Andrew Ahn's 'The Wedding Banquet' Reimagines a Queer Classic for 2025

The Sundance premiere updates Ang Lee's 1993 film with a fresh focus on chosen families, cultural expectations, and LGBTQ+ representation.

Director Andrew Ahn and co-writer James Schamus reimagine the 1993 classic, shifting the story to Seattle and expanding its focus to two queer couples navigating love, family, and identity.
The film stars Bowen Yang, Kelly Marie Tran, Lily Gladstone, Han Gi-Chan, Joan Chen, and Youn Yuh-Jung, delivering standout performances across a diverse ensemble cast.
Themes of cultural and generational conflict are explored through Min's green card dilemma and his relationship with his traditional Korean grandmother, played by Youn Yuh-Jung.
The film balances comedy and drama, blending rom-com tropes with heartfelt examinations of chosen families, personal identity, and intergenerational understanding.
Critics praise the film's emotional depth, humor, and nuanced portrayal of LGBTQ+ experiences, though some note occasional pacing issues in its latter half.