5 action comedy shows to watch ahead of American Born Chinese

The Michelle Yeoh-starrer, American Born Chinese is all set to premiere on Disney+ on May 24, 2023. The coming-of-age action comedy is based on the 2006 graphic novel of the same name by Gene Luen Yang.

American Born Chinese tells the story of Jin Wang, a teenager trying to survive high school, whose life turns around when he meets a new exchange student at his school, Wei-Chen. Wang soon finds himself in the middle of a battle between Chinese mythological Gods.

Directed by Lucy Liu and Destin Daniel Cretton, the series will star Michelle Yeoh, Ben Wang, Yeo Yann Yann, Chin Han, Daniel Wu, Ke Huy Quan, Jim Liu, and Sydney Taylor, along with Stephanie Hsu and Poppy Liu in recurring roles.

Here are five similar action comedy shows to watch before American Born Chinese arrives on the streaming platform.

Hawkeye, Ms. Marvel, and 3 other action comedies like American Born Chinese

1) Cobra Kai (2018)

A sequel to the film The Karate Kid (1984), Cobra Kai focuses on the lives of the original film's characters, Johnny Lawrence (William Zabka) and Daniel LaRusso (Ralph Macchio). The show takes place 34 years after the events of the film and explores their lives as adults and the rekindling of their rivalry.

While the show predominantly follows the renewed rivalry between Johnny and Daniel, it also introduces new characters who become central to the storyline, including their children and other high school students who train under the two karate masters.

The show explores the complex relationships between the characters, while also dealing with themes of friendship, romance, identity and self-discovery. Like the protagonist in American Born Chinese, the teens in Cobra Kai go through personal journeys that lead to a better understanding and acceptance of themselves, while dealing with bullies, self-loathing, teen angst and other issues.

Cobra Kai is available to stream on Netflix.

2) Ms. Marvel (2022)

Marvel's Ms. Marvel follows 16-year-old Kamala Khan (Iman Vellani), an Avengers fan who doesn't fit in anywhere, at school or even in her house. When Kamala discovers that she has the ability to harness cosmic energy, her life turns around.

The show follows the adventures of the teenage Muslim superhero, as she learns to control her powers while trying to find her place in the world. The series explores themes of identity, friendship, and social responsibility through a coming-of-age narrative.

Similar to American Born Chinese, the show explores common teenage issues, the struggles of fitting into American society as a second-generation immigrant, and self-discovery.

Ms. Marvel is available to stream on Disney+.

3) The Umbrella Academy (2019)

The Umbrella Academy is a popular superhero television series based on the comic book series of the same name, created by Gerard Way and Gabriel Bá. The series follows the story of the Hargreeves siblings, who were adopted and raised by an eccentric billionaire, Sir Reginald Hargreeves. These seven siblings were born under mysterious circumstances and possess extraordinary abilities.

The show follows the seven as they reunite at their adoptive father's funeral, which leads to the discovery of a global threat that could potentially cause an apocalypse. The Hargreeves siblings must put aside their differences, overcome their personal issues, and work together to save the world.

Like in American Born Chinese, The Umbrella Academy incorporates a mix of genres, including superhero, science fiction, fantasy, and drama. The show explores themes of family dynamics, identity, destiny, and the consequences of one's actions. It incorporates elements of time travel, alternate realities, and conspiracy while maintaining a focus on the complex relationships among the siblings.

The Umbrella Academy is available to stream on Netflix.

4) Hawkeye (2021)

Marvel's Hawkeye follows Clint Barton (Jeremy Renner) as he passes the mantle of Hawkeye to a new character, Kate Bishop (Hailee Steinfeld). The story explores their dynamic as they team up to tackle threats in New York City during the holiday season.

While offering fans an in-depth look at the character of Hawkeye, the series explores Kate's life and story, and how she came to admire Hawkeye following the Avengers battle against the Chitauri in New York. The series follows Kate as she undergoes a journey of self-discovery and introspection while struggling to juggle her own personal problems and the pressure of being a superhero.

Like in American Born Chinese, the story revolves around a teenager who is trying to find her place in the world while at the same time, seeking out her dreams and goals. Hawkeye also humanizes its superheroes and makes them appear relatable to viewers.

Hawkeye is available to stream on Disney+.

5) Smallville (2001)

Smallville is based on the DC Comics character Superman and explores the early years of Clark Kent's life before he becomes the iconic superhero. The show primarily takes place in the fictional town of Smallville, Kansas, and focuses on the teenage years of Clark Kent (Tom Welling).

The show follows Clark's journey of self-discovery as he learns to harness and control his superhuman abilities while navigating the challenges of adolescence. Throughout the series, Clark struggles with the secrets of his extraterrestrial origins and grapples with the responsibility that comes with his powers.

Smallville combines elements of superhero action, teen drama, and romance, with a strong emphasis on character development. Similar to American Born Chinese, the show delves into themes of identity, morality, sacrifice, and the burden of power, as Clark faces challenges and makes choices that shape his path toward becoming Superman.

Smallville is available to stream on Hulu.

American Born Chinese is available to stream on Disney+ from May 24, 2023.

More from Sportskeeda

" modalPopup.closeOnEsc = false; modalPopup.setHeader("Why did you not like this content?"); modalPopup.setContentText(modalText); modalPopup.addCancelOkButton("Submit", resetRatingAndFeedbackForm, sendRating); modalPopup.removeCloseModalIcon(); modalPopup.disableDismissPopup(); modalPopup.open(); } else { sendRating(index); } } function sendRating() { var requestPayload = { "post_id": 1519420, "rating_value": ratingValue } if (ratingValue > 3) { requestPayload.rating_feedback_type = null; requestPayload.rating_feedback = null; } else { if (!$('input[name="drone"]:checked') || !$('input[name="drone"]:checked').value) { showErrorMessage('option'); return; } if (!$(".post-rating-feedback-note textarea") || !$(".post-rating-feedback-note textarea").value) { showErrorMessage('note'); return; } var selectedOption = $('input[name="drone"]:checked').value; var feedbackNote = $(".post-rating-feedback-note textarea").value; requestPayload.rating_feedback_type = selectedOption; requestPayload.rating_feedback = feedbackNote; } pureJSAjaxPost(addratingAPI, requestPayload, onsaveRatingSuccess, onsaveRatingFail, function() {}, true); } function resetRatingAndFeedbackForm() { var activeStars = Array.from($all('.rating span.rating-star.active')); for (var i=0; i < activeStars.length; i++) { activeStars[i].classList.remove("active"); } if ($('input[name="drone"]:checked')) { $('input[name="drone"]:checked').checked = false; } var userNote = document.querySelector(".post-rating-feedback-note textarea"); userNote.value = ''; modalPopup.close(); } function onsaveRatingSuccess() { modalPopup.close(); savePostIdInUserRatedPostsCookie(); $("#post-rating-layout").classList.add("hidden"); $("#post-rating-message").classList.remove("hidden"); window.setInterval(function showMessage() { $("#post-rating-widget").classList.add("hidden"); }, 3000); } function onsaveRatingFail() { console.error('Saving post rating failed!'); modalPopup.close(); } function savePostIdInUserRatedPostsCookie() { userRatedPostIds.push(1519420); var expiryTime = new Date(); expiryTime.setMonth(expiryTime.getMonth() + 12); // Expiry after 1 year setCookie("user_rated_post_ids", JSON.stringify(userRatedPostIds), expiryTime); } function isPostRatedByUser() { var userRatedPostIds = getCookie('user_rated_post_ids'); if (userRatedPostIds) { try { userRatedPostIds = JSON.parse(userRatedPostIds); } catch (err) { console.error(err); return false; } } else { return false; } if(userRatedPostIds.indexOf(1519420) >= 0) { return true; } else { return false; } } function getRatingCountByPostId(postId) { return new Promise(function(resolve, reject) { pureJSAjaxGet( getRatingCountBaseURL + postId + '/rating/count', function(data) { try { data = JSON.parse(data); if (data.meta_value) { resolve(data.meta_value); } reject("Failed to fetch rating count for the post:" + postId); } catch (err) { reject("Failed to fetch rating count for the post:" + postId); } }, function(err) { reject("Failed to fetch rating count for the post:" + postId); }, true); }); } function showErrorMessage(messageType) { var messageContainerId = '#' + messageType + '-error'; $(messageContainerId).classList.remove('hidden'); window.setInterval(function () { $(messageContainerId).classList.add("hidden"); }, 5000); } (function() { var callFired = false; function lazyLoadPostRating() { if (callFired) return; callFired = true; if (!isPostRatedByUser()) { getRatingCountByPostId(1519420) .then(function(ratingCount) { if (ratingCount < 10) { $("#post-rating-widget").classList.remove("hidden"); } }) .catch(function(err){ console.error(err); }); } } document.addEventListener("scroll", lazyLoadPostRating, { passive: true, once: true }); document.addEventListener("mousemove", lazyLoadPostRating, { passive: true, once: true }); document.addEventListener("touchmove", lazyLoadPostRating, { passive: true, once: true }); })();

ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7tLzOq6uso5WasaJ6wqikaKifpXqkwcutrKudX2p6oq%2FToqanZZOkuqaw2GaqoaenqHq4rdOcn2aZmJqupXnAppyroZOWu26uzqulZpuYnrumv8Q%3D