Shaolin Soccer

A down-on-his-luck Shaolin disciple named Sing tracks down his former brothers, who have scattered and given up on their fighting school. He convinces them to put their kung fu skills to an odd new use: forming a soccer team. They train in comic, exaggerated ways and learn to use discipline, timing, and impossible kicks to compete against established clubs. Along the way they win over a resourceful woman named Mui, face showy corporate opponents, and turn a ragtag group into a unit that plays with heart. The film keeps its energy light, mixing slapstick with action without revealing the final outcome.

Directed and co-written by Stephen Chow, Shaolin Soccer premiered in 2001. The screenplay credits include Tsang Kan-Cheong, Steven Fung Min-Hang, and Andrew Fung Chih-Chiang. The cast features Stephen Chow, Vicki Zhao Wei, Richard Ng, and Patrick Tse.

Shaolin Soccer proved a surprise commercial success, especially across Asia, and found enthusiastic international audiences. Its box office performance helped Stephen Chow move from local star to global recognition, opening doors for wider distribution of his later work.

Visual gags and over-the-top set pieces, like superpowered kicks and gravity-defying saves, became instantly memorable. The film pushed together martial arts and sports comedy in a way that showed up in later genre blends, and scenes from it have been referenced in shows, advertising, and online fan work, keeping it visible in pop culture long after release.

Critics and audiences generally enjoyed the movie for its energy and comic imagination, though some found the tone uneven. Major themes include teamwork, resilience, and updating tradition for a modern audience, all delivered with goofy charm. On user-driven sites the film holds a solid rating, 7.1 out of 10 from 2,447 votes, reflecting continued fan affection.