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.
Yam’s viral thread has also gave others a platform to share their stories.