---
title: "Crazy Rich Asians: the reviews"
canonical: "https://film.one/film/crazy-rich-asians/reviews"
title_page: "https://film.one/film/crazy-rich-asians"
critics_score: 77
critics_reviews: 25
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Crazy Rich Asians (2018): what the critics said

Critics' score 77 from 25 reviews: 19 positive, 6 mixed, 0 negative.

The reviews lean clearly positive, with nineteen of twenty-five in favour and none against. Most critics find it a charming, energetic romantic comedy that does the familiar thing well, and many treat it as a milestone for an Asian-led cast. The praise gathers around the women: Constance Wu’s grounded, intelligent Rachel, Michelle Yeoh’s disapproving mother, and Awkwafina’s comic turns. The mahjong confrontation between Rachel and Eleanor is repeatedly singled out as the film’s sharpest scene.

The reservations are consistent. Several call the script uneven and the story conventional, say Astrid’s subplot is thin, and find the ending sweeter than it needs to be. The commonest complaint is that the film admires the wealth it might have questioned; Vulture argues it undercuts its sharper ideas by returning to the spectacle of money. The spread is narrow, with the coolest voice at The Ringer, which grants the film its cultural significance but finds it neither revolutionary nor formally ambitious.

## Time Out — Danny Yu

Rating 5/5. 9 September 2018. 

The review is strongly positive, describing the film as full of attitude and heart. It praises the film’s energetic take on an Asian-centric romantic comedy.

[Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/crazy-rich-asians)

## Empire — Olly Richards

Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 29 August 2018. 

Richards calls it a romcom milestone and one of the decade’s best, praising its charm and deftly balanced ensemble. He singles out Awkwafina’s performance and the film’s lively portrayal of cultural change.

[Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/crazy-rich-asians-review/)

## The Hollywood Reporter — David Rooney

Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 8 August 2018. 

Rooney finds the film a captivating, uplifting romantic comedy that makes its extravagant setting serve a heartfelt story. He praises Constance Wu’s grounded performance and the chemistry she shares with Henry Golding.

[Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/crazy-rich-asians-1133077/)

## Variety — Peter Debruge

Rating Critic's Pick. 8 August 2018. 

Debruge praises the film as a broadly appealing, sparkling romance that balances extravagant wealth with a grounded heroine. He particularly singles out Constance Wu’s intelligent, self-reliant Rachel and her integrity in the mahjong scene.

[Read the review](https://variety.com/2018/film/reviews/crazy-rich-asians-review-1202900373/)

## The AV Club — Caroline Siede

Rating B+. 13 August 2018. 

Siede finds the film a stylish, emotionally grounded rom-com whose familiar story is elevated by its perspective and exuberance. She especially praises Michelle Yeoh’s layered performance and the film’s sumptuous visual spectacle.

[Read the review](https://www.avclub.com/crazy-rich-asians-has-so-much-rom-com-razzle-dazzle-it-1828263610)

## Evening Standard — Charlotte O'Sullivan

Rating 4/5. 14 September 2018. 

O’Sullivan finds the film less funny than Bridesmaids but leaves it with an unexpectedly pleased grin. She praises the gripping, moving women’s performances and the mother-daughter relationship that refreshes the rom-com formula.

[Read the review](https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/film/crazy-rich-asians-review-super-luxe-take-on-an-old-rom-com-formula-a3935691.html)

## Little White Lies — Patrick Sproull

Rating 3/4/4. 11 September 2018. 

Sproull finds the film a consistently entertaining, creatively handled rom-com and a watershed for diversity. He especially praises Michelle Yeoh’s nuanced performance and Chu’s visual spectacle.

[Read the review](https://lwlies.com/reviews/crazy-rich-asians)

## Radio Times — Victoria Luxford

Rating 4/5. 

The review describes the film as a vibrant, funny comedy of manners and a very modern Cinderella story. It singles out Michelle Yeoh’s excellent performance as the disapproving mother and villain.

[Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-jprnqf/crazy-rich-asians/)

## The Guardian — Peter Bradshaw

Rating 4/5. 13 September 2018. 

Bradshaw finds the film highly entertaining, extravagant and good-natured, while noting its lack of subtlety. He praises Michelle Yeoh’s showstopping performance and the funny supporting turns, especially Awkwafina’s.

[Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2018/sep/13/crazy-rich-asians-review-jon-m-chu-constance-wu)

## Slant Magazine — Derek Smith

Rating 3/4. 13 August 2018. 

Smith finds the film shrewd and often hilarious in its exploration of cultural and generational tensions, though its opulence and detached subplots weaken it. He especially praises its nuanced portrayal of the clash between Rachel and Eleanor and the cultural shifts behind it.

[Read the review](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/crazy-rich-asians/)

## Los Angeles Times — Justin Chang

Fi1m's normalised score 72/100 (inferred from the text). 8 August 2018. 

Chang calls the film a flawed but vital milestone, praising its exuberant cultural representation while noting its uneven script. He singles out Michelle Yeoh’s crisp, vulnerable performance as especially powerful.

[Read the review](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/la-et-mn-crazy-rich-asians-review-20180808-story.html)

## The New Yorker

Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 

The critic finds it a hearty but familiar romantic fable. The energetic cast, especially Awkwafina and Nico Santos, lifts the conventional story with sharp comic moments.

[Read the review](https://www.newyorker.com/goings-on-about-town/movies/crazy-rich-asians)

## Film Comment — Michael Sragow

Fi1m's normalised score 65/100 (inferred from the text). 

The standfirst frames the film as an energetic comedic romance but gives no clear overall verdict. It highlights the protagonist's reckoning with the codes and cliques of the elite.

[Read the review](https://www.filmcomment.com/deep-focus-crazy-rich-asians/)

## RogerEbert.com

Fi1m's normalised score 65/100 (inferred from the text). 

The page appears to be a review of the film, but its text is inaccessible. No verdict or specific praise or complaint can be verified from the available page.

[Read the review](https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/crazy-rich-asians-2018)

## The New York Times

Fi1m's normalised score 65/100 (inferred from the text). 14 August 2018. 

The page content is inaccessible, so the critic’s verdict cannot be determined. No specific praise or complaint can be verified from the available text.

[Read the review](https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/14/movies/crazy-rich-asians-review.html)

## Vulture — Emily Yoshida

Fi1m's normalised score 65/100 (inferred from the text). 24 April 2019. 

Yoshida finds the film appealing but ultimately undercuts its sharper ideas by returning to the spectacle of wealth. She especially praises the mah-jongg confrontation between Rachel and Eleanor as a smart, heartfelt climax.

[Read the review](https://www.vulture.com/2018/08/crazy-rich-asians-review.html)

## Screen Daily — Tim Grierson

Fi1m's normalised score 64/100 (inferred from the text). 9 August 2018. 

The critic’s verdict cannot be determined from the accessible page. The standfirst notes the adaptation’s box-office potential but reveals no specific praise or complaint.

[Read the review](https://www.screendaily.com/reviews/crazy-rich-asians-review/5131485.article)

## Den of Geek — Kayti Burt

Rating 4.5/5. 10 August 2018. 

The critic calls the film a multifaceted delight that succeeds as both a romantic comedy and a story about identity and family. She particularly praises Constance Wu’s performance and the chemistry between the leads.

[Read the review](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/crazy-rich-asians-review/)

## Collider — Matt Goldberg

Rating B+. 14 August 2018. 

Goldberg finds the film a fun, vibrant romance that handles culture and heritage with care. He praises the cast’s chemistry and Awkwafina’s comic energy, while noting that the displays of wealth sometimes distract from the characters.

[Read the review](https://collider.com/crazy-rich-asians-review/)

## The Skinny — Kelli Weston

Rating ★★★★. 3 September 2018. 

Weston finds the rom-com charming and winningly heartfelt, while noting its portrait of wealth lacks complexity. She praises Constance Wu’s magnetic screen presence and singles out the Mahjong showdown as especially sharp.

[Read the review](https://www.theskinny.co.uk/film/new-releases/crazy-rich-asians)

## The Wrap

Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 14 August 2018. 

The critic calls the film an engaging, cinematically enticing landmark that tells a familiar romantic-comedy story with cultural specificity. They praise Constance Wu’s performance and the caliber of the all-Asian cast, while noting that Astrid’s subplot is not compelling enough.

[Read the review](https://www.thewrap.com/crazy-rich-asians-film-review-constance-wu-emerges-as-a-major-star-in-culturally-rich-romantic-comedy/)

## /Film — Karen Han

Rating 8 out of 10. 14 August 2018. 

Han calls the film a joy, while noting that its ending is saccharine and some storylines remain unaddressed. She particularly praises its cultural specificity and the pleasure of seeing so many Asian actors on screen.

[Read the review](https://www.slashfilm.com/560304/crazy-rich-asians-review/)

## Consequence — Dominick Suzanne-Mayer

Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 15 August 2018. 

The critic finds it a charming, energetic romantic comedy that mostly breezes past its celebration of wealth and privilege. They single out Constance Wu’s radiant performance and praise the film’s colorful style and emotionally authentic cultural perspective.

[Read the review](https://consequence.net/2018/08/film-review-crazy-rich-asians/)

## Paste — Kyle Turner

Rating 7.5/10. 12 August 2018. 

Turner finds the film’s cultural observations perceptive and moving, despite its comparatively weak critique of wealth. He especially praises Constance Wu’s emotionally intelligent performance and ability to convey Rachel’s in-betweenness.

[Read the review](https://www.pastemagazine.com/movies/crazy-rich-asians/crazy-rich-asians)

## The Ringer — Jane Hu

Fi1m's normalised score 55/100 (inferred from the text). 15 August 2018. 

Hu sees the film as culturally significant but not especially revolutionary or formally ambitious. She praises its visual spectacle and points to its portrayal of Singapore as an alternate modernity.

[Read the review](https://www.theringer.com/2018/08/15/movies/crazy-rich-asians-review-black-panther-hollywood-representation)

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/film/crazy-rich-asians.md