Overview
A hilarious fusion of martial arts and soccer that will kick your expectations into high gear.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Simple
- Violence
- Moderate
- exuberant
- irreverent
- absurdist
- group movie night
- sports movie marathon
What critics said
Critics broadly embraced the film's knowingly ridiculous fusion of soccer and martial arts as energetic, accessible entertainment.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Shaolin techniques are reimagined as supernatural soccer skills, including exaggerated kicks, launches, and impossible ball control.
Sing helps Fung reconcile with his five brothers and transforms them into a functioning soccer team.
The championship match uses ridiculous rules, spectacular stunts, and comic escalation rather than realistic football tactics.
The film explicitly pairs Shaolin kung fu with association football, creating conflict around the cultural meaning of the Shaolin name.
Films like Shaolin Soccer, and why
Kung Fu Hustle
Shares exuberant martial arts comedy, exaggerated physical humor, and an underdog team pursuing unlikely athletic glory.
The Mighty Ducks
Combines sports competition with broad visual gags, eccentric characters, and an uplifting underdog structure.
DodgeBall: A True Underdog Story
Blends slapstick comedy, stylized action, and a mismatched group learning teamwork through competitive spectacle.
The God of Cookery
Shares Hong Kong action-comedy energy, playful genre exaggeration, and a charismatic comic protagonist.
Movie Details
- Director
- Stephen Chow
- Release Date
- 2001-07-05
- Runtime
- 113 min
- Rating
- 7.2 / 10 (2666)
Cast
- Stephen Chow
- Richard Ng Man-Tat
- Zhao Wei
- Patrick Tse Yin
- Karen Mok Man-Wai
- Wong Yat-Fei
- Mo Meilin
- Tenky Tin Kai-Man
- Danny Chan
- Lam Tze-Chung
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- JustWatch TV, Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Shaolin Soccer about?
- A disgraced former footballer recruits Shaolin kung fu practitioners for an outrageously superpowered run at soccer glory.
- What is Shaolin Soccer like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Shaolin Soccer as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as simple.
- Is Shaolin Soccer violent?
- Somewhat. Ember rates the violence in Shaolin Soccer as moderate.
- What did critics think of Shaolin Soccer?
- Critics broadly embraced the film's knowingly ridiculous fusion of soccer and martial arts as energetic, accessible entertainment.
- Which films are like Shaolin Soccer?
- Films with a similar feel include Kung Fu Hustle, The Mighty Ducks, DodgeBall: A True Underdog Story, and The God of Cookery.
- How long is Shaolin Soccer?
- Shaolin Soccer runs 113 minutes.
- Where can I watch Shaolin Soccer?
- In United States, Shaolin Soccer is available to rent or buy from JustWatch TV, Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home.
