Have you even watched Enter the Dragon recently? Nielsen reporting suggests that maybe you have.
Bruce Lee’s iconic influence, epitomized by Enter the Dragon, sparked a pop-culture revolution, and remains perhaps THE critical moment for Asian Americans in Western cinema.
For context, about 24 million people in the United States identify as AANHPI (Asian American / Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander), which is, according to the 2020 U.S. Census, roughly 6% of the U.S. population. The Census relies on self-identification (the checking of boxes), so the data can be thought of as “our best guess,” but it must be noted that, as opposed to sampling or projection models, the decennial Census is, ideally, a good faith effort to count literally everyone who lives here.
The AANHPI population is particularly fluid, in that it must be broadly understood to include foreign-born residents (Asians constitute about 31% of the U.S. foreign-born population) and Asian American-identifying people whose families have been in the U.S. for three or more generations, like myself.
Without researching it extensively, one can say with confidence that Bruce Lee cuts through all that generational morass, because Bruce Lee is an international, intergalactic legendary movie star. If there were a Census question “Have you heard of Bruce Lee?” I’m guessing it’d return at least 98% YES.
Did you know? Enter the Dragon, by the Numbers:
Enter the Dragon debuted 51 years ago, August 1973. In the year of its release, it grossed roughly $100 million worldwide. Thanks to its enduring place in our culture, its estimated gross reached $400 million by 2001; in 2022, with adjustment for inflation, the film’s estimated gross exceeds $2 billion. In terms of worldwide box office gross for a feature film, adjusted for inflation, Nielsen reports that Enter the Dragon‘s $2 billion would have it rank in the all-time Top 10, behind Avatar, Titanic, Star Wars: Episode VII, and two Avengers films.
The Nielsen Attitudes Towards Representation Study 2023 tells us: 60% of Asians in the U.S. express a desire for increased visibility of their identity group on TV, with this figure climbing to 74% among “Gen Z” Asians (people born between 1997 and 2012). The kind of visibility certainly matters, as with all people (and nerds!) of color who called America home and consume our ever-burgeoning catalog of movies and TV shows. A recent controversy surrounding the Asian American woman-led, Spider-Man-adjacent Marvel show Silk highlights the type of conflicted scenario in which Asian Americans in entertainment often find themselves.
The well-traveled TV series Warrior, produced by Shannon Lee (Bruce’s daughter) and Justin Lin (of Fast and the Furious fame) currently streams on Netflix, Amazon Prime, and Max. In its first three days on Netflix, the show made the platform’s Global Top 10, owing to a dedicated fan base that has followed Ah Sahm from one streaming service to another.
“In the Year of the Dragon, understanding the nuanced insights from Gracenote data illuminates the path for more representation in media,” said Pat Ratulangi, Nielsen’s VP of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion. “By measuring and interpreting the evolution of AANHPI representation, we not only acknowledge the growing demand for diverse stories but also empower creators to amplify their authentic voices that resonate with audiences around the world.”
On a personal note, I rewatched Enter The Dragon, to refresh myself for writing this piece. Again, Bruce Lee’s innate charisma and matchless physicality is so entertaining to watch. He’s just FUN. He’s a person who defines “movie star.” An inimitable combination of enigma, intensity, eyes, athletic craft, and voice: “WHOOOO hyaaaaah!!!” It can’t be written down, it can only be seen and heard.
2024 is the Year of the Dragon, which is Bruce Lee’s horoscope year, because of course it is. April is Celebrate Diversity Month, and May is recognized as Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month. In February, I interviewed Awkwafina, also a Dragon Year kid, about her role in Kung Fu Panda 4, an American-originated film franchise that surely would not exist if Bruce Lee had never made his mark.
In closing, from Enter the Dragon, one of the greatest teaching moments in cinema history, and an always-relevant lesson in how to live life:
Emotional content. Nothing else is necessary.