List
Asian American and Pacific Islander Perspectives on Screen
Enjoy these films.
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Moana 2
2025Get this itemIn this sequel to the 2016 blockbuster movie, Moana receives a call from the ancestors: to set sail to new skies and reconnect people from across the entire ocean. Courageous and determined, Moana assembles her wayfinding crew, reunites with the demigod Maui, and they embark on a new voyage like no other. Suggested by Sharon.
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Didi
2024Get this itemFrom emerging filmmaker Sean Wang, we get a loosely autobiographical coming-of-age story set in Fremont, CA, in 2008. Focusing on 13-year-old Didi in the summer before high school, the movie is tender, honest, funny, about a mother and son, an immigrant story, learning to navigate adolescence, and what things your family can and can’t teach you. Suggested by Sharon.
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Next Goal Wins
2024Get this itemIf you’re looking for something quirky, be sure to catch this heartfelt sports comedy directed by Taika Waititi about the American Samoa soccer team, considered the worst team in the world, and their efforts to qualify for the 2014 FIFA World Cup. Community and teamwork mean more than actually winning a game. Suggested by Amy G., Rummanah, and Sharon.
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Opus
2024 by Sakamoto, RyūichiGet this itemRyuichi Sakamoto gave us one more gift before leaving and showed us once again that space is as important as the notes being played. This stately and somber film documents the final concert (performed solo on piano) of the iconic musician, completed just months before his passing in 2023. Suggested by Adam, Chris, and Paul.
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Past Lives
2023Get this itemConsider this film a staff favorite. Exploring such themes as destiny, choices, and different versions of oneself, the story centers on childhood best friends, Nora and Hae Sung, who reconnect after 20 years, having been separated when Nora’s family emigrated from South Korea. The cinematography is beautiful, the soundtrack is exquisite, the characters are relatable, the acting is strong, and writer/director Celine Song hits every emotional beat with precision. Suggested by Brenna, Chris, Katie, Paul, Sharon, and Rummanah
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At Her Feet
2024Get this itemFilmed at the stunning Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. Two archaeology interns are taking a guided tour when a volcano erupts. The park ranger asks them to help rescue ancient artifacts from a remote cave, and they’re in for the adventure of a lifetime. This is a family-friendly movie that weaves into the storyline Hawaiian history, culture, mythology, and social issues. Suggested by Sharon.
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Joy Ride
2023Get this itemLaugh-out-loud funny and outrageous, this story of identity and self-discovery features four unlikely friends on a whirlwind road trip. In her directorial debut, Adele Lim’s comedy broke barriers for its representation of Asian Americans outside of the model minority myth and combatted Asian stereotypes through her lovable and messy characters. She also cowrote the screenplay for this movie, along with Raya and the Lost Dragon (2021) and Crazy Rich Asians (2018). Suggested by Brenna, Rummanah, and Sharon.
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India Sweets and Spices
2022Get this itemDirected by Geeta Malik, this dramedy focuses on the complexities of family dynamics, adhering to social expectations, and being true to yourself. It won the 2022 Breakout Indie Film award from the Gold List, which honors the most outstanding Asian Pacific achievements in the film industry each year. Suggested by Rummanah and Sharon.
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Everything Everywhere All at Once
2022Get this itemLooking at "what ifs" and roads not taken, family relationships, immigrant experience, generational trauma, and more, there is a lot to unpack. Michelle Yeoh, Ke Huy Quan, and Stephanie Hsu star in this whacky, absurd, mind blowing--yet sentimental--sci-fi action comedy. Michelle Yeoh’s character, Evelyn, just might be the right Evelyn to save the universe from an evil agent of chaos--if she can connect to other Evelyns in other timelines to learn their skills. They take a multiverse narrative to a whole new level of meaningful weirdness and enjoyment. It won seven Oscars, including Best Picture, Best Director (Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert), Best Actress (Yeoh), and Best Supporting Actor (Quan). Suggested by Chris, Paul, Rummanah Sharon, and Susanne.
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Bad Axe
2024Get this itemFor his directorial debut, David Siev found a compelling story in his rural hometown Bad Axe, Michigan during the COVID-19 pandemic. He chronicled his family’s efforts to keep their restaurant operational in the wake of rising racial tensions and a volatile political environment. It made Oscar’s shortlist for Best Documentary Feature. Suggested by Sharon.
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Turning Red
2022Get this itemWe're thrilled that Pixar is moving toward more diverse stories. In her first feature-length film, animator/director/screenwriter Domee Shi creates a coming-of-age story of tween Mei Lee as she navigates her Chinese culture, identity, puberty, and her complex relationship with her mother. It received an Oscar nomination for Best Animated Feature Film. Domee Shi previously won an Oscar for her animated short film Bao (2018). Suggested by Rummanah and Sharon.
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The Paper Tigers
2021Get this itemThree disciples trained in Kung Fu called themselves the three tigers and swore that together they’d defend the weak. Now 30 years later, Danny, Hing, and Jim are far from their youthful endeavors. But when their former master is found dead, they sense all is not what it seems and vow to get justice for Sifu. It is a great blend of humor and action without gratuitous violence. Filmmaker Bao Tran created a refreshing tribute to classic martial arts films and actors. Suggested by Rummanah and Sharon.
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Yellow Rose
2021Get this itemRose is an undocumented Filipina teen living in Texas, and her dream is to become a country music singer. However, when her mother is picked up by Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Rose has to figure out a different path. A totally under-the-radar movie--the topic is timely, and the result is heartfelt. Suggested by Sharon.
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Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings
2021Get this itemMarvel Cinematic Universe's first Asian male superhero. By rethinking the problematic origins of the comics, the writers have provided a new origin story that has its own visual and cultural touchstones of Chinese origin, and a story centered on family. Suggested by Rummanah and Sharon.
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Minari
2021Get this itemTender, heartbreaking, and hopeful, this moving drama of a Korean American family trying to achieve the American dream feels universal and will have you experiencing all sorts of emotions simultaneously. The story has a rawness to it and a reminder that beauty can bloom from disaster. Filmmaker Lee Isaac Chung based the script on his own childhood and family experiences. It was nominated for seven Oscars, including Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Actor (Steven Yeun); Youn Yuh-jung won for Best Supporting Actress. Suggested by Paul, Rummanah, and Sharon.
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Minding the Gap
2021Get this itemFilmmaker Bing Liu delves into the lives of two friends from his childhood who share his love for skateboarding. As he follows their stories, Bing decides that he too must be part of the documentary, after it is revealed that they grew up in abusive homes and they are still dealing with the long-term effects. Bings gift for sensitive, absorbing storytelling packs an emotional punch that is not soon forgotten. This film earned an Oscar nomination for Best Documentary Feature. Suggested by Sharon.
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Lucky Grandma
2020Get this itemOne of the best comedy heist movies that you have never heard of, directed by Sasie Sealy and based on a story she wrote with Angela Chen. Filmed in New York City's Chinatown, veteran actor Tsai Chin takes center stage as Grandma Wong--a grouchy, chain-smoking rebel octogenarian, who wins a lot of money at the casino and finds herself in a heap of trouble. Suggested by Sharon.
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The Farewell
2019Get this itemLulu Wang based the screenplay on a family lie centering on her beloved grandmother. When Nai Nai gets a serious medical diagnosis, everyone decides to travel from the U.S. to China to say goodbye. Following tradition, they lie about her condition and say they are there to celebrate a wedding. This doesn’t sit too well with Billi (Awkwafina), who finds herself caught in the middle of two worlds. While you’ll likely shed some tears, really it is full of the life-affirming spirit that is Nai-Nai. Suggested by Brenna, Rummanah, and Sharon.
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Columbus
2019Get this itemWritten and directed by Kogonada (After Yang and Pachinko), this film is unique and exquisite in its execution. John Cho and Hailey Lu Richardson wonderfully portray two people who are at a crossroads in life and bond over architecture. Every scene that shows a structure or building is striking and adds depth to the story. Suggested by Chris and Sharon.
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Driveways
2019Get this itemYou’re in for a treat with this movie that flew under the radar. A lonesome boy and his single mom (Hong Chau) travel to where her estranged sister lived before her death and face the daunting task of cleaning out her home. They get to know the neighborhood and the war veteran octogenarian next door. I appreciate that director Andrew Ahn explores transitions and intergenerational friendships with thoughtfulness and sensitivity. Suggested by Sharon.
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Searching
2018Get this itemThis mystery drama has a fantastic gimmick—it is told through a laptop and various electronic devices. When his 16-year-old daughter fails to return home from a study group, a widowed father (John Cho) breaks into her computer to search through her online history to find clues. It is the first time an Asian American actor headlined a mainstream Hollywood thriller, and it is Aneesh Chaganty’s directorial debut. Suggested by Rummanah and Sharon.
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Crazy Rich Asians
2018Get this itemThis movie is full of glitz, glamour, comedy, and romance. New Yorker Rachel Chu (Constance Wu) travels to Singapore with her boyfriend Nick Young (Henry Golding) to meet his family and attend the wedding of his best friend. Rachel finds out that Nick’s family is crazy wealthy and that they are attending the wedding of the decade. Adapted from the bestselling book by Kevin Kwan and directed by Jon M. Chu, this was one of the biggest critical and box office hits of 2018. Also, the legendary Michelle Yeoh gets a lot of deserved kudos in the role of Eleanor Sung-Young, Nick’s overbearing mother. Suggested by Paul, Rummanah, and Sharon.
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Meet the Patels
2016Get this itemSiblings Geeta and Ravi Patel directed this romantic comedy documentary that follows first-generation Indian American Ravi trying to find the woman of his dreams. Recently broken up with his secret white girlfriend of two years, he agrees to try an arranged marriage process. The film manages to be funny and heartwarming with a lot of thought-provoking observations about love, tradition, family, and cultural assimilation. Suggested by Sharon.
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To Be Takei
2014Get this itemActor, author, activist George Takei is my hero. This documentary about his life, passions, and work is honest, revealing, informative, and oftentimes funny. Be sure to check out his 2019 graphic memoir, They Called Us Enemy, as well. Suggested by Sharon.
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Jake Shimabukuro: Life on Four Strings
2013Get this itemInnovative ukulele virtuoso Jake Shimabukuro says that he loves connecting with people. Indeed, some of my favorite scenes are when he’s out in the community sharing his music and enthusiasm with children. This music doc is a great way to learn about the ukulele and see how and why Shimabukuro became an international star. He is the coolest! Suggested by Sharon.
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The Joy Luck Club
2012Get this itemBased on the beloved book by Amy Tan, the experiences of four Chinese women are told through flashbacks and remembrances. We see how their hopes and disappointments have influenced their daughters, putting forth an emotional journey of what is lost and ultimately saved through the years. This groundbreaking 1993 film, directed by Wayne Wang, was the first big screen movie to feature an Asian American ensemble cast. The next was “Crazy Rich Asians" in 2018. Suggested by Amber I., Rummanah, and Sharon.
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Saving Face
2005Get this itemBy the same writer/director as Netflix's “The Half of It,” this is half family drama and half romantic comedy, and it does an incredible job with both sides of the story. Wil's relationship with her mother and her girlfriend feels so genuine, and all the characters have fantastic comedic timing. Suggested by Perry and Sharon.
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The Wedding Banquet
2004Get this itemA small deception spirals out of control when Wai-Tung's traditional Taiwanese parents pay a visit to the Manhattan home he shares with his boyfriend. This early film from acclaimed director Ang Lee is a fan favorite. Filmmaker Andrew Ahn's remake premiered at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival. Suggested by Rummanah and Sharon.
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