Here are some binge-worthy shows and fun movies with Asian and Pacific Islanders as the main cast members.
May is Asian and Pacific Islander Month, making it a great time to focus on AAPI representation in media. As always, I only recommend shows and movies I've seen and do not focus on stereotypes or misfortunes of the minority.
TV SHOWS
Never Have I Ever
Created by Mindy Kaling, Never Have I Ever follows Indian American high school student Devi as she grieves her father's death while juggling school, friends, and romance.
Main AAPI Cast:
Maitreyi Ramakrishnan as Devi Vishwakumar
Poorna Jagannathan as Dr. Nalini Vishwakumar
Richa Moorjani as Kamala Nandiwadal
Darren Barnet as Paxton Hall-Yoshida
Ramona Young as Eleanor Wong
Beef
Created by Lee Sung Jin, Beef follows two people whose lives become intertwined after they obsess over a road rage incident.
Main AAPI Cast:
Steven Yeun as Danny Cho
Ali Wong as Amy Lau
Joseph Lee as George Nakai
Young Mazino as Paul Cho
David Choe as Isaac Cho
Patti Yasutake as Fumi Nakai
To All The Boys I've Loved Before
Based on the book by Jenny Han, To All The Boys I've Loved Before is about a high school student whose childhood love letters are delivered without her knowledge, and she must choose who she still has feelings with.
Main AAPI Cast:
Lana Condor as Lara Jean
Janel Parrish as Margot
Anna Cathcart as Kitty
Young Rock
Created by Dwayne Johnson, Young Rock, is set in the future where Dwayne Johnson is running for president and participating in interviews where he recollects his memories as a kid in Hawaii, a teenager in Pennsylvania, and a young adult in Miami
Main AAPI Cast:
Dwayne Johnson as himself
Uli Latukefu as 18- to 26-year-old Dwayne
Stacey Leilua as Ata Johnson
Ana Tuisila as Lia Maivia
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Fresh Off The Boat
Based on Fresh Off the Boat by Eddie Huang, the series follows a Taiwanese American family through the late nineties.
Main AAPI Cast:
Randall Park as Louis Huang
Constance Wu as Jessica Huang
Hudson Yang as Edwyn "Eddie" Huang
Forrest Wheeler as Emery Huang
Ian Chen as Evan Huang
Andi Mack
Andi Mack follows a seventh grader who learns her sister is her mother, and they struggle to create clear boundaries between mother and daughter.
Main AAPI Cast:
Peyton Elizabeth Lee as Andi Mack
Lilan Bowden as Rebecca "Bex" Mack
Lauren Tom as Celia Mack
The Mindy Project
The Mindy Project is about a successful doctor with a chaotic romantic life.
Main AAPI Cast
Mindy Kaling as Mindy Lahiri
Kim's Convenience
Based on the play Kim's Convenience by Ins Choi, the show is about a Korean family who owns a convenience store in Toronto.
Main AAPI Cast:
Paul Sun-Hyung Lee as Mr. Sang-il Kim ("Appa")
Jean Yoon as Mrs. Yong-mi Kim ("Umma")
Andrea Bang as Janet Kim
Simu Liu as Jung Kim
Andrew Phung as Arnold "Kimchee" Han
Ms. Marvel
Created by Bisha K. Ali, Ms. Marvel is about a Pakistani American teenage fangirl of the Avengers then discovers she, too, has powers.
Main AAPI Cast:
Iman Vellani as Kamala Khan / Ms. Marvel
Yasmeen Fletcher as Nakia Bahadir
Zenobia Shroff as Muneeba Khan
Mohan Kapur as Yusuf Khan
Saagar Shaikh as Aamir Khan
MOVIES
Crazy Rich Asians
Based on the novel by Kevin Kwan is about a Chinese-American professor who goes on a trip to meet her boyfriend's family in Singapore and discovers they're rich.
Main AAPI Cast:
Constance Wu as Rachel Chu
Henry Golding as Nicholas "Nick" Young
Moana
Moana is a Disney musical about a Polynesian chief's daughter who sets out on a sea adventure with the demi-god, Maui, to find a way to help her dying island.
Main AAPI Cast:
Auliʻi Cravalho as Moana
Dwayne Johnson as Maui
Always Be My Maybe
Always Be My Maybe is a romantic comedy about childhood friends who reunite after years apart and realize they've always loved each other.
Main AAPI Cast:
Ali Wong as Sasha Tran
Randall Park as Marcus Kim
Raya and the Last Dragon
When monsters who turn people to stone have taken over the world, Raya searches for a dragon who can create a gem that will save everyone.
Main AAPI Cast:
Kelly Marie Tran as Raya
Awkwafina as Sisu
Turning Red
Created by Domee Shi, Turning Red follows a Chinese Canadian student who discovers her ancestry allows her to turn into a Red Panda.
Main AAPI Cast:
Rosalie Chiang as Meilin "Mei" Lee
Sandra Oh as Ming Lee
Wai Ching Ho as Wu