Yul Brynner
ActingAbout Yul Brynner
Yul Brynner (July 11, 1920 – October 10, 1985) was a Russian-born American actor of stage and film. He was best known for his portrayal of Mongkut, king of Siam, in the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical The King and I, for which he won an Academy Award for Best Actor for the film version; he also played the role more than 4,500 times on stage. He is also remembered as Rameses II in the 1956 Cecil B. DeMille film The Ten Commandments, General Bounine in Anastasia and Chris Adams in The Magnificent Seven. Brynner was noted for his distinctive voice and for his shaven head, which he maintained as a personal trademark long after adopting it for his initial role in The King and I. He was also a photographer and the author of two books.
Career Statistics & Market Influence
Analyzing the cinematic journey of Yul Brynner reveals a career defined by diverse artistic exploration. With a total of 50 major appearances, the actor has established a significant footprint in global cinema.
Genre Dominance: Drama
The majority of Yul Brynner's filmography leans towards the Drama genre. Audience data suggests that viewers respond most favorably to this persona, though their versatility has allowed for successful crossovers into other categories.
The "Box Office" Signature
With a 38% Success Ratio (movies rated above 6.5), Yul Brynner remains a reliable draw for studios. Their peak performance was recorded in Yul Brynner: The Man Who Was King, which continues to be the benchmark for their career rating-wise.
Best Yul Brynner Movies Ranked
Must-watch hits from Yul Brynner's career based on audience ratings.
Complete Filmography & Success Status
Tracking the career evolution and box office verdicts of Yul Brynner.
| Year | Movie | Character | Success | More |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Chauves, la revanche | Self (archive footage) | Average | Similar → |
| 2020 | Yul Brynner, the Magnificent | Self - Actor (archive footage) | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 2015 | Spanish Western | Self (archive footage) | Average | Similar → |
| 2003 | The Making of The Ten Commandments | Self (archive footage) | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 2003 | Broadway's Lost Treasures | The King of Siam (segment "The King and I") | Average | Similar → |
| 2002 | My Sister Maria | Himself (archive) | Average | Similar → |
| 1996 | Ingrid Bergman Remembered | Self (archive footage) | Hit | Similar → |
| 1995 | Yul Brynner: The Man Who Was King | Self (archive footage) | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1985 | Night of 100 Stars II | Self | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1976 | Death Rage | Peter Marciani | Flop | Similar → |
| 1976 | Futureworld | The Gunslinger | Average | Similar → |
| 1976 | It's Showtime | Self (archive footage) | Hit | Similar → |
| 1975 | The Ultimate Warrior | Carson | Average | Similar → |
| 1973 | Westworld | The Gunslinger | Hit | Similar → |
| 1973 | The Serpent | Col. Alexi Vlassov | Average | Similar → |
| 1973 | On Location with Westworld | Self (uncredited) | Hit | Similar → |
| 1972 | Fuzz | The Deaf Man | Flop | Similar → |
| 1971 | Catlow | Catlow | Flop | Similar → |
| 1971 | The Light at the Edge of the World | Jonathan Kongre | Average | Similar → |
| 1970 | Adiós, Sabata | Sabata / Indio Black | Average | Similar → |
| 1969 | The Magic Christian | Transvestite Cabaret Singer | Average | Similar → |
| 1969 | The File of the Golden Goose | Peter Novak | Flop | Similar → |
| 1969 | The Madwoman of Chaillot | The Chairman | Hit | Similar → |
| 1969 | The Battle of Neretva | Vlado | Hit | Similar → |
| 1968 | Villa Rides | Pancho Villa | Average | Similar → |
| 1967 | The Long Duel | Sultan | Flop | Similar → |
| 1967 | The Double Man | Dan Slater / Kalmar | Average | Similar → |
| 1966 | Triple Cross | Baron von Grunen | Average | Similar → |
| 1966 | Return of the Seven | Chris Adams | Average | Similar → |
| 1966 | The Poppy Is Also a Flower | Colonel Salem | Average | Similar → |
| 1966 | Cast a Giant Shadow | Asher Gonen | Average | Similar → |
| 1965 | Morituri | Captain Müller | Hit | Similar → |
| 1964 | Invitation to a Gunfighter | Jules Gaspard d'Estaing | Average | Similar → |
| 1964 | Flight from Ashiya | TSgt. Mike Takashima | Flop | Similar → |
| 1963 | Kings of the Sun | Chief Black Eagle | Average | Similar → |
| 1962 | Taras Bulba | Taras Bulba | Average | Similar → |
| 1962 | Escape from Zahrain | Sharif | Average | Similar → |
| 1961 | Goodbye Again | Extra in Nightclub Scene | Hit | Similar → |
| 1960 | The Magnificent Seven | Chris Adams | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1960 | Surprise Package | Nico March | Average | Similar → |
| 1960 | Testament of Orpheus | Court Usher (uncredited) | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1960 | Once More, with Feeling! | Victor Fabian | Average | Similar → |
| 1959 | Solomon and Sheba | Solomon | Average | Similar → |
| 1959 | The Sound and the Fury | Jason Compson | Hit | Similar → |
| 1959 | The Journey | Major Surov | Average | Similar → |
| 1958 | The Buccaneer | Jean Lafitte | Average | Similar → |
| 1958 | The Brothers Karamazov | Dmitri Karamazov | Hit | Similar → |
| 1956 | Anastasia | General Sergei Pavlovich Bounine | Hit | Similar → |
| 1956 | The Ten Commandments | Rameses | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1956 | The King and I | King Mongkut of Siam | Hit | Similar → |
Yul Brynner - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best movie of Yul Brynner?
According to audience ratings, the best movie starring Yul Brynner is "Yul Brynner: The Man Who Was King" with a rating of 8.5/10.
How many movies has Yul Brynner acted in?
Yul Brynner has been featured in at least 50 major films throughout their career.
What are some other popular movies by Yul Brynner?
Other notable films include "Night of 100 Stars II", "The Making of The Ten Commandments", and "The Ten Commandments".