Randall Park is everywhere these days. Remember his guest role on HBO's Veep back in the day? As politician Danny Chung, he was a hoot to watch — especially when he fired off killer one-liners to fellow White House sleazebags, such as, "In six years' time, you and me, Oval Office, ordering a pizza and an air strike." Since then, Park has taken Hollywood by storm. See below for proof.
First off, we can't wait to see Park in a starring role for Netflix’s comedy series Blockbuster, set in the company's last store in the U.S.. He also recently lent his voice to Netflix’s animated comedy series, Human Resources. Plus, it was just revealed that Park has joined Will Ferrell, Jamie Foxx and Will Forte in Strays, a live-action/CGI hybrid about dogs who have had enough of owners that don't treat them well. In addition to all of this, here are Park's top five best on-screen efforts from over the years.
5 Ant-Man and the Wasp (2018)
Our list starts with Agent Jimmy Woo's debut appearance in the MCU. Ant-Man and the Wasp primarily follows Scott Lang (Paul Rudd) as he balances being both a superhero and a father, fighting alongside The Wasp to uncover secrets from their past. It was released in July 2018 as part of Phase Three of the MCU. The film was a critical and commercial success, receiving praise for its levity, humor and performances. One such standout was Randall Park, nailing the supporting role as he plays it straight while offering comic relief throughout. Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania will be released in theaters on February 17, 2023 — and we're hoping Park gets plenty of screen time in it.
4 WandaVision (2021)
That brings us to WandaVision, where Park reprised his Jimmy Woo character and solidified his standing as an MCU fan-favorite. The critically acclaimed Disney+ miniseries features an all-star cast led by Elizabeth Olsen and Paul Bettany. Once viewers discover that the show isn't just a sitcom that pays tribute to countless iconic TV shows, Woo's agency gets involved to get to the bottom of the little "community" Wanda has created. Woo's quintessential good-guy approach left us cheering for him whenever he appeared on-screen. It was epic, by the way, when we found out it was Woo's voice who was shouting through the mysterious radio frequency, "Wanda! Who's doing this to you?"
"When they first reached out to me, to tell me that they were interested in having Jimmy Woo back, I was just like, 'Yes. No questions asked, I'll do it.' But I didn't know what the show was about," said Park in an interview with Marvel. "And with every section, I was just like, 'Whoa. Oh my god, no. Really? You're going to do that?' It was just so mind-blowing that they would even attempt to try something so risky."
3 The Interview (2014)
The Interview centers on Dave Skylark (James Franco) and his producer Aaron Rapaport (Seth Rogen) who manage to secure an interview with the Kim Jong-un (Randall Park) in North Korea, which leads them to be recruited by the CIA to take him out. The film's wide theatrical release was initially canceled by Sony Pictures after 9/11-type threats were made by a hacker group to theaters showing the movie. Perpetually plagued by controversy, The Interview can still be appreciated for Park's committed turn as the supreme leader.
2 Always Be My Maybe (2019)
Seeing Park rap-singing onstage about punching Keanu Reeves makes Always Be My Maybe a unique rom-com experience. Co-written by its lead actress, comedian Ali Wong, the story unfolds when Wong's character reconnects with her childhood neighbor (Park) when returning home. Things get complicated when old feelings are dredged up — and also when Keanu Reeves shows up, playing himself. Park's priceless, speechless reaction at Reeves' arrival is reason enough alone to check out this Netfllix offering.
"Working with Ali was just so fun, from beginning to end," Park once told Glamour upon the film's release. "We made this movie together and with Nahnatchka, an old friend. I just couldn’t imagine this process with someone you hate. That sounds like a nightmare."
1 Fresh Off the Boat (2015-2020)
Fresh Off the Boat is loosely based on the memoir of the same name by Eddie Huang, centering on a young Huang and Taiwanese-American family in Florida in the 1990s. Park plays Eddie's father, a nice and mild-mannered guy who embraces all things American — even owning a Western steakhouse restaurant in Orlando. After becoming the first series featuring an all Asian American main cast to broadcast over 100 episodes, the critically acclaimed series concluded in February 2020 after six seasons.
"The show means so much to me on so many levels," Park told EW amid the show's conclusion, "and to know it’s officially coming to an end this week is sad — but also really celebratory, because of what the show represents, not just to our history or TV history or Asian-American history, but just to what it represents in my life. It’s been such a great ride. I’m just real thankful more than anything."