Over the weekend, Warner Bros. new rom-com, “Crazy Rich Asians,” made its debut at number one at the American Box Office, bringing in $25.1million. The film is the first by a major Hollywood studio to feature a predominantly-Asian cast since 1993’s “The Joy Luck Club.”
That’s right, it’s been 25 years.
The film has also received amazing reviews. It has a 93% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes and has been praised for its “terrific cast” and visual “razzle dazzle.”
The film stars Constance Wu as a native New Yorker who travels to Singapore for a wedding to meet her boyfriend’s (Henry Golding) family. The family ends up being extremely wealthy and full of quirky characters.
While the film’s critical and financial success are important in an industry that’s decisions are firmly anchored to the bottom line, the film's biggest impact has undoubtedly been on the Asian community.
Asians are one of the most underrepresented groups in American cinema. Of the 174 theatrical films released in 2016, Asian actors and actresses made up 3.1 percent of top film roles.
Now, for the first time in a generation, Asian-Americans are able to see a Hollywood film with a predominantly Asian cast.
When people see themselves represented in popular culture, it gives them permission to dream bigger. It shows them their experiences are relevant and that their voices should be heard.
Kimberly Yam, editor of Asian Voices for HuffPost, perfectly summed up why the film is so important to her community. Yam shared her thoughts in a Twitter thread that traces her journey of self-acceptance.
You’re 8 years old. Your 3rd grade class orders chinese food & your father delivers it. You are so excited to see y… https://t.co/6mrVmNwTMi— Kimmy Yam (@Kimmy Yam)1534550690.0
You’re 16 years old. It’s Halloween & 2 students come to class dressed as “Asian tourists.” They’ve taped their ey… https://t.co/6nWGzrq3Hh— Kimmy Yam (@Kimmy Yam)1534550691.0
You don’t want people thinking you’re uptight. You laugh along with everyone else. You don’t want to be Chinese anymore.— Kimmy Yam (@Kimmy Yam)1534550691.0
You’re 17 years old. You’re off to college & you meet other Asians. They have pride that you never had. You meet a… https://t.co/EFpTzc317s— Kimmy Yam (@Kimmy Yam)1534550692.0
But you know you rejected your culture a long time ago. You know you refused to speak Chinese & you remember callin… https://t.co/RJeKx8bry6— Kimmy Yam (@Kimmy Yam)1534550692.0
You’re 20 years old. You’ve spent the past several years repatriating yourself. You get your family’s name inked i… https://t.co/LmDJgkUkKX— Kimmy Yam (@Kimmy Yam)1534550692.0
You’re 25 years old. You see a movie with an all-asian cast at a screening and for some reason you’re crying and y… https://t.co/mNSpqhouPM— Kimmy Yam (@Kimmy Yam)1534550692.0
Yam’s viral thread has also gave others a platform to share their stories.
@kimmythepooh @thekirstie Back in middle school, I was just chatting with my Asian American friend in Chinese durin… https://t.co/iAVGkgTy9J— 𝚲𝚴𝐋𝐘 ✧ (@𝚲𝚴𝐋𝐘 ✧)1534697461.0
@kimmythepooh @thekirstie My friend and I stopped speaking to each other in Chinese after that day. She eventually… https://t.co/6DtowkDDqS— 𝚲𝚴𝐋𝐘 ✧ (@𝚲𝚴𝐋𝐘 ✧)1534699303.0
@kimmythepooh @thekirstie I tried my best to act less “Asian” and more “American” around people (including other As… https://t.co/prNFHOEr9h— 𝚲𝚴𝐋𝐘 ✧ (@𝚲𝚴𝐋𝐘 ✧)1534699722.0
@kimmythepooh @LeanandCuisine I remember when I first moved from the Philippines to North Carolina, I had no way pf… https://t.co/VHfJXv5MGY— mistew obama (@mistew obama)1534652053.0
@kimmythepooh I remember not being able to sleep because I would constantly fantasize about having friends and talk… https://t.co/C2qRNZCDOH— mistew obama (@mistew obama)1534652200.0
@kimmythepooh Only to wake up the next morning and sit in self-doubt and discouragement throughout the school day.— mistew obama (@mistew obama)1534652425.0
@kimmythepooh I’m 9 years old. I’m tired of the bullying. I’m tired of people getting my name wrong. I’m tired of t… https://t.co/ibv2pjE0Jz— Lei Gong (@Lei Gong)1534710131.0
@kimmythepooh When we get the paper work confirmation, a deep sense of shame washes over me. I ask them to change it back.— Lei Gong (@Lei Gong)1534710174.0
@kimmythepooh When we get the paper work confirmation, a deep sense of shame washes over me. I ask them to change it back.— Lei Gong (@Lei Gong)1534710174.0
@kimmythepooh I tried *very* hard not to tear up in front of my friends constantly through the movie in scenes that… https://t.co/fXsn6iNrvk— Lei Gong (@Lei Gong)1534710391.0
