Awkwafina has been staying busy ever since she broke into Hollywood.
The rapper and actress can be seen in Jumanji: The Next Level right now, and she even just picked up the Golden Globe for Best Actress — Motion Picture Comedy or Musical for her performance in The Farewell, making her the first Asian actress to ever win in this category. To celebrate all of Awkwafina’s recent success, we thought it was time to look back on her best movies to date. To do so, we’ll be turning to the ranking system on Rotten Tomatoes.
The entertainment review aggregation website has assigned every one of Awkwafina’s roles a Tomatometer rating, based on the negative and positive reviews of critics. These percentage scores are what we’ll be using as our guide.
With the logistics out of the way, it’s time to head to the movies and get ready for a load of greatness; Here are Awkwafina’s best films to date, according to Rotten Tomatoes.
Paradise Hills (62%)
This 2019 Spanish sci-fi fantasy tells of a woman named Uma (Emma Roberts) who is brought to a behavioral-correction island known as Paradise for dishonoring her family. Here, she teams together with the other ladies there to uncover the dark secrets behind the place at which they’re held.
Awkwafina acts as one of Uma’s new roommates, Yu. Danielle Macdonald plays the other, Chloe.
The mesmerizing sets and feminist themes were applauded by critics even though the script had its flaws.
Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising (63%)
The Seth Rogan-Zac Efron comedy known as Neighbors received a sequel in 2016.
This time around, Mac Radner (Rogan) is enjoying his life with his wife, Kelly. However, their peace is disrupted after a group of sorority girls moves in next door. Though Mac and Efron’s Teddy Sanders haven’t always gotten along, Mac decides its time to put their differences aside and get a little help.
Awkwafina plays one of the energetic Kappa Nu girls named Christine. Though the comedy couldn’t live up to the original, critics found the sequel to still be entertaining.
Bad Rap (63%)
Awkwafina’s first film appearance came in 2016 as part of the acclaimed documentary Bad Rap.
The 2016 doc follows four Korean-American hip-hop artists as they try to rise to the top of the music industry. Of course, Awkwafina is one of these artists. She discusses the difficulties of competing for a music career in a business that doesn’t prioritize Asians or females.
Viewers enjoyed watching the door open to a fresh (and necessary) conversation about the entertainment industry.
Storks (66%)
Awkwafina hasn’t limited herself to the live-action scene; She’s also appeared in a couple of animations, the first of these being Storks.
This 2016 comedy tells of a package-delivering stork named Junior who teams up with his human partner, Lily, to distribute items from Cornerstore.com. After mistakenly creating a child, however, Junior is forced to resume the baby-delivering services of his ancestors.
Though Andy Samberg and Katie Crown star, Awkwafina offered her support by voicing a quail. Though the plot could have used a little help, the colorful animations were charming nonetheless.
Ocean’s 8 (69%)
Sandra Bullock, Cate Blanchett, Anne Hathaway, Mindy Kaling, Sarah Paulson, Rihanna, Helena Bonham Carter, and Awkwafina all teamed up for a female Ocean’s 8 spin-off in 2018.
The 2018 film had the ladies completing a complicated necklace heist at the Met Gala taking place in New York City’s Metropolitan Museum of Art. Awkwafina’s Constance is a street hustler and pickpocket who uses her skills to advance the plan.
Though the film was no stand-out, it was full of entertaining moments that benefited from a strong cast.
Jumanji: The Next Level (71%)
The third-installment in the Jumanji franchise gained enough acclaim to earn a fourth; This time, Awkwafina joined the lineup.
In Jumanji: The Next Level, the teenagers are forced to go back into the crazy video game in order to rescue Spencer after he misses his old life. They’re faced with a new set of challenges upon re-entry.
Awkwafina plays Ming Fleetfoot, a new avatar that Eddie and Spencer get to take on. She’s skilled in pick-pocketing but allergic to pollen.
While the film maintained the series’s integrity, critics enjoyed the freshened components.
The Angry Birds Movie 2 (73%)
The Angry Birds computer-animated comedy film received a sequel in 2019. Awkwafina added some new fun to the franchise by joining the cast.
Angry Birds 2 has Red, Chuck, Bomb, and their friends teaming up with the green pigs after they are threatened by a group of birds that live on an icy island. Awkwafina plays a pig named Courtney.
The voice work was commended, as was the unpredictable narrative.
Between Two Ferns: The Movie (71%)
This 2019 comedy film, which is a spin-off of Zach Galifianakis’ web series of the same name, has the star realizing that his show isn’t taken seriously. To get some credibility back, Zach decides to go on a road trip tour to interview a list of important celebrities.
Awkwafina is one of the comedian’s interviewees. In the extended interview, they cover topics from the lack of white people in Crazy Rich Asians to the difference between BTS and other K Pop boy bands.
Fans of the original show were not disappointed by the film’s consistent brand of humor.
Crazy Rich Asians (91%)
Crazy Rich Asians tells of a successful New York City economics professor named Rachel (Constance Wu) who decides to accompany her boyfriend, Nick (Henry Golding), to a wedding in Singapore. When she arrives, she’s shocked to learn that his family is rich and popular and must deal with the disapproval of Nick’s particular mother (Michelle Yeoh).
Awkwafina played the charismatic, confident, blonde best friend of Rachel in this 2018 romantic comedy. Her character, Goh, is constantly pushing Rachel to be the best version of herself.
The film’s dazzling visuals and enchanting cast left critics raving.
The Farewell (98%)
Lastly, topping off the list as Awkwafina’s highest-rated movie of all time is The Farewell. Trust us, there’s a reason she won the Golden Globe for her performance.
This 2019 comedy-drama, directed and written by Lulu Wang, tells of a family who gets together for a reunion before the passing of their grandmother. They do, however, choose to keep her approaching death a secret.
Awkwafina leads up the film as Chinese-American writer Billi, who is incredibly close to her Nai Nai (grandmother).
