Jon M. Chu Bio
Jonathan Murray Chu, known professionally as Jon M. Chu, is an American film director, producer, and screenwriter born on November 2, 1979, in Palo Alto, California. He first gained wide attention for directing the romantic comedy Crazy Rich Asians in 2018, a major Hollywood studio release notable for its predominantly Asian cast. He later directed the fantasy musicals Wicked (2024) and Wicked: For Good (2025), a two-part film adaptation of the long-running stage musical, earning him major industry recognition for Best Director.
Chu is known for bringing music and movement to the screen, having directed the dance films Step Up 2: The Streets and Step Up 3D, the concert film Justin Bieber: Never Say Never, and the screen adaptation of In the Heights. His filmography spans live-action features, concert documentaries, and television, and he is an alumnus of the University of Southern California School of Cinematic Arts.
Early Life and Background
Jon M. Chu was born in Palo Alto, California, and grew up in nearby Los Altos. His mother, Ruth Chu, was born in Taiwan, and his father, Lawrence Chu, was born in Sichuan, China. His family owns the well-known restaurant Chef Chu’s, and he is the youngest of five children. His upbringing in a culturally rich household helped shape his interest in stories about family and identity.
Chu began making movies in fifth grade when his mother gave him a video camera to document family vacations. He used the camera to make home movies starring his siblings, an early sign of his interest in storytelling and direction. This creative habit encouraged him to pursue filmmaking as a serious career from a young age.
He attended Pinewood School from kindergarten through 12th grade, then went on to earn a Bachelor of Fine Arts in film and television production from the University of Southern California in 2003. While at USC, he was a member of the Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity and won several student honors, including the Princess Grace Award, the Kodak Student Filmmaker Award, the Dore Schary Award from the Anti-Defamation League, and the Jack Nicholson directing award. He was also recognized as an honoree for the IFP/West program Project: Involve.
Path to Directing
After completing his student short film When the Kids Are Away, Chu was signed by the William Morris Agency and attached to several high-profile projects. He was hired by Sony Pictures to direct a contemporary, hip-hop-inspired adaptation of the stage musical Bye Bye Birdie, though the project was not greenlit due to budget concerns. He was also hired by Sony to direct an updated version of The Great Gatsby, which was later purchased by Warner Bros. Pictures for their 2013 film.
Chu’s early career also included work on web and online video. In 2006, he launched a YouTube channel showcasing his early work and behind-the-scenes vlogs. In 2010, he created, co-directed, and co-produced The Legion of Extraordinary Dancers, a web series featuring various styles of dance, inspired by Michael Jackson’s music videos and the dancers he met while filming Step Up 2: The Streets.
In 2013, Chu received the Visionary Award from East West Players, the longest-running theater of color in the United States, for his contributions to the Asian Pacific American community. He had attended the theater’s productions as a child and spoke of his interest in continuing to push boundaries with them. These early experiences helped him transition from student filmmaker to working Hollywood director.
Jon M. Chu Career
Early Career (2001–2010)
Jon M. Chu began his career in 2001 after completing his training at the University of Southern California. His first major studio project was Step Up 2: The Streets in 2008, a dance film that helped establish his name in Hollywood. The movie combined drama with high-energy choreography, drawing on his lifelong love of movement and performance.
During this period, Chu also created The Legion of Extraordinary Dancers, a web series that expanded his reach to online audiences. He later directed the 3D concert film Justin Bieber: Never Say Never in 2011, further showing his skill at filming live performance. These projects laid the groundwork for the larger studio features that followed.
Breakthrough (2011–2021)
Chu’s big-screen breakthrough came with Crazy Rich Asians in 2018. The romantic comedy was one of the first films by a major Hollywood studio to feature a mostly Asian cast, earned over $35 million at the U.S. box office in its first five days, and received a 93% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Within a week of its release, Variety reported that Warner Bros. was developing a sequel with Chu attached to direct.
He continued his success with In the Heights in 2021, a film adaptation of the Broadway musical of the same name. Originally set for a June 2020 release, the film was delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic and opened on June 10, 2021, to positive reviews. The movie highlighted Chu’s skill at translating stage musicals for the screen.
Notable Works and Milestones
Chu’s most celebrated work is the two-part film adaptation of the musical Wicked, with the first part released in 2024 and the second, Wicked: For Good, scheduled for 2025. He also directed the concert film Justin Bieber’s Believe, the science fiction action film G.I. Joe: Retaliation, and the live-action/animated Jem and the Holograms. His signature style combines vibrant color, large-scale choreography, and a strong focus on cultural identity and family legacy.
Jon M. Chu Award Nominations
Across his career, Jon M. Chu has earned recognition from major film organizations for his direction. His work on Wicked brought him attention from the National Board of Review and the Critics’ Choice Awards, among other industry groups. Additional nominations have followed his musical and dramatic projects, reinforcing his reputation as a leading Hollywood director.
Jon M. Chu Awards Won
Jon M. Chu has won several major awards for his direction of Wicked. He received the National Board of Review Award for Best Director and the Critics’ Choice Award for Best Director. These honors reflect the critical and audience response to his ambitious two-part adaptation of the Broadway musical.
Jon M. Chu Family
Jon M. Chu is the youngest of five children and grew up in a culturally rich household in Los Altos, California. His mother, Ruth Chu, was born in Taiwan, and his father, Lawrence Chu, was born in Sichuan, China. The family owns the restaurant Chef Chu’s, a well-known Silicon Valley establishment.
Chu married graphic designer Kristin Hodge on July 27, 2018, in St. Helena, California. The couple has five children: daughter Willow, born in 2017; son Jonathan Heights, born in 2019; daughter Ruby; son Iggy; and daughter Stevie Sky.
Personal Life
Outside of his film work, Jon M. Chu lives with his wife, Kristin Hodge, and their five children. His daughter Willow is named after the 1988 fantasy film of the same name, and his son Jonathan Heights takes his middle name from the film In the Heights, which Chu was directing at the time of his birth. Chu has spoken often about how his family and cultural roots shape his storytelling.
