“Crazy Rich Asians” is the first major studio film to feature an all Asian cast in a quarter of a century (since “The Joy Luck Club” in 1993), and Americans are embracing it with big opening weekend numbers:
The Warner Bros. romantic comedy opened to an estimated $25.2 million at the domestic box office this weekend. That was enough to give the film starring Constance Wu and Henry Golding the top spot at the box office.
The film has made $34 million over its five day opening, which exceeded industry expectations that had it bringing in closer to $25 million.
The numbers are even more impressive given how the entertainment environment has changed, with more people staying at home and viewing things on the small screen through Amazon and Netflix. Netflix apparently made a big bid for the rights to “Crazy Rich Asians” but the people involved had a bigger agenda in mind:
Netflix almost beat out Warner Bros. for the film rights to “Crazy Rich Asians,” which was directed by Jon M. Chu and based on Kevin Kwan’s best-selling book. But Mr. Chu and Mr. Kwan decided at the final minute to forego the Netflix offer, which included generous upfront payments and the guarantee of a “Crazy Rich Asians” trilogy. The men decided that it was important for their film be seen on big screens and backed by a thundering studio marketing campaign.
The hope is that this will lead to more opportunities for Asian actors and other actors of color as well. The box office numbers show that money can be made:
“Crazy Rich Asians” comes on the heels of a number of movies this summer that demonstrate the value of representation of the big screen. Spike Lee’s “BlacKkKlansman,” Boots Riley’s “Sorry to Bother You,” and Daveed Diggs and Rafael Casal’s “Blindspotting” are just a few titles, though all backed by indie studios, that prove diverse casting can fill theaters and turn a profit.
And it’s not just recent movies either:
It was the best result for a PG-13 romantic comedy in six years — since “Think Like a Man,” which featured an all-black primary cast and collected $33 million over its first three days. Among all nonsequel comedies, “Crazy Rich Asians” (Warner Bros.) posted the biggest turnout since the R-rated “Girls Trip,” which was released last summer and focused on four black women, a rarity.
“This shows — once again, with emphasis — that true diversity matters,” Brad Simpson, a “Crazy Rich Asians” producer, wrote in an email on Sunday. “Audiences are tired of seeing the same stories with the same characters. And we have to give people a reason to get off their couch or devices. We have to give them something different.”
Looking forward to seeing it this week with the wife and giving a big f-you to Laura Ingraham who think the America they knew and loved doesn’t exist anymore.