ABSTRACT
Crazy Rich Asians is a landmark film, both in terms of its representation, and in terms of its popularity. The film is an entertaining romantic comedy that largely follows the conventions of the genre without challenging its viewers either formally or aesthetically. The challenge in writing about such a landmark film gestures to broader issues of how to approach the question of racial identity and authenticity in transnational screen media without avoiding the topic altogether. Writers who criticize the cast of Crazy Rich Asians for not being “Asian enough” are themselves producing stereotypes about who or what an Asian should be. While film has always been to some degree transnational, the movement of people, technology, and capital is greatly accelerated. The theatrical release for Crazy Rich Asians thus generated multiple revenue streams, blockbuster hype, and a venue for communal viewing among Asian and non-Asian audiences.
