The Wedding Banquet (2025)
The Wedding Banquet (2025) – Full Movie Review, Plot, Facts, Behind the Scenes, Box Office, Ratings, Deleted Scenes & More!
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🎬 Quick Info
Movie Title: The Wedding Banquet (2025)
Genre: Romantic Comedy, LGBTQ+, Drama
Director: Andrew Ahn
Writers: Andrew Ahn & James Schamus
Main Cast: Bowen Yang, Han Gi-chan, Kelly Marie Tran, Lily Gladstone, Joan Chen, Youn Yuh-jung
Composer: Jay Wadley
Cinematography: Ki Jin Kim
Editor: Geraud Brisson
Runtime: 103 minutes
Language: English, Korean, Mandarin
Rating: R (language, sexual content, nudity)
Release Date: April 18, 2025 (USA), following Sundance Premiere on January 27, 2025
Distributor: Bleecker Street, Universal Pictures
Budget: Approximately $2 million
Worldwide Gross: Around $2.3 million
📖 Plot Summary
The Wedding Banquet (2025) is not just a remake of Ang Lee’s 1993 classic but a deeply refreshing, emotional, and contemporary retelling. This film takes the foundational elements of the original and updates them for today’s world — addressing immigration, queer love, cultural identity, and the concept of chosen family.
The Setup
Set in Seattle, the story revolves around two couples, both struggling with personal and legal challenges that force them to find an unusual solution. Angela (played by Kelly Marie Tran) and Lee (Lily Gladstone) are a committed lesbian couple desperately trying to have a child through IVF. After multiple failed attempts, they are emotionally drained and financially strained.
Min (Han Gi-chan), a South Korean art student, is facing deportation as his visa is about to expire. He’s in a committed relationship with Chris (Bowen Yang), who fears both the cultural stigma and the complications of marrying Min for a green card.
The Marriage Scheme
In a desperate bid to solve both couples' problems, Angela and Min agree to a marriage of convenience: Angela marries Min, allowing him to stay in the U.S., while Min helps fund another round of IVF treatments for Angela and Lee.
The plan seems simple, but everything unravels when Min's traditional grandmother Ja-Young (played by the legendary Youn Yuh-jung) decides to travel from Korea to attend the wedding. What was meant to be a small, quiet legal arrangement becomes a grand cultural spectacle.
The Grand Banquet
The film’s centerpiece is the extravagant Korean wedding banquet that Ja-Young insists on hosting. Suddenly, everyone is forced to hide their true identities. The house is transformed to hide any signs of the lesbian couple’s life together. Angela and Min must act as a loving couple, Lee pretends to be just a friend, and Chris tries to suppress his emotions while attending as a guest.
Hidden Truths and Emotional Collapse
Tensions rise as secrets start to unravel. One night, after too much drinking, Angela and Chris sleep together, which complicates things further when Angela unexpectedly becomes pregnant. Lee discovers the betrayal and walks out, feeling both hurt and lost.
Meanwhile, Min realizes how much he loves Chris, and Chris finally finds the courage to propose to Min, publicly confessing his love at the wedding ceremony itself. The traditional event turns into an emotional explosion, blending old-world customs with modern love and acceptance.
A New Kind of Family
The film ends on a joyful and hopeful note: Angela gives birth to twins, Min and Chris are married, and all four characters live together, forming a chosen family that embraces love, responsibility, and acceptance. Even the conservative grandmother, Ja-Young, grows to accept the new family dynamic, delivering a touching scene of generational change and understanding.
🎥 Behind The Scenes
Director's Vision
Andrew Ahn’s personal connection to the original film heavily influenced this remake. As a gay Asian-American, he saw Ang Lee's original movie as groundbreaking and wanted to create a version that reflects today’s conversations around LGBTQ+ families, fertility, immigration, and cultural identity.
Ahn brought in James Schamus, the original screenwriter, to collaborate, ensuring that the remake honored the first film’s spirit while expanding its relevance for a new audience.
Casting Magic
The casting process was incredibly intentional:
- Bowen Yang brings his signature blend of comedy and emotional depth, making Chris both funny and heartbreakingly real.
- Han Gi-chan, known for his work in Korean dramas, gives a tender and vulnerable performance as Min.
- Kelly Marie Tran delivers one of her most personal performances to date, infusing Angela with both strength and vulnerability.
- Lily Gladstone, fresh off critical acclaim, gives Lee a rich, layered backstory rooted in Indigenous heritage.
- Youn Yuh-jung, already an icon, adds depth, grace, and wisdom to Ja-Young, drawing from her real-life experiences as a mother to a gay son.
Authentic Cultural Touches
- The Korean wedding banquet scenes were meticulously designed to capture the essence of Korean tradition while contrasting it with the characters' modern lives.
- Filming took place in Vancouver, Canada, doubling for Seattle, allowing the team to capture both urban and nature-filled settings.
- The score by Jay Wadley mixes traditional Asian melodies with modern indie elements, creating an emotional landscape that mirrors the story's cultural blending.
💡 Fun Facts
- The film’s production budget was around $2 million, making it a true indie success story.
- Director Andrew Ahn saw the original Wedding Banquet when he was just 11 years old.
- Youn Yuh-jung’s own personal experiences made her portrayal of Ja-Young deeply emotional, as she has spoken about her understanding of parenting an LGBTQ+ child.
- Lily Gladstone worked closely with the director to ensure Lee’s Indigenous identity was fully developed and not simply tokenized.
- Bowen Yang and Kelly Marie Tran both came out as queer shortly before or during filming, adding another layer of authenticity.
💰 Box Office Performance
The Wedding Banquet (2025) performed modestly at the box office but was highly praised for its artistic value.
- Domestic Opening: Around $918,000 in its first weekend.
- Domestic Total: Approximately $2.09 million.
- International Total: Roughly between $163,000 to $250,000.
- Worldwide Total: Around $2.25 to $2.3 million.
While not a blockbuster, its financial performance reflects the strength of its indie audience and strong word-of-mouth from film festivals.
🌍 Global Release
- Premiered at Sundance Film Festival on January 27, 2025.
- U.S. wide release on April 18, 2025.
- International releases followed, including Australia, New Zealand, UK, Germany, and others.
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🌟 Ratings and Critical Response
The Wedding Banquet (2025) was met with overwhelmingly positive reviews:
- Critics praised its ability to balance humor, drama, and cultural sensitivity.
- Many called it a "beautifully emotional update" that feels timely and necessary.
- Bowen Yang's performance was singled out as one of the best of his career.
- The film’s message of chosen family resonated strongly with modern audiences.
Some critics did note that the film is less sharp and more sentimental compared to the original but acknowledged that this shift reflects how far society has come since 1993.
🚫 Deleted Scenes
One of the most talked-about deleted scenes involved Angela attending a PFLAG meeting with her mother. In this emotionally charged scene, Angela confronts her mother’s hypocrisy — who publicly supports LGBTQ+ rights but struggles to support her own daughter.
Though incredibly powerful, this scene was ultimately cut for pacing reasons. However, many cast members said it was the scene that made them want to join the project.
🔎 Key Themes
1. Chosen Family
At its core, this is a story about chosen family — how love, not blood, defines who your family is.
2. Immigration Struggles
The film reflects real-world challenges faced by immigrants navigating the U.S. legal system, especially for LGBTQ+ couples.
3. Fertility & Parenthood
Angela and Lee’s IVF journey highlights the emotional rollercoaster many couples face when trying to have children, especially LGBTQ+ couples who often face added medical and societal hurdles.
4. Cultural Clash & Acceptance
The collision of old-world Korean traditions with modern queer identity creates both tension and opportunities for healing.
5. Generational Growth
Through Ja-Young’s character, the film beautifully explores how older generations can grow, learn, and accept their children for who they are.
🎭 Standout Performances
- Bowen Yang brings both humor and heartbreak to Chris. His emotional arc is one of the film’s strongest.
- Han Gi-chan perfectly captures Min’s vulnerability and quiet strength.
- Kelly Marie Tran shines as Angela, delivering one of her most heartfelt performances.
- Lily Gladstone adds depth and grace to Lee, blending cultural sensitivity with personal passion.
- Youn Yuh-jung once again proves why she’s one of the greatest actresses of her generation.
🎤 Final Thoughts
The Wedding Banquet (2025) is a beautiful, modern reimagining of a classic that perfectly captures the evolving definition of love, family, and identity in today’s world. It’s a rare film that manages to be both deeply personal and universally relatable. With outstanding performances, thoughtful direction, and a story that speaks directly to today’s social climate, it’s a must-watch for anyone who values representation, culture, and heartwarming storytelling.
👉 For more amazing movie reviews, behind-the-scenes stories, and box office updates, visit my website Cinemix Reviews and stay updated with the latest in world cinema!
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