Michelle Yeohhas starred in many notable box office hits, but her highest-grossing movie of her career is probably not what you thought. Yeoh’s career began with her starring in a number ofgreat martial arts movies, including thePolice Storymovies with Jackie Chan. As impressive as she is as an action star, Yeoh proved she had incredible range.
Yeoh’s Oscar-winning performance inEverything Everywhere All At Oncewas a career highlight, but her movies have also been financially impressive. Yeoh has appeared in some big franchises, includingtheJames Bondmovies, the MCU, and theTransformersfranchise.
Some of her most acclaimed movies have also been surprise box office successes, includingWickedandCrazy Rich Asians. However, when it comes to the movie from Michelle Yeoh’s career with the biggest box office total, it is actually one that fans might overlook.
Michelle Yeoh’s Highest-Grossing Movie Is Minions: The Rise Of Gru
Even with all of the massive live-action roles in Michelle Yeoh’s career, her highest-grossing movie is one in which she doesn’t appear on-screen. The animated family comedyMinions: The Rise of Gruoutpaces the likes ofWickedandShang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Ringsat the box office, earning $940.5 million worldwide(viaBox Office Mojo).
$940.5 million
$756.2 million
$665.7 million
Transformers Rise of the Beasts (2023)
$441.7 million
Shang Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (2021)
Jiang Nan
$432.2 million
The prequel movie withintheDespicable Mefranchisecatches up with Gru (Steve Carell) when he was a young child, already with plans of being the world’s greatest supervillain on his mind. He also meets the scene-stealing Minions, who are taught kung-fu by the skilled master and acupuncturist, Master Chow (Yeoh).
The impressive box office total is not totally surprising, astheDespicable Memovies have become the highest-grossing animated franchise of all time, with over $5 billion globally. However, given how many iconic live-action performances come to mind when thinking of Yeoh’s legendary career, it is hard to imagine a supporting animated role being the biggest.
Michelle Yeoh Has An Underrated Voice Acting Career
While Michelle Yeoh’s animated roles might not be the first ones that come to mind when thinking of her movies, she does have a successful voice acting career. Along withMinions: The Rise of Gru, several of Yeoh’s voice roles are among her highest-grossing movies. This includes Soothsayer inKung Fu Panda 2and Airazor inTransformers: Rise of the Beasts.
Also likeMinions: The Rise of Gru,several of Yeoh’s voice roles lean into her reputation as amartial arts movie icon.Kung Fu Panda 2,Paws of Fury: The Legend of Hank,andThe Tiger’s Apprenticeall cast Yeoh in their voice cast within a story that deals heavily in martial arts.
More recently, Yeoh was announced to be leading the voice cast of the English-dubbed version of the Chinese animated hit,Ne Zha 2. WhileMichelle Yeohis joining the movie’s American release, after it had its box office success, the movie outgrossedMinions: The Rise of Gru, becoming thehighest-grossing animated movie of all time.
