25 modern book-to-screen adaptations that didn’t let us down

Crazy Rich Asians

One recent film that entranced audiences was the adaptation of Kevin Kwan’s Crazy Rich Asians. Kwan’s novel provides readers with an up-close and personal look at three laughably rich Chinese families whose wealth is unimaginable to most people flipping through the novel’s pages. The story chronicles their scheming and betrayals through the eyes of Rachel Chu, who agrees to accompany her boyfriend Nicholas Young home to Singapore to meet his family.

Poor Rachel has no idea what she’s getting herself into, but she soon comes to realize that being with Nick means getting used to staying in palaces and taking private jets — and that there will be plenty of jealousy and manipulation from just about everyone she comes into contact with.

Not only does the film version of Crazy Rich Asians do a great job of portraying the extravagant wealth that Nick’s family has, but it showcases all of the problems that can accompany having that kind of money — and it does so through its acting talent, all of whom tackle these characters head-on and do a fabulous job of it.

Just like Netflix’s To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before, Crazy Rich Asians was also praised for being diverse. The film is actually the first blockbuster movie in 25 years that told a tale about Asian-Americans with a completely Asian cast. The last time this was done was with The Joy Luck Club back in 1993, so naturally, this was an exciting blockbuster for plenty of Asian-Americans to see. With any luck, the rest of Kwan’s series will also be adapted for the big screen. There’s always more to tell when it comes to the glamorous and dramatic lives of the rich.