Crazy Rich Asians: A tale of immigration, globalization and consumption in East Asia

We review the 2018 film Crazy Rich Asians in order to highlight its relevance for debates on immigration, globalization and consumption. In doing so, we argue that a new model of immigration for East Asians, distant and distinct from the American Dream, a “pull yourself up by the bootstraps” narrative infused with an Asian ethic, is being valorized in the film. We also illuminate the complexities of East Asian representation on screen, as evidenced by varying receptions to the film in America and in various regions of Asia. And, finally, we note that while the film celebrates excess in consumption on the surface, in the film, critiques of this orientation are manifest as well. Overall, we see the film to be a harbinger of new frontiers in global blockbusters, ushering in an era where the values depicted on screen are no longer solely dominated by an American orientation.