Remember when Crazy Rich Asians became a record-breaking summer blockbuster? Well, that was seven years ago. Shortly after its success, there was an announcement of the novel’s sequel being in the works, but here we are still without one. However, director Jon M. Chu swears this time HBO Max has the “real thing” with the currently in-development TV spinoff.

When Crazy Rich Asians had its explosion moment in the summer of 2018, so did all the talent associated with it, including stars like Henry Golding, Awkwafina and Jon M. Chu, have had healthy careers since the beloved romantic comedy hit theaters that it’s seemed like there’s barely been time to fit in a followup in. Here’s Chu’s latest update:

The “it” he’s talking about is a TV series that was reported to be in the works in February with the movie’s co-writer Adele Lim as its showrunner, producer and writer along with Chu and the novel’s author Kevin Kwan. In a recent interview with Esquire, Chu shared that scripts have been written and the production is all but ready to go. He also said this:

Specifically, the untitled series is apparently drawing from Kevin Kwan’s first sequel, China Rich Girlfriend. These new comments from Chu come after Henry Golding said in April that Lim visited him and Gemma Chan to “talk about” their characters.

It definitely sounds like the next chapter to Crazy Rich Asians is finally moving forward this time, and that’s particularly exciting after so many years of brief talk about it not backed by much movement. This time, Chu’s talking about scripts and the key actors have attended meetings with the showrunner. I think it’s really happening!

As you might recall, Crazy Rich Asians came out in the summer of 2018 and made $239 million at the worldwide box office, which made it the best theatrical release for a romantic comedy since 2009’s The Proposal. Another movie in the rom-com genre has yet to make the kind of waves of Chu’s film.

In the years since it being a big hit, we heard about a sequel being in development from Constance Wu in 2022 and about a musical adaptation in 2024, but it’s thrilling to hear the biggest and most concrete update we’ve had in a long time.

As we wait to return to Crazy Rich Asians, Chu’s second Wicked movie, For Good is hitting theaters on November 21.

For many different reasons, joy seems somewhat difficult to come by on an average day. However, something that made millions of film fans light up in 2018 was one of the best romantic comedies, Crazy Rich Asians. Word about a sequel to the ever-popular movie began nearly as soon as the rom-com took over the box office, but work on the project has stalled several times. Now, star Henry Golding has noted that “things are in motion” with the sequel, and I hope his wish for Jon M. Chu comes true.

What Did Crazy Rich Asians Star Henry Golding Say About The Sequel And Jon M. Chu?

For many (many) months after Crazy Rich Asians (which stars Constance Wu, Henry Golding, Awkwafina, Gemma Chan, and Michelle Yeoh among many others) debuted and became the biggest rom-com in almost a decade, all people could talk about was China Rich Girlfriend. Based on the second book in Kevin Kwan’s novel series, the proposed big-screen follow-up was announced mere days after the first movie hit theaters, but getting concrete details settled on the who, when, where, why and how of the movie has been a long time coming.

While speaking with E! News recently, though, Another Simple Favor star Henry Golding was asked about progress on the highly anticipated film, and said:

WOW. This is really good news, but, man. I feel like we’ve heard this before. When China Rich Girlfriend was announced, it was noted that Chiarelli and Lim were back on board to co-write, with the director of the original film, Jon M. Chu, set to return to his position, as well. Unfortunately, it was roughly a year later that word of an unequal pay dispute led to Lim leaving the movie (which Chu supported).

The production then searched for another writer of Asian heritage, but eventually circled back to Lim, though she turned them down again, and late March 2022 saw Amy Wang set to pen the story. Golding didn’t confirm whether or not the script is still being handled by Wang, but Lim (who previously directed one of 2023’s funniest movies, Joy Ride, and is set to direct Princess Diaries 3) appears to be on board to direct. And, that leaves us wondering about the involvement of Jon M. Chu.

As Golding noted, Chu and Lim are actually both currently working on a Crazy Rich Asians series for Max, with Lim as showrunner and both executive producing. But, the In the Heights director is not, apparently, currently on board to play any part in the production of the film sequel. After noting that Nina Jacobson (who’s also exec producing the TV show) has returned to help produce the new movie, Golding added:

Honestly, with Chu helping out on the show, I doubt that he wouldn’t take some part in helping to get the sequel off of the ground, finally. It makes sense that he wouldn’t have a lot of time to devote to directing the movie, as his blockbuster success with Wicked last year will be followed up by Wicked: For Good, which is set to hit the 2025 movie schedule on November 21. So, let’s all hope that as he’s prepping that musical for theaters, he has some spare time to contribute his particular brand of movie-making magic to the Crazy Rich Asians sequel!

There is nothing that makes one’s heart melt quite like a person declaring their desire to spend the rest of their lives with another. This does not just go for real life but also for fictional marriage proposal on both the big and screen alike. The following are some of the most unique and romantic examples we have ever seen.

Maggie Proposes To Ike (Runaway Bride)

In one of Julia Roberts’ best romantic comedy movies, 1999’s Runaway Bride, her character, Maggie Carpenter, spends the entirety of the movie struggling with her ability to commit and her tendency to leave her grooms at the altar. That is until she meets columnist Ike Graham (Richard Gere) and shows how far she has come from the moment she fell for him by popping the question herself.

Patrick Proposes To David (Schitt's Creek)

Schitt's Creek is one of the most heartwarming and simply best sitcoms of all time and a key reason is the romance between David Rose (co-creator Dan Levy) and Patrick Brewer (Noah Reid). Their relationship hits its adorable peak when Patrick takes David to his favorite spot to make the "easiest decision" of his life and presents him with a set of four engagement rings to match the four rings he usually wears on his right hand.

Jamie Proposes To Aurelia (Love Actually)

Easily one of the more uplifting storylines from 2003's Love Actually is that of cuckolded writer Jamie (Colin Firth), who falls for Portuguese housekeeper Aurélia (Lúcia Moniz) while spending the holiday at his French cottage. After they part ways, he learns her language (and almost gets all the words right) to ask her to marry him in front of a full crowd at the restaurant where she works.

Dexter Proposes To Rita (Dexter)

After his girlfriend, Rita Bennett (Julie Benz) becomes unexpectedly pregnant with their son, Dexter Morgan (Michael. C Hall) finds the courage (and the right words, which he borrows from another murderer) to make the ultimate commitment to her despite his commitment to slaughtering Miami's worst. Unfortunately, their marriage came to a tragic end in the fourth and, arguably, the best season of Dexter when, in one of TV's most shocking cliffhangers, he discovers his wife has been killed by The Trinity Killer.

Robbie Proposes To Julia (The Wedding Singer)

In just about Adam Sandler's best romantic-comedy movie, 1998's The Wedding Singer, Robbie (Sandler) ultimately stops Julia's (Drew Barrymore) impending nuptials to the wrong guy with an impromptu serenade on a plane with help from first-class passengers, including Billy Idol as himself, and the airline staff. He never says "Will you marry me?" but the next scene is their wedding so we can assume they were essentially engaged at this moment.

Schmidt Proposes To Cece (New Girl)

In the pilot episode of New Girl, Schmidt (Max Greenfield) was forced to donate a $5 bill to the Douchebag Jar after proclaiming he would marry Cece (Hannah Simone) the day he met her. He would then present that exact bill to her when he finally popped the question after several frustrating seasons of back-and-forth dating and flirting.

Ian Proposes To Toula (My Big Fat Greek Wedding)

The big question that leads to the eponymous main event from My Big Fat Greek Wedding is, actually, one of cinema's more simple marriage proposals, occurring spontaneously while Toula Portokalos (Nia Vardalos) and Ian Miller (John Corbett) are lying together in bed. Still, it is a memorable scene from the 2002 hit and a memorable moment for the romantic-comedy movie genre in general for how well it depicts the couple's mutual passion.

Jim Proposes To Pam (The Office)

The two-part Season 5 premiere of The Office marks a pivotal moment in Jim and Pam's relationship timeline, as Pam (Jenna Fischer) has been taking art classes in New York. When Jim (John Krasinski) requests to meet her halfway (but actually "not halfway," based on Pam's math) at a gas station in the pouring rain, he surprises her with the question she (and viewers) have been waiting for.

Andrew Proposes To Margaret (The Proposal)

In 2009's The Proposal, Margaret Tate (Sandra Bullock) initially blackmails her assistant, Andrew Paxton (Ryan Reynolds), into marrying her so the Canadian-born editor can avoid deportation. However, after she catches genuine feelings and cancels their fake wedding, he realizes his true feelings and makes a genuine proposal to her.

Chandler Proposes To Monica (Friends)

One of the most famous tearjerker moments from Chandler and Monica's relationship timeline on Friends almost begins in disaster after a surprise run-in with Monica's (Courtney Cox) ex, Richard (Tom Selleck), on the night Chandler (Matthew Perry) planned to propose. This convinces him to feign disinterest in marriage to savor the surprise, but that only seems to make things worse until he turns out to be the surprised one, showing up at their apartment to find Monica surrounded by candles. When she tearfully can not finish her own attempt to pop the question, Chandler finishes the act.

Harry Proposes To Sally (When Harry Met Sally)

Harry's (Billy Crystal) climactic confession to Sally (Meg Ryan) at the end of 1989's When Harry Met Sally during a New Year's Eve party is not exactly a marriage proposal per se. However, it is an admission that he wants to spend the rest of his life with her (and wants the rest of his life to start "as soon as possible") and in one of the most beautifully constructed speeches in cinematic history.

Jake Proposes To Amy (Brooklyn Nine-NIne)

Arguably the best episode of Brooklyn Nine-Nine sees the precinct participating in their fifth annual Halloween heist, which Det. Amy Santiago (Melissa Fumero) believes she has won when she finds the championship belt in the evidence locker. However, her boyfriend, Det. Jake Peralta (Andy Samberg), advises her to take a better look at the inscription on the belt, which reads, "Amy Santiago, will you marry me?"

Landon Proposes To Jamie (A Walk to Remember)

A memorable Nicolas Sparks adaptation that predates The Notebook is 2002's A Walk to Remember, in which troubled teen Landon Carter (Shane West) unexpectedly falls for shy Jamie Sullivan (Mandy Moore). After discovering that she has leukemia, he decides to propose to her under the night sky as a comet passes by so that he can marry her before she succumbs to her illness.

Niles Proposes To Daphne (Frasier)

On Frasier, Niles Crane (David Hyde Pierce) attempts to plan the perfect marriage proposal to Daphne (Jane Leeves), complete with a string quartet, kid actors dressed as angels, and a dinner prepared by celebrity chef Wolfgang Puck. However, when Daphne arrives at the apartment with the flu, Frasier (Kelsey Grammer) must help his brother covertly escort the performers out. It is then that Niles decides it is still the perfect time to pop the question.

Johnny Proposes To June (Walk The Line)

Director James Mangold's 2005 music biopic, Walk the Line, sees Johnny Cash (Joaquin Phoenix) make two attempts to propose to June Carter (Reese Witherspoon). After his first go at it on a tour bus has unfavorable results, The Man in Black tries again by interrupting a public musical duet and tells her that he cannot finish the song until he gets an answer. She tells him, yes.

Ben Proposes To Leslie (Parks And Recreation)

In the fifth season of Parks and Recreation, the future seems uncertain for Leslie Knope (Amy Poehler) and Ben Wyatt (Adam Scott) because the latter might be forced to move to Florida for work. Instead, at the end of the episode, "Halloween Surprise," he unexpectedly shows up to propose to the politician, who interrupts him a couple of times to better remember how perfect everything in her life is at that moment.

Wade Proposes To Vanessa (Deadpool)

The way Wade Wilson (Ryan Reynolds) pops the question to Vanessa Carlysle (Morena Baccarin) is perfectly on brand for 2016's hilarious superhero movie, Deadpool. The future Merc with a Mouth's engagement ring of choice (which is revealed to have been hidden between his butt cheeks) is a Ring Pop.

Blaine Proposes To Kurt (Glee)

For the moment when Blaine (Darren Criss) popped the question to Kurt (Chris Colfer) on Glee, the show depicted the moment the only way it could have. Kurt's friends from McKinley help perfect the proposal by participating in a rendition of The Beatles' "All You Need Is Love."

Nick Proposes To Rachel (Crazy Rich Asians)

Admittedly, the scene from Crazy Rich Asians in which Nick Young (Henry Golding) asks Rachel Chu (Constance Wu) to marry him is a bit cliché-ridden, especially since it takes on an airplane. However, considering the ups and downs the couple had faced in director Jon M. Chu's hit 2018 adaptation of Kevin Kwan's novel, they deserved an old-fashioned storybook climax.

Mike Proposes To Rachel (Suits)

Before her marriage to Prince Harry captured the world's hearts, Meghan Markle, as Rachel Zane, shared a captivating onscreen romance with fellow Suits cast member Patrick J. Adams as Michael Ross. The lawyer first lists off all the reasons why he loves the paralegal-turned-attorney before presenting her with his grandmother's ring at the moment he asks for her hand in marriage.

Jim Proposes To Katherine (Hidden Figures)

The astonishing true story depicted in 2016's Hidden Figures is complemented by an astonishing marriage proposal by military officer Jim Johnson (Mahershala Ali) to mathematician Katherine Goble Johnson (Taraji P. Henson). He begins by cooking her and her family a special dinner before surprising her with a ring and an admission that he called his mother the day after he met Katherine to tell her that she was the one he would marry.

Barney Proposes To Robin (How I Met Your Mother)

The two-part Season 8 mid-season finale of How I Met Your Mother reveals that nearly everything we have seen Barney Stinson (Neil Patrick Harris) do that season has been part of an elaborate ruse from his famed Playbook. However, the ultimate goal of the play is not to get his off-and-on lover Robin Scherbatsky (Cobie Smulders) into bed but to finally reignite their relationship and get her to make the ultimate commitment with him, which she tearfully accepts on the rooftop of the World Wide News building.

Edward Proposes To Sandra (Big Fish)

In director Tim Burton's 2003 fantasy Big Fish, Edward Bloom (Ewan McGregor) experiences love at first sight with Sandra Templeton (Alison Lohman) and, despite her having a fiancée, proceeds to ask this woman he barely knows to marry him multiple times. She finally breaks off her current engagement after Edward picks thousands of daffodils, her favorite flowers, and gathers them in an unbelievable assortment outside her house.

Brian Proposes To Charlie (Shrinking)

In the acclaimed Apple TV+ series, Shrinking, Brian (Michael Urie) creates an elaborate plan to ask his longtime boyfriend, Charlie (Devin Kawaoka), to marry him, which includes singing a song with help on piano from Jimmy (Jason Segel), who ruins it by drunkenly regurgitating. A frustrated Brian then admits his intentions to Charlie, who, before Brian can even compose himself to officially ask the question, readily accepts.

Mr. Darcy Proposes To Elizabeth (Pride And Prejudice)

Director Joe Wright's 2005 adaptation of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice features one of the most romantic movie quotes of all time. Despite his once rivalrous relationship with Elizabeth Bennet (Keira Knightley), Mr. Darcy (Matthew Macfayden) tells her, "You have bewitched me body and soul," during one of the multiple times he asks for her hand in marriage.

Ben Proposes To Miranda (Grey's Anatomy)

One of the most romantic moments from Grey's Anatomy begins in the middle of an operation when Ben Warren (Jason Winston George) expresses his disappointment that he and Miranda Bailey (Chandra Wilson) were unable to work on the daily crossword. In the OR, Miranda pettily begins completing the puzzle herself and comes to discover that the answer to the clue, “My question to you,” is, "Will you marry me?" and that the entire crossword was crafted by Ben.

Ronny Proposes To Loretta (Moonstruck)

In 1987's Moonstruck, Loretta Castorini (Cher) becomes engaged to Johnny Cammareri (Danny Aiello) but unexpectedly falls into an affair with his brother, Ronny (Nicolas Cage). Everything works out, however, when Johnny calls off the engagement for his mother's sake and, seconds later, Ronny borrows the ring to ask for Loretta's hand in marriage.

Glenn Proposes To Maggie (The Walking Dead)

Taking place in a post-apocalyptic wasteland overrun with reanimated corpses, The Walking Dead is not quite what one would call a romantic show but does give audiences a romance to root for between Glenn Rhee (Steven Yeun) and Maggie Green (Lauren Cohan). The former pizza deliverer would make his relationship with her official by presenting her with a ring he pulled off a walker's finger.

Andrew Proposes To Melanie (Sweet Home Alabama)

Andrew Hennings (Patrick Dempsey) is, ultimately, not the man we are supposed to root for Melanie Carmichael (Reese Witherspoon) to end up with in 2002's Sweet Home Alabama. However, the way he pops the question by walking her into a room full of various engagement rings for her to choose from is a dream scenario.

Toby Proposes To Kate (This Is Us)

Toby Damon (Chris Sullivan) pays a good amount of money to make his unique way of proposing to Kate Pearson (Chrissy Metz) a reality on This is Us. He unzips multiple hoodies that each read a different section of the phrase, "Will you marry me?"

Jeremy Proposes to Kristen (Think Like A Man)

In Think Like a Man, commitmentphobe Jeremy Kern (Jerry Ferrara) is so overwhelmed with emotion when popping the question to Kristen (Gabrielle Union) that he accidentally says, "I want to be your wife, and I want to be your husband," before quickly correcting himself. It is easily one of the sweetest moments from the 2012 adaptation of Steve Harvey's self-help book.

Ross Proposes To Emily (Friends)

While Ross Gellar's (David Schwimmer) marriage to Emily (Helen Baxendale) proved to be ill-fated, his spur-of-the-moment decision to ask her to marry him right before she is supposed to leave for London is still one of the sweetest moments from Friends.

Crazy Rich Asians was a phenomenon when it was released in 2018, it's honestly one of the best rom-coms out there, and it's a great movie to watch on an airplane. Now, its director, Jon M. Chu, has opened up about why it's such a great plane film. However, as the celebrated filmmaker shared that thought, he also noted that Glen Powell and his movies might be closing in on the title for best movies to watch in the air.

Jon M. Chu Explains Why Crazy Rich Asians Is The Best Plane Movie

Chu's conversations these days center mostly around Wicked and the upcoming release of Wicked: For Good on the 2025 movie schedule. However, at the Golden Globes' his conversation shifted to one of his older works during a chat with IMDb. This happened while he was on the red carpet to celebrate his 2025 Golden Globe nominated musical, and, during an interview he was asked why Crazy Rich Asians is the best airplane movie.

After journalist Cat Quinn told him the 2018 rom-com was the best film to watch on a plane out there, Chu gave a great answer about why that's the case, saying:

Neither of them are wrong. The whole movie is just so well done–from the ensemble's performances to the storyline that intertwines Wu’s character with Golding’s family–it’s a home run. And since the movie nails every scene and moment of dialogue, it’s a natural surefire choice for inflight entertainment.

However, Glen Powell also has some surefire choices in his filmography that make for great plane movies, and he seems to be coming for Crazy Rich Asians' title.

However, Glen Powell Might Take The Title For Best Airplane Movies

The In the Heights director shared this seniment as he hilariously noted that Powell and his movies may be edging in on the coveted ground Crazy Rich Asians holds. In fact, while on a flight, he caught the relatively new household name on multiple screens in different movies. He shared:

Chu isn’t wrong about Powell. Although the Hit Man star has brought us hit after hit these past couple of years, and now he is following in the footsteps of Hollywood big hitters by taking on more producing projects, it wasn’t always this way. He had to grind to get to this point, and I’m glad to see the 36-year-old gaining traction both in the theaters and on airplanes.

I can just imagine watching the Now You See Me 2 director sitting down and realizing he’s seeing Powell in some of his biggest hits like Twisters (a co-worker saw someone watching this while flying recently), Top Gun: Maverick, Anyone But You or even Netflix's Hit Man in surround. All these movies have been hits in their own rights and they're all mega-crowd pleasers. So, naturally, they all make great plane movies.

The Step Up 2 director shouldn’t sweat it though. Much of the world has been hanging onto every bit of content about the Ozian sequel, its surprise cameos and more. And, as he works through Wicked press he has the Crazy Rich Asians sequel as well as the Britney Spears biopic queued up for him to get going on. All of which sound like they'll one day make for good inflight entertainment.

Time will tell if Powell takes the title from the book-turned-movie modern classic. On the bright side, Chu has plenty more movies in the works that can compete with the Everybody Wants Some!! alum. Plus, let us not forget, if the flights are long enough, viewers can fit a few movies in, Crazy Rich Asians, Twisters and Top Gun: Maverick included.

One of the latest new on streaming releases for those with a Hulu subscription is Interior Chinatown. The series based on the bestselling novel from Charles Yu of the same name discusses the unfortunate realities of Asian-Americans being sidelined in the media as it follows a background character living in the world of a Law & Order-esque show called Black & White. Interior Chinatown’s star, Jimmy O. Yang spoke with CinemaBlend about the first time he felt central to a project in his own career with Crazy Rich Asians.

In Interior Chinatown, Jimmy O. Yang plays Willis Wu, a waiter in a Chinese restaurant whose life on the sidelines changes when he witnesses a woman getting kidnapped. During our interview with the actor, he shared that Jon M. Chu’s ensemble film was the first time he felt he’d broken out of the background of a project in Hollywood. In his words:

Jon M. Chu made cinematic history in 2018 when he adapted Crazy Rich Asians, which marked the first time an all-Asian cast led a modern Hollywood movie in 25 years. It also became the highest grossing romantic comedies in a decade. Even though Jimmy O. Yang had a supporting role in the movie as Bernard Tai, a former classmate to Henry Golding’s Nick, the actor shared he didn’t feel like he was supporting. When I asked how much Chu (who is currently getting all the love for helming Wicked) contributed to that, he said this:

Crazy Rich Asians also allowed actors like Henry Golding, Gemma Chan, Awkwafina, Michelle Yeoh and Ronny Chieng to break out as Hollywood actors who have since been nonstop busy with more projects. So much so that the Crazy Rich Asians sequel is still not happening yet.

Chieng joins Jimmy O. Yang in Interior Chinatown as Willis’ colleague at the Chinese restaurant, who becomes a main character in his own right as a waiter while Willis moves up in the ranks in roles of Black & White, such as becoming a “tech guy.” During our interview with Yang, the actor shared how being a standup comedian also has helped him become a storyteller. As he shared:

Jimmy O. Yang has soared so high with his standup that he is currently on a North American tour that will take him to Carnegie Hall in New York City, and the massive Kia Forum in Los Angeles. You can watch Interior Chinatown now, and check out our interview with Chloe Bennet and Ronny Chieng for the series here on CinemaBlend as well.

Girls, dreams do come true, and that was proven today by the fact that Princess Diaries 3 just took a massive step forward by finding its director. While there’s been chatter about a threequel for years, and Anne Hathaway just celebrated Princess Diaries 2 turning 20, there wasn’t much movement on the anticipated third film. However, now Hathaway herself has confirmed that Adele Lim will be directing the upcoming flick, and I can’t get over how perfect this choice is!

Adele Lim Will Direct Princess Diaries 3

For years, the cast of Princess Diaries has been asked about a third film, and they haven’t really had updates. Well, now we have a massive one. In an incredibly fun TikTok, Anne Hathaway showed clips from the first two films before finally announcing that “miracles happen,” and a third movie is in the works. Check it out:

Along with noting that Disney and Somewhere Pictures are behind the film, the Mia actress also announced that Adele Lim will be helming it.

For a bit of background, Lim is a director, producer and writer who worked on movies like Crazy Rich Asians, Raya and the Last Dragon and Joy Ride. Princess Diaries 3 will mark the second film she's directed, and I couldn’t be more excited for her and this movie.

Here’s Why I’m So On Board With Adele Lim Directing Princess Diaries 3

The filmography listed above is the reason why Adele Lim is the perfect person to lead Princess Diaries' next movie. Specifically, her work on one of the best rom-coms ever, Crazy Rich Asians, and one of my favorite comedies of 2023, Joy Ride, has me extra hyped for her to direct the Anne Hathaway-led film.

Joy Ride is a wonderfully raunchy movie all about female friendship that is genuinely hilarious and heartfelt. Considering Princess Diaries 3 will take place two decades after the second film, and its audience is also 20 years older than they were in 2004, a more mature and grown-up story that’s also funny and charming feels necessary. If Lim, who directed wrote and produced Joy Ride, can bring some of her magic from that film, Princess Diaries will probably get the fresh twist it needs.

Along with directing, producing and writing Joy Ride, Lim also wrote the script for Crazy Rich Asians. I love how the 2018 rom-com isn’t about a couple’s origin story, it picks up when they’re a well-established and serious couple. I also adore that it focuses on how their families impact their relationship. Since I assume Princess Diaries 3 will pick up with Mia well into her reign as queen and hopefully still in a relationship with Chris Pine's Nicholas, I can see the film having a tone and themes that are similar to Crazy Rich Asians.

Overall, I love that Adele Lim is getting the chance to direct a film as big as this, and her previous work easily proves why she got the gig.

So, now that we have this incredible creative leading the film, start crossing your fingers that we get official confirmation that Julie Andrews will be back and Chris Pine will return to the franchise that changed his life (Princess Diaries 2 was his first film, by the way). Then, once the whole gang is back together, we’ll be truly ready to return to Genovia for another wonderful story about the queen and her loved ones.

At the moment, Princess Diaries 3 does not have a release date. So, for now, you can stream the first two movies with a Disney+ subscription. We’ll also be sure to keep you posted as we learn more about this exciting film that’s being helmed by a wonderful director.

There are plenty of celebrity fashion looks that have been immortalized on the big screen, but there are also plenty of other famous dresses that never hit a red carpet. Maybe they should have. We've compiled a list of some of the best gowns (and looks) from films that could totally have worked on a red carpet, if given the chance. Here are some of the coolest takes.

Lily James In Cinderella

When I think of a ball gown, to me the 2015 Cinderella look of Lily James is a great example of a dress that’s carpet ready. It’s somehow timeless and modern, it’s an indescribable blue color, and it brought an animated concept to life in just the perfect way. A top-notch stunner for any era.

Emma Watson In Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows Part 1

I know you thought I was going to bust out Hermione’s iconic Yule Ball gown look here, even though she’s said the scene was uncomfortable in the past. While it’s a sweet dress for a teenager, it’s the stunning red number Watson’s character wears to Bill and Fleur’s wedding I deem to be most red carpet-worthy.

Jennifer Lopez In Maid In Manhattan

Jennifer Lopez played a maid who borrowed a gown for a night out on the town in Maid in Manhattan. While the flick may not make anyone's list of best rom-coms, the dress is perfect for any best list. It was a peachy pink and very on trend in the early aughts, and its silhouette – and the iconic jewelry she paired it with – would very much still be on point on the carpet today.

Halle Berry In Die Another Day

Halle Berry may be more known for an iconic bikini scene in Die Another Day, but it's her purple dress that really stands out when she's playing Jinx. The color and silhouette are stunning years later, but this is one dress that's also even more brilliant once you see it from behind.

Julia Roberts In Pretty Woman

A far cry from the look we meet her in, Julia Roberts’ Vivian Ward dons a romantic red dress for a night out with Richard Gere’s Edward. The two end up entangling their lives in myriad ways, but the dress is still the most memorable moment from the movie for me.

Margot Robbie In The Wolf Of Wall Street

Black dresses will never go out of fashion, and Margot Robbie looks like a cool woman in a little black dress in Wolf of Wall Street. It's not the only fashionable moment in Scorsese's film, but it's the look I would choose if I were having to go to a fun event. The earrings amp the look up considerably, too. Her whole vibe has me rethinking my wardrobe.

Aubrey Hepburn In Sabrina

One of the most iconic ball gowns of all time, Hepburn’s famous Sabrina dress may never have happened if she hadn’t pushed and befriended designer Givenchy. They made movie history together, and red carpet history in other cases. This dress would not have been out of place there.

Natalie Portman In Black Swan

Black Swan may be one of the best psychological films, but the costume design is also superb, from outfits worn on the stage to everdaywear. The white gown Portman’s character wears from Rodarte has one of the coolest backs I’ve ever seen. Nearly 15 years later, I wish she or someone would bust it out again.

Lady Mary In Downton Abbey

Lady Mary was a bit of a fashionista across the entirety of the Downton Abbey series and its two subsequent movies, but this lush sapphire blue Prussian gown from 2019’s Downton movie stands out as a favorite and also the one that’s most red carpet worthy. Maybe in this day and age I’d drop the gloves, though (even if celebs like Taylor Swift and JLo are bringing gloves back).

Billy Porter In Cinderella (2021)

The Cinderella cast all had amazing outfits, but Billy Porter's fabulous godmother (Fab G) dress in the 2021 Cinderella is all bold colors and lush satin. It's very much a Porter-perfect look that still stands out years later.

Keira Knightley In Atonement

Keira Knightley’s green dress in Atonement is very much a dress of the era it is portraying, but it’s also the sort of classic look in the perfect color and fabric that could be worn by anyone, in any formal situation, in any time period. If I had to choose a dress to rock to a movie premiere or a wedding or pretty much any occasion, this look from the 2007 (but period) movie would be it.

Charlize Theron Snow White And The Huntsman

Hear me out: Charlize Theron looks so extra in Snow White and the Huntsman but she never looks more extra than when she’s wearing the dress with the extravagant shoulders. Puff sleeves come in and out, but I’m really ready for some avante garde looks to hit the red carpet and this is a great take on a totally unique style.

Kate Hudson In How To Lose A Guy In 10 Days

The early aughts were a prominent time for formalwear gowns dominating movie posters, and the Kate Hudson rom-com era was no exception. The good news is the gold dress she sported opposite Matthew McConaughey still holds up more than 20 years later and is a color she should continue to sport on the red carpet.

Grace Kelly In Rear Window

Grace Kelly had a lot of iconic dresses in a lot of movies that could have fit the criteria of this list, but my favorite has to be her tulle look from Alfred Hitchcock's Rear Window. It's no wonder the ballet-inspired look has come back in 10 Things I Hate About You and other movies.

Jennifer Lawrence In Catching Fire

The Hunger Games has some solid fashion design, particularly when it comes to characters like Snow, Effie and others living in the capital. But if you really want to make a statement, how about a dress that catches fire and turns into a second fashion statement? Tell me you wouldn’t like to see this on the red carpet!

Kate Winslet In Titanic

When Jack and Rose meet in Titanic, she’s dressed for dinner in a gorgeous red and black beaded dress that would stand out in any crowd. It’s a good thing she catches Jack’s eye in this dress, or Titanic would have been a different movie.

Angela Bassett In Jumping The Broom

Listen: Paula Patton’s character has a lovely wedding dress in Jumping The Broom (not to mention a really cute purple plaid dress at the beginning of the movie), but Angela Bassett is the actress to keep your eye on. As the matriarch in a wealthy family, Bassett’s character is the one with the polished, structured looks I’d feel most confident in on the red carpet.

Rita Hayworth In Gilda

I’m not sure how many people revisit Rita Hayworth’s Gilda these days, but when I think of old Hollywood glamor, her satin gown and matching gloves always come to mind. This was the role that made Hayworth a household name and that dress would still have a moment if it debuted today.

Sonoya Mizuno In Crazy Rich Asians

There's a lot of just epic fashion in 2018's Crazy Rich Asians, but the stellar standout moment is Araminta's wedding, which just has so many great looks from the main cast. At the end of the day, despite the gorgeous setting and shiny, happy people, it's the dress that's to die for.

Vivien Leigh In Gone With The Wind

Leigh gets the opportunity to wear a lot of lovely fabrics in 1939’s Gone with the Wind but none seem as carpet worthy (somewhat ironically) as the dress made out of curtains. It's a memorable color combo and an all-time great movie look.

Hilary Duff In A Cinderella Story

While allegedly Sam is wearing an "old" wedding dress when she shows up in this gorgeous white number, the tulle look is a classic one. Hilary Duff wore the dress with pink Chuck Taylors on the cover for the film, and casualizing a dress with sneakers has become a popular trend in the time since.

Emma Watson In Beauty And The Beast

A Disney ballgown that really hits the mark, Emma Watson’s yellow Belle dress does the animated character justice while fitting the actress like a glove. The color might not work on everyone, but it’s such a perfect fit.

Whitney Houston In The Bodyguard

I think Whitney Houston’s Queen of the Night costume is probably the one we all think about first when we think about The Bodyguard, but it’s her simple black halter dress and beaded hair and bracelet accessories that would really stand out on a red carpet and give something a little special.

Aubrey Hepburn In My Fair Lady

Eliza may have made a bet with Professor Higgins to help her sound like a lady, but it's not hard to believe Audrey Hepburn at least looks like a lady in this dress. The thick, sparkling necklace gives it an additional upgrade. Beautiful.

Ariana DeBose In West Side Story

Ariana DeBose's yellow dress in Spielberg's West Side Story is a direct nod to the 1961 movie musical, but it's an updated take on the look. Originally, Rita Moreno wore a famous lavender dress, but DeBose's is an upgraded color and has a little more swish in it. It's gorgeous and the type of look I hope is popularized again.

Marilyn Monroe In How To Marry A Millionaire

Marilyn Monroe rocked lots of iconic gowns over the years, but the thing I like about this satin dress is the one shoulder strap. It's fitted like a glove and the pink color is fabulous. It's hard to pick one thing about this dress that is most successful. It's just perfect.

Barbara Bach In The Spy Who Loved Me

Plenty of Bond girls have had great outfits over the course of more than 50 years, but when Bond meets Anya Amasova, her navy gown really pops thanks to the Swarovski crystal trim. I love that it's not a flat color, and the leg slit adds a sweet extra touch.

Lana Condor In To All The Boys I've Loved Before: P.S. I Still Love You

Lana Condor has a lot of beautiful clothing in the To All The Boys movies. Of all her sweet looks, my favorite is the one in the sequel that Stormy lends her from her impeccable collection. It's vintage perfect, and a lovely color to boot.

Lori Singer In Footloose

Lori Singer’s Ariel dress looks great on her, and it fits the character well. Despite the movie coming out in the eighties, the off-shoulder style comes in and out, and its simple silhouette would be perfect for a low-key movie premiere. As vintage is making a big comeback, perhaps it’s a style we’ll see back on the carpet in coming years.

Rachel Leigh Cook In She’s All That

Laney’s red makeover dress is on-trend now the ‘90s and early aughts are making a comeback. Its spaghetti straps and slim silhouette are simple, but would still really would turn heads on the red carpet today. I love the matching red pumps she pairs the look with as well.

Margaret Avery In The Color Purple

Shug Avery's bright looks in The Color Purple stand out. It may be more of a show dress, but if I had to kick it on the red carpet, I'd want something just as sequiny. Maybe I'd throw in some pearls to boot.

Anne Hathaway In The Idea Of You

A lot of people would say Ms. Hathaway's iconic fashion movies are either The Princess Diaries or The Devil Wears Prada, and while neither are wrong choices, my pick has to go to her character in The Idea of You. When Solene meets Hayes in her beautifully tailored, creamy Fendi number, his head was turned, but so was mine.

Luckily, we're likely to see many more red carpet-worthy looks on the big screen for years to come!

There are a lot of ways to look at celebrity fashion in the movies. There are iconic standout moments that will stick in popular culture forever a la The Dude’s famous Pendleton sweater in The Big Lebowski or Uma Thurman’s slim black outfit and choker in Pulp Fiction. Or, there are plenty of movies with looks and aesthetics that are so lush and so timeless they'll stand out as exciting for decades and decades after a movie premieres.

As a vintage clothing lover, I spend a lot of time thinking about fashion in the movies. Here are some of the films that have influenced my wardrobe the most. (And hopefully will give you a creative spark too!)

Pretty Woman (Especially That Red Gown)

While one of Julia Roberts' iconic looks in Pretty Woman is the one she sports as a woman about the town, one thing I love about this movie is how Vivian's style changes as time goes on. This peak for me is the red dress that is one for the ages.

Clueless (The Matching Plaid Sets!)

Amy Heckerling's cinematic masterpiece is not only a very quotable movie, it has some of the most memorable looks I've seen. Dionne's hats. Cher's many schoolgirl looks in tweed and plaid. The matching sets. It's all iconic and holds up (for the most part) years and years later.

The Devil Wears Prada (All The Looks)

After Andy goes to work at Runway Magazine, she enters a world just chock full of some of the most intriguing fashion I've seen in a movie. Andy's style evolves, but looks from Meryl Streep's Miranda Priestly to outfits worn by Emily Blunt and Stanley Tucci's characters are standouts too.

Purple Rain (The Frilly Shirt) 

Prince's fashion and career as a whole was notable outside of Purple Rain, the 1984 film that spotlighted Minneapolis and spawned hits like "When Doves Cry" and "Let's Go Crazy." Mostly I wish this frilly shirt look would make a comeback. Things have gotten too casual in fashion.

Breakfast At Tiffany's (The Perfect Outfit For Hanging Out On A Chilly New York Night) 

I think when most people think of Breakfast At Tiffany's they think of the opening scene of the 1961 film with the black dress, the sunglasses and the pearls. For me, there are so many lovely outfits in this movie, but the one I always turn back to is Holly Golightly's sweet and casual "Moon River" look. Anyone who can make a hair wrap look that iconic is a fashionista in my book.

Barbie (Can We Bring Back Rollerblades, Please?) 

Barbie's fashion moment in history is so iconic it actually coined its own term: Barbicore fashion. It's not just Margot Robbie with the cute looks, however, as Ken's own choices also sometimes had me rethinking the way I dress. What a movie moment.

The Royal Tenenbaums (Thank Margot) 

Wes Anderson has an aesthetic all his own, which extends into the fashion choices for each of his films. One of the best examples of this is The Royal Tenenbaums, which showcases lead actress Gwyneth Paltrow in furs, hair clips and dark eyeliner. The tweeds and more favored by her character's family are no slouches, either.

Sean Connery’s Bond Era (Impeccable Tailoring) 

I think a case could be made that any and every Bond era has its epic moments when it comes to fashion (entire essays have been written about Daniel Craig's suit cuts, for example), but there's something wonderful about the 1960s Sean Connery Bond era. It's something that makes me want to go out and get every piece of clothing I own tailored just to be exactly right.

Moulin Rouge (Diamonds Are A Girl's Best Friend)

Corset trends come and go in Hollywood, but what I like most about Moulin Rouge's fashion choices is not its many nods to the "Can-Can" era, but its use of jewelry, glitz and sparkles. Nicole Kidman's costumes are the best, of course, and no place is that clearer than in her rendition of "Diamonds Are A Girl's Best Friend."

Downton Abbey (The Jazz Era evening attire)

Choosing to highlight Downton Abbey fashion feels so obvious, I'm a little surprised I didn't put it higher on this list. One great thing about the franchise is it has spanned multiple decades, but its movies set in the 1920s (1927 for the first film and 1928 for A New Era) are the real highlight for me. The costumes were particularly "challenging" to create thanks to the scale of the movies, but the attention to detail pays off so handsomely.

Memoirs Of A Geisha (The Silk Kimonos)

Famous costume designer Colleen Atwood crafted kimonos made of real silk for the 2005 film adapting the novel of the same name. The looks were handcrafted to convey the personalities of the characters in the movie, and ultimately helps with the overall look of the film. It's no wonder why, despite mixed reviews, the movie won an Academy Award for Best Costume Design. It also proves silk (and cheaper satin) will always have staying power.

The Birds (More Great '60s Vibes Here)

Tippi Hedren’s fur coats might be a little gauche these days, but everything about the styling in The Birds is superb. The baby doll dresses, mini skirts and hair all stand out as products of their time, but I’d still rock many of these looks out in public today.

Kingsman: The Secret Service (Tailored Men’s Fashion Is Superb)

Given The Kingsman organization literally fronts as a tailor shop in 2014's Kingsman: The Secret Service, it's no surprise the fashion in the franchise films is superb. Understated palates but with cool, modern colors are speckled throughout the movies as Ariane Phillips shares her take on what a Savile Row gentleman (or perhaps gentle lady) should look like.

Poetic Justice (Janet Jackson’s Movie Set Trends) 

Every time I think of 1993's Poetic Justice, I think of the hat worn by Janet Jackson's character in the movie. John Singleton's movie starring Jackson and Tupac Shakur feels very LA and very of its time. It's quintessential '90s, but the look is one that has come back time and time again.

Almost Famous (It's All About Penny Lane)

While some members of Stillwater were worried about being the "out of focus" guys, when it came to the fashion all eyes were pretty much on Penny Lane and her gaggle of "band-aides." Cool, sunglasses, meshy material and more were all hallmarks of the seventies look, but the movie also helped shearling-collared coats make a comeback. Need one in my closet.

Crazy Rich Asians (More Like Crazy Luxe)

We've talked quite a bit about impeccable tailoring in this piece, but one thing that stands out in Crazy Rich Asians is the luxe fabric and expensive-looking costuming, from ephemeral wedding looks to vintage vibes. There's more color once the cast hits Singapore, and that's by design. It's no wonder Mary E. Vogt won a Costume Designer Guild award for these looks.

Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (In Hot Pink)

Long before Margot Robbie and other celebs made Barbicore a household name, Marilyn Monroe rocked a famous pink dress in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes. The movie as a whole has a lot of standout fashion moments, but this is the one that would go on to be spoofed by Gossip Girl and even Robbie herself while playing Harley Quinn.

Romeo + Juliet (It's The Costume Party That Really Takes Things Over The Edge)

Baz Luhrmann's always been one to put his casts into memorable looks, and 1996's Romeo + Juliet is no exception. It helps the wearers in question are often Claire Danes and Leonardo DiCaprio here, but from brightly colored button-ups to the airy wings Juliet wears to a costume party, there's a lot to really take in with the fashion in this film.

Foxy Brown (That Leather Jacket Isn't Even Getting Into The Awesome Satins and Florals)

Foxy Brown's sartorial palette is of the moment, or at least it was when the 1974 blaxploitation movie came out. The satins, leathers, and polyesters that adorn our main characters would still look cool in any street fashion spread and are a great example of an era of (now) vintage I still love to rock today.

All About Eve (For Anytime It's Gonna Be A Bumpy Night) 

Bette Davis' famed "Fasten your seatbelts, it's going to be a bumpy night" dress was actually a last-minute addition to the movie, brought on by Claudette Colbert exiting the movie in the eleventh hour and Davis requesting famed costume designer Edith Head come with her when she signed. The resulting collaboration led Head to an Oscar award, and the costumes in the movie to make history. Who wouldn't kill for a dress with that waistline? ... But I guess you need the waist first.

Knives Out (It's All About The Cable Knit) 

While poor Ana de Armas isn't the best-dressed in this movie, there's a lot of old-school money looks thrown around in the first Knives out. Think tweeds and dark colors in perfectly fashionable cuts. The most notable example of this has to be Chris Evans' character's cable knit sweater, a look that lives rent-free in my head and will be classic for decades to come.

Atomic Blonde (Fighting In Heels) 

I honestly feel like Atomic Blonde may be the most underrated fashion movie on this list. Somehow, David Leitch has Charlize Theron's Lorraine Broughton fighting in cool turtlenecks and timeless coats and boots, all of which I would love to add as a staple in my own wardrobe. She manages to kick butt without ripping anything to boot.

10 Things I Hate About You (I Like My Skechers)

Listen there are myriad teen movies that are zeitgeists of their times when it comes to fashion, but the one that still stands out with the most looks I've always envied is 10 Things I Hate About You. Set in the era of poofy skirts and crop tops, scene kids, and the first time mini backpacks were popular in my lifetime, any movie that spawns the quote, "There's a difference between like and love. Because, "I like my Skechers, but I love my Prada backpack," was absolutely written with my wardrobe in mind.

Marie Antoinette (Petticoats And Ruffles Galore!) 

Sofia Coppola movies are always a sartorial delight, but never was her fashion more confectionary-feeling than in Marie Antoinette. The Kirsten Dunst-starrer used frills and pastels to show us the over-the-top world of the doomed aristocrat. My world could use a little more formal dressing.

Sabrina (The Givenchy Dress)

Audrey Hepburn wore a lot of beautiful gowns during the course of her movie career, but none may be more striking than the Givenchy gown she wore playing Sabrina. The story goes the then-newcomer designer thought he was dressing Katherine Hepburn and got Audrey instead. A partnership was formed, and the rest is fashion history. If only one of these looks would find its way into my wardrobe.

Challengers (The Tenniscore)

Of course, Zendaya was giving serves on the Challengers press tour but a lot of her looks in the movie were great as well. I particularly love some of her classic tennis dresses, but that look we get of her on the sidelines during the final match of the movie will stick with me forever as well.

The Great Gatsby (Daisy Buchanan, Fashion Heroine)

Baz Luhrmann knows how to make a look happen, and the one thing I love about his Great Gatsby is that both the men’s and women’s fashion are standouts. Of course, Buchanan’s outfits are the ones I’m still swooning over years later in stripes and pastels and dreamy silhouettes. ‘You can’t repeat the past’ but you can repeat the looks from other eras, I say.

Dazed And Confused (Vintage Tees Galore)

Dazed and Confused went pretty much fully vintage when it was coming together back in 1993. That includes the Ted Nugent tee worn by Matthew McConaughey’s David Wooderson that is more than alright, alright, alright in my own closet.

Practical Magic (Great Inspo, Maybe Not-So-Great Movie)

Deep down there's a lot to love about Practical Magic, despite its ludicrous story. I love its winks at magic, its '90s vibes, and mostly I love the fashion and hairstyles rocked by Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman. The aunt's clothes are pretty fun to boot.

Peggy Sue Got Married (Those Volumous '50s Skirts)

An eighties movie that's also a throwback, Peggy Sue Got Married was well-liked, well-reviewed and even landed an Academy Award nomination for costume design. Time hopping between cool eighties looks and cool sixties looks obviously helps. Thanks, time travel.

Phantom Thread (All The Gorgeous, Impractical Ballgowns)

High fashion is not something I'm pulling out of my closet every day, but Phantom Thread's costumes are the pursuit of perfection. I think about the silhouettes almost as often as I think of the P.T. Anderson film's wild plotline, which is to say a lot. Now, I just need someplace to wear a look like this.

House Of Gucci (Nothing Like A Luxury Fashion Biopic)

There's nothing like a luxury fashion movie to show off looks that only a few can afford. House of Gucci is one movie that just has look after look after look, many of them propelled by Lady Gaga, but also Adam Driver and Reeve Carney. I don't have the wallet for them all, but I'd love 'em.

So here’s the thing – I may not be the biggest lover of rom-coms, as most tend to be pretty cheesy. But there are some men out there from both movies and TV that I have fallen for – many of which have completely ruined me for real life and have set my standards way too high. And while I’ve been in a committed relationship for several years now, there are just some fictional guys that do it for me – so today, we’ll be going over the top ones. 

Chandler Bing (Friends)

I know that out of everyone in the Friends cast, people talk about Joey being the cutest or however you want to play it, but for me, it’s always been Chandler. I don’t think there’s ever been a better interpretation of best friends to lovers than him with Monica, and I swear to God, he loves her so much. In today’s world, it’s rare to find someone as loving as Chandler Bing. 

Graham Simpkins (The Holiday)

Because who isn’t attracted to Jude Law? But on a real note, Graham Simpkins in The Holiday is probably a clear example of a great movie boyfriend. He’s straightforward with his feelings, is sweet, and somehow still looks good even when he’s pouring his entire heart out. Every time I see him on my TV screen, I know it’s Christmas time again. 

Kevin (Shameless)

Shameless is hands-down one of the best Showtime shows, but you want to know how it’s one of the best characters. Kev, and how he absolutely adores Veronica. This man will go with whatever his wife says or wants and do anything to make her happy, even if it’s totally out there and nonsensical, but he has a good heart – and that’s all that really matters in the end, if we’re being honest. 

Ian Miller (My Big Fat Greek Wedding)

Any man—and I mean any man—who is not from a Greek Orthodox family but is willing to learn all the traditions and rules that it entails while throwing themselves into a huge and intense family is a man worth loving. Trust me—as someone who is dating a Greek Orthodox person, this movie is the most clear-cut example of what it’s like—and how loving Ian Miller truly is. 

Gomez (The Addams Family)

Any portrayal of Gomez, whether it be older versions or Luis Guzmán from the Wednesday cast, sets our standards so high. There is no other man in movies and TV who loves his wife more than Gomez loves Morticia. That’s the kind of love that we take to the grave – and it’s something that they clearly intend to do as well. 

Troy Bolton (High School Musical Franchise)

Okay, so maybe this is little me who absolutely adored Troy Bolton and the High School Musical movies, but Troy really was the perfect teen boyfriend. While he certainly had his moments of selfishness (as all teenagers do), he cared for both his friends and, of course, Gabriella, trying to figure out how he could work things out while making everyone happy. That’s dedication. 

Flynn Rider (Tangled)

Oh, Flynn. I swear to God, this man was the love of my life when I was about twelve years old and pretty much set me up for the type of men I would have crushes on in movies and TV. He literally sacrificed his life to cut off Rapunzel's hair so she could be free from Mother Goethel. That is love right there. 

Jesse (Full House)

Every girl at some point in their lives had a crush on Jesse from Full House. I mean, if we’re being honest, the entire Full House cast was good-looking, and all had their fair share of good traits, but Jesse was just another level of dreamboat man – and John Stamos plays him. You can’t get much better than that. 

Augustus Waters (The Fault In Our Stars)

You know how every girl always has that one character that absolutely shatters their soul at a young age? Yeah, Augustus Waters was mine. When I saw The Fault in Our Stars in the theater at the ripe age of fourteen years old, I was beside myself with this teenager and how lovely he was and I was devastated by the end. He was the epitome of mindfulness and listening to what the other person wanted. 

Prince Philip (Sleeping Beauty)

He literally slayed a dragon for Aurora. He got off his horse and took on a whole mythical beast. You can’t raise your standards higher than that. Honestly, he’s underrated when it comes to Disney princes. 

Charlie (The Perks Of Being A Wallflower)

To this day, I don’t think I have ever met a more sensitive soul than Charlie from The Perks of Being a Wallflower. He’s not precisely the hunky type, obviously, but there’s something about Charlie’s sensitivity and how much he truly cares about others that makes me want someone just like him, and I could only imagine how those feelings would adapt as he grew older. 

Kristoff (Frozen)

While we all anxiously wait for more Frozen movies, let’s be honest here and say that Kristoff is actually one of the best Disney princes because he’s real. He doesn’t hide behind fancy suits and high titles. He’s an ordinary man who loves his reindeer and his trade, and he clearly loves Anna. Sometimes, that is literally all you need. 

Matt Flamhaff (13 Going On 30)

As someone who had an unhealthy obsession with this movie and the 13 Going On 30 cast, Matt Flamhaff was the movie's boyfriend for a long time. He’s loyal and sweet and tells it like it is, even when he and Jenna haven’t been in contact for years in the film. I really, really love it. 

Simon Bassett (Bridgerton)

When Bridgerton was first released back in 2020, it seemed that everyone was focused on Simon Bassett, and while the character hasn’t been in the show since the first season, he is undoubtedly still highly handsome and was able to beat his trauma in order to be with the women he loved and give her the child she desperately wanted. They’re both not perfect, but I think they work well for each other, and she helped him become a better version of himself. 

Noah Calhoun (The Notebook)

Noah from The Notebook is the definition of a man who waits. Who waits for just that single chance to be with the person he wants and craves more than anything in this world. There’s a reason why people love Noah and cry every time they watch this movie. He’s just that romantic, even if he comes from nothing. It just goes to show that love has no boundaries. 

Jake Perry (Sweet Home Alabama)

Oh, there is nothing like little kids meeting, falling in love, falling out, and then coming back together. Jake Perry is that and more. While he’s almost as stubborn as Melanie, he knows how to keep up with her like no one else and still loves her just as much to this day. I just get all warm and tingly inside when I watch this film. 

Nick Young (Crazy Rich Asians)

Nick is just uncomplicated. He’s uncomplicated and a good guy who happens to have a boatload of money and loves his girlfriend even more than his family. Do you know how many men are portrayed as being emotionally closed off but have fortunes? So many. So many. But Nick is just good – and that’s really what matters if we’re being honest. 

Edward Lewis (Pretty Woman)

Oh, Edward. Pretty Woman was one of those films that I ended up watching as a teenager, and it became a comfort film. It’s certainly one of Julia Roberts’ best rom-coms, but Edward, in general, is the definition of “I Can Change Him.” A man with money and emotionally closed off but learns how to appreciate life and open himself up to someone new – like, come on. Plus, Richard Gere is always a win. 

Jack Dawson (Titanic)

Good god, Jack Dawson was every teenage girl’s dream back in the 1990s. I mean, I wasn't even born yet when Titanic was released, but I can see the appeal even now. Even if he comes from nothing, he has a good soul, is quippy and handsome, and has an appeal for breaking the rules and having fun. He’s like a good, bad boy, if that makes sense.

Nick (New Girl)

Okay, I want to preface this by saying that I mean Nick from later seasons of New Girl. I think he had some serious growing up to do for a bit, but once he started to date Jess and especially when they ended up getting back together later down the line, he really turned into a great boyfriend, a good listener, and he’s just funny. Sometimes, all you need is a jokester. 

Mr. Darcy (Pride And Prejudice)

Mr. Darcy was the pride of my entire generation. I can’t tell you how many people are so focused on this man, how just his movements and how he shows his love are everything. This film is the epitome of an enemies-to-lovers movie, and yes, I eat it up every single time, no matter what. 

Westley (The Princess Bride)

What makes Westley such a great pick from The Princess Bride is that he knows when to listen. He knows when to take charge and save the people he cares about, but he also knows when to back off and listen to those around him. He’s brave but not stubborn, and so many men are the complete opposite in films. We need more of him, and I will stand on that hill.

Luke (Gilmore Girls)

I think Luke is another example of the type of man that we all fall for at least once in television shows. And what makes him such a great pick is that he waited. He waited for eight years so that that woman he loved would be ready for him, and that isn’t just the most romantic thing you have ever heard. I mean, he even kept a picture of her in his wallet, for crying out loud. 

William Thacker (Notting Hill)

God, William Thacker is such a sweetheart. I love him so much. Notting Hill, in general, is a great rom-com, but Thacker is what makes it so good. He stumbles over his words, but he is sweet and has this whole nerdy thing going for him that works handsomely. Hugh Grant plays him, so you can’t really get much better than that.

Rick Grimes (The Walking Dead)

It’s Rick Grimes. The Rick Grimes. The entire The Walking Dead cast is excellent, but I don’t think any other man comes close to Rick Grimes and what he has done for his family. He’s ripped out the throats of people to protect them. He’s looked for hours to find his family. And, of course, he and Michonne’s romance is the perfect example of slow-burn. 

Patrick Verona (10 Things I Hate About You)

Heath Ledger is obviously a well-known actor who had plenty of critically acclaimed roles back in the early and later 2000s, but I’ll always remember him as Patrick Verona in 10 Things I Hate About You. He was the boy who ended up loving the girl he didn’t expect to and the boy who sang on the steps. Granted, he started off just wanting to make extra money, but we all know he ended up falling in the end. 

Hercules (Hercules)

I want to specify that I’m talking about Disney’s version of Hercules, not the mythical version because the Greek Gods were not super great people. However, this version of Hercules is actually the best and sets my standards so high. Hercules is an underrated film, but the fact that the titular character dives into a literal pool of death to save his loved one makes him that much more attractive. 

Anthony Bridgerton (Bridgerton)

While Anthony Bridgerton certainly has an acquired taste (we all know those side-burns were not doing him any favors in Season 1), he’s really grown on me in Bridgerton, and honestly, the third season did me in. He just loves his wife. He’s so dedicated to her and just wants to make her happy, and any kind of man that does that is worth it. 

Ricky Ricardo (I Love Lucy)

Ricky Ricardo is the blueprint of the best TV husbands. Married to Lucy in I Love Lucy, he somehow is able to put up with Lucy’s schemes, and though she drives him crazy, he still loves her in the end and makes her feel safe at home. These two were such a great example of a loving relationship in the earlier years of TV. 

Jack Pearson (This Is Us)

The This Is Us cast is insanely talented, but let me tell you, Milo Ventimiglia set my standards insanely high when I started watching this show and seeing him as Jack Pearson. I mean, he is a loving husband, a doting father, and a hard worker—that’s the recipe. And of course, throw in a little dash of his own trauma, and it adds complexity. I will forever be a Jack Pearson lover. 

Mr. Sheffield (The Nanny)

Mr. Sheffield is the type of life I think we all secretly want—to work as a nanny, fall for the rich man who hired us, and somehow become a part of his family. But I think the reason I love him so much is that he’s able to keep up with Fran, which is hard. Fran knows what she wants and is an independent woman, but he is with her every step of the way, and I love it. 

Grey Worm (Game Of Thrones)

I didn’t think I’d be putting anyone from the Game of Thrones cast on this list, but thinking about it, I realize that Grey Worm is definitely high-ranking. He and Missandei don’t have the kind of relationship you would expect, and it’s not perfect, but there is no denying his love for her and how much he wants to keep her safe, doing anything in his power to do so. And he’s a great fighter, so there’s a plus there. It makes their relationship that much more tragic towards the end of the series. 

This just makes me want to rewatch every single one of these shows and movies again. I think it’s time for a marathon with some wine and fun times. 

A Family Affair is a fun romantic comedy about a movie star falling for the mother of his assistant. It stars Zac Efron, Nicole Kidman, and Joey King. Though it’s neither one of Efron’s best movies nor Kidman’s best movies, it’s a very fun romantic comedy.  It’s also nowhere near as bad as critics claim and has some enjoyable aspects. Sometimes you want a harmless silly movie with Zac Efron, and A Family Affair delivers. Movies like A Family Affair keep things silly in the best way.

If you loved this film and are now itching to find similar movies, let us give you some suggestions for movies like A Family Affair. 

Set It Up 

Set it Up stars Zoey Deutch and Glen Powell, and follows two overworked assistants who decide to ease their stress by setting up their bosses. They start falling in love as they work to make their bosses fall. It’s one of Powell’s most beloved movies and a popular streaming rom-com. 

Set It Up and A Family Affair sort of share a premise. Both films involve assistants dealing with difficult bosses, but Set It Up involves the assistants meddling to improve their work lives. In A Family Affair, the romance between Brooke (Nicole Kidman) and Chris (Zac Efron) complicates Zara’s (Joey King) work and personal life. 

Stream Set It Up on Netflix. 

Long Shot 

A journalist begins to woo the United States Secretary of State. She’s also in the running to become the president. It stars Seth Rogen and Charlize Theron. It’s one of those movies where the gorgeous leading lady falls for an average Joe.

Long Shot is more charming than A Family Affair, but both are entertaining and star leads with good chemistry. However, they share the idea of someone who isn’t extremely famous winning the heart of a major public figure. Chris is an actor who falls for a writer, and Charlotte (Theron) is a potential future president who falls for a journalist. Long Shot and A Family Affair are the kind of stories fan fiction writers love to see.

Stream Long Shot on Netflix. 

The Idea Of You 

The Idea of You stars Anne Hathaway as a single mother in her 40s and Nicholas Galitzine as an international popstar in his 20s. On paper, they shouldn’t work, but in reality, they fall madly, crazy in love. 

The Idea of You is another older woman and younger man romantic movie. It’s also another film with admirable and not-so-admirable elements, but an overall fun romantic movie. Though The Idea of You is more of a romantic drama, it’s similar to A Family Affair in premise. There are a few major differences between the films but they have the same age-gap love story with a hot single mom and a hot star. The daughter complicates the romance in A Family Affair and The Idea of You.

Stream The Idea of You on Prime Video. 

The Perfect Find 

A woman of a certain age falls for a younger man. It turns out that he’s one of her new co-workers and her boss’s son. The Perfect Find stars Gabrielle Union and Keith Powers.

The Perfect Find and A Family Affair both showcase older women falling for younger men. Additionally, they explore the barriers that romance can have on work life. Each film also uses romance as a plot device to help the leading ladies start the next chapter of their lives.

Stream The Perfect Find on Netflix. 

The Valet 

A valet ends up fake dating an actress to cover up an affair. Samara Weaving plays the actress Olivia, and Eugenio Derbez plays the valet Antonio. The Valet is another hidden gem Hulu original movie. It’s a very sweet film that isn’t quite a romantic comedy but a movie I love.

The Valet and A Family Affair focus on the idea of dating someone in the public eye. Though A Family Affair keeps most of Chris and Brooke’s romance hidden from the public, it’s still an important part of their story because it will have to become public eventually. The Valet mainly deals with Antonio and Olivia’s fake public romance. Both films also make family a crucial piece of the story and how it hinders or helps the real romance and the fake romance.

Stream The Valet on Hulu.

The Proposal 

Andrew Paxton (Ryan Reynolds) agrees to pretend to be the fiancé of his boss Margaret Tate (Sandra Bullock) so she can escape deportation. It’s a great enemies-to-lovers romance and one of Sandra Bullock’s best movies. 

The Proposal and A Family Affair explore the idea of a very difficult boss. However, in The Proposal, the tortured assistant falls for his horrible boss. In A Family Affair, the mom of the assistant falls for her daughter’s horrible boss. Either way, someone is falling in love with a very demanding boss. 

Stream The Proposal on Hulu. 

Win A Date With Tad Hamilton! 

A small-town girl, Rosalee (Kate Bosworth) wins a contest to go on a date with a famous actor, Tad Hamilton (Josh Duhamel). He starts to fall for her, but there is one major complication, her best friend, Pete (Topher Grace) is already in love with her. 

Win a Date With Tad Hamilton and A Family Affair tackle the complicated celebrity figure. The guys that don’t seem like the best dudes. One redeems himself, while the other not so much.

Stream Win A Date With Tad Hamilton! on Pluto TV.

Notting Hill 

Notting Hill stars Julia Roberts and Hugh Gran, and follows an actress who falls for a Notting Hill local. It’s one of the best romantic comedies of all time and one of Hugh Grant’s best romantic movies. 

Notting Hill is the ultimate actor falling for a commoner movie for the Gen X and Millennial crowd. Therefore, Notting Hill may have been the blueprint for A Family Affair, at least in terms of the premise. If you love the idea of an actor falling in love with someone whose life greatly differs from theirs, then Notting Hill is the perfect companion film for A Family Affair.

Stream Notting Hill on Starz.

Maid In Manhattan  

Maid in Manhattan follows the love story between a maid and a politician. It stars Jennifer Lopez and Ralph Fiennes. The film is one of Lopez’s best movies and a solid Cinderella story and romantic movie.

Brooke doesn’t need Chris to sweep her off her feet. It’s not a Cinderella story because she’s pretty financially stable when she meets him. However, these films tell a similar story of a high-profile person falling for someone who doesn’t exactly have the same level of notoriety. 

Stream Maid in Manhattan on Netflix. 

Crazy Rich Asians 

Imagine you meet your dream guy or girl only to discover they’re super rich and part of a very powerful dynasty. Then you have the plot of Crazy Rich Asians, one of the last decade’s best rom-coms. It stars Michelle Yeoh, Henry Golding, and Constance Wu. 

Crazy Rich Asians is another film that shares the same idea of A Family Affair, a romance between someone who is a high-profile figure and someone not as well-known. A Family Affair doesn’t get into the excessive wealth aspect of being a celebrity or rich person like Crazy Rich Asians, but you still can assume it based on some of the things Chris does and says.

Stream Crazy Rich Asians on Netflix. 

A Family Affair adds another entertaining entry into Netflix’s solid catalogue of rom-coms. If none of these films appeal to you, we also recommend taking a stroll through Netflix’s rom-com selection.

Stream A Family Affair on Netflix. 

There’s something so comforting about a good rom-com, where you know two people are going to end up together, and you just get to watch how it happens. The best romantic comedies can cause butterflies in your stomach, or you might even shed a tear at whatever inevitable grand gesture proves one’s love for another. This only works, however, if the stars of said movie have good chemistry, because otherwise watching the characters’ love story can be quite painful. Below are some of those couples who had absolutely zero chemistry.  

Ashton Kutcher And Reese Witherspoon (Your Place Or Mine)

The minimal amount of time that Ashton Kutcher and Reese Witherspoon actually spent together in 2023’s Your Place or Mine didn’t help these two well-known actors convince moviegoers of any romantic interest in each other whatsoever. It also didn’t help that Witherspoon’s Debbie did have great chemistry with Theo (Jesse Williams). 

Jennifer Lopez And Ralph Fiennes (Maid In Manhattan)

Maid in Manhattan may be among Jennifer Lopez’s best romantic comedies, but the chemistry between Marisa and Chris was not the strongest. Ralph Fiennes has taken the blame for that, admitting that the “light, comic” thing doesn’t play to his strengths as an actor. 

Lauren London And Jonah Hill (You People) 

The relationship between Ezra (Jonah Hill) and Amira (Lauren London) in You People was a stretch, to begin with, but you guys, there was so little connection between these two actors that their lone kiss, which comes at the end of the movie, was apparently done with CGI. Wild! 

Patrick Dempsey And Michelle Monaghan (Made Of Honor)

The only thing less believable than the romance between Patrick Dempsey’s Tom and Michelle Monaghan’s Hannah in Made of Honor was the scene where they started making out at her bachelorette party in front of everyone, and no one noticed.  

Lindsay Lohan And Chord Overstreet (Falling For Christmas) 

Who doesn’t love Lindsay Lohan, am I right? It was wonderful to see her return to acting in the 2022 holiday rom-com Falling for Christmas. The story was perfectly pleasant — with a killer Mean Girls reference to boot — and Chord Overstreet was truly a sweetheart as single dad Jake Russell as he cared for the injured Sierra (Lohan). It was all very charming, but my goodness there wasn’t an ounce of romantic interest between those two. 

Constance Wu And Henry Golding (Crazy Rich Asians) 

The success of the novel Crazy Rich Asians translated to the screen in 2018, as we got to see the love story between Nick Young (Henry Golding) and Rachel Chu (Constance Wu) come to life. However, audiences were disappointed in how underdeveloped Wu and Golding’s characters were, even in comparison to their co-stars. 

Jennifer Lopez And Owen Wilson (Marry Me)

The unlikelihood that Jennifer Lopez’s Kat would have any interest whatsoever in Owen Wilson’s Charlie in the 2022 film Marry Me is a hurdle even these talented leading actors couldn’t overcome.  

Tina Fey And Steve Carell (Date Night) 

It should come as no surprise that Tina Fey and Steve Carell had comedic chemistry in spades in the 2010 flick Date Night. Romantic chemistry? Not so much, as their marriage was largely played for jokes. 

Ashley Greene And Jackson Rathbone (Twilight)

Don’t come for me, Twi-hards, but does anybody else have trouble remembering that Twilight’s Alice (Ashley Greene) and Jasper (Jackson Rathbone) AREN’T brother and sister? It was possibly Jasper’s discomfort, which prevented him from relaxing even just a little bit, on top of Alice’s almost maternal concern for him that did that. 

Ashton Kutcher And Lea Michele (New Year's Eve)

Two of the romantic leads of the 2011 ensemble rom-com New Year’s Eve were Lea Michele and Ashton Kutcher, who played Elise and Randy, respectively. The neighbors clashed immediately when they found themselves stuck in an elevator, and due to the actors’ nonexistent chemistry and having to share screen time with dozens of other actors, it was never really believable that they’d be together by the end of the night. 

Michelle Pfeiffer And Maxwell Caulfield (Grease 2)

In a gender reversal of the first movie, Grease 2 features Michelle Pfeiffer’s Stephanie wanting a whole lot more than the boy next door, aka Maxwell Caulfield’s Michael. In fact, she wouldn’t give him the time of day until he put on a leather jacket and became the mysterious motorcycleman. Their performances did little to elevate a painfully shallow premise. 

Dakota Johnson And Jamie Dornan (Fifty Shades of Grey)

With a movie as intimate as Fifty Shades of Grey, you’d hope there would be an emphasis on making the leads as comfortable as possible on set. Unfortunately, that’s not what happened, as director Sam Taylor-Johnson and the book’s author E.L. James butted heads and even got into “screaming matches” with each other. Dakota Johnson has talked about the “battles” she had, so it’s really no wonder why her character’s spicy trysts with Jamie Dornan’s Christian Grey came off as more awkward than romantic. 

Mila Kunis And Channing Tatum (Jupiter Ascending)

The 2015 space opera Jupiter Ascending has been largely panned by critics, and though it maintains something of a cult following, the romance between Jupiter Jones (Mila Kunis) and human-canine hybrid Caine Wise (Channing Tatum) simply doesn’t work. 

Hayden Christensen And Emma Roberts (Little Italy)

Audiences bristled at the on-screen love between Hayden Christensen’s Leo and Emma Roberts’ Nikki in the 2018 flick Little Italy, in which the characters are star-crossed lovers from rival pizzeria-owning families. The lack of a spark is strange, though, as an inappropriate relationship between the two was blamed for Christensen’s breakup with longtime girlfriend Rachel Bilson. 

Justin Guarini And Kelly Clarkson (From Justin To Kelly)

Kelly Clarkson and Justin Guarini can hardly be blamed for what a mess From Justin to Kelly was. For one thing, the winner and runner-up of American Idol’s first season were not actors, and Clarkson has spoken multiple times about how miserable she was during filming and how hard she tried to get out of the contractual obligation.  

Mackenzie Davis And Kristen Stewart (Happiest Season)

There’s plenty to like about the LGBTQ+ holiday rom-com Happiest Season, but many fans would have preferred to see Abby (Kristen Stewart) end up with Riley (Aubrey Plaza) rather than stay with girlfriend Harper (Mackenzie Davis). Stewart shared an amazing spark with Plaza that wasn’t there with Davis. 

Freddie Prinze Jr. And Julia Stiles (Down To You)

Two powerhouses of the ‘90s romantic comedy, Freddie Prinze Jr. and Julia Stiles failed to bring the fireworks in the 2000 film Down to You. It stands as the worst-rated rom-com of all time on Rotten Tomatoes with a dire 3%. 

Lana Condor And Noah Centineo (To All the Boys: Always And Forever)

In the beginning of the To All the Boys trilogy, Lana Condor and Noah Centineo were oh-so-cute, but somehow all of that chemistry had fizzled by the third movie.

Jim Carrey And Zooey Deschanel (Yes Man)

Yes Man from 2008 wasn’t a total disaster, but many people weren’t buying the romance between 28-year-old Zooey Deschanel and 46-year-old Jim Carrey. 

Reese Witherspoon And Tom Hardy (This Means War)

In 2012’s This Means War, Tom Hardy and Chris Pine play CIA agents who literally go to war when they learn they’re both dating Lauren (Reese Witherspoon). However, there was never really an indication that she had such a strong connection with either of them — Hardy in particular — that would justify such actions. Hardy has admitted to being “miserable” on set, saying he is unlikely to dip into the romantic comedy genre again. 

Chris O’Donnell And Renee Zellweger (The Bachelor)

The Bachelor has a skeezy premise to begin with, and Chris O’Donnell’s Jimmie seems much less concerned about his breakup with Anne (Renée Zellweger) than he is about finding a woman to marry him in less than a day so he can inherit $100 million from his grandfather. Unfortunately, they’re not able to make their inevitable reunion very believable. 

Kumail Nanjiani And Issa Rae (The Lovebirds)

The Lovebirds starred Issa Rae and Kumail Nanjiani as Jibran and Leilani, a couple on the verge of a split. The breakup plot point, however, didn’t seem to be the reason that audiences couldn't connect with this duo. With the characters getting into ridiculous situations while on the run after witnessing a murder, this 2020 rom-com was heavy on comedy but light on romance. 

Hugh Grant And Drew Barrymore (Music And Lyrics)

This pairing’s lack of a spark was particularly disappointing, given that Hugh Grant and Drew Barrymore each had several successful romantic comedies under their belts by 2007. Nonetheless, when Grant’s Alex and Barrymore’s Sophie teamed up in Music and Lyrics to write a song together, audiences felt no heat between the two. 

Leonardo DiCaprio And Carey Mulligan (The Great Gatsby)

Forbidden love movies can be the best for romance, but unfortunately for fans of the F. Scott Fitzgerald novel, Leonardo DiCaprio and Carey Mulligan failed to portray the passion in the complicated story of Daisy Buchanan and Jay Gatsby. Mulligan has since admitted that she doesn't like her acting in the movie. 

Ben Affleck And Jennifer Lopez (Gigli)

Bennifer in the 2000s — and later Bennifer 2.0 — is one of the great love stories of our time, so it’s downright baffling why Ben Affleck and his would-be wife Jennifer Lopez have no chemistry in the 2003 box-office bomb Gigli. 

Angelina Jolie And Johnny Depp (The Tourist) 

Nobody’s questioning the acting skills of Angelina Jolie or Johnny Depp, but the stars of the 2010 film The Tourist seemed largely indifferent about each other when their characters were supposed to be falling in love. There were reports that the actors couldn’t stand each other on set; however, during Depp’s trial with Amber Heard, Jolie’s name was mentioned in a group of the actor’s “exes,” leading many to wonder if the two had been involved. Either way, the emotion didn’t translate to the screen. 

Zach Braff And Natalie Portman In (Garden State)

Manic Pixie Dream Girls like Natalie Portman’s Sam in Garden State sometimes don’t make the best romantic partners, and in this case, Zach Braff’s Andrew was also going through so much that this would have been a tough romance to pull off for any two actors. Still, even with the “happy ending,” there just wasn’t much to feel good about with this couple.  

Ryan Reynolds And Amy Smart In (Just Friends)

Just Friends in 2005 saw Chris (Ryan Reynolds) pining over longtime bestie Jamie (Amy Smart), despite her admission 10 years earlier that her feelings for her fat friend were merely platonic. That’s a pretty big obstacle to overcome, and there’s no way that happens if the energy between the two is as lackluster as this was. 

Natalie Portman And Hayden Christensen (Star Wars)

It’s been over two decades since Natalie Portman’s Padmé Amidala engaged in a relationship with Hayden Christensen’s Anakin Skywalker in Star Wars Episode II: Attack Of The Clones, and while some blame goes to the script, they remain one of the most notorious examples of co-stars with absolutely zero chemistry. 

Daniel Radcliffe And Bonnie Wright (Harry Potter)

Ginny Weasley was done a great disservice in the Harry Potter movies as one of several book characters who didn’t get enough screen time. There simply wasn’t an opportunity for Bonnie Wright to establish a palpable connection with Daniel Radcliffe in order to portray Ginny and Harry’s love the way we experienced it on the page. 

Bryce Dallas Howard And Chris Pratt (Jurassic World)

While this wasn’t a traditional rom-com, Jurassic World certainly featured a romantic storyline between Chris Pratt’s Owen and Bryce Dallas Howard’s Claire. Apart from that aspect of their stories feeling wholly unnecessary — what with all the dinos — it was simply hard to buy that they were even all that into each other. 

Kelly Marie Tran And John Boyega (Star Wars: The Last Jedi)

Kelly Marie Tran sadly faced a lot of unfair criticism when she was cast as Rose Tico in 2017’s Star Wars: The Last Jedi, to the point where she had to delete social media to get away from the hate. John Boyega, as well, saw backlash from people who fought the idea of Stormtroopers being Black. Aside from that, though, many fans unfortunately just didn’t see any romantic spark between the actors either.  

It can be so much fun to watch characters fall in love on the big screen, but man is it a disappointment when the actors lack that oh-so-important chemistry.

Director Jon M. Chu has always had an eye for musical movement and comedic filmmaking. Those talents will be shown off once more on the 2024 movie schedule, thanks to Wicked: Part One’s release being slated to take place this November. But for some of his fans, the 2018 film adaptation of Crazy Rich Asians still resembles one of the best rom-coms of recent years that many are hoping to revisit. 

And thanks to some recent news, there’s definitely more of author Kevin Kwan’s literary world on the way. But after reading this new announcement, I’m baffled that these plans have nothing to do with finally bringing China Rich Girlfriend to the big screen.

Warner Bros’ Current Plan For More Crazy Rich Asians

So what is going on with Crazy Rich Asians? Well, thanks to Deadline sharing the news from Warner Bros. Theatre Ventures, we now know that a musical adaptation of the Crazy Rich Trilogy that inspired the Henry Golding/Constance Wu starring film is in development.

What’s more, Jon M. Chu will be making his debut as a Broadway director, along with the talents of Elsbeth writer/co-executive producer Leah Nanako Winkler tackling the book, as well as music by Helen Park and Amanda Green & Tat Tong’s lyrics. There’s no further information signaling when to expect this show to go up, however this report teased that “the timeline for a pre-Broadway engagement will be announced shortly.” 

So there’s a possibility that Crazy Rich Asians’ staged incarnation has already been constructed, and merely awaits the casting, out of town tryouts, and tweaks any healthy Broadway show usually undergoes. If that’s the reality, it only leaves me to scratch my head further when pondering the fate of China Rich Girlfriend. 

What’s Going On With Crazy Rich Asians' Theatrical Sequels?

Crazy Rich Asians was not only one of 2018’s box office smashes, it’s the first installment of Kevin Kwan’s Crazy Rich Trilogy. With both China Rich Girlfriend and Rich People Problems already published by time that first film came out, plans to adapt Kwan’s remaining two books back to back were made in the same year of the first film’s release. But seeing as those projects were scheduled to get underway in 2020, and we’re currently living in the wake of 2021’s Warner Bros. Discovery merger, it seems that things have changed a bit.

In 2022, hope for the franchise’s revival was still in play. Constance Wu was not only given an encouraging update from one of the franchise’s producers that same year, but a potential Gemma Chan-centric spinoff was also announced. As you can tell, there really hasn’t been any further updates past that point, which has me seriously wondering if we’ll ever get any of these sequels. 

Crazy Rich Asians was a groundbreaking rom-com hit that played to the genre’s strengths, while also boosting Asian representation on the big screen. So to see the development of a Broadway musical is still pretty cool, but I hope that doesn’t mean the rest of the cinematic sequels have been canceled as a result. Perhaps the movement on this new musical means that Warner Bros. Discovery’s interest in the overall IP is still in play, and fans shouldn’t think that the studio has turned its back after so many years.

We’ll have to wait and see how things play out with the next iteration of Crazy Rich Asians, as it dances its way into reality. In the meantime, the first half of Jon M. Chu’s Wicked cinematic adaptation will be flying into the movies, starting November 27th. 

People love a good romance. Even if you’re not someone who reads the genre, if a popular story ends up becoming one of several book to screen adaptations, you might still be one of millions to check it out when it debuts, and with high hopes that it’ll become one of the best romantic comedies of all time. While fans have plenty of options in that regard, and do everything from watch great romantic movies with action and comedy to stream amazing rom-coms on Peacock, like any other type of movie, it can be hard to know whether or not you’ll enjoy what’s to come.

So, we thought we’d put together a list of amazing romantic comedies that have over 90% critical ratings on review aggregator site Rotten Tomatoes, to help you make your streaming choices. The entries are likely to reveal options you may not even be aware of, as many of the incredibly popular rom-coms of the past 30 or so years simply aren’t rated high enough to be included. If you want to see what did make it, let’s dig in!

Fire Island (2022) - 94%

Inspired by Pride and Prejudice, this film starring Joel Kim Booster (who also wrote it) and SNL’s Bowen Yang focuses on a group of queer buddies who head to the titular legendary locale for their traditional vacation, but see their friendships tested while looking for love. Fire Island was praised for being “breezily entertaining,” and we can all use more of that, especially when it comes to characters that offer LGBTQ+ representation.

His Girl Friday (1940) - 99%

As a beloved film of the screwball rom-com genre, it’s no surprise that His Girl Friday makes the cut. Rosalind Russell and Cary Grant star as ex-spouses, and when his newspaper editor realizes that her investigative reporter will soon quit because she’s gotten engaged, he attempts to keep her in the fold by giving her a tempting assignment. This one is a classic for a reason, and it still holds up today.

Rye Lane (2023) - 98%

This is one of the few recently-released rom-coms to be rated this highly, so take note. Rye Lane follows recently heartbroken twenty-somethings, Dom (David Jonsson) and Yas (Vivian Oparah), who become acquainted over the course of an adventurous day in their South London neighborhood while figuring out how to move on. If you want a visually intriguing tale that’s also “smart, funny, and heartwarming,” you can’t go wrong here.

Shakespeare In Love (1998) - 92%

The popular late ‘90s film focuses on a (fictional) love story between the famed playwright, William Shakespeare (Joseph Fiennes), and a woman who’s disguised herself as a man to appear in one of his plays (Gwyneth Paltrow), who ends up inspiring Romeo and Juliet. While not historically accurate, the fun is in the look of the movie and the performances, and with Shakespeare In Love nabbing 13 Oscar nods (winning seven), it became one of the most celebrated rom-coms of the past few decades.

Broadcast News (1987) - 98%

Holly Hunter ‘s Type-A news producer is becoming attracted to the handsome but dim-witted reporter (William Hurt) who represents everything she hates about reporting, causing complications with her talented best friend (Albert Brooks), who’s been secretly in love with her for years. Broadcast News is another multiple Oscar nominee, and was added to the U.S. National Film Registry, so history is on your side if you choose to watch.

To All The Boys I've Loved Before (2018) - 98%

Sometimes you just need a sweet teen rom-com, and To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before fits the bill perfectly. While anyone who’s seen this type of movie before will easily figure out how Lana Condor and Noah Centineo’s characters will fall in love, the performances make it special. It’s also one of several hilarious romantic comedies with Asian-American leads.

When Harry Met Sally (1989) - 91%

Here’s one of the few modern films in the genre which is so beloved by all that it actually crossed 90% on RT, and When Harry Met Sally is such a classic that I barely have to say anything about it at all for you to understand why. Many would likely say that the fake orgasm scene alone is worth its rating.

The Philadelphia Story (1940) - 100%

Our first perfect score of this list! The story follows Katharine Hepburn’s socialite, her ex-husband (Cary Grant), and a tabloid reporter (Jimmy Stewart) prior to the woman’s remarriage to another man, and her realization that she’s attracted to all three. Another golden era classic (also starring Grant), which ranks high for its “wonderfully witty script,” among other virtues.

The Big Sick (2017) - 98%

Star Kumail Nanjiani co-wrote this “funny, heartfelt, and intelligent” tale with his wife, Emily V. Gordon, which is based on their real experiences of starting their culture clash-filled relationship right before health issues lead to her being in a coma. The duo aced the telling of their own story, as The Big Sick was beloved and nominated for the Oscar for Best Original Screenplay.

Splash (1984) - 91%

This “warmly funny” story of man/mermaid love did big business and wowed critics as well, with the added benefit of “charming performances” from Tom Hanks and Daryl Hannah. Splash also nabbed an Oscar nomination for Best Original Screenplay.

Roman Holiday (1953) - 95%

It’s possible that there’s never been a more charming romantic comedy than Roman Holiday, which follows a swamped princess (Audrey Hepburn) who takes a night off from her duties and begins falling for an American reporter (Gregory Peck). It’s another classic, and for good reason.

Crazy Rich Asians (2018) - 91%

The idea of someone realizing they’re out of their depth with the well-to-do and somewhat disapproving family of their boyfriend/girlfriend has certainly been done before, but likely not with such a “surfeit of visual razzle dazzle” as was seen in the 2018 mega-hit, Crazy Rich Asians. And, we still want that sequel!

Set It Up (2018) - 92%

Set it Up delighted millions (critics included) with a Netflix subscription in 2018, as it focuses on a duo of overworked assistants who set their workaholic bosses up to date in order to free up their own personal time. 

The American President (1995) - 91%

What happens when a widowed president who’s up for reelection begins dating a lobbyist? Critics loved how The American President answered that question with “poignant observations” and “political bite.”

It Happened One Night (1934) - 98%

Another golden age screwball classic, It Happened One Night follows an impetuous heiress (Claudette Colbert) as she falls in with a reporter (Clark Gable) who agrees to reunite her with her husband for a scoop, but, of course, love complicates things. Definitely watch the movie said to be “unsurpassed” by the rom-coms it’s inspired.

Palm Springs (2020) - 94%

Who wouldn’t want to watch a “refreshingly original” movie where two wedding guests stuck in a time loop fall in love? Use your Hulu subscription to enjoy it.

Enough Said (2013) - 95%

A divorced, single mom (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) is very happy with her new romance, until she realizes a new friend who keeps putting down her own ex is talking about said new beau (James Gandolfini). Not a lot of rom-coms follow a couple in their middle years, but Enough Said does it, and in a way that’s “wryly charming.”

Groundhog Day (1993) - 94%

Again with the time loop goodness, as Bill Murray’s weatherman is stuck repeating the same day and eventually falls for his new producer (Andie MacDowell) despite himself. Critics called it “smart, sweet, and inventive,” and, you know what? They’re right!

Sing Street (2016) - 95%

This ‘80s-set teen romance follows a boy who starts a band to impress a girl, but the simple story is set as a “feel-good musical” that will definitely lighten any load you might be feeling.

High Fidelity (2000) - 91%

This John Cusack starrer, which follows a record store owner as he talks a walk down memory lane with his own failed romances, became a near instant classic for its “entertaining story” and “rock-solid soundtrack.”

Say Anything (1989) - 98%

Possibly the first rom-com starring Cusack that people (especially ones of a certain age) think of, Say Anything helped break the teen rom-com mold with its “equally funny and heartfelt” story of an underachiever courting the smartest girl in school. It’s still a winner all these years later.

Four Weddings And A Funeral (1994) - 96%

One of the few modern classics that truly rank high, critically. The “winsome performances” of Hugh Grant and Andie MacDowell are certainly part of that, but Four Weddings and a Funeral is also worth watching for its “irresistibly breezy humor.”

Moonstruck (1987) - 92%

As “one of the decade’s most appealing comedies,” just try watching this Oscar-winning film starring Cher (who won Best Actress) and Nicolas Cage without a smile on your face. It’s impossible!

Bull Durham (1988) - 97%

This story of two minor league baseball players (Kevin Costner and Tim Robbins) and the groupie (Susan Sarandon) who romances them both is said to show the Yellowstone cast member at “his funniest and most charismatic,” but I don’t think most who’ve seen it would object to that praise being heaped on all of the stars.

Pillow Talk (1959) - 94%

We’re heading back to the olden days now, for a delightful rom-com about a smart, independent interior designer (Doris Day) who finds herself falling for her playboy neighbor (Rock Hudson) when he courts her under false pretenses. Like many of these movies, Pillow Talk sparkles with great performances, and should leave viewers joyful.

The Shop Around The Corner (1940) - 99%

I’m guessing that many won’t know that this lesser-known Jimmy Stewart film (which was, itself, based on a play) actually inspired a modern classic that didn’t make this list: You’ve Got Mail. With the latter’s relatively paltry 70% Fresh rating compared to the former’s whopping 99%, you can’t go wrong watching the original.

L.A. Story (1991) - 93%

L.A. Story seems like another forgotten gem, as I never hear anyone talk about the rom-com that shows Only Murders in the Building cast member “Steve Martin at his silly, sweetly soulful best.” We follow his weatherman as he romances two very different women, all while (at least believing) he’s getting secret messages from an electronic billboard.

The Lady Eve (1941) - 99%

Once you watch this Barbara Stanwyck and Henry Fonda-starring film about a female con artist who seeks to get back at the mark who dumped her after she was actually developing real feelings for him, you’ll know why it’s seen as a story that “inspired countless battle-of-the-sexes comedies.”

Top Hat (1935) - 100%

Our second (and last) film with a perfect RT critical score, Top Hat is legendary both for its many Fred Astaire/Ginger Rogers dance scenes and for being a “glamourous and enthralling” treat.

Tootsie (1982) - 90%

This hit rom-com about a perfectionist actor (Dustin Hoffman) who poses as a woman to find work and ends up falling for his co-star (Jessica Lange) definitely rates for its laugh-out-loud funny dialogue, but the performances from the whole cast are not to be missed.

If nothing else, you now always have an incredibly fulfilling romantic comedy to watch when your movie-loving heart is in need of it.

The first thing you need in my opinion to make a great rom-com is a pair of actors with great chemistry. If the leads don’t vibe, the audience won’t jive. The common denominator among all the best rom-coms of all time is a couple of actors who have fantastic chemistry and complement each other beautifully. So, with Kate Hudson and Matthew McConaughey’s iconic rom-com, How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days celebrating its 20th anniversary, and with Valentine’s Day right around the corner, and lots of rom-coms on the 2023 movie schedule, we thought we’d look back at some legendary acting duos who really need to make another romantic comedy together. 

Kate Hudson and Matthew McConaughey 

Talk about a duo that just oozes charm and chemistry. Both Kate Hudson and Matthew McConaughey are two of the most charismatic, charming and outgoing actors working right now, in my opinion, and it felt inevitable that they’d end up in a rom-com together. I think McConaughey said it best in a live stream on Hudson’s Instagram, when he described their personalities and chemistry in How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days like this:

Hudson then said they are both “free” and “spontaneous” souls which allowed them to play on set back in 2003, and they really found their funny and electric chemistry. So, I’m so happy McConaughey took the role after an interaction with a psychic, because it’s hard to imagine anyone other than the two of them playing Ben and Andie.

Considering it’s been 20 whole years since How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days, I think we’re due for two of the most charismatic characters in Hollywood to “play” together again as the actors put it. 

Stream How To Lose a Guy in 10 Days with a Paramount+ subscription. 

Zoey Deutch and Glen Powell  

In my humble opinion, Zoey Deutch and Glen Powell are the Millenial versions of Kate Hudson and Matthew McConaughey. They are both uber-charismatic, extremely funny, and have mad chemistry. Lightning really struck with their Netflix rom-com Set It Up as the two actors played assistants trying to, as the title implies, set their bosses up so they didn’t have to work so much. 

Seeing as the director of Set It Up already has a sequel in mind, Deutch and Powell have remained good friends, and both their careers have flourished because of movies like Not Okay and Top Gun: Maverick, respectively, I think it’s time we see them re-team for another rom-com. Maybe this time they could be the bosses.

Stream Set it Up with a Netflix subscription. 

Joel Kim Booster and Conrad Ricamora  

One of the best under-the-radar movies from 2022 was Fire Island, and Noah and Will quickly became one of my favorite rom-com couples. It’s the classic case of opposites attract. With Joel Kim Booster’s extroverted and sassy character and Conrad Ricamora’s quieter yet equally sarcastic love interest, they made for a great match on screen. 

Fire Island was a retelling of Pride and Prejudice, and Kim Booster and Ricamora played a great parallel to Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy, and it would be amazing to see the two together again. Maybe it could be another modern adaptation of a classic work, a la 10 Things I Hate About You. Or maybe it could be an original story that capitalizes on their comedic timing and wholesome chemistry. 

Stream Fire Island with a Hulu subscription. 

Anne Hathaway and Chris Pine 

Now, Anne Hathaway has some iconic rom-coms and some magnificent screen partners, but nothing comes close to the absolutely legendary pairing of her and Chris Pine in The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement. Growing up with this movie, and watching these two actors go from enemies to lovers was incredible, and set a high bar for all other rom-com pairings moving forward. I mean nothing tops that fountain scene.

Luckily, there is a Princess Daires 3 in the works, however, it’s unclear who will be involved. Hopefully, we’ll get to see Hathaway and Pine together again, because it’s been almost 20 years since they've been on screen together. I think it's time for another Royal Engagement, if you will, from these two powerhouses.

Stream Princess Diaries 2 with a Disney+ subscription.  

Noah Centineo and Lana Condor 

I was a sophomore in college when To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before came out, and let me tell you, it was a mega-hit among us Zillenials, and remains one of my favorite recent rom-coms. The reason this movie is so good is mostly because of how fantastic Noah Centineo and Lana Condor are together. 

The two shined as Lara Jean and Peter, and led the To All The Boys cast fantastically. Now, the two have taken on other roles, and their stars have grown significantly. Now that it’s been a few years since this rom-com trilogy ended I think it’s time the adorable pair picked up another project together. They’re funny and have so much chemistry people actually thought they were dating, however, they decided to keep things platonic, and they seem to have a blast working with each other. So, bring on another rom-com!

Stream To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before with a Netflix subscription. 

Henry Golding and Constance Wu 

Crazy Rich Asians proved to be a crazy rich hit in 2018. And while the entire ensemble was incredible, Henry Golding and Constance Wu were at the heart of the story, and they were perfect together. While the two are set to reprise their roles in a sequel as Rachel and Nick, it’s unclear when that will happen, so it would be great to see them in another movie together. 

What was interesting about Crazy Rich Asians, is when we meet Golding and Wus’ characters they are already in a long-term relationship. They worked so well, that I didn’t doubt Nick and Rachels' relationship for a second. I think it’d be fun to see the two play out a new relationship in another movie, however, I’m also hoping they reunite for Crazy Rich Asians 2 sooner rather than later. 

Stream Crazy Rich Asians with an HBO Max subscription. 

Jude Law And Cameron Diaz

There’s nothing cozier to me during the Christmas season than sitting down, putting on The Holiday, and watching Cameron Diaz and Jude Law fall in love. Kate Winslet and Jack Black’s relationship is oh, so wholesome. However, the big stars of the show are Diaz and Law, whose chemistry jumps off the screen, and their relationship feels like a warm hug.

While our dreams were dashed of ever seeing a sequel to The Holiday, when Kate Winslet turned the rumors down, a girl can dream. And I think it’s about time we see Diaz and Law in another comforting rom-com together. 

Stream The Holiday on Showtime, or rent/buy it on Amazon.

These are just a few pairs of actors who I’d love to see together on screen again. From early aught classics, to more recent pairings that have already made their mark, there are so many couples I’d love to see together again. And hopefully, someday all my dreams will come true.

In the mid-credits scene of 2018’s Crazy Rich Asians, Gemma Chan’s Astrid Leong-Teo, who having freshly called it quits with her husband Michael and moved out with her son Cassian, locked eyes with a familiar individual, played by All My Life’s Harry Shum Jr., while attending the engagement party for Constance Wu’s Rachel Chu and Henry Golding’s Nick Young. This man was Astrid’s ex-boyfriend Charlie Wu, and in May 2022, it was announced that a Crazy Rich Asians spinoff starring Chan and Shum Jr. was in the works. Nearly a year later, the latter actor told CinemaBlend about where things stand with the upcoming movie.

I had the opportunity to speak with Harry Shum Jr. about his role as Brainiac 5 in the animated, direct-to-video DC move Legion of Super-Heroes, which follows the Aldis Hodge-led Green Lantern: Beware My Power as the latest entry in the Tomorrowverse continuity. As our conversation was wrapping up, I asked Shum Jr. if he had an update on how the Crazy Rich Asians spinoff is coming along, and he answered:

Anyone who read the original Crazy Rich Asians novel by Kevin Kwan knew there were big things in store for Charlie Wu in the cinematic realm, as his and Astrid Leong-Teo’s relationship was explored in the follow-up novel China Rich Girlfriend. In fact, Charlie was originally supposed to have more screen time in the Crazy Rich Asians movie, with one of the deleted scene showing him and Astrid dancing at the engagement party. Ultimately Shum Jr.’s appearance ended up just being a cameo (which you can watch below), but originally the plan was for him and Gemma Chan to have an expanded presence in Crazy Rich Asians 2.

Instead, this Crazy Rich Asians spinoff, which is being written by Barry’s Jason Kim, has been put into development, and Crazy Rich Asians 2, which is now being written by Amy Wang, will continue with focusing on Rachel Chu and Nick Young. In other words, a two-pronged approach is being taken with adapting China Rich Girlfriend for film. From what Harry Shum Jr. has heard, the spinoff is still in the scripting stage, so it’ll likely be a while before it starts shooting. Nevertheless, like the general public, he’s eager to get the next chapter of Charlie’s journey with Astrid going, so once the next big piece of news concerning the Crazy Rich Asians spinoff’s is revealed, we’ll pass it along.

Until then, listen Harry Shum Jr.’s performance as Brainiac 5 in Legion of Super-Heroes when it comes out February 7 on Digital, 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Combo Pack and Blu-ray from Warner Bros. Home Entertainment. You can also watch Shum Jr. playing Dr. Benson “Blue” Kwan on Grey’s Anatomy, which will resume its 19th season Thursday, February 23 on ABC as part of the 2023 TV schedule.

Success has its ups and downs, especially when centered around a cultural phenomenon like the film adaptation of Crazy Rich Asians. Though director Jon M. Chu’s rom-com blockbuster opened doors for more films focused on stories involving Asian leads, there was a drawback to the attention those sorts of projects were receiving.

It’s a double edged sword that’s been highlighted by actor Daniel Dae Kim during a panel discussion at this year’s Sundance Film Festival. Speaking about how the Warner Bros. smash hit caused problems for Asians trying to make films, NBC News picked up on these key comments made by Kim: 

Daniel Dae Kim mentions a valid concern when it comes to Asian representation on screen, which invites an interesting parallel in the post-Crazy Rich Asians landscape. The recent arrival of the 2023 Oscar nominations saw the most nods going to Daniels’ Everything Everywhere All At Once, which is definitely not a film that meets the criteria of “super rich, super wealthy, and super happy.” 

While that project’s success could be seen as helping turn the tide for Asian-centric movies, it should also be noted that the Michelle Yeoh-led film comes from indie studio A24. So major studios are still on notice when it comes to the matter. 

As both a Crazy Rich Asians sequel and spinoff are currently developing at Warner Bros., the franchise looks to be getting back on its feet. Though in light of Daniel Dae Kim’s sentiments above, the amount of time it’s taken those projects to progress also feels like a problematic development. With the very franchise that increased interest in more “Asian projects” finding itself delayed, it makes for an even more troubling picture. 

Kim’s role in Avatar: The Last Airbender’s reboot showcases another touchstone of multi-ethnic diversity in fiction resurging in its prospects. That Netflix series is hotly anticipated, but also could set up as similar trap to the Crazy Rich Asians saga has laid down. Success for Asian talent is still a favorable outcome, but would be seen as even more successful if the projects available developed as focused on diversity of story. 

At the moment, Daniel Dae Kim is set to be seen next in the Avatar: The Last Airbender live-action series. That project is still awaiting an official release date, so fans will have to keep their ears open for future developments. Meanwhile, Crazy Rich Asians is currently streaming for those with an HBO Max subscription. 

Proposal scenes in movies and TV have been setting unrealistic jewelry expectations for people everywhere for many decades now. But, which rings really raised the bar? Which gems brought us to our knees saying, “Yes, yes, a million times yes!”

Whether you're a fan of the black diamond seen on Carrie's finger (above) or a fan of rings that are more traditional, there's a little something on this list for everyone. These are my choices for the most iconic wedding and engagement rings in movies and TV—based not only on the size of the gems, but also on the sentiments behind them. (But also, you know, on the size, too.)

Daisy Buchanan’s Engagement Ring (The Great Gatsby)

The ring that She Said star Carey Mulligan wore in The Great Gatsby is reportedly a Tiffany ring worth over $3 million. That means the ring probably took up a greater portion of the budget than some of the actors on set.

Jokes aside, Daisy’s ring is, of course, an important literary device, too—we’re introduced to the enormous rock on her finger before we even see her face or learn anything about her. Check out how vital the first impression of the ring is in this iconic scene:

The face Nick makes is the exact same face I made when I saw the ring. It's definitely that thing where your eyes want to bug right out of the sockets, but you also know you're not supposed to be fazed by it, 100%.

Holly’s Engagement Ring (The Office)

While we don’t necessarily get that good of a look at Holly’s ring in this heartwarming moment on NBC's The Office, we get a great look at Pam’s reaction to the ring, which kind of says it all. You know what they say:

Holly’s ring is dwarfed by many of the multi-carat rocks on this list, but Michael definitely spent a hefty portion of his savings on the purchase. In a sense, Holly’s ring is kind of the most expensive ring here—$3 million is a drop in the bucket to Jay Gatsby, but $100K is an insurmountainable amount of money when you’re Michael Scott.

However, the thing that makes this ring truly iconic is the fact that Michael’s engagement was one of the biggest moments of the show. Michael and Holly’s proposal scene was well worth the wait, too.

Bella’s Engagement Ring (The Twilight Saga: Eclipse)

Bella’s “1920’s-inspired” ring kind of makes the list based on how iconically bad it is. This ring is pretty much universally hated, but in a way, doesn’t that make it kind of camp? (Kind of like the whole Twilight film series, actually.)

Basically, Bella’s ring is a huge silver setting with dozens of tiny diamonds encrusted across the face. I get that it’s supposed to be Edward’s mother’s, and he’s sentimental, but the ring pictured in the Twilight films looked so costume-y. Couldn’t his mother’s ring have been made into a brooch, and we could have gotten Bella a nice ruby (to symbolize blood) or even a topaz (to symbolize Edward’s eyes)?

Critiques aside, Bella’s engagement ring is one of the first that comes to mind when I think of rings from film and TV, which elevates it to icon status.

Aunt Eleanor’s Ring (Crazy Rich Asians)

Aunt Eleanor’s enormous emerald from the 2018 film Crazy Rich Asians would be iconic enough based on size alone, but it’s her matriarchal speech that really brings the ring to the next level.

Eleanor (Everything Everywhere All At Once leading lady Michelle Yeoh) explains to Rachel that the ring is symbolic of her commitment to her family. Aunt Eleanor becomes even more intimidating when we understand the symbolic importance of the ring and what it represents to her. There’s just something about an emerald cut gem that’s so timeless and elegant, much like Aunt Eleanor.

Monica’s Engagement Ring (Friends)

Monica’s engagement ring is special for a few reasons—for one, Monica’s long-awaited “happily ever after” had been a running joke on Friends since Season 1 of the sitcom.

Secondly, Chandler picked a unique ring with blue sapphires on either side of the central diamond, and we love to see unconventional ring choices. But I also love this ring because Phoebe helped to pick it out, and I think it’s cute when people ask their partner’s friends for advice picking out engagement jewelry. 

Vivienne’s Engagement Ring (Legally Blonde)

We could have included Elle’s pink engagement ring from Legally Blonde 2, but let’s be honest: the real star of the jewelry game in the Legally Blonde cinematic universe is the “6-carat Harry Winston” worn by Vivienne Kensington (Dancing With the Stars Season 31 alum Selma Blair).

Vivienne wears the ring so smugly, too—she knows it kills Elle to see the ring on her finger, so she’s sure to put it on full display.

I love Vivienne as an anti-hero, but I also love the fact that this ring gets to be the symbol of Warner’s failures at the end of the film when Vivienne gives it back.

Melanie’s Tiffany Ring (Sweet Home Alabama)

Bear with me here. I know Melanie and Andrew’s proposal is NOT the romantic height of this movie. But, oh my god. He proposes in the middle of Tiffany’s and literally tells her to pick out the ring she wants. 

And pick one out, she does: Melanie (Reese Witherspoon) chooses an absolutely gargantuan solitaire ring that literally has her friends and family’s jaws on the floor.

The ring ultimately becomes unimportant, since Melanie and Andrew don’t end up together—but damn. It was beautiful while it lasted.

BONUS: Carrie’s Shoe (Sex And The City: The Movie)

Big actually does propose to Carrie with a real (black) engagement ring in Sex and the City 2— but since we all pretend that movie never happened, let’s focus on the far superior proposal that happened in that beautiful closet.

In the truest Carrie Bradshaw fashion, the proposal comes in the form of a shoe (specifically a Manolo Blahnik). We know it’s not an engagement ring per se, but it DOES count as an iconic engagement item. Fair enough?

If this marriage-themed feature put you in the mood for romance, check out our list of the best romantic comedies of all time.

Max is one of the best streaming services out there and has a ton of great movies, which can make the process of deciding on one a difficult task. There are so many films you can see with a Max subscription, and as of March 2025, so many have been added, like The Florida Project, Flow and more. Here is what you can check out.

Intense Dramas

For the times you want to be on the edge of your seat:

The Zone Of Interest (2023)

The Director: Jonathan Glazer

The Cast: Christian Friedel, Sandra Huller

What It's About: This movie focuses on the life of an Auschwitz commandant, and how he and his family live in the “Zone of Interest,” an area around the concentration camp.

Why It's One Of The Best Movies On Max: The film won Best International Feature at the 2024 Academy Awards and was praised for its story and sound.

• Stream The Zone of Interest on Max.

Civil War (2024)

The Director: Alex Garland

The Cast: Kirsten Dunst, Cailee Spaeny, Wagner Moura, Jesse Plemons, Stephen McKinley Henderson

What It's About: Civil War is a dystopian thriller film that follows the story of photojournalists, both professionals and a rookie, who travel across a United States that has been torn apart by a civil war, and the horrors they face, all to interview one person – the president.

Why It's One Of The Best Movies On Max: Civil War is hands down one of the best films of 2024, and it’s by A24, which rarely ever misses in the films they distribute.

• Stream Civil War on Max.

The Iron Claw (2023)

The Director: Sean Durkin

The Cast: Zac Efron, Jeremy Allen White, Harris Dickinson

What It's About: The Iron Claw is based on the real-life wrestling family known as the Von Erichs, and how they suffered tragedy after tragedy while in the professional sport.

Why It's One Of The Best Movies On Max: This is a film that will emotionally gut you by the end, but you’ll thank yourself for it. It’s beautifully acted and well-shot.

• Stream The Iron Claw on Max.

Prisoners (2013)

The Director: Denis Villeneuve

The Cast: Hugh Jackman, Jake Gyllenhaal, Viola Davis, Maria Bello, Terrence Howard, Melissa Leo, Paul Dano

What It's About: After two girls are abducted in Pennsylvania, a suspect is released back to the public, and one of the fathers decides to take matters into his own hands and hunt him down.

Why It's One Of The Best Movies On Max: I personally think Prisoners is one of Hugh Jackman’s best performances, and you will be riveted by the end of it. The movie is thrilling from beginning to end.

Stream Prisoners on Max.

A Different Man (2024)

The Director: Aaron Schimberg

The Cast: Sebastian Stan, Renate Reinsve, Adam Pearson

What It's About: A man with Neurofibromatosis undergoes a surgery to change his face forever only for the procedure to bring up past insecurities.

Why It's One Of The Best Movies On Max: A24 rarely misses when it comes to many of their dramatic films, and A Different Man is right up there with its compelling story and incredible lead performance from Sebastian Stan. It even won the Golden Globe for Best Performance by a Male Actor - Musical or Comedy in 2025.

• Stream A Different Man on Max.

Powerful, Emotional Dramas

For the dramas that make you laugh, cry, and more…

The Florida Project (2017)

The Director: Sean Baker

The Cast: Willem Dafoe, Brooklynn Kimberly Prince, Bria Vinaite, Valeria Cotto, Christopher Rivera, Caleb Landry Jones

What It's About: The Florida Project mainly focuses on the daily life of a six-year-old girl as she and her mother struggle not to become homeless in Kissimmee, Florida while also simultaneously living close to Disney World.

Why It's One Of The Best Movies On Max: Since Sean Baker recently swept the 2025 Academy Awards for his film Anora, I think it’s time to check out one of his lesser-known films from A24. It’s emotional in all the right ways and beautiful, as well.

• Stream The Florida Project on Max.

Taxi Driver (1976)

The Director: Martin Scorsese

The Cast: Robert De Niro, Jodie Foster, Albert Brooks, Harvey Keitel, Leonard Harris, Peter Boyle, Cybill Shepherd

What It's About: Travis Bickle is a former Marine who takes a job as a taxi driver in New York City, and as the world around him continues to crumble, so does his mental state.

Why It's One Of The Best Movies On Max: I mean, I think if you think of Martin Scorsese, there are a few films that instantly come to mind for the brilliant director, and Taxi Driver is one of them. It’s an iconic movie with even better performances and if for some reason you haven’t seen it, you need to check it out now.

• Stream Taxi Driver on Max.

The Imitation Game (2014)

The Director: Morten Tyldum

The Cast: Benedict Cumberbatch, Keira Knightley, Matthew Goode, Rory Kinnear, Charles Dance, Mark Strong

What It's About: Based on the autobiography, Alan Turing: The Enigma, this film follows the story of the real-life game cryptanalyst Alan Turing and how he and a team decrypted German intelligence messages and essentially created one of the world’s first modern computers.

Why It's One Of The Best Movies On Max: Nominated for several awards in many different ceremonies, The Imitation Game is one of those films that really captures your interest the moment you watch it, and by the end, you’ve not only learned something new but want to learn more after.

• Stream The Imitation Game on Max.

The Color Purple (2023)

The Director: Blitz Bazawule

The Cast: Taraji P. Henson, Danielle Brooks, Colman Domingo, Corey Hawkins

What It's About: Based on the stage musical of the same name, which is based on the 1982 novel, The Color Purple is a movie musical about the life of Celie, an African American woman in the early 1900s trying to make a life for herself over time and dealing with domestic abuse at home.

Why It's One Of The Best Movies On Max: The movie earned several Academy Award nominations, and features some of the best performances of 2023. You have to check it out if you love musicals.

• Stream The Color Purple on Max.

King Richard (2021) 

The Director: Reinaldo Marcus Green

The Cast: Will Smith, Aunjanue Ellis, Saniyya Sidney, Demi Singleton, Tony Goldwyn, Jon Bernthal

What It's About: King Richard tells the story of Richard Williams (Smith), the father of famous tennis duo, Serena and Venus Williams, and the struggles he went through to see his daughters become the best tennis players in the world.

Why It's One Of The Best Movies On Max: Starring Academy Award-winner Will Smith, King Richard features the actor in his best role, and is the story that shows the beautiful kind of resilience that we all need.

• Stream King Richard on Max.

Priscilla (2023)

The Director: Sofia Coppola

The Cast: Cailee Spaeny, Jacob Elordi

What It's About: Priscilla is a biographical drama that tells the story of Priscilla Presley, the legendary wife of Elvis Presley, following the tale of how they met, fell in love, and navigated their complicated relationship until their divorce.

Why It's One Of The Best Movies On Max: The movie received critical praise for its acting performances and Spaeny shines as Priscilla.

• Stream Priscilla on Max.

Sully (2016)

The Director: Clint Eastwood

The Cast: Tom Hanks, Aaron Eckhart, Laura Linney

What It's About: Based on the inspiring true story, Sully tells the story of real-life pilot Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger and how he saved all the passengers of his flight when he had to make an emergency landing on the Hudson River.

Why It's One Of The Best Movies On Max: When I first saw Sully back in 2016, it was one of those films that really opened my eyes to a story that I didn’t fully know, and it’s a quick movie that flies by while also delivering compelling performances from its cast.

• Stream Sully on Max.

Romantic Rendezvous

From dramatic romances to funny ones, these are the romance movies for you:

We Live In Time (2024)

The Director: John Crowley

The Cast: Andrew Garfield, Florence Pugh

What It's About: We Live In Time follows the love story of two people who meet on a whim, and their beautiful and heartbreaking love story.

Why It's One Of The Best Movies On Max: We Live In Time utterly broke me when it first came out back in October 2024 and I was seriously shocked it wasn’t up for more awards, because it’s one of those films that just sits with you and makes you think about the beauty in your life, and to learn to enjoy every second that you can, because you never know when it will be taken from you. So beautiful in so many ways.

• Stream We Live in Time on Max.

Eat Pray Love (2010)

The Director: Ryan Murphy

The Cast: Julia Roberts, James Franco, Richard Jenkins, Viola Davis, Billy Crudup, Javier Bardem

What It's About: Based on the memoir of the same name, Eat Pray Love follows a woman who looks for fulfillment in life after ending her marriage, and decides to travel the world.

Why It's One Of The Best Movies On Max: I think if you’re ever looking for something that’s romantic but also has a touch of self-love as well, this is the movie for you. You can’t get much better than Julia Roberts in a romantic drama.

• Stream Eat Pray Love on Max.

Love Lies Bleeding (2024)

The Director: Rose Glass

The Cast: Kristen Stewart, Katy O’Brian

What It's About: Love Lies Bleeding follows a young woman who owns a gym but is secretly part of a huge crime family. She gets tangled up in a romantic relationship with a female bodybuilder, and drama ensues once the bodybuilder finds out what is going on.

Why It's One Of The Best Movies On Max: Love Lies Bleeding features an amazing LGBTQ+ storyline that somehow breaks barriers and also keeps you on the edge of your seat the entire time. Plus, Stewart and O’Brian’s acting is top tier.

• Stream Love Lies Bleeding on Max.

Casablanca (1942)

The Director: Michael Curtiz

The Cast: Humphrey Bogart, Ingred Bergman

What It's About: An American expatriate who runs a successful nightclub in Casablanca, Morocco, is given a second shot at redemption and love when his old flame waltzes back into his life and asks him to help her fugitive husband escape the Nazis once and for all.

Why It's One Of The Best Movies On Max: One of the greatest films to ever win Best Picture at the Academy Awards, Casablanca has it all: drama, romance, action, and one of the most quotable lines ever. I mean, do you need me to go on?

• Stream Casablanca on Max.

Crazy Rich Asians (2018)

The Director: Jon M. Chu

The Cast: Constance Wu, Henry Golding, Gemma Chan, Lisa Lu, Awkwafina, Ken Jeong, Michelle Yeoh

What It's About: A Chinese-American professor travels to Singapore with her boyfriend only to find out that his family over there isn’t normal – they are incredibly rich.

Why It's One Of The Best Movies On Max: I think Crazy Rich Asians is one of those films that everyone has to watch at least once. The romance in it is top-tier, with some expert-level chemistry and acting, but the comedy aspect is really what makes it so great. Plus, the cast is outstanding.

• Stream Crazy Rich Asians on Max.

Pretty Woman (1990)

The Director: Garry Marshall

The Cast: Richard Gere, Julia Roberts

What It's About: Pretty Woman is a rom-com that follows the story of a rich man hiring a sex worker for a week in order to pretend to be his date for several upcoming social events, and the relationship that grows from there.

Why It's One Of The Best Movies On Max: Pretty Woman is hands down one of Julia Roberts’ best romantic comedies, and features one of the best romances on the big screen, mixed in with some steamy chemistry.

• Stream Pretty Woman on Max.

Fun Comedies

Get ready for your tummy to hurt from laughing so much:

Modern Times (1936)

The Director: Charlie Chaplin

The Cast: Charlie Chaplin, Paulette Goddard, Henry Bergman

What It's About: Charlie Chaplin’s 1936 silent movie classic, Modern Times, follows the Tramp (Chaplin) as he attempts to make sense of the technologically-advanced world around him and stay out of trouble, failing at both.

Why It's One Of The Best Movies On Max: I mean, it’s Charlie Chaplin. How can I not recommend him? There are some of his other films on the platform but I’ll always stand by Modern Times as the best.

• Stream Modern Times on Max.

The Hangover (2009)

The Director: Todd Phillips

The Cast: Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms, Zach Galifianakis, Heather Graham, Justin Bartha, Jeffrey Tambor

What It's About: When a bachelor party goes wrong and the groom winds up missing, it’s up to three groomsmen teaming up together to look for him across Las Vegas before the wedding.

Why It's One Of The Best Movies On Max: It’s The Hangover. It’s pretty much considered one of the best comedy movies of the 2000s. I would be a fool not to recommend it to you. It’s hilarious and great to watch with friends.

Stream The Hangover on Max.

• Stream The Hangover on Max.

Teen Wolf (1985)

The Director: Rod Daniel

The Cast: Michael J. Fox, James Hampton, Scott Paulin, Susan Ursitti, Jerry Levine, Jay Tarses

What It's About: A teenager suddenly finds his ordinary world turned upside down when he turns into a werewolf.

Why It's One Of The Best Movies On Max: I mean, I think when we remember the most iconic films of the 1980s, Teen Wolf is probably up there for it being one of Michael J. Fox’s biggest movies. It’s funny, a great coming-of-age story, and honestly one that plenty of people can enjoy – and it’s not even scary.

• Stream Teen Wolf on Max.

Keanu (2016)

The Director: Peter Atencio

The Cast: Jordan Peele, Keegan-Michael Key, Method Man, Luis Guzman, Nia Long, Will Forte

What It's About: Two cousins go on the ultimate adventure when a kitten is stolen and they do anything to get him back – including getting tangled up with criminals.

Why It's One Of The Best Movies On Max: This movie is so. Freaking. Funny. I stand by it every time I watch it because I think Peele and Key just have the best chemistry out there. Anyone who hasn’t seen it needs to.

• Stream Keanu on Max.

Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World (2010)

The Director: Edgar Wright

The Cast: Michael Cera, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Kieran Culkin, Chris Evans, Anna Kendrick, Alison Pill, Brandon Routh, Jason Schwartzman

What It's About: Based on the graphic novel of the same name, the titular character, Scott Pilgrim, must face off against the seven evil exes in order to be with his new girlfriend, Ramona Flowers.

Why It's One Of The Best Movies On Max: This film is an absolute classic, especially now fifteen years later. The action is fun, the comedy is great, and it’s an all-around entertaining time.

• Stream Scott Pilgrim vs. The World on Max.

Intense Horrors

These are the kinds of horrors that you might want to leave the light on for:

Evil Dead Rise (2023)

The Director: Lee Cronin

The Cast: Lily Sullivan, Alyssa Sutherland, Morgan Davies, Gabrielle Echols, Nell Fisher

What It's About: Evil Dead Rise is the latest installment in the Evil Dead franchise, this time following the story of a mother who is possessed by the Deadites in that famed demonic book, and causing chaos for her sister and children on the same night.

Why It's One Of The Best Movies On Max: The film was a critical success – and even if you haven’t seen an Evil Dead movie before, this one is good for a solo watch for any horror fan.

• Stream Evil Dead Rise on Max.

MaXXXine (2024)

The Director: Ti West

The Cast: Mia Goth, Elizabeth Debicki, Moses Sumney, Michelle Monaghan

What It's About: The final part of the X trilogy, MaXXXine follows Maxine as she makes her way to Hollywood and finds herself in the middle of someone else’s killing spree – someone who is looking to kill her next.

Why It's One Of The Best Movies On Max: You could check out X or Pearl prior, but MaXXXine takes the gore to another level and is fun as heck.

• Stream MaXXXine on Max.

The Conjuring (2013)

The Director: James Wan

The Cast: Vera Farmiga, Patrick Wilson, Ron Livingsgon, Lili Taylor

What It's About: Based on the real-life haunts, The Conjuring tells the story of Ed and Lorraine Warren, two paranormal investigators, and their experience in a house on Rhode Island that is overcome with disturbing events.

Why It's One Of The Best Movies On Max: I remember when The Conjuring first released back in 2013, it was all everyone could talk about, and now, The Conjuring universe is still going strong, twelve years later, with a final film releasing in 2025, The Conjuring: Last Rites. You should certainly check it out if you haven’t yet for the frights.

• Stream The Conjuring on Max.

Sinister (2012)

The Director: Scott Derrickson

The Cast: Ethan Hawke, Juliet Rylance, Fred Thompson, James Ransone

What It's About: Sinister is a horror film that follows the story of a true-crime writer who begins to experience supernatural events after moving his family into a new home, only to find out that there’s more to this house than he thought, including plenty of murder.

Why It's One Of The Best Movies On Max: Sinister is certainly one of Ethan Hawke’s best movies, but truthfully you should just watch it for how utterly horrifying this film is and how quickly it gets under your skin.

• Stream Sinister on Max.

Not So Intense Horrors

For the ones who need a light horror day:

Child’s Play (1988)

The Director: Thomas Lee Holland

The Cast: Catherine Hicks, Chris Sarandon

What It's About: The ghost of a serial killer possesses a doll, and soon, that new doll is unknowingly gifted to a young boy, which causes nothing but chaos.

Why It's One Of The Best Movies On Max: I know that at first glance you might wonder why I put Child’s Play in the “Not So Intense Horror” section but truthfully the first movie isn’t that scary. It’s not as gory or bloody as later Child’s Play movies, and the film is scary in a delightful way and enjoyable for those who want more subdued horror.

• Stream Child’s Play on Max.

The Lighthouse (2019)

The Director: Robert Eggers

The Cast: Robert Pattinson, Willem Dafoe

What It's About: The Lighthouse follows the story of two lighthouse keepers in the nineteenth century, and how a storm one night changes their lives forever.

Why It's One Of The Best Movies On Max: Look, this is a Robert Eggers film. That means you know it’ll be visually stunning but also trippy as heck and will certainly make you say “huh?” a couple times while watching. But let me tell you that this is the kind of horror that is not aimed to scare, but make you uncomfortable and freaked out. And I eat it up each time I watch it.

• Stream The Lighthouse on Max.

I Saw The TV Glow (2024)

The Director: Jane Schoenbrun

The Cast: Justice Smith, Bridgette Lundy-Paine, Helena Howard

What It's About: I Saw The TV Glow follows two high school students who bond over their connection to a children’s show that they love, but things in their lives begin to take a turn when the show is cancelled.

Why It's One Of The Best Movies On Max: As I said before, A24 doesn’t miss with its horror movies, so this is a great pick for those who want that scary feeling but don’t want to be completely horrified by the end of it.

• Stream I Saw The TV Glow on Max.

The Killing Of A Sacred Deer (2017)

The Director: Yorgos Lanthimos

The Cast: Colin Farrell, Nicole Kidman, Barry Keoghan

What It's About: The Killing of a Sacred Deer follows how the lives of a teenage boy and a cardiac surgeon begin to twist in unexpected ways, but things take a turn when the family of the surgeon begins to fall ill, one by one.

Why It's One Of The Best Movies On Max: Yorgos Lanthimos directed this film so it really does have some crazy visuals and twists throughout it. Truly one of a kind and not too scary but scary enough.

• Stream The Killing of a Sacred Deer on Max.

Black Swan (2010)

The Director: Darren Aronofsky

The Cast: Natalie Portman, Mila Kunis, Vincent Cassel, Winona Ryder

What It's About: Black Swan captures the essence of a ballerina slowly losing her mind as she becomes obsessed with perfection regarding her starring role as the Black Swan in the stage production of Swan Lake.

Why It's One Of The Best Movies On Max: Natalie Portman won the Academy Award for Best Actress because of her performance in Black Swan. Truly a great performance.

• Stream Black Swan on Max.

Heroes And Villains Galore

It’s a bird, it’s a plane - nope, it’s some exciting superhero (or villain) movies!

The Batman (2022)

The Director: Matt Reeves

The Cast: Robert Pattinson, Zoë Kravitz, Paul Dano, Jeffrey Wright

What It's About: Bruce has been fighting crime for two years in Gotham City, and now must uncover corruption as the Riddler (Paul Dano) wreaks havoc on the wealthy.

Why It's One Of The Best Movies On Max: It’s certainly one of the best live-action Batman movies out there, and there’s a sequel on the way, so you might as well check out the first.

• Stream The Batman on Max.

Superman I And II (1978, 1981)

The Director: Richard Donner and Richard Lester

The Cast: Christopher Reeve, Margot Kidder, Gene Hackman, Marlon Brando, Ned Beatty

What It's About: The movies, considered some of the best Superman movies ever, star Christopher Reeve as the beloved DC superhero, telling the origin story of Superman, from his time as a young child on Krypton to his crime-fighting days against Lex Luthor.

Why It's One Of The Best Movies On Max: If you want a pure superhero movie with a lot of heart, not crazy CGI, and good acting, these are some of the best out there and ones you need to check out.

• Stream Superman on Max.
• Stream Superman II on Max.

The Dark Knight (2008)

The Director: Christopher Nolan

The Cast: Christian Bale, Heath Ledger, Michael Caine, Gary Oldman, Aaron Eckhart, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Morgan Freeman

What It's About: The second movie in the Nolan Batman trilogy, The Dark Knight follows Batman as he forms an alliance with lawmakers in order to take down the Joker.

Why It's One Of The Best Movies On Max: What can I say about this film that hasn’t already been said as to why you should watch it? It’s The Dark Knight. Ledger’s performance is incomparable and the film is full of action and great lines. Give it a watch.

• Stream The Dark Knight on Max.

Blue Beetle (2023)

The Director: Ángel Manuel Soto

The Cast: Xolo Maridueña, Adriana Barraza, Damián Alcázar, Raoul Max Trujillo, Susan Sarandon, George Lopez

What It's About: Blue Beetle follows the story of Jaime Reyes, a young man trying to help out his family in their time of need, but when he touches an ancient Scarab and it fuses with him, it gives him the powers of the Blue Beetle – a moment that will change his life forever.

Why It's One Of The Best Movies On Max: Many other heroes in the upcoming DC universe formed by James Gunn haven’t made the cut, but Blue Beetle will. Now is the best time to check out the film.

• Stream Blue Beetle on Max.

Deadpool (2016)

The Director: Tim Miller

The Cast: Ryan Reynolds, Morena Baccarin, Ed Skrein, T.J. Miller, Gina Carano

What It's About: Deadpool is the first film in the Deadpool franchise, following a mercenary who is diagnosed with cancer and undergoes a treatment that’s supposed to cure him but ends up giving him superpowers that change his life for the worse. Now, he uses it to fight against evildoers and find the person who did this to him.

Why It's One Of The Best Movies On Max: Ryan Reynolds is perfect as Deadpool and with the third film out, now is the best time to check out the original.

• Stream Deadpool on Max.

Joker (2019)

The Director: Todd Phillips

The Cast: Joaquin Phoenix, Robert De Niro, Zazie Beetz

What It's About: Joker tells the origin story of how Arthur Fleck donned that famous face paint and ended up becoming a symbol for all of crime in Gotham City, through his own madness.

Why It's One Of The Best Movies On Max: Joker earned Phoenix an Academy Award for Best Actor and was one of the highest-grossing R-rated films ever. Truly a great one to watch. You could check out the sequel on Max as well but I prefer to stick to the original.

• Stream Joker on Max.

Action Galore

These are the picks that will get your heart racing!

Elevation (2024)

The Director: George Nolfi

The Cast: Anthony Mackie, Morena Baccarin, Maddie Hasson

What It's About: When the life of a young boy is threatened, a single father and two women go on an incredibly perilous journey in order to save him, leaving behind the safety of their elevated community to travel into the depths of danger beneath them.

Why It's One Of The Best Movies On Max: I feel like no one knows about Elevation. The movie came out during a time where there were a lot of other big movies at the box office and it wasn’t marketed as much. But it’s an enjoyable thriller with a lot of action going for it.

• Stream Elevation on Max.

Speed (1994)

The Director: Jan de Bont

The Cast: Keanu Reeves, Dennis Hopper, Sandra Bullock, Joe Morton, Jeff Daniels

What It's About: This iconic action thriller tells the story of a city bus that is set to explode if the speed drops below 50 mph, so now an LAPD officer has to figure out how to save the people on board.

Why It's One Of The Best Movies On Max: I really think that Speed is one of the best action movies out there. When I think of high-paced action, I think of this film. It’s a great movie to check out on a random Saturday night.

• Stream Speed on Max.

Bad Boys (1995)

The Director: Michael Bay

The Cast: Martin Lawrence, Will Smith, Tea Leoni, Tcheky Karyo

What It's About: Bad Boys is a buddy-comedy movie about two detectives who are trying to investigate a huge drug case but get entangled into protecting a woman after she sees someone murdered.

Why It's One Of The Best Movies On Max: There’s a reason why there have been so many of these films over the last two decades (five and counting). You just can’t help but enjoy Lawrence and Smith’s hilarious chemistry and performances.

• Stream Bad Boys on Max.

Greenland (2020)

The Director: Ric Roman Waugh

The Cast: Gerard Butler, Morena Baccarin Roger Dale Floyd, Scott Glenn, David Denman, Hope Davis

What It's About: When a comet is coming that will destroy the Earth, a family races against time in order to get to an evacuation point so they can somehow survive.

Why It's One Of The Best Movies On Max: There are some great modern-day apocalypse movies and I do think Greenland is one of those. While it doesn’t do anything new – as we’ve all seen the films that follow someone trying to survive a planet-killing comet – it’s fun acting, action, and the effects are great as well. I would fully recommend it.

• Stream Greenland on Max.

The Boondock Saints (1999)

The Director: Troy Duffy

The Cast: Sean Patrick Flanery, Norman Reedus, Willem Dafoe

What It's About: Two Irish twin brothers become vigilantes after they kill members of the Russian mafia up in Boston.

Why It's One Of The Best Movies On Max: This film is just fun. That’s the best way I can describe it. It’s a fun, action-paced film with scenes that are so packed with violence that it’ll almost make you laugh but damn, do I love watching it.

• Stream The Boondock Saints on Max.

Fun For The Whole Family

These are great for the parents and the kids!

Flow (2024)

The Director: Glints Zilbalodis

The Cast: N/A

What It's About: A cat tries to survive alongside its animal companions in a world where the water level is rising and no one is there to help them.

Why It's One Of The Best Movies On Max: This film is honestly one of the best of 2024. It won the 2025 Academy Award for Best Animated Feature and comes from one of the few independent film studios to ever do so. It’s incredibly well-animated and the fact that it tells a story so well without any dialogue is fascinating.

• Stream Flow on Max.

Mrs. Doubtfire (1993)

The Director: Chris Columbus

The Cast: Robin Williams, Sally Field, Pierce Brosnan, Harvey Fiernstein, Robert Prosky

What It's About: When a divorced dad wants to see his kids, he decides to disguise himself as a female nanny and housekeeper and work in his old home undercover.

Why It's One Of The Best Movies On Max: When you’re talking about Robin Williams’ best movies, Mrs. Doubtfire is always high on that list for his hilarious comedic timing and the heartwarming story that comes from it. Definitely check it out if you haven’t ever seen it.

• Stream Mrs. Doubtfire on Max.

Ghostbusters (1984)

The Director: Ivan Reitman

The Cast: Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Sigourney Weaver, Harold Ramis, Rick Moranis

What It's About: A group of men work as parapsychologists and begin a ghost-catching business in New York City to take on the paranormal problem.

Why It's One Of The Best Movies On Max: Who you gonna call? Ghostbusters! As someone who did watch this film as a kid, it’s fully safe for the whole family and is a ton of fun. And I’m sure that after, you’ll end up watching every Ghostbusters movie after.

• Stream Ghostbusters on Max.

Matilda (1996)

The Director: Danny DeVito

The Cast: Mara Wilson, Danny DeVito, Rhea Pearlman, Embeth Davidtz, Pam Ferris

What It's About: Based on the novel of the same name, Matilda follows the story of a young girl with psychokinetic abilities who uses them to not only deal with her family but with the bad principal of her school.

Why It's One Of The Best Movies On Max: Matilda is probably one of the most classic kids films that you could see. The magic is fun, the acting is enjoyable, and of course, Mara Wilson is adorable as Matilda.

• Stream Matilda on Max.

Barbie (2023)

The Director: Greta Gerwig

The Cast: Margot Robbie, Ryan Gosling, America Ferrera

What It's About: Barbie follows everyone’s favorite doll as she enters the human world to find the girl she is connected to in order to help her. If she doesn’t, Barbie will turn more human-like by the day.

Why It's One Of The Best Movies On Max: Considered one of the best movies of 2023, Barbie inspires a celebration of girlhood, love, and the beautiful life that we all take for granted most days.

• Stream Barbie on Max.

Hayao Miyazaki Movies

All of the films you see below were directed by legendary anime film director, Hayao Miyazaki. All of which are great for parents and for kids. Personally, my favorites have been Spirited Away and Howl’s Moving Castle for a long time, both featuring beautiful stories, but the 2023 Academy Award-winning The Boy and the Heron is a must-watch as well.

• Stream Howl’s Moving Castle on Max.
• Stream Spirited Away on Max.
• Stream The Boy and the Heron on Max.

Megamind (2010)

The Director: Tom McGrath

The Cast: Will Ferrell, Tina Fey, Jonah Hill, David Cross, Brad Pitt

What It's About: When a villain beats his nemesis, he decides to create a new hero to fight, but when the hero ends up becoming worse than he could ever imagine, it’s up to Megamind to stop him.

Why It's One Of The Best Movies On Max: You know, I think Megamind was ahead of its time. It was successful back then but has only become more of a cult classic now, and people love to look back on it with fond memories.

• Stream Megamind on Max.

Paddington (2014)

The Director: Paul King

The Cast: Hugh Bonneville, Sally Hawkins, Julie Walters, Jim Broadbent, Peter Capaldi, Nicole Kidman, Ben Whishaw

What It's About: Based on the fictional character of the same name, Paddington follows a bear who migrates to London and is adopted by a family there, while a taxidermist looks to add him to her collection and will stop at nothing to achieve it.

Why It's One Of The Best Movies On Max: Paddington has always been praised as one of the best family films out there for a reason. It’s emotional, funny, and teaches good lessons, and is quite successful, with a sequel and a third movie releasing soon.

• Stream Paddington on Max.

Mamma Mia! (2008)

The Director: Phyllida Lloyd

The Cast: Meryl Streep, Amanda Seyfried, Pierce Brosnan, Colin Firth, Stellan Skarsgard

What It's About: Mamma Mia! is a jukebox musical comedy that is based on the Broadway musical of the same name and uses ABBA music to tell the story of Sophie. You see, Sophie is getting married, but she’s never met her biological dad, so she has no one to walk her down the aisle.To do this, she decides to invite all three possible choices and figure out who it is for herself.

Why It's One Of The Best Movies On Max: The premise itself is hysterical, but truthfully, this film is the perfect one to watch to get yourself up on your feet and dancing while also swooning at all of the romance.

• Stream Mamma Mia! on Max.

Sherlock Holmes (2009)

The Director: Guy Ritchie

The Cast: Robert Downey Jr., Jude Law, Rachel McAdams

What It's About: Based on the iconic fictional character of the same name, Sherlock Holmes tells the story of Holmes and his partner, Watson, as they investigate the crimes of someone who was thought to be dead.

Why It's One Of The Best Movies On Max: While these films can get a little action-packed, I watched this with my entire family and it was a heck of a fun time, and who doesn’t want to see Holmes kick some butt?

• Stream Sherlock Holmes on Max.

How To Train Your Dragon (2010)

The Director: Chris Sanders, Dean DeBlois

The Cast: Jay Baruchel, Gerard Butler, Craig Ferguson, America Ferrera

What It's About: This animated DreamWorks masterpiece follows the story of Hiccup, a Viking, who is somehow able to tame – and learn to ride – the most vicious dragon after he injures it, in a world where Vikings slay dragons.

Why It's One Of The Best Movies On Max: A new live-action version of How To Train Your Dragon is releasing in 2025, so you might as well check out what made the original trilogy such a great one.

• Stream How To Train Your Dragon on Max.

Thrilling, Twisty, And Exciting Sci-Fi

Sci-fi that will truly make you question everything and anything:

Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire (2024)

The Director: Adam Wingard

The Cast: Rebecca Hall, Brian Tyree Henry, Dan Stevens, Keylee Hottle, Alex Ferns, Fala Chen

What It's About: In this sequel to Godzilla vs. Kong, King Kong must unite with Godzilla in order to prevent even bigger monsters, the Skar King and Shimo, from invading Earth.

Why It's One Of The Best Movies On Max: I mean, it’s Godzilla and King Kong. You can’t really get more sci-fi than these two. Is it a big CGI monster fun-fest? Of course it is – but that’s what you sign up for with these epic films, and it’s fun as heck.

• Stream Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire on Max.

Everything Everywhere All At Once (2022)

The Director: Daniel Kwan, Daneil Scheinert

The Cast: Michelle Yeoh, Stephanie Hsu, Ke Huy Quan, Jamie Lee Curtis

What It's About: The movie, starring Michelle Yeoh, follows the story of a Chinese-American immigrant who goes on a wild ride when parallel universe versions of herself say that she is the answer to stopping a powerful being from taking over – and destroying – the multiverse.

Why It's One Of The Best Movies On Max: The premise is silly, but the film swept at the Academy Awards and won Best Picture, and personally, it’s one of my favorites.

• Stream Everything Everywhere All At Once on Max.

The Martian (2015)

The Director: Ridley Scott

The Cast: Matt Damon, Jessica Chastain, Kristen Wiig, Jeff Daniels

What It's About: The Martian, based on the novel of the same name and directed by Ridley Scott, follows the story of an astronaut who is left behind on Mars, while also simultaneously following the people whose task is to get him back safely.

Why It's One Of The Best Movies On Max: The Martian cast is insanely talented, but Matt Damon knocks it out of the park with this one. Truly a great space movie.

• Stream The Martian on Max.

Men In Black (1997)

The Director: Barry Sonnenfeld

The Cast: Will Smith, Tommy Lee Jones, Linda Fiorentino, Vincent D’Onofrio, Rip Torn

What It's About: Two MIB agents, one a veteran and one a newbie, investigate a series of criminal incidents related to space creatures that have been invading Earth, all of which are finding ways to live among the people. All of them lead to one major alien that is causing a lot more harm than good.

Why It's One Of The Best Movies On Max: I feel like any time you think of Will Smith, his role in Men In Black is always one of the first you think of. He’s hilarious in the movie and, with three films in the franchise with the actor a part of it, it’s seriously one of his best roles.

• Stream Men In Black on Max.

2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)

The Director: Stanley Kubrick

The Cast: Keir Dullea, Gary Lockwood

What It's About: 2001: A Space Odyssey is probably one of the most iconic movies of all time. The film follows a group of space explorers consisting of astronauts and scientists in order to look into an alien monolith, but the adventure isn’t as seamless as you would expect.

Why It's One Of The Best Movies On Max: While the film itself can be a little confusing, it’s considered one of the best movies of all time, so I’d highly suggest checking it out.

• Stream 2001: A Space Odyssey.

Fantasy Spectaculars

When you just want to escape to a magic world:

Dune And Dune: Part 2 (2021, 2024)

The Director: Denis Villeneuve

The Cast: Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya, Rebecca Ferguson, Dave Bautista

What It's About: In this 2021 adaptation of the famous science-fiction novel, Dune stars an amazing ensemble cast and tells the story of Paul Atreidas (Timothée Chalamet), who sets out on a dangerous journey in order to find a way to save his family and his people, with Part 2 continuing the epic saga and taking the audience members on a journey unlike any other.

Why It's One Of The Best Movies On Max: The new Dune movies truly took over the world when they came out and introduced plenty of people to this fantasy world. Such fun films.

• Stream Dune on Max.
• Stream Dune: Part 2 on Max.

The Harry Potter Films (2001 – 2011)

The Director: Chris Columbus, Alfonso Cuaron, Mike Newell, David Yates

The Cast: Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson

What It's About: For those who don’t know (which would be pretty shocking but either way), the Harry Potter film franchise is based on the novels of the same name and follows a boy wizard named Harry Potter and his adventures at a magical school named Hogwarts, where he trains to use magic and, eventually, take on the Dark Lord himself, Voldemort.

Why It's One Of The Best Movies On Max: Harry Potter is a franchise that is still going to this day, but the original eight films raised an entire generation of Potterheads and make us all feel like going home when we hear the word ‘Hogwarts.’

• Stream the Harry Potter films on Max.

The Lord Of The Rings Trilogy (2001 - 2003)

The Director: Peter Jackson

The Cast: Elijah Wood, Ian McKellen, Liv Tyler, Viggo Mortensen, Sean Astin, Cate Blanchett

What It's About: An unsuspecting Hobbit embarks upon a perilous journey to hell on earth to destroy the One Ring, an incredibly dangerous instrument that grants its bearer great power while also corrupting their mind and body.

Why It's One Of The Best Movies On Max: Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings trilogy remains a landmark cinematic experience even 24 years after it first took audiences to Middle Earth at the turn of the 21st century.

• Stream The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring on Max.
• Stream The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers on Max.
• Stream The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King on Max.

The Lord Of The Rings: The War Of The Rohirrim (2024)

The Director: Kenji Kamiyama

The Cast: Brian Cox, Gaia Wise, Luke Pasqualino, Laurence Ubong Williams, Lorraine Ashborne, Miranda Otto

What It's About: Set before the Lord of the Rings movies, this film documents the story of King Helm Hammerhand, and how he begins a war by unintentionally killing the leader of an opposing faction, leading to bloodshed.

Why It's One Of The Best Movies On Max: Look, if you like The Lord of the Rings movies, you’re going to like this one. The animation is utterly beautiful, with an anime style that is perfected so wonderfully it’ll make you want to watch more anime after. Plus, there’s much more to love about the film, and I would fully suggest watching it, even if you’re not fully aware of all the fantasy aspects.

• Stream The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim on Max.

Wonka (2023)

The Director: Paul King

The Cast: Timothée Chalamet, Calah Lane, Keegan-Michael Key, Paterson Joseph, Matt Lucas

What It's About: Based on the fictional character of the same name, Wonka is the origin story of Willy Wonka, the famous chocolatier, and how he struggles to get his passion project up and running in the face of the Chocolate Mafia.

Why It's One Of The Best Movies On Max: Yes, I know that premise sounds wacky but this film is honestly a fun time. Chalamet gives a hilarious but sweet performance, the music mixes well with the fantasy, and it has a lot of heart – and yes, you will be craving chocolate after.

• Stream Wonka on Max.

The Wizard of Oz (1939)

The Director: Victor Fleming

The Cast: Judy Garland, Frank Morgan, Ray Bolger, Bert Lahr, Jack Haley

What It's About: A young girl is transported from a dusty farm in Kansas to the technicolor dreamland of Oz where she must defeat a wicked witch if she wants to ever see home again.

Why It's One Of The Best Movies On Max: To this day, The Wizard of Oz remains one of the most fantastical cinematic experiences and continues to enchant audiences of all ages.

• Stream The Wizard of Oz on Max.

All of these movies and more are available to anyone with a Max subscription. This list will change as the months go by so make sure to bookmark this page and check back for all future updates.

Netflix’s latest limited series, From Scratch, follows the sweeping love story of an American artist and a Sicilian chef, based on a memoir of the same name by Tembi Locke. Amy (Zoe Saldaña) is an artist studying abroad in Florence when she meets Lino (Eugenio Mastrandrea), a chef. The two fall head over heels for each other, and over the course of eight episodes we watch their love story unfold. Along with the romance, there is also a multigenerational family story involved that is super heartfelt and touching. 

I don’t know about you, but when I finished this Netflix limited series it immediately made me want to watch more romantic dramas that tell sweeping love stories that tug at your heartstrings and have astonishing set pieces. So, I’m here to help with this list of ten romantic dramas, which will include movies and shows like From Scratch. 

This Is Us (Hulu) 

This Is Us follows two timelines in one family. We saw Rebecca and Jack raising their triplets, Kate, Randall, and Kevin; then the other timeline follows the older versions of those kids and their significant others and families. The NBC hit drama was on for six seasons and had a fabulous cast that included Sterling K. Brown, Mandy Moore, and Milo Ventimiglia, among many others. 

Much like From Scratch this show deals with life, love, and loss in a tender way. It’s a beautiful portrait of the complexities of life, and both shows will have you smiling and reaching for the tissue box at the same time. 

Stream This is Us on Hulu. 
Buy This is Us on Amazon. 

Crazy Rich Asians (Amazon Prime)

Crazy Rich Asians is a movie about a woman who goes home with her boyfriend to meet his family. However, the catch is that his family is one of the richest in Singapore. The film follows the couple as they navigate the complexities of having an unaccepting parent, as well as their families’ cultural differences. The Crazy Rich Asians cast is stacked, and stars Constance Wu and Henry Golding portray Rachel Chu and Nick Young. They are supported by Michelle Yeoh, Awkwafina, Ken Jeong, and more.

As I mentioned, a big part of this story is the tension between Wu’s character Rachel, and Yeoh’s character, Eleanor, Nick’s mom. A similar tension exists in From Scratch between Lino and his father. The familial drama is a major plot point in both shows. On a lighter note, From Scratch has some gorgeous episodes set in Italy, while Crazy Rich Asians takes you to the opulent mansions of Singapore, and both will make you want to travel. 

Rent/Buy Crazy Rich Asians on Amazon.

Jane The Virgin (Netflix) 

Jane the Virgin centers around a multigenerational household of a grandmother, mother, and daughter. It follows Jane (Gina Rodriguez) after she is accidentally inseminated, and all the trials, tribulations, and hilarity that follow. While the show is a story of Jane’s love triangle with Rafael (Justin Baldoni) and Michael (Brett Dier), her family plays an equally important role, which is why it reminded me of From Scratch. 

Amy’s family in the Netflix series is actually quite similar to Jane’s. They’re chaotic, but their unconditional love for each other is infectious. While Jane the Virgin is 100% more of a telenovela than a classic romantic drama like the limited series, its themes of family and love are the exact same.

Stream Jane the Virgin on Netflix.
Buy Jane the Virgin on Amazon. 

The Photograph (Freevee)

The Photograph weaves together two stories, one in the past and one in the present. The action follows Mae after she finds a photo that takes her down a path to figure out her mom’s past. She gets to know a journalist as she’s figuring it all out, and the two fall in love. I must admit that the actors leading this cast are astonishing - Mae is played by Issa Rae and Michael is played by LaKeith Stanfield. 

What makes me think of this after watching From Scratch is the sweeping love story. It crosses generations and braids them all together into one complex story. They also both dive into the complex relationships between parents and their children, and the process of healing. 

Stream The Photograph on Freevee.
Rent/Buy The Photograph on Amazon.

Normal People (Hulu) 

Normal People is a miniseries based on the book of the same name by Sally Rooney. It follows two young adults, played by breakout stars Daisy Edgar-Jones and Paul Mescal. Marianne and Connell have a complex and gorgeous love story that spans their late teenage and university years. They clearly love each other deeply, however, life throws them a lot of curveballs that cause the complexity in the show. 

I must admit, when I finished From Scratch I immediately wanted to rewatch the show and think about Normal People Season 2. Both shows tell painfully realistic and beautiful stories of couples who have a deep love for each other and have to face some major challenges. 

Stream Normal People on Hulu. 

Eat Pray Love (Freevee)

If the beauty of From Scratch is what got you into the show, then the movie Eat Pray Love is right up your alley. The film follows Liz Gilbert, played by Julia Roberts, as she travels the world on a mission of self-discovery and acceptance. She travels to Italy, India, and Bali, and each place brings beautiful food and people into her life.

Essentially the same thing happens in the first few episodes of From Scratch, except it’s all in Italy. Much like the movie, Lino cooks some mouth-watering food in the Netflix series that will make you want to immediately buy a plane ticket. Also, both stories are based on memoirs from women who really went on these incredible journeys. 

Stream Eat Pray Love on Freevee.
Rent/Buy Eat Pray Love on Amazon.

Modern Love (Amazon Prime)

Modern Love is an anthology series based on a New York Times column of the same name. Each episode follows a different love story, and it deals with all types of love, including romantic, familial, friendship, self-love, and more. It also deals with a myriad of topics like mental and physical health, divorce, and children. The show features stellar actors in each episode like Olivia Cooke, Anne Hathaway, Julia Garner, Andrew Scott, Dev Patel, Kit Harington, and many more. 

I think that like From Scratch, the show deals with real people in realistic ways. It does not shy away from the challenges of love, while also highlighting its beauty. 

Stream Modern Love on Amazon Prime.

One Day (Tubi)

This movie is likely the most similar story to From Scratch. It follows Emma (Anne Hathaway) and Dexter (Jim Sturgess) and their relationship over the course of many years. The catch is, we only see one day of each year, and the rest is left for our interpretation. One Day is a gorgeous, heartbreaking, and sweeping love story, much like this new Netflix show. 

As I mentioned, the scope of the stories are very similar, but without spoiling anything, both have heavy endings that are also extremely touching. In short, get your tissue box out. 

Stream One Day on Tubi.
Rent/Buy One Day on Amazon.

Love Life (HBO Max)

Love Life, like Modern Love, is also an anthology series. However, each season follows one couple and their entire relationship. The first season follows Darby’s (Anna Kendrick) story, and the second follows Marcus (William Jackson Harper) and Mia (Jessica Williams). While both stories are different, each covers an extensive period of time and really lets you sit with the lead character. This allows viewers the space and time to really get to know them, much like From Scratch.

Like Season 1 of Love Life, From Scratch adds the complexity of parenthood into the mix. Meanwhile, like the second season of HBO Max show, the Netflix series follows the long story of two people and their complete journey together, from meeting to marriage, and beyond.

Stream Love Life on HBO Max.
Buy episodes of Love Life on Amazon. 

Look Both Ways (Netflix)

We’re going to close it out with a story that I think is one of the more underrated movies of 2022. The film follows Natalie (Lili Reinhart) in two different timelines. One where she is pregnant after a one-night stand with her friend Gabe (Danny Ramirez), and another where she isn’t pregnant and moves to LA to become an animator, eventually falling in love with Jake (David Corenswet). Both stories are super sweet, but also don’t shy away from the challenges of balancing love, a career, and parenthood. 

Natalie’s relationship with her career and how that impacts her relationship is also a major piece of From Scratch's plot. Also, Natalie’s relationship with her family is similar to Amy’s. Both families are dysfunctional, but would do anything for each other, which is always heartwarming to watch.

Stream Look Both Ways on Netflix. 

Alright, there you have it! Ten recommendations of movies, as well as long-running and limited series. From Scratch was a welcome entry on the 2022 TV schedule that was equally heartwarming and heart-wrenching, and it left me wanting more stories like it. Luckily there are lots of other fantastic romantic dramas that fit the bill and will have you smiling and crying throughout. 

Harry Shum Jr. has built up a pretty nice resume over the years. He’s set to star in a Crazy Rich Asians spinoff movie, popped up in the critically acclaimed Everything Everywhere All at Once, and is already well-known for his roles in Glee and Shadowhunters. But when he enters Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital as Benson "Blue" Kwan on Grey’s Anatomy Season 19, he’ll be a newbie working alongside a trio of actors who have been there from the beginning. Shum opened up about what it was like to be a “first-year resident” meeting his new co-stars — and the series’ three remaining OG actors — Ellen Pompeo, James Pickens Jr. and Chandra Wilson. 

Benson “Blue” Kwan is one of five new characters being introduced, as Grey’s Anatomy’s 19th season goes “back to the beginning,” as it was described by Kevin McKidd. The new interns’ arrival coincides with Ellen Pompeo’s taking a big step back from the role of Meredith, but Shum told People the actress was still there to welcome her new co-stars with a gift and impress them with her mastery of the craft. He said:

“Iconic” is the word Harry Shum Jr. also used to describe Chandra Wilson and James Pickens Jr., who are returning for their 19th seasons as Miranda Bailey and Richard Webber, respectively. He described the new cast’s first meeting the OGs, saying:

If I could describe a dream scenario for meeting Chandra Wilson, it would definitely involve a Bailey-esque motivational speech, so it warms my dark and twisty heart to know that this happened in real life. Now where's some video?

James Pickens Jr. seems to have welcomed the new cast members in a similarly paternal fashion fitting of his character, as the first-year residents all looked blissfully unafraid of the drama to come in the photo he shared to Instagram.

Harry Shum Jr. played Charlie Wu in Crazy Rich Asians, and while Charlie was a significant character in the book, he had only a small — though significant — cameo in the end credit scene, and it was apparently always in the plans to expand Shum’s character beyond that initial appearance. We’ll definitely be on the lookout for that spinoff about Charlie’s romance with Gemma Chan’s Astrid.

First things first, though, as Grey’s Anatomy Season 19 is set to premiere on Thursday, October 6, on ABC. Be sure to check out our 2022 TV Schedule to keep up with all of the fall premieres.

Few film fans can deny that any time is a good time to curl up on the couch with your favorite snacks and enjoy a movie marathon of any genre. But, if you want to come away from your movie night with lots of warm and fuzzy feels, we all know that one of the best options is to dive right in by streaming some of the best romantic comedies currently on offer. 

If this is what you’re currently after, or anticipate such a desire coming along soon, we have an awesome list of great rom-coms that are streaming right now, and can be delighted in as long as you have an HBO Max subscription. OK, let the rom-com love begin!

Crazy Rich Asians (2018)

This great romantic comedy is one to make you smile. Crazy Rich Asians, starring Constance Wu and Henry Golding, follows a couple that travels to Singapore, only for the girlfriend to find out that her fiancé's side of the family is insanely rich. Now, she has to find a way to fit in and impress his family. 

I could say a lot about this movie, but I think everyone should watch it at least once without spoilers. The Crazy Rich Asians cast is great, and there’s a lot of cool behind the scenes stuff too you should know once you watch it. Such a heartwarming film. 

Stream Crazy Rich Asians on HBO Max.

Sleepless In Seattle (1993)

This Nora Ephron-directed gem is definitely famous for a reason. The story follows the unlikely long-distance romance of engaged Annie (Meg Ryan) and recently widowed Sam (Tom Hanks), which is significantly helped along by Sam’s determined son, Jonah (Ross Malinger).

Most rom-com conversations are nothing without at least a mention of this summer hit, which has a number of memorable scenes to go along with its funny, heartwarming story. Be sure to check out the fascinating Sleepless in Seattle behind–the–scenes facts after you watch!

Stream Sleepless in Seattle on HBO Max. 

Crazy Stupid Love (2011)

If you’re looking for a great romantic comedy that has an awesome ensemble, then you need to check out Crazy Stupid Love. This film follows a man who is in the state of a marriage that is falling apart, so in order to make himself feel better, he tries to pick up women at bars – and fails miserably. A womanizer takes pity on him and decides to teach him to actually pick up women. –. 

This film is honestly one of the better romantic comedies that I’ve seen in years just because the Crazy Stupid Love cast has such good chemistry with each other, but what really makes it better than most is the acting. You have the amazing Steve Carell, Ryan Gosling, Emma Stone and more. It’s truly a standout movie. 

Stream Crazy Stupid Love on HBO Max.

Mrs. Winterbourne (1996)

You may not have heard of Mrs. Winterbourne, but it features one of the more intriguing rom-com set ups involving mistaken identity. When the pregnant and penniless Connie (Ricki Lake) boards a train to get out of the rain, she meets newlywed Hugh Winterbourne (Brendan Fraser) and his pregnant wife. After a horrible accident, though, Connie finds herself being mistaken for Hugh’s wife and is taken in by his rich mother, Grace (Shirley MacLaine), and his doubtful identical twin brother, Bill (also a delightful Brendan Fraser).

This movie is an unexpected delight for those who like enemies-to-lovers romances, and it features some LGBTQ+ representation, as well.

Stream Mrs. Winterbourne on HBO Max.

Two Weeks Notice (2002)

Sandra Bullock stars as lawyer and activist Lucy, who takes a job as chief counsel to billionaire real estate developer George (Hugh Grant). But, he’s also slept with nearly all of Lucy’s predecessors, and while the two have a decent (and non-sexual) working relationship, the pressures of the gig become too much, prompting Lucy to give notice that she’s quitting, leading both of them to realize that there might be something more between them.

It would seem that you can’t go wrong when you combine the rom-com forces of Bullock and Grant, as was done in this film. Two Weeks Notice offers viewers a light and funny slow burn romance that is very much propelled forward by the undeniable charm of its stars.

Stream Two Weeks Notice on HBO Max. 

Father Of The Bride (2022)

In this remake of the classic comedies released in 1950 and 1991, Father of the Bride stars Andy Garcia and Gloria Estefan as two parents who are going through a divorce, but when their children come home, one of them announces that she intends to marry her fiance in one month. For the sake of their children, they put it to the side to be there for her, but life turns upside down in many different ways. 

Honestly, I actually like this remake more than the 1991 version. Not only does it feature a stellar cast, but the jokes just feel like they land better. I do love Steve Martin in the first remake’s lead role but Andy Garcia rocked it too – and Gloria Estefan is always a win. This HBO Max original is worth the time. 

Stream Father of the Bride on HBO Max. 

You’ve Got Mail (1998)

Want to talk about a classic rom-com, check out You’ve Got Mail. This movie is another good enemies to lovers classic of two rival business owners who end up connecting over the littlest thing - through instant messaging. 

It’s certainly one of the best Meg Ryan movies, but Tom Hanks is awesome in this as well. Give it a watch if you haven’t seen it yet. 

Stream You’ve Got Mail on HBO Max. 

When Harry Met Sally (1989)

Chance encounters are rare, which is what makes When Harry Met Sally so great following several moments in their lives that define their relationship. 

I mean, we all know that one diner scene from the movie, but I promise the rest of the film is awesome as well and so funny, especially starring Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan. Thank God it didn’t have a depressing ending.

Stream When Harry Met Sally on HBO Max.

The Wedding Singer (1998)

In this classic Adam Sandler movie, The Wedding Singer is about a man (Adam Sandler) who works as a wedding singer, but his life changes when he’s broken up with by his girlfriend, and he ends up falling for a nice woman (Drew Barrymore) who is getting married to the wrong guy. Now, he must find a way to show his love. 

Who isn’t a fan of seeing Sandler and Drew Barrymore unite on a movie screen together? These two are pure movie magic and you can’t convince me otherwise. You just have to love them. 

Stream The Wedding Singer on HBO Max.

She’s All That (1999)

You really can't do a more classic romantic comedy than She’s All That starring Rachael Leigh Cook and Freddie Prinze Jr. When Zack is broken up with by his girlfriend, his friends make a bet with him that he could make any girl the most popular girl in school in six weeks, and his friends choose Laney Boggs, one of the most unpopular girls in school. But what he doesn’t count on is falling for her. 

A modern adaptation of Pygmalion and My Fair Lady by George Bernard Shaw and George Cukor, this is probably one of the most well known teen films for a reason and it’s so funny. There was even a remake years later on Netflix called He’s All That – but respectfully, this one is much better.

Stream She’s All That on HBO Max.  

My Big, Fat, Greek Wedding (2002)

Next up, we have My Big, Fat, Greek Wedding. Starring Nia Vardalos and John Corbett, this movie follows a young Greek-American woman who falls in love with a man. The only issue is that he’s not Greek, which causes plenty of issues for her and her messy, crazy family. 

It’s certainly a memorable title, and once you watch the movie, you can see why it would be called that, as it’s hilarious. What makes it even more special is that Nia Vardalos actually wrote it based on her own experiences, so you know it’s extra awesome and funny. 

Stream My Big, Fat, Greek Wedding on HBO Max. 

Boomerang (1992)

There’s nothing like an Eddie Murphy movie, and the same can be said for this rom-com. The story sees Murphy’s successful ad exec, Marcus, come to terms with his status as a very non-committal dater after he begins seeing Jacqueline (Robin Givens), who is essentially a female version of himself, right as he also starts to fall for the much sweeter Angela (Halle Berry).

It’s always good to watch characters learn some important lessons about love, but even better when it can be done with the kind of humor imparted by Boomerang. Plus, if you watch this one you’ll be looking at one of the best Halle Berry movies from when the rising star was still just getting started.

Stream Boomerang on HBO Max.

Wedding Crashers (2005)

Wedding Crashers is a hysterical comedy following two men who blatantly crash weddings to pick up women. But one of these crashes ends up taking a turn, and their whole scheme starts to become undone. 

Both Vince Vaughn and Owen Wilson are complete gems in this movie and deserve all the praise in the world. There’s a lot of behind-the-scenes facts about the movie so be sure to check those out once you watch them. 

Stream Wedding Crashers on HBO Max.

Maid In Manhattan (2002)

Arguably one of Jennifer Lopez’s best romantic comedies to date, Maid in Manhattan is the story of a young woman working as a maid in a high-profile hotel in order to provide for her son, when one day she ends up meeting a big-time politician, and her life changes forever. 

There’s plenty of reasons to give this movie a chance. You have Jennifer Lopez in her prime of romantic comedies, as well as Ralph Fiennes before Harry Potter. You also have a cute love story in New York City. What else is there not to love?

Stream Maid in Manhattan on HBO Max. 

The Holiday (2006)

Nancy Meyers is another behind–the–scenes rom-com queen, and the writer/director hit pay dirt here. The Holiday focuses on unlucky in love Englishwoman Iris (Kate Winslet, in one of her best movies) and similarly afflicted Los Angeles movie trailer producer Amanda (Cameron Diaz) switching homes for the holidays to get away from their troubles for a couple of weeks, during which time they each find solutions to their romantic problems.

In a rarity, this film gives us two romances to root for, while we also get to enjoy home design porn as only Meyers can deliver it.

Stream The Holiday on HBO Max.

The Truth About Cats & Dogs (1996)

I happen to think this movie is one of the forgotten treasures of ‘90s rom-coms, despite it getting solid reviews when it was released. As a reinterpretation of Cyrano de Bergerac, and follows as insecure radio host Abby (Janeane Garofalo) convinces her model neighbor and friend, Noelle (Uma Thurman), to pose as Abby when handsome photographer Brian (Ben Chaplin) shows interest in her.

Look, we’ve gotten more than a few versions of this type of story, but aside from the fact that The Truth About Cats & Dogs puts the female characters front and center, it’s also a sweet, delightfully funny story that will have you rooting for Abby and Noelle, even when things get tense between the two.

Stream The Truth About Cats & Dogs on HBO Max. 

Friends With Benefits (2011)

Starring Justin Timberlake and Mila Kunis, Friends with Benefits is exactly as the title says – two friends who decide to start having sex with the other without becoming a couple. But obviously, things don’t go as planned, and doing this only complicates things further. 

I feel like I probably don’t need to go into why this is a funny romantic comedy. The film itself has two stars that have fun chemistry together and the premise is a tale as old as time. You really can’t get better than two friends who are just starting to get to know each other that way. 

Stream Friends with Benefits on HBO Max. 

I know there are a lot of movies on this list, which might make it hard to pick just one, but would you really have it any other way? You now have many very good options for your rom-com movie night (or morning…or afternoon) and can stream to your heart’s content (or until you start to fall asleep)...happy binging!

It’s now been four summers since Crazy Rich Asians hit theaters and swept the box office off its feet as a rare romantic comedy that could make bank. Not too soon after its success, it was announced that Kevin Kwan’s entire trilogy would be seen on the big screen. Well… where is it? The franchise’s star Constance Wu has shared a couple updates at least.

Constance Wu played the movie’s leading lady, Rachel Chu, a New York University economics professor who finds love in Nick Young (played by Henry Golding), but is then placed in the middle of an awkward crossfire when she travels with him home to Singapore for a wedding. Here’s what Wu shared about what’s going on with Crazy Rich Asians 2: 

Wu was speaking to ScreenRant about her new series The Terminal List, which she stars in with Chris Pratt, and it was during that conversation that actress broke a long silence about the next Crazy Rich Asians movie. As she shared, there’s some movement on the rom-com sequel, with filming on the producers' minds. Plus, she shared a cute nugget about being great friends with Awkwafina, who played Rachel’s best friend Goh Peik Lin in the 2018 movie. 

After Crazy Rich Asians, there are two more novels that star Rachel and Nick: China Rich Girlfriend and Rich People Problems. Back in 2018, it was announced that the sequels would be filmed back-to-back in 2020, but then 2020 must have happened. Plus, there’s the fact that just about every member of the Crazy Rich Asians cast has been busy getting even more famous since the release of the rom-com and going from project to project. 

The latest news we’ve heard about what’s next for Crazy Rich Asians prior to Wu’s words is that there was a shakeup in the writer’s room, with newcomer writer Amy Wang now penning the script. The change came after there was a pay dispute between one of the scribes of the first movie for the sequels. Adele Lim, who wrote the first movie alongside Peter Chiarelli, decided to exit the projects due to being offered significantly less money than her male co-writer. 

Right now, we’re also not sure if Jon M. Chu will still direct the movie either, considering the director has been in pre-production on the two Wicked movies he’ll helm. We’ll keep you updated on the Crazy Rich Asians sequels as we learn more about them. Until then, you can check out Constance Wu in The Terminal List, now streaming with an Amazon Prime subscription. 

Director Jon M. Chu, who's helmed "Crazy Rich Asians," "In The Heights," and is currently in production on the film adaptation of the musical "Wicked," chats about all of that and more in this interview with CinemaBlend's Law Sharma. In addition to a discussion about the director's massive impact on the AAPI community, find out what Chu thinks of Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo's "Wicked" performances so far, his reaction to Star Wars' recently released “Willow” trailer and much more!

Video Chapters

• 00:00 - Intro 
• 00:40 - Jon M. Chu Reflects On Gold House, Support From Henry Golding And The Success Of 'Crazy Rich Asians' 
• 04:35 - Jon M. Chu Discusses The Hybrid Release Model and Streaming Content 
• 06:48 - Jon M. Chu's Praise For Ariana Grande And Cynthia Erivo Will Get You Hyped For The 'Wicked' Movie 
• 08:54 - Jon M. Chu Praises Star Wars' 'Willow' Trailer After Leaving The Project 
• 10:44 - Jon M. Chu Teases 'Oh the Places You’ll Go,' and The Animation Mentor He Has By His Side 
• 12:55 - Jon M. Chu's Dream Project And The Dream Actor He'd Like To Work With 
• 14:22 - Jon M. Chu’s Encouraging Words For The AAPI Community

When Crazy Rich Asians became a box office hit in the summer of 2018, it not only showed that romantic comedies could be viable in theaters again, it marked a major moment for Asian talent in major movies. Since then, successful movies such as Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings and Everything Everywhere All At Once have proved again that Jon M. Chu’s movie has contributed to a Hollywood movement where more authentic Asian stories than ever are getting the spotlight. The director reflected on Crazy Rich Asians as this exciting trend continues. 

Jon M. Chu spoke exclusively with CinemaBlend’s own Law Sharma about Asian representation within film; he recalled the role Gold House, a nonprofit collective of Asian and Pacific Islanders, had in supporting Crazy Rich Asians. In his words: 

Ahead of Crazy Rich Asians making A-list stars out of actors like Henry Golding, Awkwafina and Gemma Chan, Chu remembered not knowing how massive the film would be. He met with members in Gold House about supporting the film within their community. Chu continued: 

In recent years, there’s certainly been an uptick of Asian talent in major films and behind the scenes, which includes Pixar’s Turning Red and Netflix’s romantic comedies The Half Of It and the All The Boys trilogy. Chu is one of the few major Asian directors, who had made Step Up and the Now You See Me movies ahead of deciding to adapt Crazy Rich Asians. While speaking to CinemaBlend (also in the video above), the filmmaker also said this about his journey into becoming so successful himself: 

Last summer, Jon M. Chu released In The Heights, which highlighted the Latin community, and coming up, he has numerous projects in the works, including the two Wicked movies starring Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande. During the interview, Chu spoke about what’s going on with those movies, and we’re already pumped. 

Chu has also long been attached to the Crazy Rich Asians sequels, but he and the cast have been so busy with other opportunities it seems there hasn’t been the time to rush into it. It was recently announced that a spinoff centering on Gemma Chan and Harry Shum Jr’s characters is coming. 

We’ll continue to keep you posted on updates on upcoming movies here on CinemaBlend. 

Simu Liu became a massive star this past year in particular when he debuted a new Marvel hero in Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. Now that the Chinese-Canadian has found his big break as a Hollywood star, he has recently been opening up about his road to fame, with one bump in the road being that he auditioned and got rejected from a role in Crazy Rich Asians. Following his recent comments, it has sparked a debate about Henry Golding and the movie itself, which Liu has now come back around to defend. 

For over a week, Simu Liu’s brief run-in with Crazy Rich Asians has been a hot button topic the internet has been discussing. Let’s break down everything that happened: 

What Simu Liu Said About His Experience With Crazy Rich Asians 

While Simu Liu guested on the podcast How To Fail With Elizabeth Day to promote his recently released memoir We Were Dreamers: An Immigrant Superhero Origin Story, he discussed one element from the book where he reveals that he auditioned for Crazy Rich Asians four times and was rejected from a role. In his words: 

Liu recalled the “crushing blow” before sharing how the rejection also played into his current success. He continued:  

Following Liu’s comments, movie fans have had a conversation about the decision to cast Henry Golding instead of Simu Liu. 

The Online Debate Simu Liu’s Comments Started 

Now to clarify, Simu Liu was reportedly not in the running for Henry Golding’s leading role. The Shang-Chi star revealed that he auditioned for the best friend of Golding’s character Colin (played by Chris Pang), and Michael, the husband of Gemma Chan's character (Pierre Png). Even so, the internet is weighing between Liu and Golding. 

There are two sides to the debate that sparked from Simi Liu’s comments revealing he had auditioned for Crazy Rich Asians about whether the actor is too Asian or not Asian enough for the role. On one hand (and again Liu apparently wasn’t even up for the leading man role), the casting of Golding was being discussed because the actor is biracial, with a White father and Malaysian mother, whereas Liu has two Chinese parents. 

Crazy Rich Asians is about a Singaporean family. One Twitter user pointed out that “most singaporeans are ethnically Chinese,” arguing Liu would make more sense in the movie, while another user shared that they felt Golding would understand the culture more coming from a Southeast Asian background.

How Simu Liu Has Since Defended Henry Golding And The Crazy Rich Asians Cast 

Following the internet chatter, Liu took to Twitter to say that his experience auditioning for Crazy Rich Asians led to some “really meaningful feedback” and he feels the movie was “PERFECTLY cast just the way it was.” The tweet also includes pages from Liu’s memoir about the process: 

As Liu shared, 2018’s Crazy Rich Asians “paved way” for more Asian stories to be massive studio movies, including Shang-Chi. Amidst this, it’s interesting to read what the process was like for Liu before making it in Marvel. 

Between its largely positive critical reception and making roughly $238.5 million worldwide off a $30 million budget, Crazy Rich Asians, adapted from the same-named book by Kevin Kwan, went down as one of 2018’s biggest cinematic successes. So it was hardly surprising when Warner Bros. decided to order a sequel based on China Rich Girlfriend, the next book in Kawn’s literary trilogy. As we near the halfway point of 2022, it’s still unclear when Crazy Rich Asians 2 (as it’s informally known) will come out, but as the wait continues, it’s been revealed that a Crazy Rich Asians spinoff is also in the works.

Jason Kim, a producer and writer on the HBO series Barry, has been tapped to pen a spinoff based following Gemma Chan’s Astrid Leong-Teo and her romance with Harry Shum Jr.’s Charlie Wu, the latter of whom cameoed at the end of Crazy Rich Asians. According to Deadline, Kim came in with a “dynamite pitch” about this couple’s story, resulting in Warner Bros. putting it into early development. Astrid and Charlie’s relationship was explored in China Rich Girlfriend, so the studio is taking a two-pronged approach with adapting the book, as Constance Wu’s Rachel Chu and Henry Golding’s Nick Young will remain the stars of Crazy Rich Asians 2. 

In Kevin Kwan’s original trilogy, Charlie Wu was Astrid Leong-Teo’s first love, and while they are engaged to be married, Astrid’s parents broke them up because they didn’t see Charlie as a suitable husband. In the Crazy Rich Asians movie, Gemma Chan’s version of Astrid that her husband Michael, played by Pierre Png, had been cheated on her, and in the mid-credits scene, she and Charlie reconnected during Rachel and Nick’s engagement party. Now the stage is set for them to star in their own cinematic story.

When Crazy Rich Asians came out, Gemma Chan was known from the TV series Humans and movies like Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit and Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. Since the movie’s release though, she’s played two different MCU roles (Minn-Erva in Captain Marvel and Sersi in Eternals), as well as voiced Namaari in Raya and the Last Dragon, not to mention will be seen later this year in Don’t Worry Darling. As for Harry Shum Jr., his other prominent appearances include Glee, Shadowhunters, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: Sword of Destiny and the critically-acclaimed Everything Everywhere All at Once.

For those of you wondering what the news of this Crazy Rich Asians spinoff means for Crazy Rich Asians 2, the sequel is still in development. As of March, Amy Wang had been brought aboard as the new scriptwriter. Obviously you’re welcome to read China Rich Girlfriend to get a good idea of what will happen both in Crazy Rich Asians 2 and the Astrid and Charlie-led spinoff, but if you’re only want a minor hint about the former, it’ll follow Rachel and Nick traveling to Shanghai to find Nick’s birth father.

We’ll keep you apprised on more updates on how Crazy Rich Asians 2 and the spinoff are coming along as they come in. For now, there are plenty of 2022 movie releases to keep you entertained in the coming months, and you’re welcome to also stream Crazy Rich Asians with an HBO Max subscription.

For about as long as the medium of film has existed, there have been great romantic comedies. And as the world of cinema has grown and aged over the years, the genre has only become more popular, diverse, and hilarious. In recent years, we have seen an influx of romantic comedies with Asian-American lead characters that have only made the concept more enjoyable and relatable, with titles like Shortcomings, Crazy Rich Asians, Always Be My Maybe, and other films that explore Asian-American experience.

Below is a list of 11 of the most charming and hilarious romantic comedies with Asian-American leads, how to watch them on various streaming services, and other ways you can give them a watch on your next date night or mid-week laugh and cry fest on your couch.

Shortcomings (2023)

The Director: Randall Park

The Cast: Justin H. Min, Sherry Cola, Ally Maki

Based On: Shortcomings by Adrian Tomine

What It’s About: The life of a cinephile movie theater manager is thrown into disarray after his girlfriend accepts an internship across the country, forcing him to reevaluate his romantic life and path forward.

What To Expect: Much like the beloved Adrian Tomine graphic novel on which it is based, Shortcomings has the perfect balance of comedy and drama, especially when it comes to Ben Tagawa’s (Justin H. Min) journey of self-discovery.

• Stream Shortcomings on Netflix.
• Rent/Buy Shortcomings on Amazon.

Always Be My Maybe (2019)

The Director: Nahnatchka Khan

The Cast: Ali Wong, Randall Park, Daniel Dae Kim

What It’s About: Years after an awkward sexual experience brought an abrupt end to their long-time friendship, a celebrity chef and a struggling musician attempt to repair their once-tight bond.

What To Expect: What really makes Always Be My Maybe such a gem (besides the amazing Keanu Reeves cameo) is the way in which Wong and Park really play into the awkwardness of their characters’ situation and how they attempt to get back what they lost all those years ago.

• Stream Always Be My Maybe on Netflix.

Crazy Rich Asians (2018)

The Director: Jon M. Chu

The Cast: Constance Wu, Henry Golding, Michelle Yeoh

Based On: Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan

What It’s About: An NYU economics professor has no idea what she’s’s getting herself into when she agrees to attend a wedding with her wealthy boyfriend in Singapore.

What To Expect: Crazy Rich Asians is an over-the-top, sensational, and larger-than-life romantic comedy with more than a few outstanding and iconic characters in its cast list. Pull back the designer clothes, million-dollar weddings, and bachelor parties on cargo ships, though, and you have a story about a young woman who won’t let anyone, not even her boyfriend’s domineering mother, tell her how she can live her life, even if it means giving up a chance at love.

• Stream Crazy Rich Asians on Max.
• Rent/Buy Crazy Rich Asians on Amazon.

To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before (2018)

The Director: Susan Johnson

The Cast: Lana Condor, Noah Centineo, Janel Parrish

Based On: To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before by Jenny Han

What It’s About: A shy high school student writes a series of letters to the five boys she’s had a crush on throughout her life before locking them away in her closet. But when her younger sister finds the letters and sends them out to their recipients, this teenager’s life is thrown for a loop and is never the same.

What To Expect: The way in which the movie and lead actor Lana Condor captures the awkwardness of teenage love and angst is brilliant and makes the romantic comedy one worth revisiting time and time again.

• Stream To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before on Netflix.

The Big Sick (2017)

The Director: Michael Showalter

The Cast: Kumail Nanjiani, Zoe Kazan, Holly Hunter

What It’s About: Shortly after being dumped by his girlfriend, a man receives word that she has been placed in a medically-induced coma so doctors can figure out a course of action for a life-threatening virus.

What To Expect: The Big Sick, which was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay, is loosely based on the experiences Kumail Nanjiani had when his wife and screenwriting partner, Emily V. Gordon, was placed in a coma years earlier. In its two-hour runtime, the movie tackles differing cultures, love, loss, and so much more without making the audience feel lost or overwhelmed.

• Stream The Big Sick on Prime Video.

Set It Up (2018)

The Director: Claire Scanion

The Cast: Zoey Deutch, Glen Powell, Lucy Liu

What It’s About: Two overworked and unappreciated assistants come up with a plan to make their respective work lives a little easier: they pair up their bosses with one another in hopes they’ll hit it off and become happier people who are easier to work for.

What To Expect: Although much of the movie is focused on the budding relationship shared by Zoey Deutch and Glen Powell’s characters, the targets of their master plan to have a better work-life balance take things up a notch. Lucy Liu and Taye Diggs are both exceptional in their portrayals of career-driven people who are in need of a good time.

• Stream Set It Up on Netflix.

Plus One (2019)

The Director: Jeff Chan, Andrew Rhymer

The Cast: Maya Erskine, Jack Quaid, Ed Begley Jr.

What It’s About: Best friends serve as each other’s guests at a variety of weddings over the course of a summer. As the wedding season goes on, however, their situation becomes a little more complicated than anyone could have guessed.

What To Expect: Plus One just works, plain and simple, and a lot of that has to do with the way in which the two leads play off one another. No matter if they’re acting like friends, lovers, or find themselves somewhere in between, they come off as real, genuine, and likable people.

• Stream Plus One on Hulu.
• Stream Plus One on Amazon.

Saving Face (2004)

The Director: Alice Wu

The Cast: Michelle Krusiec, Joan Chen, Lynn Chen

What It’s About: A successful surgeon who has yet to come to terms with her sexuality strikes up a relationship with a woman from her past, which brings many complications to her already hectic life.

What To Expect: Alice Wu’s influential 2004 romantic comedy, Saving Face, has since become one of the most influential movies of the past two decades, with actors like Awkwafina telling Rotten Tomatoes it is one of her favorite films. The premise, characters, and heart of its story make it a movie to check out.

• Rent/Buy Saving Face on Amazon.

Love Hard (2021)

The Director: Hernán Jiménez

The Cast: Nina Dobrev, Jimmy O. Yang, Darren Barnet

What It’s About: A hopeless romantic thinks she has finally met the man of her dreams on a dating app. But when she flies across the country to surprise her new catch over the Christmas holiday, the hopeless romantic realizes she has been duped by a catfish.

What To Expect: Love Hard has a lot going for it. There’s the obvious catfish angle that pretty much sold the movie, the chemistry shared by leads Dobrev and Yang, and a surprisingly heartfelt story about unconventional love.

• Stream Love Hard on Netflix.

The Half Of It (2020)

The Director: Alice Wu

The Cast: Leah Lewis, Daniel Diemer, Alexxis Lemire

Based On: Cyrano de Bergerac by Edmond Rostard

What It’s About: When an introverted Chinese-American high school student is hired by a popular classmate to write a love letter to his crush Aster Flores, little does she know that she’s also about to go on a journey of self-discovery that could potentially change everything about her life.

What To Expect: The Half of It tackles a number of topics like sexuality, finding one’s place in the world, and being a support system for a grieving parent. With far more depth than the average romantic comedy and becoming one of several great LGBTQ rom-coms, the movie sets out to accomplish more and say something about the world.

• Stream The Half of It on Netflix.

The Lovebirds (2020)

The Director: Michael Showalter

The Cast: Issa Rae, Kumail Nanjiani, Paul Sparks

What It’s About: On the way to a dinner party one night, a couple’s car is commandeered by a mysterious man who uses it to run over and kill a cyclist before fleeing, leaving the on-the-rocks couple as the prime suspects in a crime they didn’t commit.

What To Expect: With elements of romance, murder, and thriller films, The Lovebirds pieces together a hilarious and heartfelt story of an on-the-rocks couple trying to make sense of their relationship and a wild night they’ll never forget.

• Stream The Lovebirds on Netflix.

Each of these romantic comedies with Asian-American lead characters is hilarious in its own way, whether it be subtle and nuanced or explicitly in your face.

Crazy Rich Asians fans have been waiting anxiously to hear any updates on the much-anticipated sequel. They’ve been wanting to see more Rachel Chu, Nick Young, and their colorful cast of family and friends. Unfortunately, Crazy Rich Asians 2 has faced some hurdles in getting the production started. But now a major change-up may hint at the film inching closer to reality.

Deadline revealed that From Scratch scribe Amy Wang has been tapped to write the follow-up. Wang reached an agreement with Warner Bros. and Color Force to serve as the sole writer for the much-delayed sequel. She will take over writing duties from Crazy Rich Asians’ original writers Peter Chiarelli and Adele Lim. Despite this latest development, Wang and the studio are being tightlipped about the second film’s storyline and other details.

Wang becoming the sole writer came only a few years after the fallout from a pay dispute between Adele Lim and Warner Bros.. After the massive success of the first film, Lim and Peter Chiarelli were set to pair up again to pen the planned two sequels. According to reports, Chiarelli was getting paid 10 times more than his co-writer. After the Raya and the Last Dragon writer walked away from the deal, the studio reportedly spent months looking for a replacement of Asian heritage before circling back to Lim again. This time, Chiarelli offered to split his pay with her, which she turned down again. At the time, the television stalwart believed female and BIPOC writers were just there to add cultural dressing during the writing process rather than taking part in the storytelling.

But the film and television writer wasn’t alone in the fight for equality in Hollywood as In the Heights director Jon M. Chu supported Adele Lim’s efforts. Chu responded by championing Lim for standing up for equal pay and knowing her worth. The director admitted to being part of the second deal after pointing out that Hollywood negotiations could be messy. At the time, it was reported that Chu would co-write the sequels with Chiarelli. It seemed now Chu will stay on the follow-up’s director with Chiarelli having moved on from the project.

Of course, it might still be a while before Crazy Rich Asians 2 hits the big screen. Along with penning the sequel, Wang is currently set to write and direct a horror flick for Paramount. Chu is attached to direct the film adaptations of the Dr. Seuss book Oh, the Places You’ll Go! And the celebrated stage musical Wicked with Ariana Grande and Oscar nominee Cynthia Erivo as the leads.

Even breakout star Henry Golding is busy with numerous upcoming projects, including a television series based on Dean Koontz’s thriller series Nameless. His Crazy Rich Asians co-stars like Awkwafina, Gemma Chan, and Constance Wu continue to keep busy schedules as well.

Crazy Rich Asians 2 might be on hold for the time being. If you want to see what other films are coming up, you can check out our 2022 movie schedule. While waiting for the sequel, you can stream the first film by subscribing to HBO Max or Amazon Prime. For more Crazy Rich Asians 2 updates, just check back with CinemaBlend.

Love is in the air - at least that’s what it feels like when we watch these amazing weddings from movies. 

You just have to love some of these movie weddings, from the decorations to the dresses to the attendance, everything just seems to always fit so perfectly and run so well. But, let’s not forget about the pure love and adoration we see between the couples we love. 

From some recent picks to films from the 1960s, movie weddings have given us some wonderful inspiration - here are the ten most beautiful.

Colin And Araminta’s Wedding (Crazy Rich Asians)

While there are plenty of awesome Crazy Rich Asians behind the scenes facts and the movie itself is so funny and a lot of fun, no one can quite forget that wedding scene between Colin and Araminta - specifically, her dress.

It was so simple yet elevated to the max. It felt like Araminta had this perfect combination of wanting to stand out with the gold embroidering but also trying to make that dress look as realistic as possible. It feels like a princess wedding from beginning to end. And no one can quite forget those beautiful flowers that are all around the venue, adding a few pops of color. 

Jenna And Matty’s Wedding (13 Going On 30)

While Jennifer Garner and Mark Ruffalo reunited in The Adam Project in 2022, I’ll always remember these two in their wedding in 13 Going On 30. While it’s not a flashy wedding by any means, I think what makes this one of the most beautiful weddings is just the emotion behind it. 

We just watched an entire movie about Jenna finally learning that Matty is such a great guy, and when she thinks its too late, she’s transported back to the past and kisses him, and this one moment changes the course of her life forever and they end up getting their happily ever after in the end. It’s sweet and heartwarming and makes me smile every time. Plus, that camera moment is so adorable. 

Fleur And Bill’s Wedding (Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows: Part 1)

Okay, okay, I’m a little biased as a huge Harry Potter fan but you cannot deny that their wedding was gorgeous. Or at the very least, the wedding reception. 

Having it held in a simple tent only added to the intimate feeling between both close family friends and loved ones. Fleur’s wedding dress is just such a freaking beautiful combination of black and white, and her dance with Bill, showing just how much they truly loved each other, under the lights and with everyone else clapping, is just *chef’s kiss.*

Toula And Ian’s Wedding (My Big Fat Greek Wedding)

While I was never a big fan of Toula’s wedding dress (as I’m not a huge puffy dress person), I know that her and Ian’s wedding was one to remember. There was no crazy drama, no intense in-laws making lives miserable - it was a simple exchange love and vows. 

Sometimes, that’s really all you need. While the rest of the film has its crazy hilarious moments, their wedding ran so perfectly. 

Bella And Edward’s Wedding (Breaking Dawn: Part 1)

There are so many things I would change about Twilight, but thankfully, Edward and Belle’s wedding in Breaking Dawn: Part 1 is not one of them. I mean, look at that venue. Those flowers are just beautiful, and that paired with the flower arch and the forest setting is so perfect. 

I think what also makes this wedding work wonders is Bella’s dress. It’s so simple. You don’t need big puffy dresses or crazy gold embroidery - sometimes, all you need is a simple silk dress, and for Bella, it was perfect. Everything fit together so well that it gave me so many ideas for my future wedding - and I’m not even a huge fan of Twilight. 

Donna And Sam’s Wedding (Mamma Mia!)

Mamma Mia! is my ultimate comfort movie, and you can catch me supporting the Mamma Mia! cast whenever I can in whatever they do. And, this film truly took destination weddings to a whole new level. 

Getting married in Greece already sounds like paradise, but adding on that little extra bit of drama to this wedding made it even better. While Sophie and Sky were set to get married, they back out at the last minute, wanting to travel the world instead, and push forward Donna and Sam to get married - the real true lovers there. 

In an impromptu ceremony, the two declare their love for each other and get married with the sun setting in the background. Truly beautiful.

Annie And Bryan’s Wedding (Father Of The Bride)

I think every father at one point has watched Father of the Bride and cried, because they know their little girl is going to get married one day and they’ll be just like Steve Martin’s character. But, despite all the hilarious moments of this movie, the wedding was honestly stunning. 

The dress was amazing, the ceremony even better, and what really made it all the best is Steve Martin letting his little girl go to marry her true love. I cry every time. Maybe the upcoming remake will make me cry just as much. 

Queen Clarisse And Joe’s Wedding (The Princess Diaries 2)

This is another case where two people was supposed to get married and it ended up being a completely different couple. While Mia and Nicholas were set to marry, Mia changes her mind last minute, thinking she can rule as Queen on her own and instead, wishes for her grandmother, Queen Clarisse, to marry her long-time bodyguard, Joe, with the two having been in love for some time. 

It’s a sudden change, but one that’s welcome in every way, as these two were truly made for each other. That, paired with the absolutely stunning venue, makes this wedding perfect. It’s crazy that this film series has turned 20. 

Maria And Captain Von Trapp’s Wedding (The Sound Of Music)

There is just something about this wedding that makes me happy every single time I watch it. The Sound of Music deserves a modern reamake, but no one can quite replace the original, especially with this wedding scene. 

It’s a beautiful church, a simple dress for the time, the music is wonderful - everything fits together so perfectly that I'd be able understand if many people had their wedding dress made to look like Maria’s. Plus, that veil is so pretty and I want one of my own. 

Tiana And Naveen’s Wedding (The Princess And The Frog) 

Last but not least, we’re stepping into the animated realm. While I could talk about the multitude of Disney weddings, nothing quite stands out to me more than Tiana and Naveen’s wedding from The Princess and the Frog. 

I mean, the obvious is there - everything is green, since they were both frogs for a majority of the movie and turned back to humans during their first wedding. But, it just fits so well for them and they look so beautiful - and then of course it cuts to the normal wedding between them as a prince and princess, but those green outfits, paired with that amazing music, is better in my personal opinion. I guess you can only get that down in New Orleans. 

I’m sure there will be plenty more to come in the future, but these are my favorite movie weddings so far. Until I find more, I'm going to have to use these as inspiration.

Following years of making a good impression in a variety of movies, both big and small, Gemma Chan got a leading role in a major movie of her own with her star performance with MCU's Eternals cast. While the latest Marvel epic wasn't met with the kindest reaction from critics or some audiences, the ever-busy movie star is currently in the highest-grossing movie in the world right now, and that's no small feat. 

If you're a fan of the hard-working actress and want to see her other notable films and shows, we're here to help. Here's what you should rent or stream if you like the Crazy Rich Asians star, including Captain Marvel (Gemma Chan's first MCU role), Let Them All Talk, and more.

Crazy Rich Asians (HBO Max)

For many folks, her part in the Crazy Rich Asians cast launched Gemma Chan into the mainstream. In the role of Astrid Leong-Teo, Nick's fashionable cousin, the actress got ample time to relish such a spectacular and sensational part, taking each liberty to play up the luxurious lifestyle of this privileged persona. 

Showing her wit and charm, this performance assured Chan's career ascension. In some respects, it's her most memorable work. Certainly, given the fantastic critical and commercial success of this appealing studio rom-com, it helped her gain further esteem and clout. There's even word that Gemma Chan's Crazy Rich Asians character is set to get a spinoff of her own.

Stream Crazy Rich Asians on HBO Max.
Buy/Rent Crazy Rich Asians on Amazon.

Submarine (Tubi/PlutoTV/The Roku Channel)

A witty and warm coming-of-age fable that becomes a fine mix of charming and cynical, Richard Ayoade's Submarine is a winning and winsome directorial debut — one that appears to be excessively quirky in style, only to surprise you with its tender, bittersweet emotional honesty. 

A lot of credit goes to its accomplished ensemble, including seasoned veterans like Noah Taylor, Paddy Considine, and Sally Hawkins working alongside newcomers like Craig Roberts, Yasmin Paige, and Gemma Chan, the latter solely in a limited role. As Kim-Lin, the freshman actress received one of her first screen credits, so you're forgiven if you don't remember her from it. That said, Submarine remains one of her best films. Even beyond this early supporting turn, this delightful movie is well worth watching. 

Stream Submarine on Tubi.
Stream Submarine on PlutoTV.
Stream Submarine on The Roku Channel.
Rent Submarine on Amazon.

Captain Marvel (Disney+)

When Gemma Chan was cast in the lead role of Marvel's Eternals, some Marvel fans were more than a little surprised, considering that the actress was already enveloped into the Marvel Cinematic Universe in the role of Minn-Erva, a Kree tactical sniper, in 2019's Captain Marvel. While the latter superhero blockbuster was a major opportunity, it's fair to say that it wasn't a movie that highlighted Chan's talents and screen presence. 

Strictly stuck in a supporting role, Minn-Erva wasn't a character that left a deep or long impression. Therefore, it made sense that director Chloe Zhao felt comfortable casting the actress in a separate but far meatier role in her own Marvel movie. Alas, while Chan wasn't given much to do in Captain Marvel, her involvement paved the way for her ascent, in the MCU and elsewhere, particularly as Eternals is easily her most high-profile part yet. 

Stream Captain Marvel on Disney+.
Buy/Rent Captain Marvel on Amazon.

Humans (Amazon/Hoopla)

Based on the award-winning Swedish drama Real Humans, Channel 4's Humans only continued to distinguish itself as a mature, thrilling, and thought-provoking sci-fi series, one that was elevated by Gemma Chan's star performance. Through its intelligent and investing sociopolitical commentary, this well-acclaimed series developed into a rich and relevant piece of work, which only grew stronger and meatier as time went on. Though it only lasted three seasons, Humans gained a warm and inviting fanbase, and it helped Chan become a critical favorite and an actress to watch. For some TV viewers, Humans is still Chan's best work to date. 

Stream Humans on Amazon.
Stream Humans on Hoopla.
Buy Humans on Amazon. 

Let Them All Talk (HBO Max) 

As literary agent Karen, an emotionally-unnerved woman who finds herself in turmoil as she tries to get her most elusive client to reach something near her next novel's deadline, Gemma Chan gives, what I consider, her best performance yet in Steven Soderbergh's appropriately chatty dramedy, Let Them All Talk. 

Even in the company of great talents like Meryl Streep, Candice Bergen, and Dianne Wiest, Chan's tormented buttoned-down woman on the verge of her own mid-life crisis makes a great impression. She finds a fine balance between trying to maintain her inherent professionalism and hiding her true identity on this fancy cruise while also allowing herself to become — after some initial resistance — more open and even vulnerable with Lucas Hedges' Tyler, the kind-hearted nephew to Streep's caged Alice Hughes. In an effort to discover what Karen needs to know about what's surely the next literary sensation — one that's often fittingly left at sea by a wayward author who ironically can't find the words that she searches for — Chan plays up this well-to-do business-focused woman with dry humor and even a few unsuspecting moments of emotional susceptibility. 

While this HBO Max title can be breezy and comfortable in its wavy presentation, the acclaimed actors on hand bring more than enough dramatic pull to keep us invested amidst the frivolous fun. Gemma Chan's compelling supporting turn, in particular, is among Let Them All Talk's best, richest, most rewarding surprises. 

Stream Let Them All Talk on HBO Max. 

Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit (Amazon)

Given the restraints of her CIA operative character, Gemma Chan doesn't get a whole lot of time to shine in Kenneth Branagh's amusingly pulpy adaptation, Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit. Nevertheless, as she would demonstrate in several roles set to follow, the actress can make an impression even with such limitations in place. 

Chan's character is fairly by-the-books in style, but she has moments of wit and humor that make Amy Chang more distinguished than she was on the page. The results are not her most memorable role, but it's a good showcase for how Chan can make even minor characters like this one stand out in the star's favor.

Buy/Rent Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit on Amazon.

Fantastic Beasts And Where To Find Them (HBO Max)

As Madam Ya Zhou, a head witch in the International Confederation of Wizards, Gemma Chan started her blockbuster career in earnest with Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them. While she didn't have a long residence in the Harry Potter-inspired spin-off series, the actress still stands out, with her striking screen presence and her sharp fashion senses playing a key part in making an impressionable supporting character. As her career continues to expand, this role seems very quaint in comparison. But, it should come as a credit to her — she only continues to develop as a performer and find several new, exciting ventures.

Stream Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them on HBO Max.
Buy/Rent Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them on Amazon.

Raya And The Last Dragon (Disney+)

Though she's better known for her live-action work, Gemma Chan was quick to impress with her voice-only performance as Namaari as a part of Disney's Raya and the Last Dragon cast. As the main antagonist of the animated movie, the voice actress is given a great deal of freedom to ham it up in such a wicked role, but it's a credit to her capabilities that she builds someone more complex and nuanced to the part instead, relying more on building on the long history shared between her and this plucky title character and allowing us to get a better understanding of who she is and why she does what she does throughout the course of this film. 

While this year's animated feature wasn't quite as captivating as other recent Disney features like Tangled, Wreck-It Ralph, and Zootopia, Raya and the Last Dragon is made stronger through its exceptional voice cast, including Gemma Chan's notable turn, providing one of the most intriguing recent Disney villains. 

Stream Raya and the Last Dragon on Disney+.
Buy/Rent Raya and the Last Dragon on Amazon.

The Double (Amazon)

Easily among the best, most stylish, and most inspired films in Gemma Chan's filmography, The Double saw the actress reuniting with writer-director Richard Ayoade for a witty, whimsical adaptation of Fyodor Dostoevsky's experimental novella of the same name. 

Centered around a government agent (Jesse Eisenberg) who finds his unenviable life in havoc when he's in the company of his new co-worker: his doppelgänger, only smarter, more charming, and ultimately more dangerously charismatic, this mysterious dramedy carries its quirky noir influences with stride, but for all its filmmaking flourishes, it's made fully realized by its terrific cast, which includes Mia Wasikowska, Wallace Shawn, Noah Taylor, Sally Hawkins, James Fox, and Yasmin Page in addition to Gemma Chan and Eisenberg's double-handler. 

While Chan is, yet again, given only a small part, her involvement assures her strong working relationship with this promising actor-turned-director, and it allowed us to see another side of this performer in such a crafty, cunning film. 

Buy/Rent The Double on Amazon. 

Exam 

A nifty, high-stakes, low-budget chamber thriller made with craft and care, 2009's Exam is an intriguing morality tale that's elevated by its enclosed sense of chaos. Though it often values concept over characters, it's a credit to the game cast that the indie film proves to be so pulsating. That, of course, includes Gemma Chan. 

Though we never get a full read on these intentionally mysterious characters, the newcomer actress, in her first film no less, brings a wealth of palpable suspense —allowing us to get into the ever-frantic minds of these isolated intellects. The results aren't sensational but they're impressive, to be sure, given the restraints of the narrative and movie's finances, but it also allowed Chan to give her first standout performance, and one of her most exceptional, right out of the gate. 

Rent Exam on Amazon.

Gemma Chan will next be on the big screen with her Eternals cast mate Harry Styles and her Jack Ryan co-star Chris Pine in Don't Worry Darling, which opens on September 23. Follow CinemaBlend for the latest developments in film, TV, and streaming. 

For years, Michelle Yeoh has been considered one of the most talented and fascinating actresses on the international stage, taking part in everything from all-time great action movies all over the world to Academy Award winners that are unlike anything anyone has ever seen before. With so many eyes being on the Malaysian actress following the success of Everything Everywhere All at Once, now seems like the perfect time to take a step back and look at the great roles she has played throughout her career, one that has spanned decades, genres, and markets, creating a legacy like no other.

Here are 12 great Michelle Yeoh movies that are either available on various streaming platforms or can be rented or purchased online. There’s a lot to unpack here, so let’s get started with this remarkable journey…

Everything Everywhere All At Once (2022)

Directed by The Daniels (Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert), Everything Everywhere All at Once is one of those rare movies that come along every decade or so and completely revolutionize the way we think about cinema. This mind-bending multiversal adventure, which was at times absurdly funny while others incredibly emotional, tells the story of Evelyn Wang (Michelle Yeoh), a Chinese-American immigrant whose laundromat, marriage, and relationship with her daughter is falling apart. Just when it seems like life couldn’t get any worse for the woman being audited by the IRS, Evelyn discovers that she is the key to the survival of the multiverse. Talk about pressure.

By blending elements of kung fu, drama, sci-fi, and every other genre under the sun, the Daniels created a rich, unique, and iconic tour de force that we’ll be talking about for years to come. And a lot of that is due to the wonderful cast, especially the versatile performance by the now Academy Award-winning Michelle Yeoh.

Stream Everything Everywhere All At Once on Showtime.
Stream Everything Everywhere All At Once On Paramount+ with Showtime.
Buy Everything Everywhere All At Once On Amazon.

Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings (2021)

Following her appearance in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, Michelle Yeoh became one the actors who have played more than one character in the MCU with her portrayal of Ying Nan in 2021’s Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. One of the best things about Phase 4, this martial arts-heavy comic book movie follows Shuan, a.k.a., Xu Shang-Chi (Simu Liu) as he uncovers his past, family legacy, and some awesome powers. Traveling from San Francisco to Macau to the hidden dimension of Ta Lo, Shang-Chi’s journey takes him far and wide as he prepares to battle his father, Xu Wenwu (Tony Leung), the leader of the Ten Rings organization, who is also known as The Mandarin.

Though her character doesn’t show up until late in the movie, Yeoh makes the most of her time as Shang-Chi’s aunt, providing for some of the movie’s most touching scenes while also being a part of a few inventive action sequences in the magical land full of mythical creatures in Destin Daniel Cretton’s MCU debut.

Stream Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings on Disney+.

Rent/Buy Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings on Amazon.

Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000)

Ang Lee’s martial arts masterpiece Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon became an international sensation upon its release in 2000 thanks to its poignant story of Li Mu Bai (Chow Yun-fat) and Yu Shu Lien (Michelle Yeoh), two prolific warriors in 19th Century China who're afraid to express their love for one another because they feel bound by loyalty to Shu Lien’s deceased fiancé who was Mu Bai’s best friend. But, the two may never get a chance to reveal their true feelings after a ghost from the past reappears, bringing deception and death with them.

With beautifully-choreographed fight sequences that make the characters feel like they're out of an epic fantasy, and a poignant story about loss and love, it's easy to see why Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon remains such a treasure more than 20 years after its release.

Stream Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon on Pluto.
Rent/Buy Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon on Amazon. 

Crazy Rich Asians (2018)

When Rachel Chu (Constance Wu) is invited to join her longtime boyfriend, Nick Young (Henry Golding), at his best friend’s wedding in Singapore, she quickly realizes there is a lot about him that she does not know, specifically his family’s wealth and opulent lifestyle. If dealing with jealous eyes pining for her boyfriend isn’t bad enough, Rachel must also prove herself to Nick’s overbearing and disapproving mother, Eleanor Sung-Young (Michelle Yeoh).

The glitz, glamor, pomp, and circumstance of Jon M. Chu’s Crazy Rich Asians makes the 2018 romantic comedy a feast for the eyes, but the relationship between Rachel and Eleanor as it transforms from one that is bitter to one built on a mutual respect really sells the movie. That’s thanks, in part, to Michelle Yeoh’s commanding performance as the Young family matriarch.

Rent/Buy Crazy Rich Asians on Amazon.

Police Story 3: Supercop (1992)

One of the best Jackie Chan movies, 1992’s Police Story 3: Supercop (also known as Super Cop) follows police officer Chan Ka Kui (Chan) as he goes undercover in a Chinese prison in order to infiltrate a drug cartel. After earning the group’s trust, Ka Kui and another undercover agent known as Jessica Yang (Michelle Yeoh) travel to Hong Kong in order to bring the whole operation down and bring its leaders to justice.

Police Story 3: Supercop is mostly remembered for some of Jackie Chan’s best stunts and fight scenes, but a lot of the great action sequences involve the skill and nerves of Michelle Yeoh who famously performed many of her own stunts, including landing a motorcycle on a moving train.

Stream Police Story 3: Supercop on The Criterion Channel.
Rent/Buy Police Story 3: Supercop on Amazon.

Sunshine (2007)

With the sun at risk of going out and bringing the end to all life on Earth, a group of scientists are sent on a last-ditch mission to fire off a device that could potentially rekindle the flame of the dying star. This seemingly impossible task becomes all the more difficult after the crew discover a distress beacon.

Danny Boyle’s 2007 sci-fi thriller, Sunshine, has one of the most impressive casts you’ll see in the genre, including Cillian Murphy, Chris Evans, Rose Byrne, Benedict Wong, and Michelle Yeoh, who portrays the spiritual botanist, Corazon, aboard Icarus II.

Rent/Buy Sunshine on Amazon.

Tomorrow Never Dies (1997)

James Bond (Pierce Brosnan) comes face-to-face with one of his most sadistic and well-connected enemies yet in Tomorrow Never Dies, perhaps the best of Brosnan’s 007 movies, when he is sent to find out how and why Elliot Carver (Jonathan Pryce) and his powerful Carver Media Group Network know all the breaking news before it even happens.

Michelle Yeoh became perhaps the most badass “Bond Girl” of the Pierce Brosnan era in Tomorrow Never Dies with her portrayal of Chinese MSS spy Wai Lin who helps 007 prevent Elliot Carver from tricking the world into kicking off a devastating military conflict. Whether she's standing as Bond's equal, taking on multiple people at once in awesome fight scenes, or guiding a motorcycle through a congested city, Yeoh showed the world she wasn't to be messed with.

Stream Tomorrow Never Dies on HBO Max.
Rent/Buy Tomorrow Never Dies on Amazon. 

Magnificent Warriors (1987)

Set in 1930s Japanese-occupied China, Magnificent Warriors tells the story of Fok Ming-ming (Michelle Yeoh), a Chinese pilot and adventurer who leads a group of resistance fighters to take out the foreign invaders through any means necessary.

David Chung’s 1987 Hong Kong action classic could be compared to the adventures shown in Raiders of the Lost Ark, though instead of Harrison Ford fighting Nazis and searching for mythical treasures you have Michelle Yeoh flying fighter planes, kicking all kinds of ass, and attempting to free her people from Japanese forces.

Stream Magnificent Warriors on The Criterion Channel.
Rent/Buy Magnificent Warriors on Amazon. 

Memoirs Of A Geisha (2005)

The 2005 Academy Award-winning drama Memoirs of a Geisha follows Chiyo Sakamoto as she goes from a young girl (Suzuka Ohgo) sold to a Geisha house in early 20th Century Japan to the elegant Sayuri Nitta (Ziyi Zhang), following a life of intense training and abuse by the house’s elders. Along the way, Chiyo encounters everyone from the beautiful yet cruel Hatsumomo (Gong Li), to reluctant mother figure Mameha (Michelle Yeoh), among others.

Much like she would do in Crazy Rich Asians more than a decade later, Michelle Yeoh steps in as a stern mother figure in Memoirs of a Geisha, who, despite seeming cold, distant, and bothered by Chiyo, cares deeply for the girl. In this character, Chiyo finds one of her greatest tests and sets out to prove herself and earn the trust and respect of Mameha, which is no easy task.

Rent/Buy Memoirs of a Geisha on Amazon. 

Yes, Madam! (1985)

After a man in possession of incriminating microfilm is murdered on the streets of Hong Kong, it is up to Inspector Ng (Michelle Yeoh) and Scottish investigator Carrie Morris (Cynthia Rothrock) to get to the bottom of the case and bring those responsible to justice.

One of Michelle Yeoh’s earliest leading roles, Yes, Madam! showed Hong Kong cinema and the rest of the world just what she was capable of achieving with her acting and martial arts abilities. While not as well known as some of the Hong Kong action films she made in the early 1990s, Yeoh’s work here should not be overlooked.

Stream Yes, Madam! on The Criterion Channel.
Rent/Buy Yes, Madam! on Amazon.

Wing Chun (1994)

Yip Wing Chun (Michelle Yeoh) is a hard-hitting practitioner of the martial arts and tofu stand operator who becomes an unlikely hero when a group of bandits barges into her town and treats it like their personal playground and piggy bank. But, when one of her nearest and dearest friends is abducted by the menacing force, the fearless hero does everything in her power to make the gang pay.

One of the best parts about Wing Chun is the fact that Michelle Yeoh’s character masters martial arts at a very young age as a way to fight off men trying to force her hand in marriage. This strong, independent character, who surrounds herself with equally heroic women, takes matters into her own hands at every turn.

Rent/Buy Wing Chun on Amazon.

Reign Of Assassins (2010)

Years after taking up an assumed identity to protect the remains of a legendary Buddhist monk, a lethal assassin by the name of Drizzle (Michelle Yeoh) is forced to confront her past when her former partners-in-crime return with a series of demands.

Just as was the case earlier in her career, Reign of Assassins gave Michelle Yeoh yet another opportunity to prove why she is one of the most respected and hardest working martial artists/actors of her time. This epic story has multiple great fight scenes and an intricate plot that puts it right up there with Yeoh’s previous work.

Stream Reign of Assassins on Tubi.
Rent/Buy Reign of Assassins on Amazon. 

BONUS: Star Trek: Discovery (2017 - Present)

This list is supposed to be about movies, and Star Trek: Discovery is a show, but the Paramount+ original is just too good to not be included here. Taking place 10 years before the classic Star Trek TV series, the streaming show tells the story of the crew of the USS Discovery as they explore the far reaches of space and even the Mirror Universe and its unexplained wonders.

The inclusion of the Mirror Universe in Star Trek: Discovery is what allows Michelle Yeoh to play two versions of the same character: the warmer Philipaa Georgiou and her more ruthless counterpart who is a tyrannical emperor in her own dimension (and is set to get her own series), which is perfect for an actor with the skills possessed by Yeoh.

Stream Star Trek: Discovery on Paramount+.
Buy Star Trek: Discovery on Amazon.

It is easy to see just why Michelle Yeoh is so respected in practically every part of the world with her dynamic fighting skills and stunt work, as well as her acting skills that only seem to get better as the years go on. And with multiple upcoming projects in the works, it won’t be long until we see Yeoh on the screen once again in some of the most highly anticipated 2023 movies and beyond. 

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These days, landing a part in the Marvel movies is often considered to be a clear indication that an actor has made it, which means that I think we can confidently say that Awkwafina (née Nora Lum) has made it, if her previous success has not made that clear enough.

In fact, with a few notable exceptions, the trailblazing Chinese-American rapper and comedian is just about the most famous face in the Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings cast, in addition to already being one of the most famous faces in Hollywood. Arguably, the moment that brought her to that level of fame was her history-making Golden Globe win for the first of the following Awkwafina movies and TV shows we recommend any fans or fans-to-be should stream or rent.

The Farewell (Amazon Prime)

A young woman (Awkwafina) returns to China for a wedding, only to learn that the ceremony is a ruse for her family to gather and visit their terminally ill matriarch, whom they decide to keep unaware of her diagnosis.

Why it’s worth checking out if you like Awkwafina: Awkwafina became the first Asian-American to receive a Golden Globe for a feature film role after winning Best Actress for her performance in 2019’s The Farewell - writer and director Lulu Wang’s bizarre, semi-autobiographical dramedy from A24.

Stream The Farewell on Amazon Prime.

Rent/Buy The Farewell on Amazon.

Crazy Rich Asians (HBO Max)

New York native Rachel (Fresh Off the Boat cast member Constance Wu) travels to Singapore for a wedding with her boyfriend (Henry Golding) where she meets his family for the first time and is surprised to learn how extravagantly wealthy they are.

Why it’s worth checking out if you like Awkwafina: Another Golden Globe-nominated ensemble dramedy featuring a cast of predominantly Asian actors is Crazy Rich Asians, director Jon M. Chu’s delightful, romantic 2018 blockbuster based on Kevin Kwan’s novel, in which Awkwafina (as Rachel’s friend Goh Peik-lin) shares the screen with a few of her Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings co-stars (namely Michelle Yeoh and Ronny Chieng).

Stream Crazy Rich Asians on HBO Max.

Rent/Buy Crazy Rich Asians on Amazon.

Awkwafina Is Nora From Queens (HBO Max)

With her single father (B.D. Wong), grandmother (Orange is the New Black cast member Lori Tan Chinn), and cousin (Saturday Night Live’s Bowen Yang) offering their modest assistance, underachieving, twenty-something Chinese-American Nora (Awkwafina) tries to figure out adulthood while living in Flushing, New York.

Why it’s worth checking out if you like Awkwafina: Awkwafina also got to share the screen with her Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings co-star, Simu Liu, in an episode of Awkwafina is Nora from Queens, her own semi-autobiographical Comedy Central original series that showcases her unique sense of humor in irreverent, yet refreshingly relatable, ways.

Stream Awkwafina Is Nora From Queens on HBO Max.

Buy Awkwafina Is Nora From Queens on Amazon.

Storks (Hulu)

In a world in which the myth of storks delivering babies is true, but they have moved on to more standard package delivery, one experienced bird (Andy Samberg) and an orphaned human (Katie Crown) team-up to bring a child to her family after receiving a mistaken baby order.

Why it’s worth checking out if you like Awkwafina: Among the star-studded voice cast of the cleverly funny 2016 family film, Storks (also including Kelsey Grammer, Jennifer Aniston, and Danny Trejo), Awkwafina has a small role as the voice of a quail aptly named Quail.

Stream Storks on Hulu.

Rent/Buy Storks on Amazon.

The Angry Birds Movie 2 (Amazon Rental)

The winged residents of Bird Island and their rivals on Pig Island are forced to set aside their differences and work together after a new island emerges, threatening their mutual existence.

Why it’s worth checking out if you like Awkwafina: Another animated movie featuring a cast of various kinds of birds is The Angry Birds Movie 2 - the 2019 sequel to the hit 2016 film inspired by the popular mobile gaming app - but instead of another winged creature, Awkwafina lends her voice to the role of a pig named Courtney.

Rent/Buy The Angry Birds Movie 2 on Amazon.

Dude (Netflix)

Four young women (Pretty Little Liars cast member Lucy Hale, X-Men movies star Alexandra Shipp, original Skins actress Kathryn Prescott, and Awkwafina) struggle to come to terms with loss of time and loved ones as their high school graduation draws near.

Why it’s worth checking out if you like Awkwafina: Witness the birth of a new flavor of stoner movies in the dramatically grounded, Netflix original coming-of-age comedy Dude, in which then-30-year-old Awkwafina delivers her signature sense of humor to the role of a teenager.

Stream Dude on Netflix.

Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising (Amazon Rental)

A married couple (Seth Rogen and Rose Byrne) team up with their former neighbor and rival (Zac Efron) in order to take down a recently formed sorority (headed by Chloë Grace Moretz) that has been causing them distress after moving in next door.

Why it’s worth checking out if you like Awkwafina: Awkwafina actually made her feature film debut in another raunchy, female-centric, (somewhat) coming-of-age comedy, Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising - director Nicholas Stoller’s 2016 sequel to his acclaimed 2014 hit comedy Neighbors - as a member of the centerpiece sorority, Alpha Nu.

Rent/Buy Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising on Amazon.

Ocean’s Eight (HBO Max)

Almost immediately after being released from prison, a master thief (Academy Award winner Sandra Bullock) rounds up a crew of the most criminally skilled women she can find in order to pull off an elaborate jewel heist on the night of the Met Gala.

Why it’s worth checking out if you like Awkwafina: Another fun, female-centric comedy featuring Awkwafina in its star-studded ensemble cast is Ocean’s Eight - director Gary Ross’ 2018 spin-off of Steven Soderbergh’s stylish trilogy that began with 2001’s Ocean’s Eleven - in which the actress plays a motormouth recruited onto Debbie Ocean’s (the younger sister of George Clooney’s Daniel Ocean) crew for her impressive skills in street hustling and pickpocketing.

Stream Ocean’s Eight on HBO Max.

Rent/Buy Ocean’s Eight on Amazon.

Paradise Hills (Amazon Rental)

A young woman (American Horror Story: 1984 cast member Emma Roberts) wakes up to find herself enrolled into a seemingly idyllic center for reform, but slowly learns more about its true, hidden nature the more she rebels against its enforced philosophies.

Why it’s worth checking out if you like Awkwafina: Another star-studded, female-centric ensemble featuring Awkwafina is 2019’s Paradise Hills - a visually inventive, dystopian parable dripping with timely social commentary from director Alice Waddington.

Rent/Buy Paradise Hills on Amazon.

Jumanji: The Next Level (Starz)

In order to rescue their friend, Spencer (Alex Wolff), from a truly immersive video game that they once survived two years earlier, three college students must re-enter the game and take on new, and more dangerous, environments, but accidentally take two elderly relatives along with them.

Why it’s worth checking out if you like Awkwafina: In the sequel to the hit video game-inspired reboot of the classic 1995 magic-board-game movie, Awkwafina joined the Jumanji: The Next Level cast as Ming Fleetwood, who is initially the new avatar for Spencer before a mid-way body swap scene leads Spencer’s grandfather, Eddie (Danny DeVito), to assume the master thief’s identity - and the actress does a flawless job portraying both.

Stream Jumanji: The Next Level on Starz.

Rent/Buy Jumanji: The Next Level on Amazon.

Raya And The Last Dragon (Disney+)

In order to save her world from a race of evil, monstrous creatures known as Druun that have returned after they were defeated by dragons hundreds of years earlier, a lone, female warrior embarks on a quest to find the last of the reptilian beasts and rid her world of the sinister threat once and for all.

Why it’s worth checking out if you like Awkwafina: In what is arguably her biggest voice role yet, Awkwafina shares the title role of the acclaimed Disney animated adventure Raya and the Last Dragon with Raya actress Kelly Marie Tran, as the film’s “last dragon,” named Sisu, who turns out to be a more meek creature than Raya anticipates.

Stream Raya And The Last Dragon on Disney+.

Rent/Buy Raya And The Last Dragon on Amazon.

The Dark Crystal: Age Of Resistance (Netflix)

After uncovering a grave, disturbing secret about the sinister race of creatures that rule their magical world, the Gelflings decide to develop a rebellion and take back ownership of their land at any cost necessary.

Why it’s worth checking out if you like Awkwafina: Another one of Awkwafina’s more notable voice roles in a fantasy story is The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance - the thrilling, Emmy-winning Netflix original series continuation of Jim Henson’s 1982 epic starring a cast consisting entirely of puppets - in which she plays a member of the oppressive Skeksis named skekLach (otherwise known as The Collector).

Stream The Dark Crystal: Age Of Resistance on Netflix.

If you have already binged each and every one of these titles, there are plenty more starring Awkwafina to look out for in the future. She will next appear in the Apple TV+ original sci-fi drama Swan Song, an animated adaptation of the Aaron Blabey’s novel The Bad Guys, a biopic about successful Chinese gambler Cheung Yin "Kelly" Sun called The Baccarat Machine, and Disney’s live-action The Little Mermaid remake, in which she voices Scuttle the Seagull.

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Henry Golding’s career has been on a major upward rise ever since his breakout role in Crazy Rich Asians. Since that film, Golding has been the leading man in other hits, such as A Simple Favor and Last Christmas. Much of Golding’s work has been as the romantic lead in a comedy or drama, but he’s been branching out to other genres. In 2021, he took on the action world as the lead in Snake Eyes.

With Snake Eyes now available to watch online, Henry Golding is bound to acquire many new admirers. They will want to see him and the rest of the Snake Eyes cast in other films and TV shows. Henry Golding fans, new or returning ones, have plenty of movies and TV shows to stream or rent starring or co-starring the Crazy Rich Asians actor. Here’s what to watch and where you can watch it if you like Henry Golding.

Crazy Rich Asians (HBO Max)

In the romantic dramedy Crazy Rich Asians, Rachel Chu (Constance Wu) travels to Singapore and discovers her boyfriend, Nick Young (Henry Golding), comes from a very wealthy family. At first, Rachel is shunned by Nick’s mother Eleanor (Michelle Yeoh), and Rachel herself fears that she won’t be good enough for his upper-class life.

Crazy Rich Asians is the film that made Henry Golding the face of many young girls' and guys’ dreams. It helped propel his career to leading man status. It was a huge box office hit, won lots of critical praise, and made its cast even more well-known. Fans of Crazy Rich Asians can’t wait to see Rachel, Nick, and the rest of the Crazy Rich Asians cast return for their planned sequels, even if that means fans may have to wait a while to see it.

Stream Crazy Rich Asians on HBO Max.

Rent Crazy Rich Asians on Amazon.

A Simple Favor (Amazon)

A Simple Favor follows the unexpected friendship between Stephanie (Anna Kendrick) and Emily (Blake Lively). The two women seem like an odd combination, but they quickly become devoted friends. Then Emily disappears and Stephanie makes it her mission to discover what happened to her. Stephanie sort of starts to take her place, especially with Emily’s husband, Sean (Henry Golding).

A Simple Favor is a fun murder mystery with a really entertaining final half, with plenty of twists. Golding is the male lead and holds his own next to the powerhouses that are Lively and Kendrick in this movie. Sean is sensitive and attractive enough to make you understand why Emily and Stephanie are drawn to him, but also dubious enough to make you wonder if he could have murdered his wife. A Simple Favor is one of the best Amazon Prime movies to rent if you want something that’s both thrilling and really funny.

Rent A Simple Favor on Amazon.

Last Christmas (Cinemax Go)

Last Christmas is a Holiday romantic comedy about a woman whose life seems out of control. Kate (Emilia Clarke) has sort of given up on life after nearly dying from a heart condition. She was saved due to a heart transplant. One day Kate meets Tom (Henry Golding), who helps Kate start to regain control of her life and become more of a kind and loving person.

Many talk about Last Christmas because of the surprise twist ending. Last Christmas is a typical romantic movie, which means you want Tom and Kate to have their happy ending--mainly because of Clarke and Golding’s great on-screen chemistry. Tom is good at helping support Kate, who gets to reveal her kind heart because of Tom, in more ways than one.

Stream Last Christmas on Cinemax Go.

Rent Last Christmas on Amazon.

The Gentlemen (Showtime)

The Gentlemen is the 2019 Guy Ritchie crime comedy that has an all-star cast that includes Matthew McConaughey, Charlie Hunnam, Hugh Grant, Michelle Dockery, and Colin Farrell. It follows Mickey Pearson (Matthew McConaughey) as he attempts to sell his very successful weed empire. He’s trying to sell it to Matthew (Jeremy Strong), but the transaction isn’t as smooth as expected.

Henry Golding plays Dry Eye, “the antagonist” of The Gentlemen. He wants Mickey’s empire and will stop at nothing to get it. Golding is the right mixture of devious, scummy, and dangerous but - for the most part - still a comedic enough villain to not incite years of nightmares from its viewers.

Stream The Gentlemen on Showtime.

Rent The Gentlemen on Amazon.

Monsoon (Netflix)

Monsoon follows Kit (Henry Golding) as he returns to Saigon after leaving the country at six years old, after the Vietnam War. This was over thirty years ago. Kit is there to bury his parents in their home country. He reunites with a friend from his childhood, sees his old home, and finds love along the way.

Monsoon is all about a man’s journey to connect with a country he long abandoned. It’s also about discovering what his connection with this country means for his identity. Monsoon is a quiet movie that mainly relies on Henry Golding’s acting skills to connect viewers to Kit and his journey. It’s one of the best movies on Netflix to watch if you want a slow-burner film.

Stream Monsoon on Netflix.

Rent Monsoon on Amazon.

The Travel Show (Youtube)

The Travel Show is a BBC original program that began in 2013 and is still currently airing. The show follows several different presenters as they highlight different places, advancements, and customs of cities around the world. Some of the cities featured are London,Tokyo, and Kuala Lumpur. A few of the presenters include Ade Adepitan, Rajan Datar, Benjamin Zand, and Henry Golding.

Golding usually highlights different things to do, see, eat, and experience in Kuala Lumpur. He joined the series in 2014. The Travel Show is available to stream on its official Youtube page.

Stream The Travel Show on Youtube.

Star Wars: Visions (Disney+)

Star Wars: Visions is an upcoming animated anthology series for Disney+. It consists of nine short films produced by six Japanese animation studios. The stories in Star Wars: Visions will be set in the Star Wars Universe. The show is one of the most anticipated fall 2021 shows.

Star Wars: Visions has a very impressive voice cast that includes Henry Golding, Lucy Liu, and Joseph Gordon-Levitt. Golding will appear in the movie called Akakiri. Star Wars: Visions will begin to stream on Disney+ on September 22, 2021.

Stream Star Wars: Visions Soon on Disney+.

Henry Golding can next be seen as Mr. Elliot in the upcoming Netflix Persuasion adaptation. Snake Eyes is currently available to rent or purchase on your favorite video-on-demand service.

Rent Snake Eyes on Amazon.

In The Heights premiered on HBO Max and in theaters on June 11, 2021. Since its release, the film has gained praise and criticism from both film critics and audiences. Now that the general public can watch In The Heights streaming, many fans of the film want to know what Jon M. Chu movies are next for the director. Chu has a lot of exciting projects in the works, including Wicked and the Crazy Rich Asians sequels.

Jon M. Chu will be very busy in the next couple of years, taking on many more projects with the same level of expectation, anticipation, and hope as In the Heights. Wicked alone puts a lot of pressure on Chu, as it's the favorite musical of many, and then he has the added pressure to please the fans of the original Crazy Rich Asians movie. Let’s explore the upcoming Jon M. Chu movies and TV shows.

Home Before Dark Season 2 - June 11, 2021 - Completed

Jon M. Chu is one of the executive producers of Home Before Dark. He also directed a few episodes of the show, including the series premiere. The Apple TV+ series was renewed for a second season even before the first season premiered. It premiered in April 2020 and the second season started streaming on June 11, 2021.

Home Before Dark stars Brooklynn Prince, Jim Sturgess, Abby Miller, Louis Herthum, and Michael Weston. It follows a young girl who moves from a big city to a small town where her father used to live. She then uncovers a mystery and a cold case. Basically, Home Before Dark is about a child journalist. It’s based on the real-life of Hilde Lysiak, the youngest member of the Society of Professional Journalists.

Home Before Dark Season 2 streams new episodes every Friday for ten weeks. The Season 2 finale is set for August 13, 2021.

Untitled Thai Cave Rescue Project - TBD - Announced

In July 2018, Chu took to Twitter to declare that he refused “to let Hollywood #whitewashout the Thai Cave rescue story!” He then joined Ivanhoe Pictures to direct a film based on the story. The real-life story happened between June and July 2018, it involved a junior football (soccer to Americans) team who were trapped inside the Tham Luang Nang Non cave in Chiang Rai Province, Thailand. Twelve members of the team, ages eight to sixteen, and their 25-year-old assistant coach were all trapped in the cave.

They were rescued by an international team of over 10,000 members. In 2019, Tom Waller released his film version of the story called The Cave. In May 2020, MGM also began production on a film version of the events called Thirteen Lives. Ron Howard is directing and the film began filming in March 2021.

The last update of Chu’s version of this story was in August 2019. Nattawut "Baz" Poonpiriya joined the project to co-direct with Chu. It's set to be either a miniseries or a film for Netflix.

China Rich Girlfriend-TBD-Announced

After the box office success and critical praise for Crazy Rich Asians, Jon M. Chu announced plans to return for the sequels. The announcement of the potential sequels came in 2018, but as of June 2021, there hasn’t been any real news on the development of the Crazy Rich Asians sequels.

In an interview with Insider, Henry Golding, who plays Nick Young in Crazy Rich Asians, told the news site that everyone blames the cast for their busy schedules for the films’ delays, but he said it was really Chu who was hard to “lock down.” Golding added:

The second novel in the Crazy Rich Asians series, China Rich Girlfriend takes place two years after the events of the first novel. It follows Rachel (played by Constance Wu in the movie), Nick, and their friends and family as they deal with a new set of problems.

Rich People Problems - TBD - Announced

In 2019, Gemma Chan, who plays Astrid in Crazy Rich Asians, told Variety that she heard the plan was to film both sequels back-to-back. At that time, the plan was to film them in 2020 but clearly, they have been delayed even further. However, Chu still presumably plans to film China Rich Girlfriend and Rich People Problems consecutively.

Rich People Problems takes place two years after the events of China Rich Girlfriend and concludes the story of Rachel, Nick, and their friends and families. Whenever the Crazy Rich Asians sequels finally go into production, most of the original cast should be on board, including Awkwafina, Michelle Yeoh, Ken Jeong, and Harry Shum Jr.

Wicked - TBD - Announced

Since 2004, a movie adaptation of the hit Broadway musical Wicked has been discussed and anticipated among fans. In 2019, Universal announced plans for a December 2021 Wicked release. Stephen Daldry planned to direct the adaptation but left the project in 2020. In February 2021, Jon M. Chu signed on to direct Wicked.

In June 2021, Chu told Collider that Wicked was in the early stages of development, but he couldn’t answer if production on it would begin in 2021. He shared that filming In The Heights showed him the importance of music and why musicals were so vital. He also shared that he had to find the truth with each song.

Chu also discussed the importance of making Elphaba and Glinda’s friendship the focal point of everything. He said this about the upcoming Wicked movie.

Hopefully, Wicked begins filming sometime in 2021, but the film won’t likely won't go into production until we receive some casting news.

Triage - TBD - Post-Production

In 2020, ABC ordered Triage as a “second cycle” of pilots. In January 2020, former ABC Entertainment President Karey Burke and EVP Development and Content Strategy Simran Sethi announced plans to change how ABC developed pilots. Along with the first wave of pilots, there would be a second cycle. They would have the first wave ordered by January of that year, and the second cycle would happen sometime outside the traditional pilot filming and ordering window.

This was announced prior to the lockdown, when many movies and TV shows had production shutdown or delayed due to COVID-19. As of June 2021, Deadline lists Triage as still part of the second cycle, and in May 2021, ABC announced that the Triage pilot was finished and they were still evaluating and discussing the show. They hadn’t made a decision yet on whether to give it a full-season order.

Jon M. Chu directed the pilot and is one of the executive producers of Triage. The series is a medical drama that follows Finley Briar, a leading surgeon, over the course of three decades at the same hospital. Triage’s cast includes Parisa Fitz-Henley, who plays the lead character, Bex Taylor-Klaus, Michael Ealy, Vondie Curtis-Hall, Gabriel Sloyer, and Kathleen Robertson.

A definitive answer about the fate of Triage will likely be made before Fall 2021.

Originally, Jon M. Chu was hired to direct the Disney+ Willow series but left the project in January 2021. He has many projects in the works after his In the Heights success, which is already set to be one of the most discussed 2021 movies of the summer, so he has no plans of slowing down anytime soon. You can watch In the Heights streaming on HBO Max until July 11, 2021.

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Over the past five years, the entertainment industry has looked inward and engaged in difficult conversations. This includes pushing for a safer environment free from workplace harassment, as well as inclusivity both in front and behind the camera. Jon M. Chu’s acclaimed 2018 movie Crazy Rich Asians has been praised for telling a story about Asian characters, but there’s also been some backlash about colorism in the project. Now Chu has admitted some fault in the scandal.

Crazy Rich Asians featured a stellar cast of Asian actors, and has been universally acclaimed for its story and cinematography. While this was a groundbreaking moment in film history, some criticized that the servants of the movie were played by South Asian actors with darker skin tones, while the principal cast were East Asian stars with fair complexion. Jon M. Chu has engaged in the conversation, admitting he could have added new characters or fleshed out the servants in the film. He explained,

While making sure that Crazy Rich Asians was an accurate adaptation to the novel of the same name, Jon M. Chu apparently was too nervous to make massive changes to the story. Upon hearing the criticism around casting for the movie, he’s seemingly thought about ways that he could have handled things differently.

Jon M. Chu’s comments to Insider show how much the film industry is constantly looking inward recently. While Crazy Rich Asians was in many ways a groundbreaking moment in regards to representation, others felt it was damaging to the South Asian population. And rather than fighting against this criticism, Chu is addressing how he might have fixed the point of contention in his acclaimed blockbuster.

Both Crazy Rich Asians and Jon M. Chu’s latest film In the Heights are currently available on HBO Max. You can use this link to sign up for the streaming service.

Later in that same interview, Jon M. Chu further went on to explain that he wishes that he fleshed out characters in Crazy Rich Asians like the servants, cooks, and guards that are constantly tending to the wealthy characters. He went on to spitball ideas, saying:

The conversation around representation is a complicated one. On top of focusing on the principal characters of a movie, one must also consider the message being sent by tertiary ones. And while Crazy Rich Asians is still a movie to be proud of, Jon M. Chu is seemingly happy to engage in the discourse and continue listening to other voices.

In the Heights is in theaters and streaming now. Be sure to check out the 2021 movie release dates to plan your next movie experience.

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Asian American movies like The Joy Luck Club have been one of the few to showcase predominantly Asian casts, but things are starting to change. Thanks in large part to the box office success of Crazy Rich Asians, Hollywood has turned their eyes to Asian American stories. Movies like Minari are also showing Asian American stories can be artful and award worthy. Check out the list below for more films that showcase the Asian American experience and culture. Or, in the case of our first and earliest entry, its importance in Asian American cinema...

Enter the Dragon (1973)

While this movie doesn’t focus on the Asian American experience per se, there can be no denying Enter The Dragon’s significance in Asian American cinema. Directed by Robert Clouse for Warner Bros. (and co-produced with Hong Kong's Concord Production, Inc), the set up is simple: Lee, played by Bruce Lee, is tasked by British intelligence to infiltrate the martial arts competition run by the notorious drug lord, Han, and take him down. Of course this film is often regarded as one of the greatest martial arts action films of all time, but what it represents is much more than that. Enter the Dragon and Bruce Lee helped break down western stereotypes of Asians, especially Asian men, who were commonly viewed as emasculated.

This was done not just with Bruce Lee’s physique, but also through his insane amount of charisma and philosophy. Lee’s work and influence was also responsible for the Kung Fu-mania that swept America in the 1970’s all the way to today, with the CW’s reboot of Kung Fu. Lee’s style of martial arts also launched several action stars, including his close friend Chuck Norris, of Walker, Texas Ranger fame. Sadly, Lee passed away before the film was released, but Enter The Dragon’s influence on pop culture is still being felt today.

Rent Enter the Dragon on Amazon.

Joy Luck Club (1993)

Only the second major studio film to feature a predominantly Asian cast (go back nearly 30 years to the problematic Flower Drum Song for the first), Wayne Wang directed this multi-generational movie based on the book of the same name. Featuring early performances from The Mandalorian actress Ming-na Wen, as well as Rosalind Chao and Lisa Lu, The Joy Luck Club is about four older Chinese immigrants who regularly see each other for mahjong and storytelling. Each has an adult daughter and deals with the struggles of leaving China and their attempts to bond and connect with their first generation daughters.

This '90s film holds a special place for a certain group of first generation Chinese-American immigrants, as it authentically depicts both the struggles their parents went through, as well as the struggle to be raised Eastern at home, but live in a Western society. This film was also one of the first to depict Chinese Americans not as caricatures, but as legitimate, realized people, warts and all.

Rent The Joy Luck Club on Amazon.

Better Luck Tomorrow (2002)

Directed by Justin Lin, Better Luck Tomorrow tells the story of a group of Asian American teens living in an Orange County Suburb. Most of the teens are overachieving and Ivy League-bound, however, to let off the steam from all the pressures they dabble in petty crimes, including selling answers to tests, drugs, and return fraud. Eventually as they fall deeper, the petty crime turns to violent crime.

An indie darling, Better Luck Tomorrow was Justin Lin’s breakout hit. This is one of John Cho’s first leading roles, and also featured Sung Kang, who will next be seen reprising his role as Han in the Covid-delayed F9 on June 25, 2021. Better Luck Tomorrow is a great example of showcasing an Asian American cast, and some of the stresses placed on these teens to get into top schools and put themselves on the path to success and the pitfalls that come with the pressure. This one is definitely worth a watch, especially if you want to see Justin Lin’s more intimate work outside of The Fast and The Furious franchise.

Stream Better Luck Tomorrow Amazon Prime Video

Rent Better Luck Tomorrow Amazon.

To Be Takei (2014)

2014’s To Be Takei, directed by Jennifer M. Kroot, didn’t pick up any prestigious awards, but it is an interesting peek into George Takei’s life. While he’ll forever be known as Hikaru Sulu in Star Trek, Takei’s life has been full of ups and downs. Notably and painfully, Takei and his family were put into an internment camp by the US Government during World War II, a dark chapter in American history that doesn’t receive enough attention. Since his Star Trek days, Takei has had a steady career, mostly in voice work, but was recently seen in AMC’s anthology drama, The Terror. He’s also amassed a large following on social media thanks in part to both his funny, and politically charged tweets. Since coming out as gay in 2005, George Takei has also been a prominent LGBTQ activist along with his partner, Brad Altman. If you’re looking for a fun and interesting peek into one of America’s most prominent Japanese-American actors, make sure to watch this one.

Rent To Be Takei on Amazon.

Columbus (2017)

Columbus is the directorial debut of celebrated video essayist, Konogada. The tiny Southern Indiana town of Columbus is oddly enough, a sort of mecca for architecture. John Cho stars as Jin, a Korean American who has been living in Seoul as an English-to-Korean translator. His father, a renowned scholar, falls ill and is hospitalized in Columbus, which brings Jin back to America. Columbus illustrates the push and pull of Asian ideas about family and being duty-bound. Jin doesn’t have a particularly good relationship with his father, but parts of him are battling with the guilt of growing up in a culture that expects you to take care of your family and the fact that he isn’t particularly interested. This probably isn’t a foreign concept to non-Asians, but Columbus really nails how deep that guilt can feel for some Asian Americans.

Rent Columbus on Amazon.

Crazy Rich Asians (2018)

Crazy Rich Asians is likely responsible for the most recent wave of Asian American-fronted cinema in Hollywood. This Jon Chu film is based on the eponymous book series. Rachel Chu, played by Fresh Off The Boat’s Constance Wu, learns that her hunky and charming boyfriend is really the heir to one of wealthiest families in Singapore. This film also features Michelle Yeoh, and featured star-turns for Awkwafina and Henry Golding, who will next be seen in the G.I. Joe spinoff, Snake Eyes. After bringing her on a trip to meet his family, Rachel finds that even though she is among her own “people," she is actually culture shocked to see how this group of wealthy Asians live.

There’s a lot to love about Crazy Rich Asians. This film strips away any images of servile, sexless Asians and proudly (and loudly) puts all of their beauty and power on full display. Using Rachel as our POV, the film also highlights the struggles some Asian Americans face when their identity isn’t firmly planted in either the Asian or the American part of themselves. In America, Rachel Chu is about as Asian as it gets, but once she gets to Singapore it becomes clear that being Asian is more than just getting good grades and going to good schools. This movie also crushed the box office becoming the 6th-highest grossing romcom, proving that Asian-American led movies can be big business.

Rent Crazy Rich Asians on Amazon.

The Farewell (2019)

The tagline for The Farewell is “Based on an actual lie”. Indeed director Lulu Wang channeled her own life story for this film, in which Chinese-American New Yorker, Billi, played by Awkwafina, learns that her grandmother in China that she is very close to has terminal cancer. More than that, her parents tell her that her Nai Nai (Chinese for grandmother) doesn’t know, and they will not be telling her, instead faking a wedding as an excuse to get everyone together to see her one last time. The Farewell really challenges the idea of Eastern and Western philosophies around death, and puts it on full display. To Billi, this lie they are telling is about as awful as it gets. For her Chinese family, to tell her would be the easy way out, to keep this secret is their duty and responsibility to carry this burden for Nai Nai (played by Zhao Shu-Zhen).

Billi’s parents also have to deal with the scrutiny from the rest of the family having moved to America many years ago. While the Western way of life is all about chasing your dreams, the Eastern way is more rooted in family and society. This movie uses the quirky wedding set up to move the plot forward, but The Farewell does a great job looking at the Asian American experience of balancing your heritage and trying to figure out your own path forward.

Stream The Farewell on Amazon Prime.

Rent The Farewell on Amazon

Minari (2020)

Minari has been an awards season darling, for good reason. This semi-autobiographical immigrant drama from Lee Isaac Chung stars The Walking Dead alum, Steven Yeun, as Jacob, a South Korean immigrant who has recently bought a plot of land in Arkansas in hopes of becoming a farmsteader. This tender and quiet drama captures the immigrant experience powerfully, showcasing the tension between Jacob, who has gone all-in on the American Dream, and his wife Monica, played by South Korean actress Yeri Han. Jacob is determined to make this dream work, and reluctant to go back to his life in California as a chicken sexer (look it up, it’s SFW!).

Monica sees things a little differently, struggling to assimilate into this new small town life. Best Supporting Actress frontrunner, Youn Yuh-jung, is also a scene stealer as Monica’s mother who comes from Korea to help with the children. This adds another layer, as she brings a bit of the old life Jacob is trying to leave behind. In particular, their son David longs for an “American” grandmother who smells nice and bakes cookies, rather than his very Korean grandmother. The film doesn’t answer any big questions about the success, but it leaves you hopeful for the future.

Rent Minari on VOD on Amazon.

These are just a few of the many great works out there to capture Asian American stories. Netflix has also been putting out Asian American-led films including the romcom, Always Be My Maybe, and the popular film series, To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before. Contract negotiations have stalled the sequel to Crazy Rich Asians, but perhaps the biggest test is yet to come when Marvel Studios releases Shang-Chi and The Ten Rings, which is due in September 2021.

Musicals are simply ingrained in the fabric of Hollywood. In recent years, film adaptations of Broadway musicals have maintained their place in the public conscience. The latest Broadway adaptation may upset fans who are eagerly waiting for a sequel to Crazy Rich Asians. Namely because director Jon M. Chu has been tapped to helm the much-delayed film adaptation of the hit Broadway musical Wicked.

According to Deadline, Jon M. Chu reportedly will direct Universal’s feature adaptation of the iconic Broadway musical Wicked. Currently, the film’s script is being crafted by the record-breaking musical’s book writer Winnie Holzman and composer-lyricist Stephen Schwartz. The Broadway musical’s original producer Marc Platt will produce the project through his production company. Universal Senior EVP Erik Baiers and director of development Lexi Barta will oversee the film’s production. At this time, there has been no casting news, production start or release date have been announced. But Chu’s announcement means the cast and crew announcements should be coming in the next few months.

The announcement of Jon M. Chu directing the film adaptation of Wicked comes after the project hit a few road bumps. The film suffered a major setback after original director Stephen Daldry left the project over its development and filming schedule. The location change may have played a role in Daldry’s departure as the film may be filmed in the United States rather than the United Kingdom. Before Daldry’s departure, the film had spent over a decade in development as it was originally scheduled to arrive in Dec. 2019.

Unfortunately, production issues caused Wicked to be bumped off the schedule for Cats. And we all know how that turned out. But Wicked fans aren’t the only ones frustrated by the constant delays as original star Kristin Chenoweth said her piece on the matter. After all, some fans still want Chenoweth and Idina Menzel to appear in the film adaptation in some capacity.

While the Wicked film adaptation is pushing forward, Broadway aficionados will have to wait a bit longer as theatres try to figure out how to re-open and adapt to COVID-19 guidelines and protocols. Before the show was forced to close, it was still in high demand as audiences  flocked to see it. Even as Broadway continues to remain shuttered, the record-breaking musical is entering its 17th year on the Great White Way as the second highest-grossing musical in history.

Wicked won’t be Jon M. Chu’s first time tackling a Broadway-to-screen adaptation. He helmed a film adaptation of the Lin-Manuel Miranda musical In the Heights. Like any Warner Bros. productions, the film will premiere in theaters and on HBO Max on June 18. Hearing Chu’s addition to the much-delayed adaptation is a good sign that Wicked is moving forward in the right direction.

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For what it is worth, HBO Max has one of the biggest and most versatile collection of movies on any streaming service out there, with literally thousands of movies ranging all genres, languages, and time periods. Where else can you watch Wonder Woman 1984 and then immediately jump into something like City of God or Modern Times? But deciding on what to watch (I mean after you jump into the latest addition to the DCEU) is no easy task and it isn’t hard to find yourself lost in the library of cinema’s greatest achievements. That’s where we come in.

Whether you are a new subscriber who jumped on the HBO Max train ahead of all the Warner Bros. releases, someone who has been with the service since day one, or someone who is finally able to access everything after the Roku deal was worked out, here are a couple dozen movies to enjoy on the streaming service. From superhero epics to romantic comedies, here are some of the best movies on HBO Max.

Wonder Woman 1984 (2020) And Other DCEU Movies, Including Justice League (2013)

If you are a fan of the DCEU and DC Comics superheroes like Wonder Woman, Superman, Batman, and the rest of the Justice League, there is no better place to turn to that HBO Max. With everything from Man of Steel to Wonder Woman 1984 streaming right now, you can see where the shared universe has come from and where it’s going moving forward.

Wonder Woman 1984 will be available to stream on HBO Max starting 12:00 p.m. EST on December 25 (Christmas Day) and will remain available to stream on HBO Max for 31 days from its theatrical release. Stream Wonder Woman 1984 here.

Stream Justice League, and Man of Steel, and others on HBO Max.

The Batman Movies (1989 - 1997)

The four Batman movies directed by Tim Burton and later on by Joel Schumacher are a mixed bag when it comes to quality, but each has a certain quality that make them classics in their own way. From the dark and art deco Gotham city in 1989’s Batman to the pun-infested madness of Batman & Robin, there’s a lot to enjoy here.

Stream Batman, Batman Returns, Batman Forever, and Batman & Robin on HBO Max.

The Wizard Of Oz (1939)

There are few movies that withstand the test of time and continue to fill audiences with as much wonder as The Wizard of Oz. Chances are you’ve already seen Dorothy (Judy Garland) being transported from black-and-white Kansas to the technicolor dreamland that is Oz, but have you taken a trip down the yellow brick road in glorious HD?

Stream it on HBO Max here.

The Shawshank Redemption (1994)

Tim Robbins' take on the wrongfully convicted Andy Dufresne and and the poetic narration from Morgan Freeman’s Ellis “Red” Redding make Frank Darabont’s classic The Shawshank Redemption one of the best Stephen King adaptations and movies of the past 30 years. It’s true that the movie has played on TNT more than probably any other movie, but now you can watch the lanky Dufresne spend his time planning his escape without sitting through all those commercials.

Stream it on HBO Max here.

The Die Hard Movies (1988 - 1995)

It is not Christmas until Hans Gruber (Alan Rickman) falls from Nakatomi Plaza, so why not start a Christmastime marathon with the first three Die Hard movies? From 1988’s original holiday spectacle involving a cold and hardened New York cop in sunny Los Angeles to 1995’s Die Hard With a Vengeance there’s plenty to enjoy with this trilogy of John McClane (Bruce Willis) adventures this holiday season.

Stream Die Hard, Die Hard 2, and Die Hard With a Vengeance on HBO Max.

Dirty Dancing (1987)

In the 1987 romantic drama Dirty Dancing, Frances “Baby” Houseman (Jennifer Grey) goes from the timid black sheep of her high society family to a strong and self-assured woman after meeting and falling for dance instructor Johnny Castle (Patrick Swayze) in one of the most timeless and watchable dance movies out there.

Stream it on HBO Max here.

Chasing Amy And Clerks (1994 - 1997)

Following the success of Clerks and Mallrats, which saw Kevin Smith lightly dabble in the world of romantic comedies, the filmmaker went all out with 1997’s Chasing Amy. More of a drama than anything else from Smith’s filmography, the movie follows Holden McNail (Ben Affleck) as the hopeless romantic comic book artist tries to win over fellow artist Alyssa Jones (Joey Lauren Adams), who, unbeknownst to him, is not really looking for the same thing.

Stream Chasing Amy and Clerks on HBO Max.

The Way Back (2020)

Another great Ben Affleck movie streaming on HBO Max is the 2002 sports drama The Way Back, which centers on former basketball hotshot Jack Cunningham (Affleck) as he struggles with his own personal demons while also trying to resurrect his former high school’s basketball program. This isn’t your typical sports movie and HITS hard, especially when discovering just what sent Jack’s life over the edge.

Stream it on HBO Max here.

When Harry Met Sally (1989), Crazy Rich Asians (2018) And Other Romantic Comedies

There are some truly amazing romantic comedies on HBO Max with something for people of all generations. With timeless classics like Rob Reiner’s When Harry Met Sally, the Nia Vardalos-penned indie smash hit My Big Fat Greek Wedding, and more recent phenomenons like Jon Chu’s Crazy Rich Asians there is plenty to choose from if you’re looking for a great date night movie, something to watch with friends, or just a way to forget about life for a bit.

Stream When Harry Met Sally, My Big Fat Greek Wedding, and Crazy Rich Asians on HBO Max.

The Lord Of The Rings Trilogy (2001 - 2003)

Over the course of three consecutive holiday seasons, Peter Jackson’s adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings trilogy reigned supreme at the box office, bringing millions of families to the theaters to take part in this landmark achievement in storytelling and special effects. From the beginning of Frodo’s (Elijah Wood) journey to destroy the ring to Aragorn’s (Viggo Mortensen) rise from outcast to king, now’s the perfect time to begin the unexpected journey once more.

Stream The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers, and The Return of the King on HBO Max.

Cast Away (2000)

It may be hard to believe, but Robert Zemeckis’ epic survival drama Cast Away was released 20 years ago this month. Starring Tom Hanks as FedEx systems analyst Chuck Noland, the movie centers on a man’s transformation from a time-obsessed executive with everything he ever wanted to someone with nothing but the will to live. And even though it gets a little long in the final act, Cast Away is an achievement in storytelling, acting, and filmmaking that should be revisited.

Stream it on HBO Max here.

You’ve Got Mail (1998) And Joe Vs. The Volcano (1990)

No on is saying You’ve Got Mail is the best romantic comedy and no one is saying that the 1998 remake of a remake is even the best movie starring Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan, but there’s a certain quality to this oddly aged movie that makes it something you can’t help but watch on a cold winter’s night. Maybe its the early days of the internet, the idea of a big box store killing off a mom-and-pop bookstore, and everything else about this movie that makes it more like a time capsule to a more simple and less technologically advanced era. And if that isn’t your cup of tea, there’s always the tried and true Meg Ryan/Tom Hanks classic that is Joe vs. The Volcano from a time when Hanks had some really out there roles.

Stream You’ve Got Mail and Joe vs. The Volcano on HBO Max.

The Matrix Trilogy (1999 - 2003)

We still have a little less than a year until we get to see what Neo (Keanu Reeves) has been up to in The Matrix 4, but why not start your homework early watch the Wachowski’s definitive sci-fi action flick The Matrix and see how the siblings redefined the action genre with that layered story, eye-catching special effects, and mind-boggling plot devices. And while the two sequels aren't viewed as favorably as the 1999 original, they each have their own moments.

Stream The Matrix, The Matrix Reloaded, and The Matrix Revolutions on HBO Max.

Enemy Of The State (1998) And Wild Wild West (1999)

One of the biggest head-scratchers in the history of movies will always be Will Smith’s decision to turn down The Matrix for Wild Wild West, but the 1999 steampunk western is a bonkers sideshow that has become a beast of its own in the 22 years since its release. With a cast that also includes Kevin Kline, Selma Hayek and Kenneth Branagh, you can see what drew the Fresh Prince to the spider-infested adventure. At least the year before we got Enemy of the State, which remains one of Smith’s best performances and best movies involving a cat as a central character.

Stream Enemy of the State and Wild Wild West on HBO Max.

Casablanca, Citizen Kane And Other TCM Movies

For film buffs who don’t have the money to get the Criterion Channel, HBO Max has more than enough classic movies from Hollywood’s various eras and from around the world. With classics like Casablanca, Citizen Kane, Cool Hand Luke, and An American In Paris, the Turner Classic Movie section on the streamer is a beast of its own and will afford you the opportunity to revisit your favorites from yesteryear or finally watch those movies you’ve always been too afraid to admit you’ve never seen.

Stream Turner Classic Movies on HBO Max here.

Bessie (2015)

The Primetime Emmy Award-winning HBO biopic Bessie features one of the best performances from Queen Latifah’s career as she takes on the life and career of blues singer Bessie Smith. With an amazing story and cast that also includes Michael K. Williams, Khandi Alexander, Mike Epps, and Tory Kittles, there are plenty of reasons why this one of the most watched HBO original movies of all time.

Stream it on HBO Max here.

Happy Gilmore (1996) And Billy Madison (1995)

No one is saying that Billy Madison and Happy Gilmore are the best movies or best comedies of all time, but there are few movies from the ‘90s that are more quotable and enjoyable as Adam Sandler’s back-to-back side-splitters. Whether it’s Sandler’s take on the spoiled son of a hotel magnate or failed hockey player coming up with ways to save his grandma’s house, this pair of movies are just as enjoyable now as they were upon release.

Stream Happy Gilmore and Billy Madison on HBO Max.

The Crow Movies (1994 - 2006)

The Crow will probably always been remembered for being the movie where star Brandon Lee was killed, but this quintessential 1994 action thriller about a rock star coming back from the grave to exact revenge on those who killed him and his wife should also be remembered for its dark tone and gripping story.

Stream The Crow, The Crow: City of Angels, and The Crow: Wicked PowerOn HBO Max.

The Friday Trilogy (1995 - 2002)

Ice Cube was already a star by the time he co-wrote and starred in 1995’s Friday, but the rapper-turned-actor a bonafide megastar with the release of the stoner comedy and its two subsequent sequels Next Friday and Friday After Next. With the story of Craig Jones (Ice Cube) getting fired and spending an entire day doing a whole lot of nothing until standing up to neighborhood bully Deebo (RIP Tiny Lister Jr.) and insane cast, there are plenty of reasons this movie remains just as beloved 25 years later.

Stream Friday, Next Friday, and Friday After Next on HBO Max.

Richard Jewell (2019)

Clint Eastwood’s 2019 drama Richard Jewell tells the story of the security guard (Paul Walter Hauser) falsely accused of planting the bomb that killed one and injured more than 100 others at the 1996 Olympic Games.

Stream it on HBO Max here.

Risky Business (1983) And Other Tom Cruise Movies

Time and time again, Tom Cruise proves why he became and remained one of the brightest stars in Hollywood. And while not every single one of Cruise’s films can be streamed on HBO Max, you can watch the career-making performance as a high school student trying to save his butt in Risky Business and several other great additions to his filmography on the streamer.

Stream Risky Business, Magnolia, The Last Samurai on HBO Max.

The Lethal Weapon Movies (1987 - 1998)

There are buddy cop movies and then there is Lethal Weapon, which features one of the best pairings of a straight-laced detective in Danny Glover’s Roger Murtaugh and wild-eyed man-on-the-edge in Mel Gibson’s Martin Riggs. Over the course of four Lethal Weapon movies, the unlikely duo bring justice back to the streets and become responsible for millions in property damage.

Stream Lethal Weapon, Lethal Weapon 2, Lethal Weapon 3, and Lethal Weapon 4 on HBO Max.

The Austin Powers Movies (1997 - 2002)

The first Austin Powers movie will forever be one of quintessential comedies of the ‘90s and serve as one of the crowning achievements of Mike Myers’ legendary career. See the British secret agent and his terrible teeth find himself as a man out of time in International Man of Mystery and its two sequels.

Stream Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery, Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me, Austin Powers in Goldmember on HBO Max.

Those are just a couple dozen of the great movies you can watch on HBO Max right now. Which one do you plan on watching over the winter break? Sound off in the comments below.

Having lent her talents to screens both big and small, Constance Wu only continues to establish herself as a premier actress. Whether it's comedy, drama, or seemingly any genre in-between, Wu is taking Hollywood by storm. We should expect her to frontline a number of new, exciting projects in the near future. If you're a fan of the Golden Globe-nominated Crazy Rich Asians and Fresh Off the Boat actress, you'll probably want to know more about how Wu got her start and how she made it to where she is today. Here are just a few interesting facts worth knowing about the TV/film actress.

Both Of Her Parents Are Taiwan Immigrants

Born in Richmond, Virginia, Constance Wu is the daughter of two Taiwan immigrants. Growing up, Wu's father served as a biology and genetics professor at Virginia Commonwealth University, as the actress said in a New York Times profile. She was also one of four daughters living in a first-generation household. Additionally, when she talks about her grandparents, she notes that they were bamboo farmers who couldn't read or write. And, therefore, communication between them is unfortunately limited. Throughout her career, Wu continues to bring awareness to diversity and representation in Hollywood, and she has built her career on these foundational principles.

Constance Wu Considered Going To Columbia University's Grad School Program But Ended Up Moving To Los Angeles

Constance Wu first started performing local theater during her time at Douglas S. Freeman High School, located in Henrico County. It was during her teenage years that she also participated in a six-month program at the Lee Strasberg Theatre And Film Institute. From there, Wu studied at the State University of New York at Purchase's Conservatory of Theatre Arts and she graduated in 2005. But while Wu was on the path to success in the acting field, there was a period of time where she briefly put those ambitions aside in order to study psycholinguistics. She considered studying at Columbia University to gain her graduate degree, but then she decided to firmly commit to acting. Furthermore, following a devastating break-up, Wu moved from New York City to California, where she sought out her professional ambitions in earnest.

She Turned Down A Bruce Willis Movie In Order To Do The Sundance Screenwriters Lab

Normally, if you're an up-and-coming actress and you're provided a chance to star in a new Bruce Willis movie, you'd jump at the opportunity. It might not make you a household name, necessarily, but it's certainly good exposure and it puts you in a film with a semi-guaranteed audience, at least. Nevertheless, while Constance Wu was offered a role in one of the famous actor's movies (in which film of his, it's unclear), she turned it down to participate in the Sundance Screenwriters Lab alongside Yung Chang and Christopher Yogi. Through this educational experience, Wu learned how to direct and run a set. While this role was (probably) a decent-paying gig, this teaching experience — which she participated in for free — gave her an invaluable chance to meet and work with fellow Asian artists.

Constance Wu Was Included In Time's 100 Most Influential People In The World List In 2017

It should go without saying that it's a tremendous honor to be included in Time Magazine's annual 100 most influential people in the world list. The prestigious publication recognizes some of the greatest and most noteworthy people in a given year, and in 2017, Wu was celebrated as one of the most influential people in her chosen profession. As an outspoken advocate and a trendsetting actress, it's easy to see why Time took this chance to celebrate the film/TV actress for her continued achievements, and it only continued to balloon her profile as a rising talent. It would only be a few short months later, following this article's publication, when Wu starred in Crazy Rich Asians, thus further expanding her ever-growing movie career.

Constance Wu Initially Turned Down Crazy Rich Asians

Certainly, Crazy Rich Asians was a career-defining role for Constance Wu. It was a prominent lead performance that transformed her from a sitcom actress to a newly-minted movie star. This success continued with Hustlers the following year. We should expect to see even more leading roles from Wu in the near future, and she clearly has the talents to pull off these star-making parts. But there was once a point where Wu wasn't planning to accept the lead role in Crazy Rich Asians since it conflicted with Fresh Off The Boat. Even though she really wanted to take the part, Wu originally gave director Jon M. Chu a polite decline. While the actress was willing to make peace with the decision, she had second thoughts on the plane ride home. Eventually, Wu found a way to make it work.

The Crazy Rich Asians Star Is An Advocate For Libraries

Who doesn't love their local library? These public services are a wonderful place for eager readers to advance their minds, dive into new or classic literature, and explore the world around them through the flip of a page. These institutions are certainly among the very finest in our country's history, and Constance Wu agrees. She considers herself to be an advocate for libraries, and she has taken at least a few opportunities to speak out in order to encourage people to support and help fund their nearby libraries. The actress is reportedly a pretty voracious reader, and she is vocal about her desire to educate and inspire others on the importance of these buildings and the good services they do for local communities. It can be easy to take libraries for granted, so Wu uses her platform to raise support.

Constance Wu Is Set To Star In And Executive Produce Universal's Goodbye Vitamin

The future looks quite promising for Constance Wu. With her commitments to ABC's Fresh Off The Boat now concluded with this year's sixth and final season, Wu will continue making an impact in Hollywood as a movie star. That trend is set to continue with Goodbye Vitamin, based on the acclaimed novel of the same name by Rachel Khong. Adapted by Jennifer Yee McDevitt, the forthcoming film follows Ruth Young (Wu), who discovers that her father, a renowned history professor, has lost his job following an Alzheimer's diagnosis. Ruth decides to go back home and work with one of her father's former students to stage a fake class and help him continue teaching. In addition to playing the lead role, Wu will also serve as an executive producer on this new movie.

Are you a fan of Constance Wu? What are some other fun or interesting facts you know about the film/TV actress? Let us know in the comment section below!

By now, you probably know that Crazy Rich Asians made a whole lot of money. Warner Bros.' acclaimed romantic comedy, based on the novel of the same name by Kevin Kwan, provided great cinematic representation for its primarily Asian cast and it provided director Jon M. Chu with his biggest critical success to date.

At a time when romantic comedies are quickly and hastily being thrown onto streaming services in lieu of any theatrical release, Crazy Rich Asians' success was a major achievement, and the same should hopefully be the case for its upcoming sequels. For audience members who loved the movie and wanted to know more about the making of this box office smash, there are quite a few fun and interesting behind-the-scenes facts worth knowing about this studio comedy. With that noted, let's take this chance to look at the filmmaking process behind Crazy Rich Asians.

Henry Golding Cut His Own Honeymoon Short For His Crazy Rich Asians Audition

Call it either fitting or ironic, but when it came to Henry Golding's audition for Crazy Rich Asians, the novice actor needed to cut his own honeymoon short in order to make it to his audition. Yes, even though Golding was previously only a television personality prior to his starring role in this major film, he was sought after by the filmmakers and brought in to audition for the role. While he was initially hesitant to make such a big splash with his acting debut, he evidently warmed up to the idea, as he put his own love life celebrations on hold in order to make it in time for this audition. Clearly, it played out well as he got the part. Can you imagine how incredibly awkward it would've been if he didn't get it, though?

Author Kevin Kwan Makes A Really Quick Cameo

Movie lovers are probably used to filmmaker cameos. Filmmakers like Alfred Hitchcock and Quentin Tarantino have provided film lovers with knowing smiles whenever they walk into their own movies, providing a fun little easter egg for anyone who might be clued in. But what about author cameos? While they're not as common, they're sometimes found, as was the case with Crazy Rich Asians. 

Author Kevin Kwan, who wrote the source material for this hit movie, can briefly be seen in one early scene, during the flurry of texts exchanged near the start of the movie. If you know who he is and what he looks like, this appearance is a fun little surprise — if you catch it, of course.  But this brief-but-amusing appearance does make for a loving nod to the man who wrote this book and provided the groundwork.

The Movie Underperformed At The Chinese Box Office

While Crazy Rich Asians certainly became a big critical and box office success over here in the United States, the same couldn't be said for the film's Chinese premiere. In fact, the movie was an outright box office flop. When the movie debuted in China, it only opened in eighth place with $1.2 million. When it was clearly not doing well, theater owners were starting to pull it prematurely, which certainly didn't help its financial showing, and audiences weren't coming out to see it. This whimper of a box office comes after the movie needed to fight to have it play in China in the first place after the film didn't fully meet China's strict content regulations. Nevertheless, while Warner Bros. was likely underwhelmed by the movie's poor numbers in China, it was still a record-breaking smash here in the United States.

Michelle Yeoh Was Initially Unhappy With The Screenplay

What's written on the page doesn't always match what's presented on the screen. Many book lovers have learned this lesson over the years. When an author writes a book, it's typically a one-person job (minus editors, publishers, and whatnot). When everyone gets together to make a movie, it's more of a collaborative process. Sure enough, not everything in Kevin Kwan's novel ultimately made it to the film, and not everything written in its screenplay adaptation made it either. There are many reasons why that might be the case, but one of them comes down to Michelle Yeoh. As the actress noted, she was initially unhappy with Crazy Rich Asians' screenplay because her character was written as very "nasty, mean," and "not nice at all." She believes there was more love motivating her character's decisions than the screenplay suggested. So, changes were made.

The Filmmakers Were Pressured To Change The Title

Crazy Rich Asians is an eye-catching title. It's bold and provocative. There's a good chance that it helped the novel find notice and achieve success over the past few years. But when it came time to make the movie adaptation, there were reportedly some folks who pressured director Jon M. Chu to change the title, according to the filmmaker. While it's unclear what they wanted the reworked title to be, it's clear that someone involved in the making of this film wasn't entirely happy to see that title on marquees across the country. Nevertheless, Chu was a fan and stuck with it. In his words, the title creates "conversation, which I think is good." If you have people talking about your movie, there's a greater chance that word spreads and more people will know about it, helping the film find an audience.

Netflix Was Originally Very Interested In Making Crazy Rich Asians (And They Offered A Lot Of Money)

Crazy Rich Asians is the first major Hollywood studio movie with a majority cast of Asian descent in a modern setting to be released since 1993's The Joy Luck Club. That's an exceptional feat, one that makes its success all-the-more rewarding. Its triumphant theatrical rollout made it an event in a packed summer movie season, and it became one of the biggest rom-coms in recent years. It's an astounding success story in an era where so many romantic comedies go straight to Netflix. Apparently, however, the streaming studio was very interested in the project, and they were willing to pay a substantial amount to make it happen under their banner. While they were offering appropriately large sums of cash for the rights, director Jon M. Chu wanted his movie to play in theaters.

Michelle Yeoh Brought Some Of Her Own Jewelry Into The Movie

If you found yourself admiring some of the fine jewelry seen and worn throughout Crazy Rich Asians, then you have very similar taste to Michelle Yeoh. The actress lent out some of her own jewelry for the movie, as it was reported, as she has been collecting fine jewelry for many years now. One of the most prominent pieces of jewelry seen in the movie that was actually owned by Yeoh was none other than her character's engagement ring. This is even despite director Jon M. Chu's desire to use another ring for this prop. The ring that Chu wanted to use was modeled after the engagement ring John F. Kennedy gave to Jackie. Even though Chu was eager to use that ring, Yeoh insisted on her own. She also wore this ring during promotional rounds for the film.

Awkwafina Said She Wanted To Steal Her Wig (To Throw It Out The Window)

It's not an uncommon practice for actors to steal stuff from sets. When you're given a bunch of cool props/assorted items to work with, it's easy to feel some sense of ownership over them over the course of filming. You might also want a cool keepsake to remember your time on set, especially if it's a movie you loved making. When it came to Awkwafina, she shared her amusing desire to take wig she wore in Crazy Rich Asians. But it wasn't because she loved it. Rather, she wanted to take it just so she could throw it out the window. She wanted to get rid of it on her own, but from what she told Access, it sounds like it apparently didn't work out that way. Alas, while most actors try stealing props they love, Awkwafina wanted one she hated.

The Young's Estate Was 'Filled With Monkey Feces' Before The Production Designer Took Over

A production designer's work can often be underappreciated. People sometimes take the sets for granted — no matter how lavish they might be — and they especially take for granted how much work they have to do to make sure they look as presentable as possible for the final film. Certainly, it sounds like Crazy Rich Asians' production designer Nelson Coates had his work cut out for him when it came to the shooting location for the Young's estate. When the team visited the 19th-century house, they discovered that it was literally "filled with monkey feces." Nobody had been in the house for ages, it turns out, and the local animal wildlife had opted to use the place as their very, very, very expensive bathroom. Sure enough, the team had to do some extra duty work.

Did you love Crazy Rich Asians? Are you looking forward to the sequels? Let us know in the comment section below!

We're fresh off a whirlwind weekend full of love for Lin-Manuel Miranda’s work in Hamilton, since the stage musical was made available on Disney+. Looking ahead, fans of the hip-hop phenomenon can already look forward to seeing another one of the playwright’s original works with next year’s In the Heights. Due to global health concerns, the movie directed by Crazy Rich Asians’ Jon M. Chu was moved back a year to ensure it had a big-screen outing, while Hamilton skipped theaters.

At face value it may seem like a strange choice for Lin-Manuel Miranda’s less mainstream musical to get the big-screen treatment over Hamilton. But as Miranda supports with his recent comments to NPR, the upcoming Warner Bros movie was envisioned as a theatrical blockbuster and it had a lot to do with Crazy Rich Asians. In his words:

When Jon M. Chu originally signed on for Crazy Rich Asians, the director was faced with a similar decision when Netflix tried to outbid Warner Bros. for the rights to the rom-com. Although the filmmaker admitted he could have “moved to an island and never worked another day” if he had let the movie go straight to streaming, its success on the big screen makes it clear as to why he made the right call. Crazy Rich Asians became the highest-grossing romantic comedy in a decade and the first blockbuster featuring an all-Asian cast in 25 years.

Check out what to expect from In the Heights by checking out the trailer below:

In The Heights is meant to be a celebration of the Latino culture by way of New York City’s Washington Heights, the neighborhood where Lin-Manuel Miranda grew up. The musical was his first Broadway production, and will highlight his hometown with the kind of scope Crazy Rich Asians achieved.

When Lin-Manuel Miranda first set out to adapt it into a film, he imagined it more so as a “little indie musical,” but when he collaborated with Chu he realized how rare the opportunity would be to turn the story into something filmed on a huge scale. The movie was shot on an anamorphic scale in order to provide a theatrical experience that stretches across the entirety of the screen in theaters. In The Heights stars Hamilton’s Anthony Ramos, Stephanie Beatriz, Jimmy Smits, and Melissa Barrera among its impressive ensemble.

Stay tuned for In The Heights, coming to theaters on June 18, 2021, and see CinemaBlend’s 2020 release calendar for more movies coming soon.

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Based on the novel of the same name by Kevin Kwan, Crazy Rich Asians became one of the biggest movies of 2018. Both a critical and commercial hit, earning over $200 million worldwide and securing several award nominations, Jon M. Chu's film adaptation was the first major Hollywood movie since 1993's The Joy Luck Club to feature a majority cast of actors of Asian descent inside a modern setting, and it was certainly a well-received film. With plans to turn the film into a trilogy set in place for sometime in the near future, we'll return to these romantic cast of characters, played by Henry Golding, Constance Wu, Awkwafina, Michelle Yeoh, and more, soon. But since its major success, many of the movie's stars have only continued to see their stars shine brighter. Let's take a look at what Crazy Rich Asians cast has been working since the film's release.

Constance Wu (Rachel Chu)

An actress who found her breakthrough role with ABC's Fresh Off the Boat, Crazy Rich Asians proved to be a major breakout for the actress, leading her to more career possibilities. Notably following her Golden Globe-nominated performance in that film, becoming only the fourth Asian woman to be nominated for that award, Wu was seen in the lead role in the acclaimed crime drama, Hustlers, which also starred Jennifer Lopez. Wu also played a voice-only role in the animated movie, Next Gen. Up next, Wu will be seen in the drama film, I Was A Simple Man, and she'll also lend her voice to Wish Dragon. She also recently appeared in the sixth and final season of the aforementioned Fresh Off the Boat, and it appears that she wasn't thrilled about the acclaimed show being renewed for that many seasons, as she made clear on Twitter.

Henry Golding (Nick Young)

A Malaysian-born English actor, model, and TV host, Henry Golding gained fame across the pond, notably as the host of BBC's The Travel Show, but he became an international success when he played the romantic lead in Crazy Rich Asians, which became his first professional acting credit. Since starring in this box office smash, Golding continues to gain more high-profile roles, notably in 2018's A Simple Favor and as the romantic lead in last year's Last Christmas, which also starred the actor's Crazy Rich Asians co-star, Michelle Yeoh. Most recently, Golding starred in Guy Ritchie's The Gentlemen. Up next, the rising performer will play the title role in Snake Eyes, which is expected to be released later this year (or perhaps next year, at this point). Golding will also soon set to be seen in the romantic drama Monsoon, which will get its stateside release soon.