How did the scramble for Jimmy O. Yang tickets go for you? If you managed to grab tickets to see the Hong Kong-American comedian’s first Asian show, then good for you! If, however, you’re part of the many fans who were left disappointed, then at least we’re in the same boat. Read on for a list of movies and TV shows to watch starring O. Yang – at least you’ll still get some chuckles this way!
Crazy Rich Asians (2018)
Arguably the one movie that put Jimmy O. Yang on most people’s radars. This romcom box office hit put Singapore on everyone’s travel bucket list, and was the first film out of a major Hollywood studio to feature a majority cast of Chinese descent. For those who haven’t yet seen it (where have you been hiding?) the film follows Rachel Chu (played by Constance Wu) who meets her boyfriend Nick’s (Henry Golding) family, only to find out that they’re wealthy enough to be modern-day Singaporean royalty. Jimmy O. Yang stars as Bernard Tai, Nick’s obnoxious friend.
Love Hard (2021)
Christmastime is full of cheesy movies, and this one should be on your list. A portmanteau of two of the most-loved Christmas movies – Love Actually and Die Hard – Love Hard follows Natalie (played by Nina Dobrev) who travels to surprise her online crush for Christmas, only to find she has been catfished. Josh is actually Jimmy O. Yang, using photos of his hunky friend Tag (Darren Barnet), but he asks Natalie to pretend to be his girlfriend for the holidays in return for setting her up with Tag. Obviously, misunderstandings and hilarity ensue, wrapped up with a sweet ending.
The Monkey King (2023)
There have been many adaptations of the classic Chinese story Journey to the West, but this is a new animated rendition for Netflix that was selected as the closing film at the 22nd New York Asian Film Festival, and also features a host of Asian-American actors in its cast. O. Yang voices the titular character of the Monkey King, who sets out on a riotous journey to prove his worth, challenge the gods, and gain immortality. A fun action-packed romp that delves into the back story of one of the most well-known characters in Chinese culture.
The Opening Act (2020)
This movie is probably the closest you’ll get to seeing O. Yang’s comedy show from home, since he stars as Will Chu, a young man who wants to become a stand-up comedian. He later has the opportunity to emcee a comedy show and open for his stand-up hero Billy G (played by Cedric the Entertainer), and has to decide whether to continue his safe life path or throw caution to the wind and pursue his passion. The cast of The Opening Act features plenty of other American comedians and comedic actors such as Ken Jeong, Alex Moffat, Russell Peters, Iliza Shlesinger, Bill Burr, and more.
Interior Chinatown (2024)
This Hulu comedy-drama series is based on Charles Yu’s novel of the same name, and follows Willis Wu, a waiter at a Chinese restaurant named the Golden Palace. Unbeknownst to him, he is actually just a background character in a fictional police crime drama, literally labelled sad things as ‘Generic Asian Man’ or ‘Background Oriental Male’. But when Wu decides to investigate his brother’s disappearance, he starts to uncover secrets and understand the machinations behind his fake Chinatown. Interior Chinatown also sees O. Yang reuniting with his Crazy Rich Asians costar Ronny Chieng, who plays Fatty Choi, Wu’s best friend.
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