Worth the Wait (2025): A Culturally Resonating Rom-Com

We have to believe - it’s part of the journey.

Worth the Wait is a 2025 Tubi film that intertwines the lives of Asian-American strangers. They navigate romance, struggle with loss, and make amends for past mistakes.

I loved this movie the instant I heard the opening line. Worth the Wait is authentic about relationships, careers, and life. It’s a movie for everyone, depicting themes and stories we all encounter. This movie’s message encourages viewers to enjoy our lives - even the in-betweens - because every day is an adventure.

Worth the Wait pursues a story format that is rare to see. It follows four different storylines where the characters' stories connect. These are my favorite storylines, and films should continue to explore these. There is never just one story going on, but several.

Kai and Leah (Lana Condor and Ross Butler) are trying to figure out how to navigate a long-distance relationship while also focusing on their career paths. Leah is a fireball of energy, while Kai is serious about his work life.

Condor and Butler make a splendid duo. The pair has worked together before in To All the Boys, and have become best friends in real life. For Worth the Wait, they noted how the material made a stronger impact on the relationship.

Another storyline is Teresa and Nathan (Karena Ka-Yan Lamand and Osric Chau), who are mourning the loss of their newborn baby. The emotions they experience are overwhelming and cause a rift in their relationship, but waiting helps them see things in a better light.

Worth the Wait blends young love and second chances. Riley and Blake (Ali Fumiko Whitney and Ricky He) learn how to compromise, while Amanda and Scott (Andrew Koji) figure out if they can make a second chance relationship work.

You never realize how vital waiting is until you fully analyze all the layers of a situation. That’s what Curtis (Sung Kang) learns as he lets go of his strict demeanor to understand his niece’s feelings better.

Unlike other films that have implemented similar storylines, it’s easy to keep track of the stories in Worth the Wait. Editors give characters equal time. I know some viewers may not like this pace, but every layer is connected.

Tom Lin did an exceptional job of representing diversity and topics that aren’t recognised enough in the media. Lin’s direction unfolds with sincerity. Instead of forcing a contrived convergence of storylines, the film allows thematic resonances—love’s uncertainty, familial bonds, grief’s costs—to ripple across separate narratives.

The film is a dramedy. It talks about themes that may trigger viewers, like miscarriages. That’s why the film is edited this way, to give viewers a break from sad moments, so they can laugh at other stories. Everyone will find a piece of themselves in this movie.

Worth the Wait is Tubi’s first Asian-American led film. The media needs more diversity. Everyone who worked on this film has commended this film because they wish it had existed when they were younger.

While the film advocates self-exploration, it also influences viewers to explore the world. Characters visit several locations that I wanted to join them on. Seattle, Washington, and Kuala Lumpur were used as the film’s locations.

Worth the Wait is the film we need right now. Its themes are resonating. Nobody ever knows what life will open the door to next. Make connections, take chances, and most importantly, wait to see the best outcomes.

I cannot recommend Worth the Wait enough because it’s a beautiful and touching story that all audiences will see themselves in. Find it on Tubi.