'Crazy Rich Asians' (2018)

PG-13 | August 15, 2018 | 121 mins

The only thing crazier than love is family.

Rachel Chu is happy to accompany her longtime boyfriend, Nick, to his best friend’s wedding in Singapore. She’s also surprised to learn that Nick’s family is extremely wealthy and he’s considered one of the country’s most eligible bachelors. Thrust into the spotlight, Rachel must now contend with jealous socialites, quirky relatives, and something far, far worse — Nick’s disapproving mother.

Cast: Constance Wu, Henry Golding [+]
Director: Jon M. Chu
Writers: Peter Chiarelli, Adele Lim
Producers: Nina Jacobson, Brad Simpson, John M. Penotti
Cinematographer: Vanja Cernjul
Editors: Myron Kerstein
Music: Brian Tyler
Production Company: Color Force, Ivanhoe Pictures, Electric Somewhere

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Name

Character

Rachel

Nick

Eleanor

Astrid

Peik Lin

Lisa Lu

Ah Ma

Charlie

Wye Mun

Colin

Bernard

Release Date

August 15, 2018

Runtime

121 minutes

Distribution

Warner Bros. Pictures

MPAA Rating

PG-13

Language

English

Country

United States

Filming Dates

April 24, 2017 – June 24, 2017

Filming Locations

Location

Address

Film Relevance

Newton Food Centre

Newton, Singapore

Nick, Rachel, Ariminta, Colin eat at a hawker food court.

The Raffles Hotel

1 Beach Rd, Singapore

Rachel and Nick’s hotel.

Be-landa House

Kuala Lumpur City, Malaysia

Where Eleanor first hears of Nick’s romance with Rachel.

The Four Seasons Langkawi

Langkawi, Malaysia

Ariminta’s bachelorette party.

Carcosa Seri Negara

Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

The Young family estate.

Astor Bar at St. Regis KL

Level 2, The St. Regis Kuala Lumpur, No.6, Jalan Stesen Sentral 2, Kuala Lumpur Sentral, 50470 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Astrid’s introduction.

Convent of the Holy Infant Jesus Middle Education School, Caldwell House

Victoria Street, Central Singapore

Site of Colin & Ariminta’s wedding.

Gardens by the Bay

18 Marina Gardens Dr, Central Singapore

Colin & Ariminta’s reception.

Eastern & Oriental Hotel

10 Lebuh Farquhar, George Town, 10200 George Town, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia

Boutique.

Chinatown

Bukit Pasoh Road, Singapore

Where Rachel & Peik Lin discuss Eleanor.

Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion

Leith Street, George Town, Pulau Penang, Malaysia

Where Eleanor & Rachel play mahjong.

Marina Bay Sands

10 Bayfront Avenue, Singapore

Rooftop party at the end of the film.

Astrid: It was never my job to make you feel like a man. I can’t make you something you’re not.

Peik Lin: Chinese sons think their moms fart Chanel No. 5.

Astrid: God forbid we lose the ancient Chinese tradition of guilting your children.

Rachel: I just love Nick so much, I don’t want him to lose his mom again. So I just wanted you to know: that one day – when he marries another lucky girl who is enough for you, and you’re playing with your grandkids while the Tan Huas are blooming, and the birds are chirping – that it was because of me: a poor, raised by a single mother, low class, immigrant nobody.

Rachel: You have a cocktail dress in your trunk?
Peik Lin: I’m not an animal, Rachel.

Rachel: So your family is, like, rich?
Nick: We’re comfortable.
Rachel: That is exactly what a super-rich person would say.

Director Jon M. Chu revealed that Michelle Yeoh was dissatisfied with the mock-up ring that her character, Eleanor, was going to wear. She showed him a ring from her personal collection and this eventually became the emerald and diamond ring Eleanor wears in the movie.
Netflix wanted to produce the movie and its sequels and offered a much bigger budget. However, author Kevin Kwan opted for a more modest Warner Bros. budget to get a theatrical release.
In 2018, Crazy Rich Asians grossed more than $200 million worldwide at the box office and became one of the most successful romantic comedies of the decade.
Awkwafina was supposed to wear several different wigs throughout the movie; however, after she put on the blonde wig, it was decided to scrap the other wigs and just keep the one. The joke about this was kept in the scene where actor Ken Jeong starts calling her “Asian Ellen” (aka Ellen DeGeneres).
Jon M. Chu personally wrote to the members of Coldplay for permission to use a cover of ‘Yellow.’ Aside from Yellow’s obvious connotation as an epithet, the band was also reluctant to be associated with the film because of the accusations of cultural appropriation surrounding their song ‘Princess of China.’ However, Chu won them over after explaining his personal fondness of the song and his desire to “reclaim” the word from its usage as a racial slur.
Kevin Kwan makes a brief cameo during the “Who is Rachel Chu?” montage at the beginning of the film.
Crazy Rich Asians was Henry Golding’s first film. He initially declined the offer to audition, believing a “legitimate actor” should play Nick. It wasn’t until director Jon M. Chu contacted him personally that he changed his mind.
Due to the timing of the audition, Henry Golding had to cut his honeymoon short.
Michelle Yeoh loaned the film several pieces of jewelry from her own personal collection.
The mahjong scene toward the end of the film is a nod to The Joy Luck Club, and is not featured in the book.

Awards

Year

Recipient