10 Hilarious Romantic Comedies With Asian-American Leads

For about so long as the medium of movie has existed there have been nice romantic comedies. And because the world of cinema has grown and aged over time, the style has solely change into extra common, various, and hilarious. In recent times, we’ve seen an inflow of romantic comedies with Asian-American lead characters which have solely made the idea extra pleasing and relatable, with titles like Loopy Wealthy Asians, At all times Be My Perhaps, and The Huge Sick, to call only some movies that discover Asian-American expertise.
Beneath is a listing of 10 of essentially the most charming and hilarious romantic comedies with Asian-American leads, easy methods to watch them on varied streaming providers, and different methods you can provide them a watch in your subsequent date night time or mid-week chortle and cry fest in your sofa.
At all times Be My Perhaps (2019)
Sasha Tran (Ali Wong) and Marcus Kim (Randall Park) have been childhood finest buddies rising up subsequent door to at least one one other in San Francisco, however the relationship is delivered to an abrupt finish following a clumsy sexual expertise and unlucky argument. The once-close buddies are thrown again into one another’s lives 16 years later when Sasha, now a celeb chef, returns to the Bay Space to open a brand new restaurant.
What actually makes At all times Be My Perhaps such a gem (apart from superb the Keanu Reeves cameo) is the best way through which Wong and Park actually play into the awkwardness of their characters’ state of affairs and the way they try to get again what they misplaced all these years in the past.
Stream At all times Be My Perhaps on Netflix.
Loopy Wealthy Asians (2018)
When Rachel Chu (Constance Wu) initially agrees to attend a marriage in Singapore along with her longtime boyfriend, Nick Younger (Henry Golding), the NYU economics professor has no thought what she’s getting herself into. However upon their arrival, Rachel turns into absolutely conscious of Nick’s household, their extravagant life-style, and unwelcoming nature in direction of these they really feel don’t meet their lofty requirements.
Loopy Wealthy Asians is an over-the-top, sensational, and larger-than-life romantic comedy with various excellent and iconic characters in its forged listing. Pull again the designer garments, million-dollar weddings, and bachelor events on cargo ships, although, and you’ve got a narrative a few younger lady who gained’t let anybody, not even her boyfriend’s domineering mom, inform her how she will dwell her life, even when it means giving up an opportunity at love.
Stream Loopy Wealthy Asians on HBO Max.
Hire/Purchase Loopy Wealthy Asians on Amazon.
To All The Boys I’ve Beloved Earlier than (2018)
When Lara Jean (Lana Condor), a shy highschool pupil, writes a collection of letters to the 5 boys she’s had a crush on all through her life earlier than locking them away in her closet. Nevertheless, when her youthful sister finds the letters and sends them out to their recipients, Lara Jean’s life is thrown for a loop and is rarely the identical.
Though some would argue that the stakes in To All of the Boys I’ve Beloved Earlier than are a lot decrease than in different motion pictures on this listing, attempt telling that to the younger lady on the heart of the 2018 Netflix unique film. The best way through which the film, and lead actor Lana Condor, captures the awkwardness of teenage love and angst is good and makes the romantic comedy one value revisiting time and time once more.
Stream To All of the Boys I’ve Beloved Earlier than on Netflix.
The Huge Sick (2017)
Shortly after being dumped by his girlfriend, Kumail (Kumail Nanjiani) receives phrase that Emily (Zoe Kazan) has been positioned in a medically-induced coma so medical doctors can work out a plan of action for a life-threatening virus. Kumail sits by Emily’s aspect alongside along with her mother and father, performed by Holly Hunter and Ray Romano, who suppose that because the relationship is over he ought to go away.
The Huge Sick, which was nominated for an Academy Award for Greatest Unique Screenplay, is loosely primarily based on the experiences Kumail Nanjiani had when his spouse and screenwriting accomplice, Emily V. Gordon, was positioned in a coma years earlier. In its two-hour runtime, the film tackles differing cultures, love, loss, and a lot extra with out making the viewers really feel misplaced or overwhelmed.
Stream The Huge Sick on Prime Video.
Set It Up (2018)
The 2018 Netflix romantic comedy Set it Up follows Harper Moore (Zoey Deutch) and Charlie Younger (Glen Powell), two overworked and unappreciated assistants who give you a plan to make their respective work lives a bit simpler: they pair up their bosses with each other in hopes they’ll hit it off and change into happier people who find themselves simpler to work for. Their marks, Kirsten Stevens (Lucy Liu) and Rick Otis (Taye Diggs) ultimately hit it off, however the highway of affection shouldn’t be with out its bumps.
Though a lot of the film is concentrated on the budding relationship shared by Harper and Charlie, the targets of their grasp plan to have a greater work-life steadiness take issues up a notch. Lucy Liu and Taye Diggs are each distinctive of their portrayals of career-driven people who find themselves in want of time.
Plus One (2019)
One of many many nice romantic comedies on Hulu, Plus One facilities on finest buddies Alice Mori (Maya Erskine) and Ben King (Jack Quaid) as they function one another’s company at quite a lot of weddings over the course of a summer season. As the marriage season goes on, nevertheless, their state of affairs turns into a bit extra sophisticated than anybody might have guessed.
Plus One simply works, plain and easy, and quite a lot of that has to do with the best way through which the 2 leads play off each other. Irrespective of in the event that they’re performing like buddies, lovers, or discover themselves someplace in between, Erskine and Quaid (the son of rom-com queen Meg Ryan) come off as actual, real, and likable individuals.
Stream Plus One on Hulu.
Hire/Purchase Plus One on Amazon.
Saving Face (2004)
When Wil Pang’s (Michelle Krusiec) mom makes an attempt to set her up with a person whom she might then marry, the younger and profitable surgeon as a substitute meets and falls for a younger lady named Vivian (Lynn Chen) who has ties to her previous. However, if issues weren’t sophisticated sufficient for the brand new relationship (Wil is closeted whereas Vivian is out), Wil’s life is given one other twist when her pregnant and widowed mom strikes in along with her.
Alice Wu’s influential 2004 romantic comedy, Saving Face, has since change into probably the most influential motion pictures of the previous 18 years, with actors like Awkwafina telling Rotten Tomatoes it’s one among her favourite movies. The premise, characters, and coronary heart of its story make it a film to take a look at.
Love Onerous (2021)
Natalie Bauer (Nina Dobrev) thinks she has lastly met the person of her desires on a relationship app. However when she flies throughout the nation to shock her new catch over the Christmas vacation, the hopeless romantic realizes she has been duped by a catfish named Josh (Jimmy O. Yang) who may be very a lot not the person on the app, although he does know the place the good-looking fellow works.
Some of the anticipated love tales of 2021, the Netflix unique, Love Onerous, has loads going for it. There’s the apparent catfish angle that just about bought the film, the chemistry shared by leads Dobrev and Yang, and a surprisingly heartfelt story about unconventional love.
Stream Love Onerous on Netflix.
The Half Of It (2020)
When Ellie Chu (Leah Lewis) is employed by classmate and soccer participant, Paul Munksy (Daniel Diemer), to put in writing a love letter to Aster Flores (Alexxis Lemire), little does anybody know that she’s additionally about to go on a journey of self-discovery that would probably change all the things about her life.
Very similar to director Alice Wu’s 2004 debut Saving Face, the 2020 Netflix coming-of-age romantic comedy, The Half of It, tackles quite a lot of matters like sexuality, discovering one’s place on this planet, and being a help system for a grieving mother or father. With much more depth than the typical romantic comedy and changing into one among a number of nice LGBTQ rom-coms, The Half of It units out to perform extra and say one thing concerning the world.
Stream The Half of It on Netflix.
The Lovebirds (2020)
At first of The Lovebirds, Jibran (Kumail Nanjiani) and Leilani (Issa Rae) are beneath the impression that their failing relationship is the largest of their issues, however that rapidly turns into removed from the case. On their manner to a cocktail party one night time, the couple’s automobile is commandeered by a mysterious man who makes use of it to run over and kill a bike owner earlier than fleeing, leaving the on-the-rocks couple because the prime suspects in against the law they didn’t commit.
The 2020 romantic comedy, which noticed Nanjiani work beneath the route of The Huge Sick director Michael Showalter as soon as extra, takes components of romance, homicide, and thriller motion pictures to create a enjoyable, and hilarious good time.
Stream The Lovebirds on Netflix.
Every of those romantic comedies with Asian-American lead characters are hilarious in their very own manner, whether or not or not it’s refined and nuanced or explicitly in your face. Both manner, every supply one thing distinctive, and most of all, are enjoyable to observe.