Asian Pacific American Heritage Month 2025: What We're Watching
Staff Picks for the Month of May and Beyond
Celebrate Asian Pacific American Heritage Month 2025 with our calendar of live events, recommendations, and on-demand content!
Discover your newest binge and get to know our staff a little better with the Asia Society Texas team's favorite ways to stay entertained!
As part of our 31 Ways to Celebrate Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, enjoy this special edition of Staff Picks featuring movies, shows, and anime! With recommendations spanning thrillers to anime to travel, we invite you to dive in for a fresh understanding and appreciation of the stories being told by and about Asians and Asian Americans.
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Movies
Romantic Comedies
Always Be My Maybe
Rating: PG-13 (Moderate drug use, mild sexual content)
Recommended by Rayén Torres, Guest Services Manager
Find it on: Netflix | IMDb
Love and Peace
Recommended by Kevin Romero, Production Manager
Find it on: IMDb
The Most Beautiful Girl in the World
Rating: TV-14 (Sexual content)
Recommended by Rayén Torres, Guest Services Manager
Find it on: Netflix | IMDb
The Wedding Banquet
Rating: R (Profanity, substance use)
Recommended by Chris Dunn, Senior Marketing and Communications Manager
Find it on: IMDb
Adventure
Yasmeen's Element
Recommended by Nandini Kommana, Development Associate
Find it on: IMDb
Action/Horror/Thriller
Monkey Man
Rating: R (Intense violence, profanity and intense scenes, sexual violence, sexual content)
Recommended by Nandini Kommana, Development Associate, and Uriel Sandoval, Education and Outreach Operations Coordinator
Find it on: Amazon Prime | IMDb
Outside
Rating: TV-MA (Severe violence, profanity, intense scenes, sexual content)
Recommended by Janjay Mason, Education and Outreach Coordinator
Find it on: Netflix | IMDb
Comedy
Ali & Ratu Ratu Queens
Rating: TV-14 (Mild substance use)
Recommended by Rayén Torres, Guest Services Manager
Find it on: Netflix | IMDb
Anime
Demon Slayer – The Movie: Infinity Castle
Recommended by Rebecca Becerra, Exhibitions Manager and Registrar
Find it on: IMDb
Drifting Home
Rating: PG
Recommended by Janjay Mason, Education and Outreach Coordinator
Find it on: Netflix | IMDb
Shows
Sci-Fi and Fantasy
Scavengers Reign
Rating: TV-MA (Intense violence and gore, frightening and intense scenes, moderate profanity)
Recommended by Kat Del Rosario, Communications Coordinator
Find it on: Max | IMDb
Scott Pilgrim Takes Off
Rating: TV-MA (Substance use, mildly intense scenes, sexual content)
Recommended by Uriel Sandoval, Education and Outreach Operations Coordinator
Find it on: Netflix | IMDb
Comedies
Common Side Effects
Rating: TV-MA (Drug use, frightening and intense scenes, coarse language)
Recommended by Kat Del Rosario, Communications Coordinator
Find it on: Max | IMDb
Deli Boys
Rating: TV-MA (Profanity, violence, drug use)
Recommended by Janjay Mason, Education and Outreach Coordinator; Michael Buening, Director of Performing Arts and Culture; Kat Del Rosario, Communications Coordinator
Find it on: Hulu | IMDb
XO, Kitty
Rating: TV-14 (Partying, mild profanity)
Recommended by Rayén Torres, Guest Services Manager, and Chris Dunn, Senior Marketing and Communications Manager
Find it on: Netflix | IMDb
Comedy Dramas
The Makanai: Cooking for the Maiko House
Rating: TV-14 (Mild coarse language)
Recommended by Janjay Mason, Education and Outreach Coordinator
Find it on: Netflix | IMDb
Mo
Rating: TV-MA (Moderate profanity and drug use, sexual content)
Recommended by Michael Buening, Director of Performing Arts and Culture, and Kat Del Rosario, Communications Coordinator)
Find it on: Netflix | IMDb
Wrong Kind of Black
Rating: TV-MA
Recommended by Janjay Mason, Education and Outreach Coordinator
Find it on: Netflix | IMDb
Competition
Culinary Class Wars
Rating: TV-14 (Mild profanity)
Recommended by Megan Sham, Business and Policy Programs Associate
Find it on: Netflix | IMDb
Food and Travel
K-Foodie Meets J-Foodie
Rating: PG
Recommended by Phuong Ha, Associate Director of Education and Outreach
Find it on: Netflix
Mark Wiens
Recommended by Sophia Wong, Vice President, Finance and HR
Find it on: YouTube
Tim Lee
Recommended by Sophia Wong, Vice President, Finance and HR
Find it on: YouTube
Lifestyle
Linh Truong
Recommended by Phuong Ha, Associate Director of Education and Outreach
Find it on: YouTube
Dramas
Dabba Cartel
Rating: TV-MA (Intense scenes, moderate violence, substance use)
Recommended by Saleena Jafry, Vice President, Development
Find it on: Netflix | IMDb
The Mehta Boys
Rating: TV-16 (Alcohol, coarse language, sexual content)
Recommended by Nandini Kommana, Development Associate
Find it on: Amazon Prime | IMDb
Midnight Diner: Tokyo Stories
Rating: TV-MA
Recommended by Janjay Mason, Education and Outreach Coordinator
Find it on: Netflix | IMDb
C-Dramas
Blossom
Rating: PG-13 (Violence)
Recommended by Erin Elwin, Development Manager
Find it on: Viki | MyDramaList
The Double
Rating: TV-MA (Violence)
Recommended by Erin Elwin, Development Manager
Find it on: Viki | MyDramaList
Everyone Loves Me
Rating: TV-14 (Mild violence)
Recommended by Erin Elwin, Development Manager
Find it on: Viki | MyDramaList
C-Dramas
The First Frost
Rating: TV-14
Recommended by Erin Elwin, Development Manager
Find it on: Netflix | MyDramaList
Perfect Match
Rating: TV-MA
Recommended by Erin Elwin, Development Manager
Find it on: Netflix | MyDramaList
The Princess Royal
Rating: TV-MA
Recommended by Erin Elwin, Development Manager
Find it on: Netflix | MyDramaList
J-Dramas
Beyond Goodbye
Rating: TV-14
Recommended by Erin Elwin, Development Manager
Find it on: Netflix | IMDb
Our Secret Diary
Rating: PG-13 (Violence)
Recommended by Erin Elwin, Development Manager
Find it on: MyDramaList
K-Dramas
Family by Choice
Rating: TV-16
Recommended by Erin Elwin, Development Manager
Find it on: Viki | MyDramaList
Find Me In Your Memory
Rating: TV-16
Recommended by Erin Elwin Development Manager
Find it on: Viki | MyDramaList
Lovely Runner
Rating: TV-MA (Suicide, violence)
Recommended by Erin Elwin, Development Manager
Find it on: Viki | MyDramaList
My Dearest Nemesis
Rating: PG-13
Recommended by Erin Elwin, Development Manager
Find it on: Viki | MyDramaList
K-Dramas
The Trunk
Rating: TV-MA (Drug use, moderate violence, sexual content)
Recommended by Erin Elwin, Development Manager
Find it on: Netflix | MyDramaList
What Comes After Love
Rating: PG-13
Recommended by Erin Elwin, Development Manager
Find it on: Viki | MyDramaList
When Life Gives You Tangerines
Rating: TV-14 (Moderate profanity, substance use, intense scenes)
Recommended by Nandini Kommana, Development Associate, and Phuong Ha, Associate Director of Education and Outreach
Find it on: Netflix | IMDb
When the Phone Rings
Rating: TV-14 (Moderately intense scenes)
Recommended by Erin Elwin, Development Manager
Find it on: Netflix | MyDramaList
Anime Shows
Action and Adventure
Blue Exorcist
Rating: TV-14 (Violence, profanity, inense scenes)
Recommended by Rebecca Becerra, Exhibitions Manager and Registrar
Find it on: Crunchyroll | MyAnimeList
Dr. Stone
Rating: PG-13
Recommended by Brandon Cho, Production Technician
Find it on: Crunchyroll | MyAnimeList
Solo Leveling
Rating: TV-MA (Violence and gore, intense scenes)
Recommended by Rebecca Becerra, Exhibitions Manager and Registrar
Find it on: Crunchyroll | IMDb
Comedies
Dungeon Meshi (Delicious in Dungeon)
Rating: R (Violence, profanity)
Recommended by Brandon Cho, Production Technician
Find it on: Netflix | MyAnimeList
Sakamoto Days
Rating: TV-MA (Violence, intense scenes)
Recommended by Phuong Ha, Associate Director of Education and Outreach
Find it on: Netflix | MyAnimeList
Fantasy
Dahlia in Bloom: Crafting a Fresh Start with Magical Tools
Rating: TV-13 (Moderately intense scenes)
Recommended by Rebecca Becerra, Exhibitions Manager and Registrar
Find it on: Crunchyroll | MyAnimeList
Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End
Rating: TV-14 (Moderate fantasy violence, intense scenes)
Recommended by Megan Sham, Business and Policy Programs Associate
Find it on: Crunchroll | IMDb
Tengoku Daimakyou (Heavenly Delusion)
Rating: R-17 (Violence, profanity)
Recommended by Brandon Cho, Production Technician
Find it on: Hulu | MyAnimeList
Slice of Life and Romance
Anyway, I'm Falling in Love with You
Rating: PG-13
Recommended by Rebecca Becerra, Exhibitions Manager and Registrar
Find it on: Crunchyroll | MyAnimeList
Honey Lemon Soda
Recommended by Rebecca Becerra, Exhibitions Manager and Registrar
Find it on: Crunchyroll | MyAnimeList
About APAH Month at Asia Society Texas
Beginning in 2021, Asia Society Texas has celebrated Asian Pacific American Heritage Month with the Houston community and beyond through a curated calendar of events for 31 ways to celebrate over the 31 days of May. Spotlighting the traditions, talents, and contributions of Asians and Asian Americans, the calendar highlights the month's key Asia Society programming, providing a platform to showcase local artists, performers, educators, and leaders who contribute to the vibrant, multicultural tapestry of Houston while also featuring staff recommendations for our favorite music, books, movies, and more by Asian and Asian American creatives.
At Asia Society Texas, APAH Month is an opportunity to celebrate and honor Asians and Asian Americans and to uplift their stories to a broader audience as part of our goal to inspire our larger community to better understand one another through culture, conversation, and connection. For information about sponsoring APAH Month and other projects like this one, please contact Saleena Jafry at [email protected] or 713.496.9939.
Presenting Sponsor of APAH Month at Asia Society Texas
Sponsors of APAH Month
Comcast
CITGO
APAH Month 2025 Calendar
Digital Calendar Interactive/Printable PDF
Past APAH Month Calendars
2024: Highlights | Details
2023: Highlights | Details
2022: Highlights | Details
2021: Details
About Asia Society Texas
Asia Society Texas believes in the strength and beauty of diverse perspectives and people. As an educational institution, we advance cultural exchange by celebrating the vibrant diversity of Asia, inspiring empathy, and fostering a better understanding of our interconnected world. Spanning the fields of arts, business, culture, education, and policy, our programming is rooted in the educational and cultural development of our community — trusting in the power of art, dialogue, and ideas to combat bias and build a more inclusive society.
