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Motifs are recurring structures, contrasts, or literary devices that can help to develop and inform the movie’s major themes.  

Chinese Americans and the Immigrant Experience 

The experiences of Chinese Americans in the United States function as a recurring motif in the film, underscoring themes of cultural identity, intergenerational tension, and the struggle for belonging. Though Evelyn and Waymond have left China to start a new life in the United States, they have not left their culture behind, and the movie celebrates the Wangs’ cultural background while acknowledging the various difficulties and tensions they experience in the United States. 

Evelyn suspects that their laundromat has been targeted by the IRS because of their ethnic background, reflecting both historical discrimination against people of Chinese descent in the United States and distrust of the government among Chinese American communities. At the IRS office, Evelyn complains that Deirdre, the IRS agent investigating their case, speaks in a complex manner, involving legal jargon, that is specifically difficult for immigrants to understand. Her experiences at the IRS office reflect the difficulties faced by people who must navigate complex bureaucracy in a language unfamiliar to them. Conversely, Joy, who was raised in the United States, struggles to communicate in Cantonese with her grandfather, Gong Gong, reflecting the experiences of many second-generation immigrants who, having grown up in a different cultural context, do not always share the language fluency or cultural traditions of their elders. 

Hidden Strengths and Talents  

Throughout the film, numerous characters demonstrate surprising strengths and hidden talents, revealing the idea that every individual, no matter how ordinary they may seem, possesses untapped potential shaped by their choices, struggles, and lived experiences. When Evelyn verse-jumps to other universes in order to gain the skills and abilities of her alternative selves, she does not always have control over what universe she travels to. During her first verse-jumping experience, she gains incredible martial arts abilities that prove immediately useful in fighting against security guards and agents of Jobu Tupaki. Other versions of Evelyn, however, offer her skills that do not at first appear to be useful in combat, but which nevertheless prove critical in her fight to defeat Jobu. Another alternative version of Evelyn, for example, is blinded in an accident at an early age and becomes a highly skilled opera singer. From her, Evelyn gains incredible lung-capacity and breath control, skills that assist her greatly when Jobu’s agents use smoke-bombs in an attempt to incapacitate Evelyn. Another version of Evelyn works as a sign-twirler, twirling and throwing a sign on the side of the street to gain the attention of possible customers. From this version of herself, Evelyn learns to wield an anti-riot shield held by one of Jobu’s agents, twirling it around dexterously to defend herself and defeat her opponents. Further, she develops incredible knife skills from a version of Evelyn who works as a teppanyaki chef.  

Ultimately, the original Evelyn also reveals hidden strengths. Though Alpha Waymond insultingly implies that she is a “failure” among the various versions of Evelyn whom he has met, she proves adept at verse-jumping and becomes, by the end of the film, as powerful as Jobu. Ultimately, the film shows that everyone, regardless of the individual path their life takes, has skills, talents, and abilities that are worthy of being celebrated. Each of the alternative versions of Evelyn offers her useful experiences and abilities that help her along her journey.  

Kindness  

Evelyn loves Waymond deeply and has made great sacrifices for their marriage, disobeying her father and experiencing a period of estrangement from her parents in order to marry him. Nevertheless, she dismisses him frequently in the early scenes of the film, speaking to him in a manner that suggests that she does not consider him a strong or capable man. When he bakes cookies for their IRS agent, Evelyn mocks Waymond in conversation with Joy, characterizing him as naive and ineffectual. She is similarly annoyed by his tendency to joke around with customers when there is work to be done at the laundromat. Later in the film, however, Evelyn realizes that there is strength in Waymond’s kind, playful manner. To Evelyn’s surprise, Deirdre gives the Wangs more time to complete their paperwork in thanks for Waymond’s cookies. Later, when the laundromat is claimed by the IRS due to Evelyn’s failure to submit the proper paperwork, Waymond speaks with Deirdre and tells her about their difficulties, including the divorce papers that he believes have upset Evelyn, leading her to lash out and smash a window of the laundromat. Evelyn is once again surprised that Waymond’s kind-hearted approach works and results in Deirdre offering to assist the Wangs with their paperwork.  

Ultimately, it is Waymond’s kindness that helps Evelyn to overcome the darkness she faces after verse-jumping many times and embracing the nihilism of Jobu. She realizes that it takes a great deal of strength to maintain kindness and positivity despite all the struggles and difficulties of life. When Evelyn faces down Jobu and her followers for the final time, Waymond implores her to put an end to the violence, and, heeding his request, she decides not to “fight” Jobu, but rather, to use her powers in a loving manner. She dispatches Jobu’s agents not through combat but with love, tapping into the multiverse to address their needs and insecurities.  

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