Image credit: Myriad Pictures, Warner Bros., Strand Releasing, FallBack Plan Productions, SPE, Fox Searchlight, Netflix, STX
"Crazy Rich Asians" star got a lot of underrated roles under her belt.
1. Crazy Rich Asians (2018) – 91% In this glamorous rom-com, Constance Wu stars as Rachel Chu, a New York-based economics professor with a dashing boyfriend, Nick Young.
But there's a twist: Nick's family is ridiculously wealthy and, well, Rachel has no clue. When they jet off to Singapore for his best friend's wedding, Rachel finds herself in the opulent world of Asia's elite. She becomes the target of envious socialites and Nick's disapproving mother.
2. I Was a Simple Man (2021) – 89% Constance portrays Grace, a character submerged in the serene yet complex backdrop of Hawaii. The movie isn't a blockbuster, evident from its modest box office haul of $13.6K, but oh, it's a gem. The story spirals around an ailing man, Masao, haunted by the ghosts of his past, including that of Grace.
This isn't your run-of-the-mill drama. The characters are enmeshed in a tender, albeit somber, exploration of mortality and the inexorable passage of time.
3. Hustlers (2019) – 87% Now, this is where Constance Wu spins the narrative, stepping into the stilettos of Destiny, a stripper in the bustling cityscape of New York. $105.0M at the box office screams that they did something right, doesn't it?
Destiny, alongside a squad of savvy strippers including Ramona (played by Jennifer Lopez), turn the tables on their Wall Street clientele. When the financial crisis hits, they concoct a daring scheme to swindle their affluent clients, a cocktail of seduction and manipulation mixed to perfection.
4. Next Gen (2018) – 86% Voices breathe life into animations, and Constance, as Molly, does it with flair. Molly isn't your regular teen. She befriends a top-secret robot, 7723, and well, that's where the fun begins. They embark on a high-octane adventure to take down a nefarious villain with plans to mass-produce war robots.
It's action-packed, it's intense, and yet, there's a heartwarming narrative of friendship woven meticulously into every explosive sequence.
5. Sound of My Voice (2011) – 76% Let's throw it back to when Constance graced the screen as Christine. It wasn't a box office smash hit, but every frame is a work of art. The story centers around a couple attempting to infiltrate a cult led by a charismatic leader who claims to be from the future. Christine, a critical character, gets swept into the enigmatic yet charismatic pull of the cult leader.
It's not just a film; it's a psychological puzzle that invites the audience to piece together fragments of complex characters and an even more complex storyline.
6. Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile (2022) – 72% Now, we leap forward to a more recent addition to Wu's arsenal, a family comedy that raked in a cool $46.5M. Here, Constance's character is thrown into a hilarious escapade involving a mischievous crocodile.
In New York City, a charismatic magician named Hector P. Valenti wants to try out on a national talent show but is constantly rejected. One day after a failed audition, he wanders into an exotic pet store, where he finds a singing baby crocodile and names him Lyle, seeing him as an opportunity to become rich in the talent business.
7. Wish Dragon (2021) – 68% In this charming animation, Constance lends her voice to Mom. The story unfolds in the bustling streets of Shanghai where Din, a working-class lad, and Long, a cynical but all-powerful dragon, cross paths. They set off on an adventure, and no, it's not to conquer kingdoms or slay beasts but to reunite Din with his childhood friend, Li Na.
8. All the Creatures Were Stirring (2018) – 62% Who said holiday movies can't be creepy and unsettling? Constance steps into the role of Gabby, and here, Christmas isn't just carols and lights.
The film is an anthology of eerie tales occurring on Christmas Eve. Gabby is one of the unfortunate souls experiencing paranormal and sinister events that make you question whether you're watching a holiday film or a horror spectacle.
9. The LEGO NINJAGO Movie (2017) – 55% $59.3M at the box office can't be wrong, can it? In this animated martial arts comedy, Constance voices the Mayor of Ninjago City, a metropolis under constant threat from the evil warlord Garmadon. The city's only hope? A group of young ninjas with elemental powers, led by the Green Ninja, Garmadon's own son.
It's bricks and kicks, action and humor, with every character (the Mayor included) adding a unique flavor to this colorful, blocky universe.
10. Electric Slide (2014) – 14% Constance takes on the role of Mika Oh in a story about the notorious bank robber Eddie Dodson. It's the 80s, and Eddie is living the high life – that is until he falls for Pauline, and the pair spiral into a life of crime. Mika becomes embroiled in this tumultuous journey of love, adrenaline, and the allure of the criminal underworld.
