Awkwafina, the professional name of actress, comedian and rapper Nora Lum, has built a distinctive movie career by moving comfortably between broad comedy, drama, action and animated films. She made her feature-film debut in 2016 with Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising and quickly followed it with a voice role in Storks. Her breakthrough came in 2018 when she appeared in Ocean’s 8 and Crazy Rich Asians, with the latter establishing her as a major supporting presence in Hollywood. In 2019, she took on her first major dramatic leading role in The Farewell, earning a Golden Globe nomination for her performance as Billi Wang. Since then, her filmography has expanded into major franchises including Marvel’s Shang-Chi, Disney’s Raya and the Last Dragon, The Little Mermaid, Kung Fu Panda and DreamWorks’ The Bad Guys.
This Awkwafina movies by year guide covers her officially released feature films chronologically, including her live-action performances and major voice roles. Non-feature appearances such as documentaries, short films and television movies are identified separately rather than being presented as standard feature-film credits.
2016 — Bad Rap
Bad Rap is a 2016 documentary directed by Salima Koroma that follows four Korean-American hip-hop artists, including Awkwafina, as they pursue recognition in the American music industry. Awkwafina appears as herself alongside Dumbfounddead, Rekstizzy and Lyricks, making this an important early screen appearance connected to her music career. The documentary premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival before receiving wider digital availability. Because it is a documentary rather than a conventional narrative feature, it is best treated as a non-standard film credit.
2016 — Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising
Directed by Nicholas Stoller, Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising is a comedy sequel starring Seth Rogen, Rose Byrne, Zac Efron and Chloë Grace Moretz. Awkwafina plays Christine, a supporting character in the story about a young sorority moving into the neighborhood and causing trouble for Mac and Kelly Radner. Released theatrically in May 2016, the film marked one of Awkwafina’s first major feature-film acting roles. It also gave her an early opportunity to work alongside established comedy performers.
2016 — Storks
Storks is an animated family comedy directed by Nicholas Stoller and Doug Sweetland, centered on a group of delivery storks and a baby who unexpectedly needs to be delivered. Awkwafina provides the voice of Quail, making this her first major animated feature voice role. The film features a large ensemble cast including Andy Samberg, Katie Crown, Kelsey Grammer and Jennifer Aniston. Her involvement also foreshadowed the increasingly important role animation would play in her later movie career.
2018 — Dude
Dude is a coming-of-age comedy-drama directed and written by Olivia Milch. Awkwafina plays Rebecca, one of the friends surrounding Lucy Hale’s Lily during the final weeks of high school. The Netflix film explores friendship, grief, relationships and the uncertainty that comes with leaving school behind. Although smaller in scale than some of her later projects, Dude is notable as an early lead-supporting role during Awkwafina’s transition into mainstream acting.
2018 — Ocean’s 8
Directed by Gary Ross, Ocean’s 8 is a heist comedy featuring Sandra Bullock, Cate Blanchett, Anne Hathaway, Sarah Paulson, Rihanna and Helena Bonham Carter. Awkwafina plays Constance, a talented street hustler recruited by Debbie Ocean for a daring jewellery heist at New York’s Met Gala. Her comic timing and physical performance made Constance one of the memorable members of the ensemble. The film was a significant step forward in Awkwafina’s Hollywood career and introduced her to a large international audience.
2018 — Crazy Rich Asians
Crazy Rich Asians, directed by Jon M. Chu, is a romantic comedy-drama based on Kevin Kwan’s bestselling novel. Awkwafina plays Goh Peik Lin, the outspoken and energetic friend who helps Rachel Chu, played by Constance Wu, navigate Singapore’s wealthy social world. Her performance became one of the film’s most recognizable comedic elements and earned widespread attention alongside the ensemble cast. The movie was particularly notable for its Asian-led Hollywood cast and became a major milestone in modern Asian-American representation.
2019 — The Farewell
Lulu Wang’s The Farewell gave Awkwafina her most acclaimed dramatic role up to that point. She plays Billi Wang, a Chinese-American writer who travels to China with her family after learning that her beloved grandmother has been diagnosed with terminal cancer. The comedy-drama balances family relationships, cultural differences and questions surrounding whether a loved one should be told about a serious illness. Awkwafina’s performance received major critical recognition, including a Golden Globe win for Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy.
2019 — Paradise Hills
Paradise Hills is a science-fiction fantasy thriller directed by Alice Waddington. Awkwafina plays Yu, one of several young women sent to a mysterious island facility where wealthy families supposedly send their daughters for transformation and rehabilitation. The film combines dystopian ideas with fantasy, psychological drama and visually elaborate production design. Awkwafina’s role showed another side of her range beyond contemporary comedy.
2019 — The Angry Birds Movie 2
In The Angry Birds Movie 2, Awkwafina provides the voice of Courtney, an animated character in the sequel to the popular video-game adaptation. Directed by Thurop Van Orman, the family comedy brings the birds and pigs together when a new threat emerges from Eagle Island. The voice cast includes Jason Sudeikis, Josh Gad, Leslie Jones, Rachel Bloom and Bill Hader. It added another prominent animated franchise to Awkwafina’s growing filmography.
2019 — Between Two Ferns: The Movie
Between Two Ferns: The Movie is a Netflix comedy directed by Scott Aukerman and built around Zach Galifianakis’ deliberately awkward celebrity interview series. Awkwafina appears as herself during the film’s collection of celebrity encounters. The story follows Galifianakis and his crew as they travel across the United States to complete interviews and repair his reputation. Her appearance is therefore a cameo-style performance rather than a conventional fictional acting role.
2019 — Jumanji: The Next Level
Directed by Jake Kasdan, Jumanji: The Next Level continues the adventure-comedy franchise with Dwayne Johnson, Kevin Hart, Jack Black and Karen Gillan. Awkwafina plays Ming Fleetfoot, a thief whose abilities become important once the characters enter the dangerous Jumanji game. The movie combines fantasy, action and comedy while expanding the game’s world beyond the setting of the previous installment. Her role was another major franchise credit and helped establish her as a versatile mainstream performer.
2020 — The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge on the Run
The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge on the Run is an animated adventure comedy written and directed by Tim Hill. Awkwafina voices Otto, a new character encountered during SpongeBob and Patrick’s search for the missing Gary. The film follows the familiar Bikini Bottom characters on an adventure to Atlantic City and features voices from Tom Kenny, Matt Berry, Clancy Brown and Bill Fagerbakke. Paramount classifies it as a feature-length animated film; although its broad release was affected by the pandemic, the film is officially associated with 2020.
2021 — Breaking News in Yuba County
Directed by Tate Taylor, Breaking News in Yuba County is a dark comedy-crime film featuring Allison Janney, Mila Kunis, Regina Hall and Awkwafina. Awkwafina plays Mina, a character caught up in the increasingly chaotic events surrounding a missing man and the unusual decisions made by his wife. The film mixes crime, satire and dark humor, giving Awkwafina another opportunity to work in a live-action ensemble comedy. Her performance sits comfortably between the more dramatic and comedic sides of her film career.
2021 — Raya and the Last Dragon
In Disney’s animated fantasy adventure Raya and the Last Dragon, Awkwafina voices Sisu, the last dragon and one of the film’s central characters. Directed by Don Hall and Carlos López Estrada, the movie follows Raya as she searches for Sisu and attempts to reunite the divided lands of Kumandra. Sisu’s optimistic personality provides a strong contrast to Raya’s more guarded nature, making Awkwafina’s voice performance central to the film’s tone. The role became one of her most prominent animated performances.
2021 — Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings
Marvel Studios’ Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings was directed by Destin Daniel Cretton and stars Simu Liu as Shang-Chi. Awkwafina plays Katy Chen, Shang-Chi’s longtime friend whose ordinary life changes when she becomes involved in the supernatural conflict surrounding the Ten Rings. The action-fantasy film also stars Tony Leung, Michelle Yeoh and Meng’er Zhang. It was particularly important in Awkwafina’s career because it placed her in a major Marvel Cinematic Universe production and paired her comedy with a large-scale superhero adventure.
2021 — Swan Song
Swan Song is a science-fiction drama written and directed by Benjamin Cleary. Awkwafina plays Kate, a character connected to Mahershala Ali’s Cameron as he confronts a life-changing medical decision involving an alternative version of himself. The film also stars Naomie Harris and Glenn Close and explores identity, love, family and sacrifice. Its quieter dramatic style demonstrated Awkwafina’s ability to move beyond comedy and blockbuster entertainment.
2022 — The Bad Guys
DreamWorks’ The Bad Guys is an animated action-comedy directed by Pierre Perifel. Awkwafina voices Ms. Tarantula, a highly skilled hacker who is part of a group of animal criminals attempting to change their ways. The film also features the voices of Sam Rockwell, Marc Maron, Craig Robinson, Anthony Ramos and Zazie Beetz. Ms. Tarantula became another recurring animated character in Awkwafina’s career and established her connection with the franchise that would return for a sequel.
2023 — Renfield
Directed by Chris McKay, Renfield is a horror comedy inspired by the characters from Bram Stoker’s Dracula. Awkwafina plays Rebecca Quincy, a New Orleans police officer who becomes involved with Renfield, played by Nicholas Hoult, as he attempts to break free from Dracula’s control. Nicolas Cage stars as the eccentric and violent Dracula, giving the film its distinctive blend of horror and comedy. The movie allowed Awkwafina to explore a darker genre while retaining her recognizable comic energy.
2023 — The Little Mermaid
Rob Marshall’s live-action The Little Mermaid adapts Disney’s classic animated story with Halle Bailey as Ariel. Awkwafina provides the voice of Scuttle, the energetic seabird who becomes one of Ariel’s companions. The fantasy musical also stars Jonah Hauer-King, Melissa McCarthy, Javier Bardem and Daveed Diggs. Her contribution is a voice performance rather than a live-action role, adding another major Disney property to her filmography.
2023 — Quiz Lady
Quiz Lady is a comedy directed by Jessica Yu and starring Awkwafina and Sandra Oh as estranged sisters Anne and Jenny. Awkwafina plays Anne, a quiet and obsessive game-show fan whose knowledge of trivia becomes unexpectedly important when the sisters need money. The film combines family comedy with a road-trip story and focuses heavily on the relationship between its two leads. Awkwafina also served as a producer, making the project notable beyond her acting work.
2023 — Migration
Illumination’s Migration is an animated family adventure directed by Benjamin Renner and co-directed by Guylo Homsy. Awkwafina voices Chump, a character encountered during the Mallard family’s journey south. The voice cast includes Kumail Nanjiani, Elizabeth Banks, Caspar Jennings and Tresi Gazal. The film gave Awkwafina another opportunity to contribute to a major animated production following The Bad Guys and Raya and the Last Dragon.
2023 — Once Upon a Studio — Short Film
Once Upon a Studio is a 2023 Disney animated short created to celebrate Walt Disney Animation Studios’ 100th anniversary. Awkwafina contributes archival voice material as Sisu from Raya and the Last Dragon. The short brings together hundreds of characters from Disney animation history for a group photograph at the studio. Because it is a short film and her contribution uses archival voice material, it is not counted as a standard feature-film role.
2024 — Kung Fu Panda 4
In Kung Fu Panda 4, Awkwafina voices Zhen, a clever fox who becomes an important companion to Po. Directed by Mike Mitchell and co-directed by Stephanie Stine, the animated martial-arts comedy continues the story of Jack Black’s Po while introducing a new generation of characters. Awkwafina’s performance gives Zhen a quick-witted and mischievous personality. The film expanded her list of major animated franchises after her work in The Bad Guys and Raya and the Last Dragon.
2024 — IF
Written and directed by John Krasinski, IF is a family fantasy comedy about a young girl who discovers that she can see people’s imaginary friends. Awkwafina voices Bubble, one of the film’s colorful imaginary characters, alongside a star-studded voice cast that includes Ryan Reynolds, Steve Carell, Phoebe Waller-Bridge and George Clooney. The movie combines live action with computer-generated characters and focuses on childhood imagination and forgotten friendships. Awkwafina’s voice role adds another distinctive animated character to her filmography.
2024 — Jackpot!
Jackpot! is an action comedy directed by Paul Feig and starring Awkwafina, John Cena and Simu Liu. Awkwafina plays Katie Kim, a woman who unexpectedly wins a massive lottery in a near-future California where other people can legally kill the winner before sunset and claim the prize. She teams up with John Cena’s amateur lottery protection agent as she tries to survive a city full of bounty hunters. Released as a streaming film in August 2024, it gave Awkwafina another leading live-action comedy role.
2025 — The Bad Guys: Little Lies and Alibis — Short Film
The Bad Guys: Little Lies and Alibis is a five-minute animated short released in 2025 as part of the Bad Guys franchise. Awkwafina reprises her role as the voice of Ms. Tarantula alongside Sam Rockwell, Marc Maron, Craig Robinson and Anthony Ramos. Directed by Liron Topaz, the short follows the reformed criminals as they attempt to explain why they are late for a parole appointment. It premiered theatrically ahead of Dog Man, so it is an officially released screen credit but should not be counted as a feature film.
2025 — The Bad Guys 2
The Bad Guys 2 continues the animated action-comedy franchise with the original group of reformed animal criminals facing a new team of female criminals. Awkwafina returns as the voice of Ms. Tarantula, alongside Sam Rockwell, Marc Maron, Craig Robinson and Anthony Ramos. Pierre Perifel directed the sequel, with JP Sans serving as co-director. Released theatrically in August 2025, the movie became the latest released feature film in Awkwafina’s filmography as of August 2026.
2026 — Descendants: Wicked Wonderland — Television Movie
Descendants: Wicked Wonderland premiered on Disney Channel on July 16, 2026, with Disney+ availability following the next day. Awkwafina provides the voice of Chessy, the Cheshire Cat’s daughter, in the latest installment of the Descendants franchise. The fantasy adventure follows Red and Chloe as they deal with the consequences of changing the past and face a new threat in Wonderland. Because it is a television movie rather than a conventional theatrical feature, it is listed separately from Awkwafina’s feature-film chronology.
Awkwafina Movies by Year: Career Overview
Awkwafina’s movie career has developed from small comedy and voice roles into a diverse filmography spanning major Hollywood franchises, independent dramas, animated adventures and streaming comedies. Her performances in Ocean’s 8 and Crazy Rich Asians helped establish her as a recognizable supporting actress, while The Farewell demonstrated her dramatic range. Her later work in Raya and the Last Dragon, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, The Bad Guys, Kung Fu Panda 4 and The Little Mermaid also shows how successfully she has built a parallel career in voice acting. By 2025, The Bad Guys 2 had become her latest released feature film, while her 2026 television-movie appearance in Descendants: Wicked Wonderland continued her screen work.
