Crazy Rich Asians — the 2018 Warner Bros. romantic comedy directed by Jon M. Chu — was a landmark moment in the history of Asian representation in Hollywood.
Based on Kevin Kwan's bestselling novel, the film starred an almost entirely Asian cast including Constance Wu, Henry Golding, Michelle Yeoh, Gemma Chan, Awkwafina and Ken Jeong — the first major Hollywood studio film with an all-Asian principal cast since The Joy Luck Club in 1993.
The film was a massive critical and commercial success, grossing more than $238 million worldwide against a $30 million budget. More importantly, it shattered the long-held industry assumption that Asian-led stories couldn't achieve mainstream box office success in the West.
Its success opened doors for Asian filmmakers, actors and storytellers across Hollywood and represented a seismic shift in the industry's understanding of Asian audiences and talent. Its recognition at the Asian Awards reflected the cultural significance of what it achieved.