'Crazy Rich Asians' dazzles at American box office; earns $34 million in opening week
Crazy Rich Asians
The film with nearly an all Asian-American cast has been raking in the moolah in America
The team of 'Crazy Rich Asians' have much to celebrate and party about. Warner Bros.` highly anticipated romantic comedy launched above expectations with a five-day tally of $34 million when it opened in 3,384 locations. With a three-day weekend total of $25.3 million, 'Crazy Rich Asians' swam by fellow Warner Bros. title 'The Meg,' which earned $21.5 million in its opening weekend.
Jon M. Chu`s acclaimed movie is the first studio film in over 25 years since 1993`s 'Joy Luck Club' to feature a nearly all Asian-American cast. The film had a modest $30 million budget. Enthusiasm has been strong for 'Crazy Rich Asians,' which arrives at a time when Hollywood is being pressured to feature greater diversity on screen.
It holds a strong 93 per cent certified fresh rating on review aggregation site Rotten Tomatoes, along with an A CinemaScore.
"Word of mouth is everything," Jeff Goldstein, Warner Bros.` head of domestic distribution, said of the film`s better-than-expected launch. "This movie is so culturally significant and so unique in that there hasn`t been a cast that`s predominately Asian [in years]. This is one of those few projects that a whole studio comes together with lots of passion."
Based on Kevin Kwan`s best-selling book, the movie follows Rachel Chu (Constance Wu), who accompanies her boyfriend (Henry Golding) to his best friend`s wedding in Singapore. Upon meeting his parents, she quickly finds out his family is one of the richest (and most judgmental!) in Singapore. The cast also includes Gemma Chan, Awkwafina, Ken Jeong, and Michelle Yeoh.
'Crazy Rich Asians' is the first romantic comedy in almost three years to open with more than $20 million.
'In recent years, the genre has struggled at the box office. Recently, Anna Faris and Eugenio Derbez` remake of 'Overboard'debuted with a modest $14 million. Prior to that,'I Feel Pretty'-- with Amy Schumer, Michelle Williams, Emily Ratajkowski -- bowed with $16 million.
(With inputs from Reuters)