‘Crazy Rich Asians’ Fans Buy Tickets for Strangers

More than 200 individuals and organizations eager to give Crazy Rich Asians a “gold open” have bought tickets, organized screenings, or bought out theaters for strangers, in a charitable effort to boost one of the few Hollywood films that feature Asian-American actors. NBC News reported Wednesday that famous figures have joined in on the effort, including Olympians Alex and Maia Shibutani and musician Kina Grannis. As a result of the campaign, the film is projected to have a $26 million five-day debut, a significant increase from a prior $20 million forecast. “I think there have been very few moments in the past for the Asian-American community to rally around something collectively,” said one of the charitable individuals, Teresa Hsiao. Hsiao and her friends bought about 80 tickets for strangers in the past four days. “Our community is so diverse, with so many different cultures and languages within it. But it feels like [Crazy Rich Asians] is one of those moments,” she added.“Hopefully it speaks to a stronger Asian-American community moving forward that can push for representation not only in entertainment but also the leadership of this country.”