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IMDbPro

Bend It Like Beckham

  • 20022002
  • PG-13PG-13
  • 1h 52m
IMDb RATING
6.7/10
110K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
2,757
213
Bend It Like Beckham (2002)
Pre, "Coming Soon"
Play trailer0:39
2 Videos
59 Photos
  • Comedy
  • Drama
  • Romance
Two ambitious girls, despite their parents' wishes, have their hearts set on careers in professional soccer.Two ambitious girls, despite their parents' wishes, have their hearts set on careers in professional soccer.Two ambitious girls, despite their parents' wishes, have their hearts set on careers in professional soccer.
IMDb RATING
6.7/10
110K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
2,757
213
  • Director
    • Gurinder Chadha
  • Writers
    • Gurinder Chadha
    • Guljit Bindra
    • Paul Mayeda Berges
  • Stars
    • Parminder Nagra
    • Keira Knightley
    • Jonathan Rhys Meyers
Top credits
  • Director
    • Gurinder Chadha
  • Writers
    • Gurinder Chadha
    • Guljit Bindra
    • Paul Mayeda Berges
  • Stars
    • Parminder Nagra
    • Keira Knightley
    • Jonathan Rhys Meyers
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 469User reviews
    • 152Critic reviews
    • 66Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 1 BAFTA Award
      • 17 wins & 20 nominations total

    Videos2

    Bend It Like Beckham
    Trailer 0:39
    Bend It Like Beckham
    Bend It Like Beckham
    Trailer 2:18
    Bend It Like Beckham

    Photos59

    Keira Knightley and Parminder Nagra in Bend It Like Beckham (2002)
    Keira Knightley and Parminder Nagra in Bend It Like Beckham (2002)
    Keira Knightley and Parminder Nagra in Bend It Like Beckham (2002)
    Parminder Nagra in Bend It Like Beckham (2002)
    Keira Knightley, Shaznay Lewis, and Parminder Nagra in Bend It Like Beckham (2002)
    Jonathan Rhys Meyers and Parminder Nagra in Bend It Like Beckham (2002)
    Gurinder Chadha in Bend It Like Beckham (2002)
    Parminder Nagra at an event for Bend It Like Beckham (2002)
    Parminder Nagra at an event for Bend It Like Beckham (2002)
    Parminder Nagra at an event for Bend It Like Beckham (2002)
    Parminder Nagra at an event for Bend It Like Beckham (2002)
    Bend It Like Beckham (2002)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Parminder Nagra
    Parminder Nagra
    • Jessas Jess
    Keira Knightley
    Keira Knightley
    • Julesas Jules
    Jonathan Rhys Meyers
    Jonathan Rhys Meyers
    • Joeas Joe
    Anupam Kher
    Anupam Kher
    • Mr. Bhamraas Mr. Bhamra
    Archie Panjabi
    Archie Panjabi
    • Pinky Bhamraas Pinky Bhamra
    Shaznay Lewis
    Shaznay Lewis
    • Melas Mel
    Frank Harper
    Frank Harper
    • Alan Paxtonas Alan Paxton
    Juliet Stevenson
    Juliet Stevenson
    • Paula Paxtonas Paula Paxton
    Shaheen Khan
    Shaheen Khan
    • Mrs. Bhamraas Mrs. Bhamra
    Ameet Chana
    Ameet Chana
    • Tonyas Tony
    Pooja Shah
    Pooja Shah
    • Meenaas Meena
    • (as Poojah Shah)
    Paven Virk
    • Bubblyas Bubbly
    Preeya Kalidas
    Preeya Kalidas
    • Monicaas Monica
    Trey Farley
    Trey Farley
    • Tazas Taz
    Saraj Chaudhry
    • Sonnyas Sonny
    • (as Saraj Chaudry)
    Imran Ali
    • Garyas Gary
    Kulvinder Ghir
    Kulvinder Ghir
    • Teetuas Teetu
    Harvey Virdi
    Harvey Virdi
    • Teetu's Mumas Teetu's Mum
    • Director
      • Gurinder Chadha
    • Writers
      • Gurinder Chadha
      • Guljit Bindra
      • Paul Mayeda Berges
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Parminder Nagra was worried that the scar on her leg would prevent her from getting the role of Jess. Instead, the scar, and the story behind it, were worked into the script.
    • Goofs
      A crew member was in the back seat, rocking the car at the airport that Jess's sister and her fiance are in alone. At one point three heads pop up over the seat.
    • Quotes

      Wedding Guest: Lesbian? Her birthday's in March. I thought she was a Pisces.

    • Crazy credits
      The closing credits feature cast and crew singing "Hot Hot Hot", with many of the lyrics in Punjabi. One group can be seen holding a "cheat sheet" index card, presumably with the lyrics on.
    • Alternate versions
      The word football was been replaced by soccer in many US prints.
    • Connections
      Featured in Goodness Ungracious Me! (2002)
    • Soundtracks
      Elevation
      (2002)

      Written and Produced by Bally Sagoo

      Published by ISHQ Music

      Performed by Gunjan

      Courtesy of ISHQ Records

    User reviews469

    Review
    Top review
    A Crowd-pleasing Charmer
    `Bend It Like Beckam' is a heartwarming charmer about a young girl's search for identity in 21st Century England. Like `Fiddler on the Roof,' `Beckam' deals with the painful struggles tradition-bound cultures must go through as they enter a looser, more freedom-loving modern world. The culture in this case is that of immigrant and first-generation Indians living in Great Britain. As with all such tales, it is the young folk who feel the need to pull away from the stuffy values of the past, and who end up dragging the reluctant older folk kicking and screaming into the future right along with them.

    Jess Bharma is a fairly typical teen with dreams of becoming a world-class soccer player. However, Jess also comes from a very traditional Indian family that believes a girl should not play around with boys, show her legs in public, or aspire to much beyond marrying a good Indian boy and raising a family. We've seen this kind of set-up countless times before and `Bend It Like Beckam' will certainly not win any prizes for creativity or originality. It does, however, have a youthful exuberance and a generous spirit that can't help but captivate even the most diehard, coldhearted cynic. Parminder K. Nagra is utterly winning as young Jess, capturing all the innate optimism and unquenchable enthusiasm of this irrepressible character. She receives superb support from a cast of outstanding actors, both young and old, including Keira Knightley as Jules, her inspirational buddy who provides Jess with the opportunity to bring her dreams to fruition; Jonathan Rhys-Meyers as Joe, the handsome young coach who provides lessons in love along with lessons in soccer; Anupam Kher as Jess' father, who turns out to have some of his own personal demons to deal with; Shaheen Khan as Jess' mother, who doesn't understand why her daughter can't be content with the pre-ordained life her parents have laid out for her; and Juliet Stevenson as Jules' mother, who proves that Indians don't hold a patent on tradition-obsessed parents. In its quiet, gentle way, the film also confronts the issue of racism, particularly in terms of how the Indians are often still treated as second-class citizens in British society.

    As directed by Gurinder Chadha, `Bend It Like Beckham' is a light-on-its-feet `feel-good' film that never takes itself too seriously. The movie suffers a bit from a sitcom mentality, as when, for instance, Jules' parents labor under the illusion that their daughter and Jess are actually lesbian lovers. The plotting, in addition to being predictable at times, often seems contrived and excessively melodramatic (the rivalry between Jess and Jules over Joe being the primary offender). But this isn't enough to do any serious damage to the film as a whole.

    Thus, if you're looking for a film that is easygoing, uplifting and comfortably old-fashioned in its demeanor and theme, `Bend It Like Beckham' is for you.
    helpful•112
    15
    • Buddy-51
    • Oct 18, 2003

    FAQ1

    • Who is Beckham?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • August 1, 2003 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • United Kingdom
      • Germany
      • United States
    • Official site
      • Official site (United States)
    • Languages
      • English
      • Punjabi
      • Hindi
      • German
    • Also known as
      • Tôi Yêu Beckham
    • Filming locations
      • Barra Hall Park, Freemans Lane, Hayes, Greater London, England, UK
    • Production companies
      • Kintop Pictures
      • Film Council
      • Filmförderung Hamburg
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • £3,500,159 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $32,543,449
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $161,528
      • Mar 16, 2003
    • Gross worldwide
      • $76,585,828
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 52 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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