Shaolin Soccer (2001)

A young Shaolin follower reunites with his discouraged brothers to form a soccer team using their martial art skills to their advantage.

Director:

Stephen Chow

Writers:

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

Stars:

Stephen Chow, Wei Zhao, Yat-Fei Wong

12 wins & 14 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Stephen Chow	...	Mighty Steel Leg Sing
Man-Tat Ng	...	Golden Leg Fung (as Ng Mang Tat) (as Mang Tat Ng)
Wei Zhao	...	Mui (as Vicki Zhao)
Yin Tse	...	Team Evil Coach Hung (as Patrick Tse Yin)
Hui Li	...	Banana Peel Girl
Cecilia Cheung	...	Team Moustache Player 1
Karen Mok	...	Team Moustache Player 2
Vincent Kok	...	Team Puma Leader
Kai Man Tin	...	Iron Shirt Tin (Third Brother)
Yat-Fei Wong	...	Iron Head (First Brother) (as Wong Kai Yue)
Tze Chung Lam	...	Light Weight (Small Brother) (as Lam Tze Chung)
Kwok-Kwan Chan	...	Lightning Hands (Fourth Brother) (as Chan Kwon Kwan)
Mei Lin Mo	...	Hooking Leg (Second Brother)
Ming Ming Zhang	...	Little Hung
Pu Ye Dong	...	Little Fung

Storyline

After a fateful mistake costing his career, an ex-soccer player bum meets a shaolin kung fu student trying to spread the word of kung fu. The ex-soccer player helps reconcile with his five brothers, and teaches them soccer, adding shaolin kung fu as a twist.

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Plot Keywords:

shaolin | soccer | kung fu | martial arts | cult film | 

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Taglines:

You've never seen football like this

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Genres:

Action | Comedy | Fantasy | Sport

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG for martial arts action and some thematic elements

Details

Official Sites:

metrofilms.com [France] miramax.com [United States]

Country:

Hong Kong China

Language:

English Cantonese Mandarin

Release Date:

12 July 2001 (Hong Kong)

Also Known As:

Shaolin Soccer

Filming Locations:

Shanghai, China

Box Office

Budget:

$10,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$39,167, 4 April 2004, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$488,872, 22 August 2004

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$42,776,760, 22 August 2004

Company Credits

Production Co:

Star Overseas, Universe Entertainment

Technical Specs

Runtime:

113 min 102 min (DVD) 85 min (original U.S. theatrical release)

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital SDDS (US version) DTS (US version)

Color:

Black and White Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

In the beginning of the movie, when young Fung (Golden Leg) misses the goal, the scoreboard shows both team names, Universe (distributor) and The Star (production company).

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Quotes

Sing: That's a great idea - kung fu soccer! Why didn't I think of that?

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Crazy Credits

Outtakes are shown before the credits.

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Alternate Versions

The DVD contains some additional scenes which can be viewed via integrated branching:

• a dancing number at the bakery with various pedestrians. This comes right after Sing meets Mui for the first time.
• when Sing gives Mui the shoes different lines are spoken and he introduces her to the team. Mui then has an argument and a fight with her boss.
• at the end a couple of outtakes.

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Connections

Spoofs 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)

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Soundtracks

My Wholehearted Devotion
Arranged by Raymond Wong, Patrick Tsang
Lyrics by Lin Xi
Performed by Vicki Zhao

User Reviews

Amazing!!

Or: the funniest movie I've seen this decade! I was expecting a moderate little asian comedy worthy about an IMDB 7 TOPS, but at the end, I was forced to give this 9 points! See, no other comedy has actually brought me to tears laughing in recent history! Either mr. Chow is a genius or he's one lucky sonova. See, "Shaolin soccer" just happens to press all the right buttons, and in right places! In the little "relief" spots it's as dramatic as it's supposed to be, and the rest, it's big, big, BIG laughs all the way. HIGHLY recommended! P.S. If you don't like this movie, your heart must be made of stone and you have absolutely NO sense of humour. My condolences.