The first major studio film with a predominantly Asian cast in more than two decades.
Mario Anzuoni/Reuters
Crazy Rich Asians, the first big studio film to feature a predominantly Asian cast in more than two decades, won the domestic box office this weekend with a solid $25.2 million debut. The romantic comedy, starring Constance Wu and Henry Golding, tells the story of a native New Yorker who discovers that her longtime boyfriend’s family is one of the wealthiest in Asia. The film earned $34 million over its five-day opening, far above the initial projections of $25 million. The film’s director, John M. Chu, had told The Daily Beast ahead of the movie’s release that he hoped it would pave the way to better representation for Asians in mainstream cinema and show other filmmakers that “our time is now.” Jason Statham’s shark flick The Meg managed to snag second place with $21.2 million in its second weekend. The action-thriller Mile 22, which sees Mark Wahlberg play the role of an elite CIA operative, fell below expectations in its opening weekend to claim third place with $13.6 million.
