The Joy Luck Club (1993)

84% of critics liked it
(32 reviews)
87% of users liked it
(26,780 ratings)

Director Wayne Wang and screenwriter Ronald Bass effectively interweave sixteen mother-daughter tales in their silken film version of Amy Tan's best-selling novel about the clash between generations. The film takes place in present-day San Francisco, concentrating on a group of late-middle-aged… More Director Wayne Wang and screenwriter Ronald Bass effectively interweave sixteen mother-daughter tales in their silken film version of Amy Tan's best-selling novel about the clash between generations. The film takes place in present-day San Francisco, concentrating on a group of late-middle-aged Chinese women. Ever since arriving in the United States after World War II, the women have gathered weekly to play mah-jongg and to tell stories, regaling each other with tales of their children and grandchildren, giving each other a sense of hope and renewal in the midst of poverty and hardship. The Joy Luck Club is made up of four women -- Suyuan (Kieu Chinh), Lindo (Tsai Chin), Ying Ying (France Nuyen), and An Mei (Lisa Lu). But when Suyuan dies, the three surviving members invite Suyuan's daughter June (Ming-Na Wen) to take her place. Along with the daughters of the other members -- Waverly (Tamlyn Tomita), Lena (Lauren Tom), and Rose (Rosalind Chao) -- June is a Chinese-American with only a passing interest in her rich cultural heritage. But through vignettes that switch back and forth in time, the daughters begin to appreciate the struggles of their mothers to start their families in the optimistic promise of the United States. ~ Paul Brenner, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: R, 2 hr. 15 min.
Directed By: Wayne Wang
Written By: Amy Tan, Ron Bass
Genres: Drama, Romance

In Theaters: Sep 8, 1993 Wide
On DVD: Jun 4, 2002
Studio: Buena Vista Pictures

Critic Reviews

Janet Maslin, New York Times
Both sweeping and intimate, a lovely evocation of changing cultures and enduring family ties.
Peter Travers, Rolling Stone
Four different actresses play the aunties in their youth, which sometimes keeps us struggling to keep the stories straight. That we do is a tribute to the power of Tan's theme about the miscommunication that separates one generation from another.
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
One of the most touching and moving of the year's films.
Hal Hinson, Washington Post
It's ravishing to look it, a truly gorgeous object. But it is not deep.
Desson Thomson, Washington Post
Gives refreshing -- and bittersweet -- dimension to the age-old clash between generations.
James Berardinelli, ReelViews
It's fascinating and satisfying the way the diverse threads are knitted together into a single tapestry.
Kelly Kessler, Common Sense Media
Poignant tale of Chinese-American moms, daughters.
Josh Larsen, LarsenOnFilm
...not only fails to give the novel cinematic stature; it denigrates the delicate beauty of the book itself.
Steve Crum, Video-Reviewmaster.com
Well mounted adaptation of best seller.
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com
At the end of the press screening, Disney's publicists handed out Kleenex to the critics, an effective marketing tool but one that trivilaize the picture, relegating it to the status of a three-handkerchief women's melodrama.
Michael Dequina, TheMovieReport.com
Deserves every tear it wrenches from your eyes.
Nick Davis, Nick's Flick Picks
The pleasure of seeing an underrepresented group on-screen is undercut by the stereotyped approach to almost all involved.

Read all 12 critic reviews

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

Bruce B

A very long movie about 4 Chinese Women, one who is dead and the other 3 who were best friends, also stories about each one's daughters telling of events in there lives and there daughters. It's enjoyable and interesting. 4 Stars
Alice S

Brilliant ensemble cast with seamless representation of intertwining stories. I know that as a Chinese-American, I should find these stories identifiable - and I do to some extent - but I also think they end melodramatically for a happy effect. I don't share the same catharsis.
Candy R

Based on the novel by Amy Tan, about four elderly Chinese women who left China for America and their relationships with their American born daughters. Each relationship is strained because of the hardships that each mother had endured. How come Andrew McCarthy never ages?
Nani V

This is a great film that takes you into the lives of these women. Each story is different. I love it!!! Mothers and daughters...watch it together!!!
Curtis L

I will admit to seeing this movie in the name of "my 1000th review". This movie is about a bunch of Asian chicks that have bad relationships with everything. Not terrible though.
Jennifer X

doesn't even compare to the novel but ming-na does her best. and this movie just reaffirms my love for waverly JONG.
Drew S

Decent. I liked the book, but this movie didn't make much of an impression on me.
Leigh R

Great movie.
Chihoe H

The film boasts quite an ensemble yet the performances failed to translate onscreen. What works in its favour are Rachel Portmanâ(TM)s work on the score and the narrative from Amy Tanâ(TM)s novel. These small vignettes come from the perspectives of four mothers and their respective… More
The film boasts quite an ensemble yet the performances failed to translate onscreen. What works in its favour are Rachel Portmanâ(TM)s work on the score and the narrative from Amy Tanâ(TM)s novel. These small vignettes come from the perspectives of four mothers and their respective daughters, focusing on family ties, tradition, the hardships of an older generation, and the expectations of a new one.
Jared H

A touching and fascinating assortment of family tales. I read the book in high school and thought it was boring, but watching it now, I realize the value of the stories and how they portray how new generations conflict with such deeply rooted traditions and cultures. It would make a… More
A touching and fascinating assortment of family tales. I read the book in high school and thought it was boring, but watching it now, I realize the value of the stories and how they portray how new generations conflict with such deeply rooted traditions and cultures. It would make a good triple 'minority' feature with "Soul Food" and "Mi Familia" lol.
Sunil J

Some really dark moments but pretty faithful to the book.
Donna D

One of my favorite movies. Joy Luck Club is based on the stories of 4 women that have each different tales on their lives in China before coming to America. Wonderful characters and the actresses were amazing.
Ira Z

Great movie. The cast does a superb job of shouldering the film through-out the story. Not only that, great story pacing through numerous time periods turns the movie into a success. I'll even go as far as to call this movie a classic
Leo L

One of the greatest film of all time!

Read all 14 featured audience ratings

Cast

            Tsai Chin as Lindo

            Kieu Chinh as Suyuan

            Lisa Lu as An Mei

            France Nuyen as Ying Ying

            Rosalind Chao as Rose

            Tamlyn Tomita as Waverly

            Lauren Tom as Lena

            Ming-Na Wen as June

            Michael Paul Chan as Harold

            Andrew McCarthy as Ted

            Christopher Rich as Rich

            Russell Wong as Lin Xiao

            Vivian Wu as An Mei's Mother

            Jack Ford as Mr. Jordan

            Diane Baker as Mrs. Jordan

            Kim Chew as Mrs. Chew

            Chao Li Chi as June's Father

            Nicholas Guest as Hairdresser

            Philip Moon as Ken

            Elizabeth Sung as 2nd Wife

            Heidi Levitt
            
            Risa Bramon Garcia
            
            Lisa Connolly as Singing Girl

            Irene Ng as Lindo--Age 15

            Lucille Soong as Popo

            Victor Wong as Old Chong
See full cast

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