The Wedding Banquet release date: April 18, 2025. Directed by Andrew Ahn and co-written with James Schamus, the film is a contemporary remake of Ang Lee’s 1993 classic. Produced by the same creative forces that shaped the original, this new iteration stars Bowen Yang, Lily Gladstone, Kelly Marie Tran, Han Gi-chan, Joan Chen, and Academy Award-winner Youn Yuh-jung.
Set against the backdrop of modern cross-cultural expectations and queer identity, The Wedding Banquet follows Chris (Bowen Yang), a successful gay man who agrees to a marriage of convenience with Lee (Lily Gladstone), a friend in need of a green card. When Chris’s traditional parents arrive from overseas expecting a grand wedding, the charade spirals into an emotional and comedic collision of secrets, love, and generational understanding.
Balancing heartfelt drama with light-hearted moments, the film explores themes of family, identity, and the evolving meaning of marriage in today’s world. With standout performances—particularly from Youn Yuh-jung as the matriarch Ja-Young and Joan Chen as the dignified but conflicted May Chen—the story delivers both poignant reflection and universal warmth.
Principal photography took place in Vancouver between May and June 2024, using the city’s diverse settings to double as both North American and East Asian locales. Ahn’s direction brings fresh nuance to the narrative, enriching it with a contemporary lens while preserving the heart of the original story.
The Wedding Banquet had its world premiere at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival, where it was lauded for its sensitive storytelling and sharp wit. Its April 18 theatrical release in the U.S. marks a new chapter for this beloved tale, resonating with a new generation while paying homage to its cinematic roots.
