When Crazy Rich Asians hit theaters in 2018, it was a cultural phenomenon. The glitzy romantic comedy, based on Kevin Kwan’s bestselling novel, featured an all-Asian cast and became the highest-grossing rom-com of the decade. Audiences fell in love with the opulent lifestyles, family drama, witty humor, and heartfelt story about navigating love across cultural divides.
If you adored Crazy Rich Asians and are craving more movies with similar themes and vibes, look no further. We’ve compiled a list of 20 must-see films that embody various elements that made Crazy Rich Asians so captivating, from lavish weddings to complicated family dynamics to romances that defy societal expectations. Get ready to laugh, cry, and swoon with these Crazy Rich Asians-esque movies.
1. My Big Fat Greek Wedding (2002)
This hilarious and heartwarming comedy follows Toula (Nia Vardalos), a 30-something Greek-American woman who falls for a non-Greek man named Ian (John Corbett). As their relationship gets serious, Toula has to contend with her large, loud, meddling but loving extended family. Watching Ian try to fit in with Toula’s eccentric relatives delivers plenty of laughs, while the couple’s journey to the altar is relatable to anyone who’s dealt with overbearing but well-meaning in-laws. My Big Fat Greek Wedding charmingly explores themes of family expectations, cultural identity and being true to yourself.
2. The Proposal (2009)
Icy book editor Margaret (Sandra Bullock) ropes her overworked assistant Andrew (Ryan Reynolds) into pretending to be her fiancé when she faces deportation to Canada. Their sham engagement leads to a trip to Alaska to meet Andrew’s quirky family, where the two start to see each other in a new light. The Proposal hits a lot of the same notes as Crazy Rich Asians – a career-focused woman, a disapproving potential mother-in-law, a peek into an unfamiliar lifestyle – with Sandra Bullock and Ryan Reynolds’ crackling chemistry and comedic chops adding an extra spark.
3. Bend It Like Beckham (2002)
Although it centers around soccer rather than romance, Bend It Like Beckham is a coming-of-age story about defying expectations. British-Indian teenager Jess (Parminder Nagra) has a passion and talent for soccer, but pursuing her dream means going against her traditional Sikh parents’ wishes. Her journey to stay true to herself while embracing her cultural roots, with plenty of laughs, heart and girl power along the way, has echoes of Rachel’s experience in Crazy Rich Asians. The vibrant depiction of London’s Indian community is a joy to watch.
4. The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (2011)
When a group of British retirees move into a rundown hotel in India, cultures hilariously collide and expectations are upended. The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel explores themes of self-discovery, second chances and finding love and adventure later in life. An all-star cast including Judi Dench, Bill Nighy, Maggie Smith and Dev Patel brings warmth, wit and depth to this feel-good film about embracing the unexpected. The bustling backdrop of Jaipur, India adds color, charm and a fish-out-of-water element that Crazy Rich Asians fans will appreciate.
5. Bride & Prejudice (2004)
Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice gets a Bollywood makeover in this delightful musical romantic comedy. Director Gurinder Chadha transposes the classic story to modern-day India, with the five Bakshi sisters navigating marriage, romance and societal expectations. Aishwarya Rai dazzles as the headstrong Lalita, while Martin Henderson takes on the Mr. Darcy role as the arrogant American Will Darcy. Bride & Prejudice is a feast for the senses, bursting with colorful musical numbers and lavish wedding scenes that Crazy Rich Asians fans will adore. Underneath the fun and froth, it offers biting social commentary about class, culture clashes and preconceptions.
6. The Hundred-Foot Journey (2014)
The Hundred-Foot Journey follows an Indian family who relocates to a small French village and opens a restaurant across the street from a celebrated but struggling French eatery. As the two establishments engage in culinary warfare, a romance blossoms between the talented young Indian chef Hassan (Manish Dayal) and the French restaurant owner’s sous chef Marguerite (Charlotte Le Bon). This heartwarming film is a love letter to food, family and following your passion. The lush cinematography capturing the French countryside will give you wanderlust, while the mouth-watering kitchen scenes will have you craving Indian and French cuisine.
7. Meet the Parents (2000)
Meeting your significant other’s family for the first time is stressful enough, but Meet the Parents cranks up the awkwardness and anxiety to hilarious effect. When male nurse Greg (Ben Stiller) accompanies his girlfriend Pam (Teri Polo) home for her sister’s wedding, he has to contend with Pam’s intimidating ex-CIA agent father (Robert De Niro) who takes an instant dislike to him. Watching Greg try to impress his future in-laws with painfully humorous results, while slowly winning them over with his earnest charm, is comedy gold. Crazy Rich Asians fans will relate to the feeling of being an outsider desperate to fit in and gain approval.
8. What’s Cooking? (2000)
What’s Cooking? takes place over Thanksgiving and follows four diverse families – Vietnamese, Latino, African American and Jewish – as they gather for the holiday. Each family has its own traditions, dramas and secrets that come to a boil as they prepare their feasts. This warm and often funny film explores the universal need for belonging and the ways food and family can bring us together. Like Crazy Rich Asians, it portrays a variety of experiences within the broad categories of culture and race, with an emphasis on the importance of heritage.
9. Maid in Manhattan (2002)
A sweet Cinderella story with a twist, Maid in Manhattan stars Jennifer Lopez as Marisa, a struggling single mom who works as a maid in an upscale Manhattan hotel. When a case of mistaken identity leads wealthy politician Christopher (Ralph Fiennes) to believe she’s a guest, the two hit it off. But how long can Marisa keep up the charade? Maid in Manhattan has fairy tale elements that echo the Cinderella storyline in Crazy Rich Asians, as the hardworking heroine charms a man who moves in very different circles. The film also highlights class differences and the fear of not being accepted.
10. Jumping the Broom (2011)
Class and cultural differences collide in this warm-hearted comedy about two African American families from very different backgrounds coming together for a wedding on Martha’s Vineyard. Corporate lawyer Sabrina (Paula Patton) and up-and-coming businessman Jason (Laz Alonso) seem like the perfect couple, but their families immediately clash over pretty much everything. Watching the two families bicker as they navigate their differences is both relatable and amusing. Like Crazy Rich Asians, Jumping the Broom has a soap opera quality, with plenty of secrets, scandals and soapy drama amidst the laughs.
11. The Family Stone (2005)
Uptight executive Meredith (Sarah Jessica Parker) spends a stressful Christmas with her boyfriend Everett’s (Dermot Mulroney) bohemian family and struggles to fit in with their free-spirited ways. Her interactions with Everett’s intimidating mother Sybil (Diane Keaton) are particularly cringeworthy and hilarious. The Family Stone is more dramatic than comedic, balancing heavy themes of illness and loss with moments of levity and romance. Like Crazy Rich Asians, it’s ultimately a story about the power of family and learning to accept each other’s differences.
12. 2 Days in New York (2012)
A sequel to 2 Days in Paris, this culture clash comedy stars Julie Delpy and Chris Rock as a couple living in New York whose relationship is tested when her eccentric French family comes to visit. Delpy’s real-life father Albert Delpy is a scene-stealer as her character’s boundary-challenged dad. With its misunderstandings, meddling relatives and moments of mortification, 2 Days in New York captures a similar “meet the parents” vibe to Crazy Rich Asians. The film’s farcical humor and exploration of cultural differences will definitely resonate.
13. To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before (2018)
To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before kicked off the rom-com renaissance alongside Crazy Rich Asians. Based on Jenny Han’s YA novel, the film follows Lara Jean (Lana Condor), whose secret love letters accidentally get sent to her crushes. To cover, she strikes up a fake relationship with popular jock Peter (Noah Centineo). Lara Jean’s cultural identity as a half-Korean teen is woven throughout this sweet, nostalgic romance that will give you all the warm fuzzies.
14. Guess Who (2005)
In this modern update of Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner, Ashton Kutcher stars as Simon, a white man nervously meeting his black girlfriend’s family for the first time. Bernie Mac is at his blustery best as the girlfriend’s overprotective father, with Zoe Saldana as the girlfriend caught in the middle. Guess Who uses comedy to dig into complex issues of race and relationships, delivering big laughs without shying away from more serious themes. The dynamic between Simon and his future father-in-law is a comedic goldmine.
15. Mississippi Masala (1991)
Interracial romance meets immigrant story in Mira Nair’s Mississippi Masala. Denzel Washington stars as Demetrius, an African American carpet cleaner who falls for Mina (Sarita Choudhury), the daughter of Indian immigrants living in Mississippi. Their relationship stirs up controversy in both of their communities, forcing them to confront prejudice from all sides. Mississippi Masala is a nuanced exploration of race, class, diaspora and the sacrifices we make for love. Like Crazy Rich Asians, it shows how relationships can challenge but also bridge cultural divides.
16. The Namesake (2006)
Based on the novel by Jhumpa Lahiri, The Namesake spans multiple generations as it tells the story of the Ganguli family’s journey from Calcutta to America. When the American-born son Gogol (Kal Penn) starts to reject his unusual name and Indian heritage, it causes a rift with his more traditional parents. The Namesake movingly captures the immigrant experience, the search for identity and the complex bonds between parents and children. It’s a poignant meditation on what it means to be caught between two cultures, much like Rachel’s struggle in Crazy Rich Asians.
17. The Big Sick (2017)
Comedian Kumail Nanjiani co-wrote this romantic comedy based on his real-life relationship with his wife Emily V. Gordon. Kumail plays a version of himself, a Pakistani-American comedian who connects with grad student Emily (Zoe Kazan) but struggles to commit due to family pressure to have an arranged marriage. When Emily falls seriously ill, Kumail has to confront his true feelings. The Big Sick deftly balances humor and heart as it explores the challenges of interracial and intercultural relationships. Kumail’s difficulty navigating the expectations of his family and his own desires mirrors Rachel’s journey in Crazy Rich Asians.
18. Blended (2014)
Two single parents (Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore) have a disastrous blind date, but find themselves stuck together on a resort vacation with their kids from previous marriages. In the process of blending their two families, they start to see each other in a new light. Blended has broad humor and slapstick galore, but also a sweet message about opening your heart to new possibilities. The African resort setting adds a dash of escapist fun and romance, not unlike the luxurious Singapore backdrop of Crazy Rich Asians.
These 18 movies embody the various elements that made Crazy Rich Asians such a groundbreaking hit, from lavish visuals to explorations of Asian identity to heartwarming romances. Whether you’re in the mood to laugh, cry, or swoon, these films offer a wealth of viewing options. So queue up your favorites, grab some snacks, and enjoy the ride.
Happy watching!
