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Always Be My Maybe

Always Be My Maybe is a 2019 American romantic comedy film written by Ali Wong, Randall Park, and Michael Golamco, and directed by Nahnatchka Khan.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 26, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Always Be My Maybe is a 2019 American romantic comedy film written by Ali Wong, Randall Park, and Michael Golamco, and directed by Nahnatchka Khan. It stars Wong and Park as childhood friends whose long-buried feelings resurface when they reconnect as adults in San Francisco. The film was released by Netflix and features a notable supporting cast including Keanu Reeves, Daniel Dae Kim, Michelle Buteau, and James Saito.

Premise

The story centres on Sasha and Marcus, former childhood friends whose teenage romance ended badly. Years later, Sasha returns to San Francisco as a celebrity chef, and their renewed connection forces both to confront their past and their different adult lives.

Production

The film was written by Ali Wong, Randall Park, and Michael Golamco, with Nahnatchka Khan directing. It was developed as a contemporary romantic comedy with a focus on Asian American characters and family life.

Release

Always Be My Maybe was released by Netflix in 2019. Rotten Tomatoes lists its theatrical limited release and streaming release date as 31 May 2019.

Cast

Ali Wong and Randall Park lead the film as Sasha Tran and Marcus Kim. The ensemble also includes James Saito, Michelle Buteau, Vivian Bang, Daniel Dae Kim, and Keanu Reeves.

Key facts

  • The film follows Sasha Tran and Marcus Kim, childhood friends from San Francisco who reconnect after years apart.
  • Ali Wong and Randall Park co-wrote the screenplay and play the lead roles.
  • Nahnatchka Khan directed the film.
  • Netflix released the film in 2019.
  • The supporting cast includes Keanu Reeves, Daniel Dae Kim, Michelle Buteau, Vivian Bang, and James Saito.
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Canadian context

The film has relevance to Canadian audiences as a widely streamed Netflix romantic comedy featuring Asian American leads and a contemporary North American setting, themes that resonate with Canadian viewers interested in representation in mainstream film.

Frequently asked questions

What is Always Be My Maybe about?
It is about two childhood friends, Sasha and Marcus, who reconnect as adults after a teenage romance ended awkwardly.
Who directed Always Be My Maybe?
Nahnatchka Khan directed the film.
Who wrote Always Be My Maybe?
The screenplay was written by Ali Wong, Randall Park, and Michael Golamco.
When was Always Be My Maybe released?
It was released in 2019, with a Netflix release date of 31 May 2019.
Who stars in Always Be My Maybe?
The film stars Ali Wong and Randall Park, with supporting roles by James Saito, Michelle Buteau, Vivian Bang, Daniel Dae Kim, and Keanu Reeves.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Always_Be_My_Maybe
    Supports: Basic film identification, plot premise, writers, director, and cast.
  2. Netflix — https://www.netflix.com/title/80202874
    Supports: Official release platform, cast listing, year, and synopsis.
  3. Rotten Tomatoes — https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/always_be_my_maybe_2019
    Supports: Director, writers, distributor, rating, genre, runtime, and release dates.
  4. Common Sense Media — https://www.commonsensemedia.org/movie-reviews/always-be-my-maybe
    Supports: Plot details, cast, rating, and thematic description.