Asian Powerhouse in the Box Office
Cash Rules | Kylie Akia
A film filled with glitz and glamour, family, laughs, and love. A film that has changed the movie industry forever. Crazy Rich Asians has not only broken numerous box-office records, but also became a major statement for the Asian community. The hit film is the first major motion picture in 25 years to feature an all-Asian cast with an Asian-American lead; the last film was The Joy Luck Club in 1993.
“Crazy Rich Asians has not only broken numerous box-office records, but also became a major statement for the Asian community. ”
The two leads are new to the movie scene; what a way to make a debut! Constance Wu, an actress most recognizable for her role on the ABC series Fresh Off the Boat, plays Rachel Chu, an Asian-American who was raised by an immigrant single mother with traditional American values. Her boyfriend, Nick Young (played by past travel host for BBC, Henry Golding), is a member of a Singaporean family that can be described as “richer than God.” When Rachel travels to Singapore to meet Nick’s relatives for the first time, she is exposed to a world of elaborate privilege unlike anything she’s ever seen.
The rom-com embraces the Asian culture like never before and marks its identity in the movie industry. And its use of a multilingual script that flips effortlessly from English to Cantonese to Mandarin and back again is remarkable; who knew such a movie could change Hollywood?
“ And its use of a multilingual script that flips effortlessly from English to Cantonese to Mandarin and back again is remarkable; who knew such a movie could change Hollywood? ”
It’s about time that a film like Crazy Rich Asians has made the scene. The success of this movie signals a major step forward for Asian representation in the film industry. Everyone involved in its creation hoped to pave the way for a new Hollywood, and it has. Not only has it shed light on the culture, but it has also allowed for many more stories about Asian Americans - with different perspectives, body types, and ethnic backgrounds - to be told. For Crazy Rich Asians, the pressure to succeed at the box office was high and has notably reached its marks.
Crazy Rich Asians is the first romantic comedy since Amy Schumer’s 2015 Trainwreck to top $20 million in its opening week, and it still receives amazing reviews. And even to date, the film has grossed nearly $111 million from North American theaters, passing the lifetime domestic total of Trainwreck, which was one of the last big studio success stories.
The movie’s beautiful success has been wonderful and noteworthy. It not only makes a difference in Hollywood, but also to the community. Fans have opened up about how it has changed the way they see themselves; the pride of being Asian. And I cannot wait to see what is next.