigating through intense fight scenes and heart-wrenching moments with equal finesse. There is also a healthy amount of humor and great characters, including Dong-Chul's fiery wife, Ji-Soo, and the over-the-top villain, Ki-tae.

4 The Gangster, the Cop, the Devil (2019)

Jang Dong-soo

In The Gangster, the Cop, the Devil, an action-packed Korean crime thriller, rogue cop Jung Tae-seok (Kim Mu-yeol) and a formidable underworld boss Jang Dong-soo (Don Lee), form an unlikely alliance to capture a serial killer known as K (Kim Sung-kyu). K, a ruthless murderer targeting motorists, meets his match when he tries to attack Jang Dong-soo, a crime lord known for his brutal strength. It is another example of Lee playing a character on the other side of the law who becomes a completely endearing character.

Don Lee portrays Jang with a mix of intimidation and wit, standing out among the cast with his commanding presence. The film is filled with high-speed car chases and intense fight scenes, which is perfect for action fans. Its clever premise and strong characters create a stirring ride from beginning to end, resulting in a fast-paced and violent thriller that will feel reminiscent of other great K-movies like Chaser and I Saw the Devil.

3 The Outlaws (2017)

Ma Seok-do

The Outlaws is an action-comedy based loosely on Seoul's gang wars. Directed by Kang Yoon-sung, the film combines humor with violence as it follows the story of a 2004 police operation against gangs. The plot centers around Korean, Chinese, and Chinese-Korean gangs in the Garibong district, disrupted by the arrival of brutal newcomers led by Jang Chen (Yoon Kyesang). Ma Seok-do (Lee), a no-nonsense cop, is assigned to stop their increasingly violent acts.

Turning true-crime stories into a vibrant, funny, and wild action movie is an unconventional choice and it works surprisingly well. Lee's performance as a forceful, occasionally comical, cop is perfect in an action film full of grit and humor. There is a hilarious running gag in the movie with Lee knocking out people with one punch and it never gets old watching him do it. This was another role that helped to cement him as a great international action star.

2 Along with the Gods: The Two Worlds (2017)

Seongju God

Along with the Gods: The Two Worlds is an adaptation of a South Korean webtoon series. This film is the first part of a series, followed by a sequel. The story follows firefighter Kim Ja-hong (Cha Tae-hyun), who, after dying on duty, is guided through the afterlife by three guardians. He faces seven trials in seven hells to be judged for virtues like betrayal and deceit. If acquitted, he's eligible for reincarnation within 49 days. The guardians, who also seek reincarnation, defend him during these trials.

The film, featuring impressive CGI and emotional storytelling, is carried by a strong cast, including Ha Jung-woo, Cha Tae-hyun, and Don Lee as Seongju. It is a grand fantasy adventure with some thrilling action sequences. While it might not be known widely outside of Korea, it marks the country's third highest-grossing movie of all time. It is also another display of Lee's talents and his ability to jump from one genre to another.

1 Train to Busan (2016)

Sang-hwa

Train to Busan

t

Horror

Action

Where to Watch

*Availability in US

• stream
• rent
• buy

Release Date

July 1, 2016

Director

Yeon Sang-ho

Cast

Gong Yoo

Runtime

118minutes

Train to Busan, a globally popular Korean zombie movie, is a must-watch for horror and zombie fans. The film stars Gong Yoo as Seok-woo, a father traveling with his daughter, Soo-an (Kim Su-an), to Busan amidst a sudden zombie outbreak. As chaos unfolds on the train, they encounter various passengers fighting for survival. Don Lee portrays Sang-hwa, an ordinary worker on the train with his pregnant wife proves to be a valuable ally in fighting the undead. This role was the breakout performance for Lee, shooting him into the mainstream.

The movie became an international sensation, spawning a sequel, an animated prequel, and an upcoming American remake. It is a perfect blend of action and horror with thrilling set pieces and pulse-pounding suspense that makes great use of the isolated setting. However, part of the reason Train to Busan is elevated above other films in the genre is its characters, who are fun, distinct, and carry their own stories that make it easy to care about their fate.