Crazy Rich Asians finally opened in China — and it bombed


American audiences went crazy over Crazy Rich Asians when it opened in August, but it seems Chinese moviegoers couldn't care less.
The romantic comedy from Warner Bros. finally opened in China this weekend and had a disastrous showing, taking in just $1.2 million, per Variety. For comparison, Sony's Venom made $111 million in its China debut, CNN points out.
Box office analysts have a few possible explanations for this shockingly low performance, including the fact that the film from Jon Chu is told very much from an American perspective, with a protagonist who grew up in the U.S. traveling to Singapore for a wedding and meeting her boyfriend's unexpectedly wealthy family. It also had the momentum of being the first major American film in decades with a cast consisting entirely of Asian actors. But all of this novelty was lost in China, where romantic-comedy smash hits are already more common than they are in the U.S. One other factor is that the Chinese debut came so late that the film was already released on home video and streaming platforms in other countries, meaning audiences there could illegally watch it online if they wanted to, per CNN.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Still, Crazy Rich Asians has seen more than enough success in the U.S. to make it a bona fide hit with or without China. It grossed $173 million domestically on a budget of just $30 million, a particularly impressive accomplishment considering it only opened to $26 million, per Box Office Mojo. It's one of the most successful romantic comedies ever released in the United States, and audiences can look forward to more, as a sequel is in the works.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Brendan worked as a culture writer at The Week from 2018 to 2023, covering the entertainment industry, including film reviews, television recaps, awards season, the box office, major movie franchises and Hollywood gossip. He has written about film and television for outlets including Bloody Disgusting, Showbiz Cheat Sheet, Heavy and The Celebrity Cafe.
-
Markets notch worst quarter in years as new tariffs loom
Speed Read The S&P 500 is on track for its worst month since 2022 as investors brace for Trump's tariffs
By Peter Weber, The Week US
-
Tesla Cybertrucks recalled over dislodging panels
Speed Read Almost every Cybertruck in the US has been recalled over a stainless steel panel that could fall off
By Justin Klawans, The Week US
-
Crafting emporium Joann is going out of business
Speed Read The 82-year-old fabric and crafts store will be closing all 800 of its stores
By Peter Weber, The Week US
-
Trump's China tariffs start after Canada, Mexico pauses
Speed Read The president paused his tariffs on America's closest neighbors after speaking to their leaders, but his import tax on Chinese goods has taken effect
By Peter Weber, The Week US
-
Chinese AI chatbot's rise slams US tech stocks
Speed Read The sudden popularity of a new AI chatbot from Chinese startup DeepSeek has sent U.S. tech stocks tumbling
By Peter Weber, The Week US
-
US port strike averted with tentative labor deal
Speed Read The strike could have shut down major ports from Texas to Maine
By Peter Weber, The Week US
-
Biden expected to block Japanese bid for US Steel
Speed Read The president is blocking the $14 billion acquisition of U.S. Steel by Japan's Nippon Steel, citing national security concerns
By Peter Weber, The Week US
-
Judges block $25B Kroger-Albertsons merger
Speed Read The proposed merger between the supermarket giants was stalled when judges overseeing two separate cases blocked the deal
By Peter Weber, The Week US