“Crazy Rich Asians” — Shattering Box Office Records and Stereotypes
James Chan, NLC Tampa Bay
It’s been 25 years since we’ve had a Hollywood film with an-all Asian cast, and we won’t have to wait another 25 years for the next one. “Crazy Rich Asians” has far exceeded expectations, grossing more than $35 million it its first five days, exceeding industry forecasts of $25 million [and earning another $25 million in weekend number two — almost unheard of in industry standards]. The last rom-com to even exceed $20 million was Amy Schumer’s “Trainwreck” in July 2015. “Crazy Rich Asians” not only shattered box office records; it shattered stereotypes of Asian Americans.
While the movie might be called “Crazy Rich Asians,” it did a great job highlighting the fact that all Asians are not ‘crazy rich.’ Rachel Chu, the main character, did not grow up on Park Avenue or the Upper West Side, but rather was raised by a single mother. Her character’s story resembles that of many other Asian American immigrants. Asian-Americans are now the most economically divided racial or ethnic group in the country, according to a new Pew Research analysis of United States Census Bureau data. This large wealth gap in our community really dispels the model minority myth that is driving the wedge between Asians and other communities of color in the United States.
Another stereotype this movie shatters is that Asian men are often seen as undesirable. A recent Huffington post article highlighted the racism faced by Asian men on dating apps, where many profiles will explicitly say “No Asians.” This movie shattered those stereotypes too, proving that Asian men are indeed attractive and desirable. When I saw the movie for the first time with my NLC Tampa Bay friends, all women of different races, commented on the attractiveness of the male actors.
The film also explored an experience and identity that is often not discussed — the identity of being Asian American. Throughout the movie, Rachel was often referred to as ‘different’ or ‘not like us.’ As a Chinese-American who was born in the U.S., I felt both seen and understood through this movie. Like many Chinese-Americans, I lived in Hong Kong and China as a toddler for an extended period of time, being brought up by my grandparents so that my parents could work in the states, without having to pay an exorbitant amount for childcare. I visit Hong Kong and China every few years, and every time I go there, I am told that I am not one of them, that I’m American, that I have an ‘American accent’ when I speak Cantonese, and that I have ‘American style.’ It’s an experience that only Asian Americans truly understand — that feeling of being not fully American, and not fully Asian.
People are often perceived by how they’re portrayed on television. Up until now, Asians have mostly been thought of as reserved, nerdy, sidekicks. Asian women, for the most part, have been portrayed as passive partners in romantic relationships. The characters and actors in “Crazy Rich Asians” showed the rest of the world that our community is so much more than those portrayals, that Asian women are strong and independent, that Asians aren’t just doctors or lawyers, that we can be professors and real estate developers too. Representation in Hollywood means that future generations of Asian Americans will see characters and stories that break the traditional mold, and they will realize that they are free to pursue whatever dreams they desire. You can’t chase your dreams unless you see others already achieving those same dreams, and that’s why diversity in media matters.
“Crazy Rich Asians” carried a significant meaning for the Asian American community. Though the film has been criticized by some in our own community, I encourage Americans of all races to use this as a conversation starter to dismantle the stereotypes of Asian Americans. To be portrayed on the big screen as people who have class, elegance, and humor was a refreshing contrast to our usual portrayals as martial arts experts, sidekicks, or the nerd. For once, it was cool to be Asian, crazy rich or not.
James Chan works to ensure that the voices of the New American Majority are heard in the democratic process, especially in Florida. He currently serves as the NLC Tampa Bay Chapter Co-Director and is a member of the NLC National Programs Committee.
