Kung Fu Hustle

Original title: Kung fu

2004
R
1h 39m

IMDb RATING

7.7/10

154K

YOUR RATING

POPULARITY

3,513

Stephen Chow, Siu-Lung Leung, Qiu Yuen, and Danny Kwok-Kwan Chan in Kung Fu Hustle (2004)

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Kung Fu Martial Arts Parody Slapstick Wuxia Action Comedy Fantasy

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.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.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.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

7.7/10

154K

YOUR RATING

POPULARITY

3,513

See production info at IMDbPro

Nominated for 1 BAFTA Award
- 25 wins & 47 nominations total

Crocodile Gang Boss
(as Feng Xiao Gang)

Zhihua Dong

Donut
(as Zhi Hua Dong)

Danny Kwok-Kwan Chan

Brother Sum
(as Danny Chan)

Tze-Chung Lam

Bone (Sing's Sidekick)
(as Lam Tze Chung)

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

Xing Yu

Coolie

Yibai Zhang

Inspector Chan
(as Zhang Yi Bai)

Si Lu Ren

Suzie

Storyline

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Did you know

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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.

Goofs
When Coolie takes on the Axe Gang alone, before the tailor joins in, an Axe Gang member takes a perfect unblocked swing at Coolie's back, realizes that Coolie can't block it, and runs away.

Quotes
Barber: Why don't you train us to be top fighters... and we'll avenge them!
Landlady: Becoming a top fighter takes time, unless you're a natural-born kung-fu genius, and they're 1 in a million.
Barber: [Does martial arts routine] It's obvious I'm the one.
Landlady: [immediately punches him in the face] Don't think so.

Alternate versions
The version released in Spain took a few artistic licenses when it was dubbed. Giving each character a different accent from each region of Spain or from other parts of the world.
Sing has a Madrid accent and also the street slang.
His partner has Catalan accent.
The landlord and his wife have an Andalusian accent.
The Ax Gang Vice General has an Argentine accent.
The Crocodile Gang Boss has a Mexican accent.
Donut has the accent of a Chinese person trying to speak in Spanish.
The Two Harpist have a French accent.
The Beast has an Italian accent.
And some neighbors of "Pig Sty Alley" have a Galician accent.
After its theatrical release in Spain, the dubbing turned the film into a cult classic, among some groups thanks to the funny dubbing that, although it varied some jokes or added of its own, did not change the story. However, he also obtained his group of detractors who consider that the dubbing completely ruined the film.

Connections
Featured in Siskel & Ebert: Sahara/Eros/Kung Fu Hustle/Winter Solstice/Mondovino (2005)

Soundtracks
Zhi Yao Wei Ni Huo Yi Tian
Composed by Liu Jie Chang
Lyrics by Lin Huang Kun
Performed by Huang Sheng Yi
Arranged by Ying-Wah Wong (as Raymond Wong)

User reviews486

Review

Featured review

9/10

Visually Stunning & Just Plain Funny!

Kung Fu Hustle was one of the most visually imaginative and unique movies I have seen in quite some time. Upon first viewing the trailer, I thought we would have another Kung Pow: Enter The Fist on our hands but, boy, was I wrong. Unlike Kung Pow, the jokes did not grow tired on me and the special effects were definitely top notch. The scene with the two assassins playing that stringed instrument (don't know the name of it) in such a way that it kills was incredible.

Although there was not much to the story, it was not non-existent, either. There was a simple story happening which made sense for what we were watching. Even the jokes with the subtitles came across as funny, and from my experience, humor does not translate as easily as this movie would have you believe. It borrowed or spoofed a bit from Spider-Man and The Matrix as well, which was a bit unexpected for this film, initially. At least for me.

To be honest, I could enjoy this movie without sound or subtitles, too. It was that appealing to the eye. It would be a good background movie for a party or poker game which could catch your eye at any moment and still hold your attention. It could also be great if you feel like a good comedy. I was entertained throughout and even though I was dead tired when I saw it in the theater, it held my interest all the way to the end. 9/10