After watching Wicked, fans will want to check out the two movies that helped pave the way for Jon M. Chu’s highly anticipated adaptation of Stephen Schwartz’s beloved Broadway musical. Reviews for Wicked praise the director’s glamorous and affecting theatrical vision which, paired with its visuals, costumes, acting, and musical performances, is perfectly suited for the big screen. Chu’s experience directing another acclaimed Broadway cinematic adaptation explains his skill in creating choreographed scenes that palpate with emotion in Wicked.

Additionally, Chu’s major romantic comedy hit from seven years ago displayed popping visuals, larger-than-life characters, witty dialogue, and plenty of heart — all of which are masterfully used again by Wicked and its cast. Both movies demonstrate the creator’s ambition to direct universally resonant stories told from unfavored points of view, acting as the right stepping stone before Wicked’s tear-inducing ending and darker sequel setup. Wicked’s iconic style combines the best of Jon M. Chu’s past directorial accomplishments with two of his acclaimed adaptations.

Jon M. Chu Directed Crazy Rich Asians & In The Heights Before Wicked

Jon M. Chu Stood Out As A Visionary For His Striking Visuals And Celebratory Representation

Prior to Jon M. Chu developing Wicked: Part I, two movies helped cement his popular signature style as one of the most influential visionaries in modern Hollywood. With Crazy Rich Asians and In The Heights, the director realized a uniquely personal vision — successfully provoking a mᴀssive rom-com cultural phenomenon and bringing Broadway stage magic to the big screen. For its part, Crazy Rich Asians introduced Western viewers to the world of Singapore’s elite, marked by opulence and tradition, by making it the enemy to a humble outsider rooting for love and community.

The 2018 hit has been celebrated for its lush production design and heartfelt story, giving way to the Crazy Rich Asians HBO TV show. Later, the director adapted In The Heights — honoring the narrative’s musical origins while brilliantly expanding on its alluring characters. Since then, Chu has maintained a highly nuanced storytelling practice capable of creating new industry trends that excite a craving for wider representation across genres. He is known for creating, respectively, the first Hollywood rom-com with an all-Asian cast, and the first musical adaptation celebrating rich Latino music and immigrant experiences.

Crazy Rich Asians Helped Jon M. Chu Learn How To Work With Glamorous Visuals

Jon M. Chu Gives Visuals An Emotional Narrative Weight In His Movies

One of Michelle Yeoh’s best movies, Crazy Rich Asians, was a worldwide success and marked a defining moment in Jon M. Chu’s career — featuring a grandiose and visually striking style that didn’t overshadow the story but worked to enhance it. Previously, Chan had explored this balance between visual spectacle and narrative in Now You See Me 2, creating sleek scenes that emerged as intricate magic tricks with narrative weight. However, in Crazy Rich Asians, Chu took visual storytelling to new heights, utilizing lavish parties and stunning mansions as a tool to explore themes, conflict, and cultural nuances.

Crazy Rich Asians’ jaw-dropping wedding scene, with its water-filled aisle and floral arrangements, has become a staple of the movie’s unique aesthetic — as it paves the way for the climax via the most perfect homage to culture and traditions. Chu’s experience with giving emotional stakes to luxurious imagery in the narrative proved key as he now tackles Wicked. In light of Wicked’s confusing connection to The Wizard of Oz, Chu offers a fantastical setting meant to create dissonance with the Oznians’ oppressive nature, and it masterfully intertwines with the affecting message that evil is made, not born or apparent.

In The Heights Gave Jon M. Chu Movie Musical Experience

Wicked Demonstrates Jon M. Chu’s Experience And Genre-Bending Spirit

Jon M. Chu solidified his ability to transform Broadway productions into rich cinematic experiences with In The Heights, which features several of Lin-Manuel Miranda’s best songs. The Tony award-winning Broadway musical proved a perfect fit for Chu’s talents — inspiring him to use cinematic tools to craft and blend unstoppable choreographies, an idyllic summertime setting, and motivating Latino hip-hop tunes. Through his efforts, he managed to bring to life the characteristic NYC neighborhood and give meaningful expression to big and little details of the context of the dreamers at the center of the story.

In The Heights’ 94% Rotten Tomatoes score speaks for its ability to captivate both musical fans and diverse audiences through its celebration of Latino culture and community. The cumulative experience of working on Crazy Rich Asians and In the Heights prepared Jon M. Chu for his grand Wicked adaptation — training him in utilizing music, movement, and art design to investigate the people, traditions, and genres behind Wicked’s original text. Additionally, he continues to develop an astonishing filmography that centers on outcast characters who manage to find beauty, song, and love all around them.