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Shaolin Soccer poster

Movies that feel likeShaolin Soccer (2001)

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

If you loved Shaolin Soccer, the closest films we have are The Prodigal Son (1981), Journey to the West: Conquering the Demons (2013) and Kung Fu Hustle (2004). All three share Shaolin Soccer's kinetic and witty feel, which is what we rank on before quality.

Seen the big three already? The under-the-radar pick below is Snake in the Eagle's Shadow (1978).

πŸ… 89% Rotten Tomatoesβ˜… 7.3 IMDb β†—TMDB β†—dir. Stephen Chowkineticwittyplayful
9 of 12 streaming nowNetflix Β· Amazon Prime Video Β· Criterion Channel

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See it on the Mood Map

If Shaolin Soccer hit the spot, these will too

The Prodigal Son poster
The Prodigal Son
1981 Β· dir. Sammo Hung
πŸ… 100%β˜… 7.3action Β· comedy

Two things both keep coming back to: martial arts and kung fu

The difference: 20 years apart, and the 1980s show

A rich man's son believes himself to be the best kung fu fighter in Canton. Unfortunately, his father, anxious for his son's safety, bribes all his opponents to lose. After a humiliating defeat at the hands of an actor in a traveling theatre company, the son resolves to find a better teacher.

Journey to the West: Conquering the Demons poster
πŸ… 94%β˜… 6.7action Β· fantasy Β· adventurePrime Video

Stephen Chow directing both, with the same fingerprints on each

The difference: Leans harder into fantasy than Shaolin Soccer does

In a world plagued by demons who cause great human suffering, young demon hunter Tang Sanzang must fight against monstrous demons, as well as contend with a beautiful demon hunting woman on his path to enlightenment.

Kung Fu Hustle poster
Kung Fu Hustle
2004 Β· dir. Stephen Chow
πŸ… 90%β˜… 7.7action Β· comedy Β· crime

Both are Stephen Chow's work, and they rhyme

The difference: Sits closer to crime than Shaolin Soccer does

It's the 1940s, and the notorious Axe Gang terrorizes Shanghai. Small-time criminals Sing and Bone hope to join, but they only manage to make lots of very dangerous enemies. Fortunately for them, kung fu masters and hidden strength can be found in unlikely places. Now they just have to take on the entire Axe Gang.

Project A - Part II poster
Project A - Part II
1987 Β· dir. Jackie Chan
πŸ… 73%β˜… 7action Β· comedy

The same preoccupation in both: kung fu

Dragon is now transferred to be the police head of Sai Wan district, and has to contend with a gangster kingpin, anti-Manchu revolutionaries, some runaway pirates, Manchu Loyalists and a corrupt police superintendent.

Snake in the Eagle's Shadow poster
Snake in the Eagle's Shadow
1978 Β· dir. Yuen Woo-ping
πŸ… 80%β˜… 7.3action Β· comedy

Both are built on the same subject: martial arts

Everyone abuses and humiliates a downtrodden orphan until he befriends an old man, who turns out to be the last master of the snake fist fighting style. Jackie becomes the old man's student and finds himself in battle with the master of the eagle's claw style, who has vowed to destroy the snake fist clan.

Drunken Master poster
Drunken Master
1978 Β· dir. Yuen Woo-ping
πŸ… 81%β˜… 7.4action Β· comedy

Kinetic and witty in the same breath

After getting into trouble, a mischievous young man is sent to train under a brutal, but slovenly old beggar, who teaches him the secret of the Drunken Fist.

Grimsby poster
Grimsby
2016 Β· dir. Louis Leterrier
πŸ… 37%β˜… 6.2action Β· comedy

Action built on play, twice over

The difference: The scrappier of the two with critics

Wrongfully accused and on the run, a top MI6 assassin joins forces with his long-lost, football hooligan brother to save the world from a sinister plot.

My Lucky Stars poster
My Lucky Stars
1985 Β· dir. Sammo Hung
β˜… 6.3action Β· comedy

Kinetic comedy, and it commits to that

Two Hong Kong cops are sent to Tokyo to catch an ex-cop who stole a large amount of money in diamonds. After one is captured by the Ninja-gang protecting the rogue cop, the other one gets his old Orphanage gang, dubbed the "Five Lucky Stars," to help him. They don't like this much, but they do it.

Ride Along poster
Ride Along
2014 Β· dir. Tim Story
πŸ… 17%β˜… 6.2action Β· comedyStarz

Both lean on wit more than on action

For the past two years, high-school security guard Ben has been trying to show decorated APD detective James that he's more than just a video-game junkie who's unworthy of James' sister, Angela. When Ben finally gets accepted into the academy, he thinks he's earned the seasoned policeman's respect and asks for his blessing to marry Angela. Knowing that a ride along will demonstrate if Ben has what it takes to take care of his sister, James invites him on a shift designed to scare the hell out of the trainee. But when the wild night leads them to the most notorious criminal in the city, James will find that his new partner's rapid-fire mouth is just as dangerous as the bullets speeding at it.

Tower Heist poster
Tower Heist
2011 Β· dir. Brett Ratner
πŸ… 67%β˜… 6.2action Β· comedy

Playful comedy in both cases

A luxury condo manager leads a staff of workers to seek payback on the Wall Street swindler who defrauded them. With only days until the billionaire gets away with the perfect crime, the unlikely crew of amateur thieves enlists the help of petty crook Slide to steal the $20 million they’re sure is hidden in the penthouse.

Violent Night poster
Violent Night
2022 Β· dir. Tommy Wirkola
πŸ… 74%β˜… 6.7action Β· comedyNetflix

Action with a pulse of momentum, in both cases

When a team of mercenaries breaks into a wealthy family compound on Christmas Eve, taking everyone inside hostage, the team isn’t prepared for a surprise combatant: Santa Claus is on the grounds, and he’s about to show why this Nick is no saint.

You Don't Mess with the Zohan poster
You Don't Mess with the Zohan
2008 Β· dir. Dennis Dugan
πŸ… 37%β˜… 5.6comedy Β· action

Both lean on wit more than on comedy

An Israeli counterterrorism soldier with a secretly fabulous ambition to become a Manhattan hairstylist. Zohan's desire runs so deep that he'll do anything -- including faking his own death and going head-to-head with an Arab cab driver -- to make his dreams come true.

In the mood for more kinetic?

all kinetic movies β†’

The best-reviewed films that share Shaolin Soccer’s defining feeling.