Kung Fu Hustle (2004)

In Shanghai, China in the 1940s, a wannabe gangster aspires to join the notorious "Axe Gang" while residents of a housing complex exhibit extraordinary powers in defending their turf.

Director:

Stephen Chow

Writers:

Stephen Chow, Kan-Cheung Tsang (as Tsang Kan Cheong)

Stars:

Stephen Chow, Wah Yuen, Qiu Yuen

Nominated for 1 Golden Globe. Another 21 wins & 41 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Stephen Chow	...	Sing
Xiaogang Feng	...	Crocodile Gang Boss (as Feng Xiao Gang)
Wah Yuen	...	Landlord
Zhihua Dong	...	Donut (as Zhi Hua Dong)
Kwok-Kwan Chan	...	Brother Sum (as Danny Chan)
Tze Chung Lam	...	Bone (Sing's Sidekick) (as Lam Tze Chung)
Siu-Lung Leung	...	The Beast
Qiu Yuen	...	Landlady
Kai Man Tin	...	Axe Gang Advisor
Kang Xi Jia	...	Harpist #1
Hark-On Fung	...	Harpist #2
Shengyi Huang	...	Fong
Suet Lam	...	Axe Gang Vice General
Cheung-Yan Yuen	...	Beggar (as Cheng Yan Yuen)
Chi Ling Chiu	...	Tailor

Storyline

Set in Canton, China in the 1940s, the story revolves in a town ruled by the Axe Gang, Sing who desperately wants to become a member. He stumbles into a slum ruled by eccentric landlords who turns out to be the greatest kung-fu masters in disguise. Sing's actions eventually cause the Axe Gang and the slumlords to engage in an explosive kung-fu battle. Only one side will win and only one hero will emerge as the greatest kung-fu master of all.

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Plot Keywords:

1940s | kung fu | sign language | gang | axe | 

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Taglines:

So many gangsters...so little time.

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Genres:

Action | Comedy | Crime | Fantasy

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for sequences of strong stylized action and violence

Details

Official Sites:

Sony Pictures [hk][jp] [China] (English) Sony Pictures [United States]

Country:

Hong Kong China

Language:

Cantonese

Release Date:

22 April 2005 (USA)

Also Known As:

Kung Fu Hustle

Filming Locations:

Shanghai, China

Box Office

Budget:

$20,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$3,188,968 (Hong Kong) (24 December 2004)

Gross:

$17,108,591 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Columbia Pictures Film Production Asia, Huayi Brothers Media, Taihe Film Investment Co. Ltd.

Technical Specs

Runtime:

99 min

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby Digital SDDS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Bruce Lee Tribute: When the Landlady is seated between the Boss and his assistant, she faces the boss, and mimics the gestures Bruce Lee used while also facing a crime boss in Return of the Dragon. She wags her finger at him, then closes both fists, then just the right (while knuckles cracking can be heard), she jerks her head up, and the boss nods he understands, then she thumbs her nose, exactly like Bruce Lee.

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Goofs

After Brother Sum has covered the mother and child in fuel, the mother's hair drapes down her face and covers her forehead. In the next shot, when Coolie catches the lighter, her hair is combed back out of her face.

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Quotes

Axe Gang Advisor: Let's kill them all and make this place a brothel.

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Connections

Referenced in You Don't Mess with the Zohan (2008)

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Soundtracks

Don't Forget Tonight
Composed & Lyrics by Chen Ge Xin
Performed by Gong Qiu Xia
Courtesy of EMI Music Hong Kong / EMI Music Publishing Hong Kong

User Reviews

Great movie by Stephen Chow

I saw this movie yesterday and it is definitely one of the best movies that was made in the history of Hong Kong. The plot itself is simple, and the storyline is all about kung fu. Yet, it is not just a funny comedy about kung fu. It is more than that. Somehow it is similar to Harry Potter (in this case is wizard) or animations by Hayao Miyazaki in which a world of imagination is created. The characters in the film are so funny and classic. Most of them appeared in some of Stephen Chow's movies before but because the context of every movie is different, the overall result is hilarious. This is a movie that make Hong Kong people proud. I hope it will be a box office success in other countries too. I think I'll definitely buy the movie DVD for my personal collection.