‘‘Crazy Rich Asians,’’ the latest Hollywood film with an all-Asian cast, opened as the No. 1 weekend film in the US and Canada theatres. Based on Kevin Kwan’s novel, the Warner Bros romantic comedy collected an estimated $25.2 million.
Since its debut on Aug. 15, helped by advertising, good reviews and social-media buzz the romantic comedy took in $34 million in five days. The movie cost an estimated $30 million to make. Asians and other minorities are underrepresented in front of the camera and behind, and advocacy groups have looked to the film to help break down barriers.
A report by The New York Times said the movie's turnout was "all the more impressive" given that theatres have found it harder to fill seats amid the rise of "living room entertainment services" such as Netflix and Amazon.
‘‘Crazy Rich Asians’’ stars Constance Wu as Rachel Chu, a Chinese-American economics professor accompanying her boyfriend Nick Young, played by Henry Golding, to Singapore for his best friend’s wedding. Once there, she discovers the family is filthy rich and she must deal with his disapproving mother.
The film, starring Asian American actress Constance Wu and British-Malaysian newcomer Henry Golding, is said to be the first Hollywood English-language movie to feature an all-Asian cast in 25 years — after "The Joy Luck Club" in 1993.
Nina Jacobson, who produced Crazy Rich Asians with Brad Simpson, said the film’s performance is proof audiences are eager for more diverse fare.
“When I was a young studio executive, I was told that all audiences would identify with a white male lead but only women would identity with a woman, and only people of colour with actors of colour (except for Denzel and Will Smith),” she said. “That was false then and it’s false now. Audiences are letting decision makers know that they are not to be underestimated and will show up for unique characters and emotionally resonant stories.”
Sources: cnbc.com, Bloomberg.com