(Photo by Warner Bros. Pictures /Courtesy Everett Collection. Thumbnail: A24 / Courtesy Everett Collection; Netflix / Courtesy Everett Collection.)
Between Crazy Rich Asians, The Farewell, and Always Be My Maybe in recent years, there’s been a surge in Asian-American representation on screens of all sizes. These films are milestones in what has been a long, continuous journey to be seen and heard in theaters and at home, and we celebrate those contemporary hits and everything else that has come before them with the 81 Best Asian-American Movies.
To be Asian-American means a personal identity spread across a coalition of different countries. Under this umbrella is a wide range of Pacific Ocean cultures and histories, countries whose people have also found a new life in the United States. The movies in our guide reflect their experiences, from Korean (Columbus, Minari), Chinese (Saving Face), Singaporean (Shirkers), Japanese (To Be Takei), Filipino (The Debut), Vietnamese (Green Dragon), and more. South Asian-American films included are The Big Sick, The Namesake, and Meet the Patels.
We selected movies where the Asian-American experience drives character and story, or had a significant impact on Asian-American audiences due to its casting, the filmmakers behind it, and for breaking representational ground (Searching, To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before). The Asian-American experience is sometimes about traveling to a foreign “home” country, explored in movies like Always Tomorrow in Hong Kong, Go Back to China, and Cavite. And sometimes the experience is about coming to America and becoming citizens, as in Journey From the Fall or Tigertail. These stories start overseas, but are also set and shot in America, so we included those.
The historical landmark films are here, including Chan Is Missing, The Joy Luck Club, and Better Luck Tomorrow. In 2022, we included Turning Red, Everything Everywhere All At Once, and Blue Bayou. For our 2023 update, we expanded the list even more, adding doc Free Chol Soo Lee, newly Certified Fresh classic film Flower Drum Song, rom-com Fire Island, and superhero blockbuster Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. With all that said, we present the Best Asian-American Movies of all time! —Alex Vo
#1
Adjusted Score: 105776%
Critics Consensus: Minding the Gap draws on more than a decade of documentary footage to assemble a poignant picture of young American lives that resonates far beyond its onscreen subjects.
#2
Adjusted Score: 101042%
Critics Consensus: Free Chol Soo Lee powerfully relates a story of injustice while issuing a searing indictment of the systemic racism that enabled it.
#3
Adjusted Score: 103356%
Critics Consensus: Understated yet powerful, Driveways is a character study anchored in fundamental decency — and a poignant farewell to Brian Dennehy.
#4
Adjusted Score: 101781%
Critics Consensus: Shirkers uses one woman’s interrogation of a pivotal personal disappointment to offer affecting observations on creativity, lost opportunity, and coming to terms with the past.
Starring:
#5
Adjusted Score: 113206%
Critics Consensus: Led by arresting performances from Steven Yeun and Yeri Han, Minari offers an intimate and heart-wrenching portrait of family and assimilation in 1980s America.
#6
Adjusted Score: 119232%
Critics Consensus: Funny, heartfelt, and intelligent, The Big Sick uses its appealing leads and cross-cultural themes to prove the standard romcom formula still has some fresh angles left to explore.
#7
Adjusted Score: 100229%
Critics Consensus: The Paper Tigers blends action, comedy, and heart to produce a fresh martial arts movie with plenty of throwback charm.
#8
Adjusted Score: 116846%
Critics Consensus: The Farewell deftly captures complicated family dynamics with a poignant, well-acted drama that marries cultural specificity with universally relatable themes.
#9
Adjusted Score: 103049%
Critics Consensus: For viewers in search of an uncommonly smart, tender, and funny coming-of-age story, The Half of It has everything.
#10
Adjusted Score: 104735%
Critics Consensus: Wonderfully acted and artfully composed, Columbus balances the clean lines of architecture against the messiness of love, with tenderly moving results.
#11
Adjusted Score: 98622%
Critics Consensus: To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before plays by the teen rom-com rules, but relatable characters and a thoroughly charming cast more than make up for a lack of surprises.
#12
Adjusted Score: 99677%
Critics Consensus: Lucky Grandma gives Tsai Chin a long-overdue opportunity to shine in a leading role — but it’s audiences who are the truly fortunate ones.
#13
Adjusted Score: 99453%
Critics Consensus: An entertaining mystery that’s also rich in setting and character detail, Chan Is Missing suggests thrilling potential from director/co-writer Wayne Wang.
#14
Adjusted Score: 107698%
Critics Consensus: Heartwarming, humorous, beautifully animated, and culturally expansive, Turning Red extends Pixar’s long list of family-friendly triumphs.
#15
Adjusted Score: 112076%
Critics Consensus: Led by an outstanding Michelle Yeoh, Everything Everywhere All at Once lives up to its title with an expertly calibrated assault on the senses.
#16
Adjusted Score: 98458%
Critics Consensus: Brought to life by a tremendously talented cast, the breezily entertaining Fire Island proves there are still fresh ways to update Austen.
#17
Adjusted Score: 96923%
Critics Consensus: From its confrontational title to its striking cinematography, this raw cinematic gem uncompromisingly proves writer/director/actor Justin Chon is a filmmaker to watch.
#18
Adjusted Score: 97376%
Critics Consensus: Abacus: Small Enough to Jail transcends its less-than-dramatic trappings to present a gripping real-life legal thriller with far-reaching implications.
Starring:
#19
Adjusted Score: 94033%
Critics Consensus: If Be Water‘s surface level approach doesn’t quite match its subject’s depth, it still serves as an appropriate introduction to the almighty Bruce Lee.
#20
Adjusted Score: 104706%
Critics Consensus: Searching‘s timely premise and original execution are further bolstered by well-rounded characters brought to life by a talented cast.
#21
Adjusted Score: 97296%
Critics Consensus: Sarita Choudhury and Denzel Washington’s romantic chemistry lights up the screen in Mississippi Masala, Mira Nair’s observant and sexy tale of cultures clashing.
#22
Adjusted Score: 107177%
Critics Consensus: Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings isn’t entirely free of Marvel’s familiar formula, but this exciting origin story expands the MCU in more ways than one.
#23
Adjusted Score: 109587%
Critics Consensus: With a terrific cast and a surfeit of visual razzle dazzle, Crazy Rich Asians takes a satisfying step forward for screen representation while deftly drawing inspiration from the classic — and still effective — rom-com formula.
#24
Adjusted Score: 91110%
Critics Consensus: To Be Takei rests almost entirely on its subject’s inherent likability — and, for the most part, that’s more than enough.
Starring:
#25
Adjusted Score: 100256%
Critics Consensus: Although its reach occasionally exceeds its grasp, After Yang yields rich rewards for those willing to settle into its low-key wavelength.
#26
Adjusted Score: 93976%
Critics Consensus: Carried by the infectious charms of Ali Wong and Randall Park, Always Be My Maybe takes familiar rom-com beats and cleverly layers in smart social commentary to find its own sweet groove.
#27
Adjusted Score: 91321%
Critics Consensus: Utterly predictable and wholly of its time, but warm, sincere, and difficult to resist, due in large part to Pat Morita and Ralph Macchio’s relaxed chemistry.
#28
Adjusted Score: 90311%
Critics Consensus: Thousand Pieces of Gold‘s technical deficiencies are handily outweighed by sterling work from a 24-karat cast — and a story that has a fresh perspective on the American Old West.
#29
Adjusted Score: 88278%
Critics Consensus: Meet the Patels works on multiple levels, offering an affably entertaining documentary about one man looking for love while posing thoughtful questions about cultural assimilation and modern romance.
#30
Adjusted Score: 89728%
Critics Consensus: A coming-of-age story with a timely twist, Yellow Rose offers a fresh — and sweetly rewarding — perspective on the immigrant experience.
#31
Adjusted Score: 88686%
Critics Consensus: A finely layered drama with rich visal allure, Ms. Purple sifts sensitively through the emotional wreckage of a broken family.
#32
Adjusted Score: 89705%
Critics Consensus: A charming tale of a love affair that overcomes cultural taboos.
#33
Adjusted Score: 92505%
Critics Consensus: The Joy Luck Club traces the generational divide, unearthing universal truths while exploring lives through the lens of a specific cultural experience.
#34
Adjusted Score: 88070%
Critics Consensus: A coming-of-age story with a uniquely crowd-pleasing touch, Marvelous and the Black Hole transcends its familiar story with fresh direction and charming performances.
#35
Adjusted Score: 89699%
Critics Consensus: An ambitious exploration of the immigrant experience with a talented cast that serves the material well.
#36
Adjusted Score: 86559%
Critics Consensus: Uneven yet revealing, Tigertail offers a well-acted — and ultimately valuable — look at the immigrant experience in America.
#37
Adjusted Score: 84066%
Critics Consensus: A promising work by Lin, the energetic Better Luck Tomorrow is disturbing and thought-provoking.
#38
Adjusted Score: 81619%
Critics Consensus: Featuring an attractive young cast, Charlotte mostly shines as a portrait of the sexual frolics and hangups of L.A. Asian twentysomethings.
#39
Adjusted Score: 81585%
Critics Consensus: Diminishing returns have set in for this trilogy, but To All the Boys: Always and Forever has just enough of the original’s effervescent charm to serve as a worthy conclusion.
#40
Adjusted Score: 82806%
Critics Consensus: Flower Drum Song‘s story may be somewhat skimpy, but this Rodgers and Hammerstein adaptation blooms with brilliant songs and choreography.
#41
Adjusted Score: 80155%
Critics Consensus: The plight of Asian refugees is sensitively rendered, and the movie builds, with the help of Nolte, to a wrenchingly poignant conclusion.
#42
Adjusted Score: 79880%
Critics Consensus: To All the Boys: P.S. I Still Love You may feel like little more than an amiable postscript to its predecessor, but fans of the original should still find this a swoonworthy sequel.
#43
Adjusted Score: 82272%
Critics Consensus: Blue Bayou can be indelicate in its attempts to tug the heartstrings, but solid acting and a genuinely affecting story make this drama difficult to ignore.
#44
Adjusted Score: 100124%
Critics Consensus: Take Out presents an unvarnished view of one immigrant’s experiences as a restaurant deliveryman — and leaves the audience with plenty of food for thought.
#45
Adjusted Score: 100424%
Critics Consensus: A simple but engaging look at relationships, I Will Make You Mine brings the Surrogate Valentine trilogy to a fittingly poignant and perceptive close.
#46
Adjusted Score: 71819%
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
#47
Adjusted Score: 82931%
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
#48
Adjusted Score: 55572%
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
#49
Adjusted Score: 98441%
Critics Consensus: A documentary that’s more than just a sweetly filling treat, The Donut King tells a real-life rags-to-riches story with genuine depth and breadth.
#50
Adjusted Score: 98107%
Critics Consensus: In the Family uses one couple’s tragedy to examine the legal meaning of parenthood – and make a persuasive argument for a more inclusive approach to family law.
#51
Adjusted Score: 98561%
Critics Consensus: Ang Lee’s funny and ultimately poignant comedy of manners reveals the filmmaker’s skill across genres.
#52
Adjusted Score: 96501%
Critics Consensus: In depicting one man’s sexual awakening, Spa Night explores the tension between tradition and individuality with tenderness and compassion.
#53
Adjusted Score: 83071%
Critics Consensus: The Grace Lee Project is a clever, humorous, and personal exploration of identity, ethnic stereotypes, and the oppressive cultural expectations placed on Asian-American women.
Starring:
#54
Adjusted Score: 92015%
Critics Consensus: Ham Tran’s ambitious film proves to be extremely powerful due to stunning photography and passionate performances.
#55
Adjusted Score: 49560%
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
#56
Adjusted Score: 90311%
Critics Consensus: Three teens contemplate life after high school while singing their hearts out in this fresh musical.
#57
Adjusted Score: 78319%
Critics Consensus: The Search for General Tso digs into the history of a beloved dish and uncovers a heaping helping of powerfully nourishing history along the way.
Starring:
#58
Adjusted Score: 90103%
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
#59
Adjusted Score: 88328%
Critics Consensus: A coming-of-age dramedy whose familiar outline is filled in with rewarding empathy and character detail, The Motel marks an impressive feature debut for writer-director Michael Kang.
#60
Adjusted Score: 72918%
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
#61
Adjusted Score: 36963%
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
#62
Adjusted Score: 68772%
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
#63
Adjusted Score: 86226%
Critics Consensus: In Between Days is a moving, artistic slice-of-life indie film.
#64
Adjusted Score: 62778%
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
#65
Adjusted Score: 63581%
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
#66
Adjusted Score: 82919%
Critics Consensus: Advantageous transcends obvious budgetary limitations to pose thought-provoking questions about gender roles and family dynamics.
#67
Adjusted Score: 59690%
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
#68
Adjusted Score: 82898%
Critics Consensus: Uneven but entertaining, Go Back to China puts a refreshing cross-cultural spin on the traditional coming-of-age story arc.
#69
Adjusted Score: 62301%
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
#70
Adjusted Score: 81341%
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
#71
Adjusted Score: 66610%
Critics Consensus: Smartly constructed by writer-director Gina Kim and brought to life by a strong cast led by Vera Farmiga, Never Forever is an unexpectedly engaging melodrama.
#72
Adjusted Score: 76489%
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
#73
Adjusted Score: 80652%
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
#74
Adjusted Score: 79624%
Critics Consensus: Though it may not be as profound as its pacing would suggest, A Thousand Years of Good Prayers delicately examines familial issues in an earnest fashion.
#75
Adjusted Score: 79380%
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
#76
Adjusted Score: 45078%
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
#77
Adjusted Score: 72127%
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
#78
Adjusted Score: 49752%
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
Starring:
#79
Adjusted Score: 78877%
Critics Consensus: The likable leads and subversion of racial stereotypes elevate Harold and Kumar above the typical stoner comedy.
#80
Adjusted Score: 74703%
Critics Consensus: Although its four stories vary in quality, Robot Stories is still worth a look for Twilight Zone fans.
#81
Adjusted Score: 74378%
Critics Consensus: With Already Tomorrow in Hong Kong, writer-director Emily Ting adds a modest yet enjoyable entry to the expatriate rom-com subgenre.
#82
Adjusted Score: 75031%
Critics Consensus: While its impact is blunted by an overly reverential approach to its subject, Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story remains a reasonably entertaining biopic of the martial arts legend.
#83
Adjusted Score: 73620%
Critics Consensus: A gritty, low-budget thriller, Cavite takes us on a heart-pounding ride through the seedy Filipino underworld.
#84
Adjusted Score: 71027%
Critics Consensus: Although The Debut offers few surprises, it remains an engaging and well-acted look at the multi-generational immigrant experience.
#85
Adjusted Score: 24994%
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
#86
Adjusted Score: 50863%
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
Starring:
#87
Adjusted Score: 71282%
Critics Consensus: Still raunchy, still irreverent, and still hit-and-miss, this Harold & Kumar outing also has a Christmas miracle: The audience gets to see the sweeter side of the duo.
#88
Adjusted Score: 66332%
Critics Consensus: A gentle, light, kid friendly comedy about a Chinese-American hoopster turned ping pong pro, Playa is a charming but considerable digression from director Jessica Yu’s previous works.
#89
Adjusted Score: 65096%
Critics Consensus: Linsanity offers a compelling enough look at its basketball star subject for fans and curious viewers, even if it never really delves below the surface.
#90
Adjusted Score: 56246%
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
#91
Adjusted Score: 68578%
Critics Consensus: A colorful and energetic adaptation of Austen’s classic.
#92
Adjusted Score: 28495%
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
#93
Adjusted Score: 61021%
Critics Consensus: Green Dragon struggles to control its sentimental tendencies, but its flaws are just outweighed by an affecting — and often overlooked — perspective on the Vietnam War.
#94
Adjusted Score: 20423%
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
#95
Adjusted Score: 56620%
Critics Consensus: It may not equal its predecessor, but Harold and Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay is still good for some laughs — and food for thought.
#96
Adjusted Score: 20777%
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
#97
Adjusted Score: 45168%
Critics Consensus: Easter Sunday‘s refreshing representation is frustratingly undermined by stale gags and an unimaginative approach to its numbingly familiar story.
#98
Adjusted Score: 45092%
Critics Consensus: Boogie misses its shot with a contrived plot and uneven tone.
#99
Adjusted Score: 34479%
Critics Consensus: Though Justin Lin’s premise is precocious enough, the sight gags and comic timing are tired in this mockumentary about Asian typecasting in the 1970s.
#100
Adjusted Score: 12560%
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.