Jon M. Chu
Biography
Jon M. Chu is an American filmmaker who grew up in Los Altos, California, and began making home movies as a child before studying film and television production at the University of Southern California. He directed the dance films Step Up 2: The Streets (2008) and Step Up 3D (2010) and the concert films Justin Bieber: Never Say Never (2011) and Justin Bieber's Believe (2013), and much of his work blends musical and dance elements. Crazy Rich Asians (2018), his romantic comedy, was one of the first films from a major Hollywood studio with a majority cast of Asian descent. He went on to direct In the Heights (2021) and the two-part adaptation of the stage musical Wicked (2024) and Wicked: For Good (2025), winning the National Board of Review and Critics' Choice awards for best director for Wicked.
47years old
Turns 48 on November 2in 357 days
- Born Palo Alto
- Star sign: ScorpioThe sign runs October 23 to November 21
- Also credited as Jonathan Murray Chu and Jon Chu
Movie Career
- Films
- 4
- Career span
- 12 years2013 to 2025
Every film, newest first
- 2025Wicked: One Wonderful NightIMDb rating 7.8
- 2021A Night at the Academy MuseumIMDb rating 7.7
- 2018Be Natural: The Untold Story of Alice Guy-BlachéIMDb rating 7.7
- 2013Justin Bieber's BelieveIMDb rating 1.6
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First role
Chu made a student short called When the Kids Are Away, which got him signed to William Morris Agency. He was then attached to high-profile projects, including Moxie, a modern-day Romeo and Juliet screenplay for Steven Spielberg at Amblin Entertainment.
Behind the camera
In 2010, Chu was a creator, co-director and co-producer of The Legion of Extraordinary Dancers, a web series with many kinds of dance. He said Michael Jackson's "Thriller" and "Smooth Criminal" videos and dancers he met on Step Up 2: The Streets inspired it.
A role that slipped away
The month after that, Chu talked with Disney about directing a live-action version of Lilo & Stitch, but he passed on the project because of other obligations.
A change of course
During this period of his career, Chu had a dance crew that went by the name AC/DC or Adam Chu/Dance Crew.
Jon M. Chu movies on Netflix
Worked with
Jon M. Chu made one film with each of them. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.
Films together
Danny Glover's page
Tom Hanks's page
Jeff Goldblum's page
Laura Dern's page
Jodie Foster's page
Michelle Yeoh's page
Pamela B. GreenDirector, 1 film, 2018
All films by Pamela B. Green
Paul DugdaleDirector, 1 film, 2025
All films by Paul Dugdale
Linda MendozaDirector, 1 film, 2021
All films by Linda Mendoza
Awards
One award and honor.
| Year | Award | Film | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Other honors | |||
| 2025 | Time 100 | Honored | |
Online
Official profiles and reference pages.