| Kung Fu Hustle | |
|---|---|
 Mainland China release poster | |
| Chinese | 功夫 |
| Hanyu Pinyin | Gōng Fū |
| Jyutping | Gung1 Fu1 |
| Directed by | Stephen Chow |
| Screenplay by |
|
| Story by | Stephen Chow |
| Produced by |
|
| Starring | |
| Cinematography | Poon Hang-sang |
| Edited by | Angie Lam |
| Music by | Raymond Wong |
Production companies |
|
| Distributed by | Huayi Brothers (China)[1] Columbia TriStar Film Distributors International (International)[2][3] |
Release dates |
|
Running time | 98 minutes[4] |
| Countries | |
| Language | Cantonese[4] |
| Budget | $20 million[5] |
| Box office | $104.9 million[6] |
Kung Fu Hustle (Chinese:功夫;pinyin:Gōngfu;lit. 'Kung Fu') is a 2004martial artsaction comedy film directed, produced and co-written byStephen Chow, who also stars in the leading role, alongsideHuang Shengyi,Yuen Wah,Yuen Qiu,Danny Chan Kwok-kwan andLeung Siu-lung in prominent roles. The story revolves around a murderous neighbourhood gang, a poor village with unlikely heroes and an aspiring gangster's fierce journey to find his true self. The martial arts choreography is supervised byYuen Woo-ping.
The film was a co-production betweenHong Kong andMainland Chinese companies, filmed inShanghai. After the commercial success ofShaolin Soccer, its production company, Star Overseas, began to develop the films withColumbia Pictures Film Production Asia in 2002. It features a number of retired actors famous for 1970sHong Kong action cinema and has been compared to contemporary and influentialwuxia films such asCrouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon andHero. Thecartoon special effects in the film, accompanied by traditionalChinese music, are often cited as its most striking feature.
Kung Fu Hustle premiered at the29th Toronto International Film Festival on September 14, 2004, and released on 23 December 2004 in China and on 25 January 2005 in the United States. The film received positive reviews and grossed US$17 million in North America and US$84 million in other regions. It was tenth on thelist of highest-grossing foreign-language films in the United States as well as the highest-grossing foreign-language film in the country in 2005.Kung Fu Hustle won numerous awards, including sixHong Kong Film Awards and fiveGolden Horse Awards. The film was re-released in 3D in October 2014 across Asia and North America, marking the tenth anniversary of the film.
The film open begins in 1940sShanghai, a powerful gang called the Crocodile gang terrorizes the police. However, the gang was easily and brutally defeated by a much more powerful gang known as theAxe Gang, led by a young killer named Brother Sum and an unnamed vice general. Only Shanghai's poorest villages and slums are not affected by the Axe gang's killings. The only place in the village that has those slums is Pigsty Alley. Two thieves named Sing and Bone visit the village to extort the residents by pretending to be Axe gang members, though Sing and Bone are revealed to be very weak and horrible at fighting. However, Sing's stupid actions eventually attract the attention of some real gang members and their vice general after he threw a firecracker that exploded onto the vice general's head. Just as the vice general was about to kill one of the residents, an unknown force blows him 50 feet back while also breaking his back, causing the full gang to arrive. However, they were all quickly dealt with by three of the slum's tenants: Coolie (who revealed himself to be the one who killed the vice general), Tailor, and Donut, who are actuallykung fu masters. However, fearing the Axe Gang's retaliation, the slum's Landlady evicts the trio.
The gang captures Sing and Bone and Brother Sum tried to kill them for posing as gang members. However, Sing and Bone narrowly escape using their lock picking skills, impressing Brother Sum, who offers to let them join the Axe Gang, on the condition that they kill someone. Sing recalls his childhood to Bone when he was tricked by a vagrant into buying a martial arts pamphlet with his meager savings. After practicing the pamphlet's Buddhist Palm technique, Sing attempted to save a non-verbal girl named Fong from bullies, but was instead beaten and humiliated. Sing became adamant that heroes never win, and resolved to be a villain.
Sing and Bone return to Pigsty Alley to kill the Landlady by throwing a knife at her, but fail ridiculously as Sing ended up getting stabbed twice and bit by venomous snakes. They were then chased off the premises by the Landlady. Sing retreats to a traffic pulpit where his injuries mysteriously heal instantly. Meanwhile, Brother Sum, intent on vengeance against Pigsty Alley, hires two Harpists that use a magicalguzheng as their weapon. They successfully eliminate all three masters, but are destroyed by the Landlady and her husband the Landlord, who reveal themselves to be extremely skilled fighters.
The next morning, Sing attempts to rob an ice cream vendor, but discovers that she is actually Fong. When she recognizes him and offers him a lollipop, which reminds him of the day he tried to save her, he smashes it and leaves. When Sing returns to the gang's casino, Brother Sum offers him immediate gang membership if he uses his lock-picking skills to free the Beast, a most legendary and extremely powerful assassin, from a mental asylum. Sing succeeds and brings the Beast back to the Axe Gang's headquarters.
Brother Sum is initially skeptical of the Beast due to his flippant attitude and sloppy appearance, but quickly changes his mind when the Beast stops a bullet midair. The Beast meets the Landlady and Landlord at the casino next door, engaging them in a fierce fight that ends in a stalemate, despite the Beast showing much better fighting skills and clever trickery. Sing, realizing the error of his ways, attacks Brother Sum and the Beast, who angrily retaliates but accidentally unlocks theRen and Du channels in Sing. The Landlady and Landlord grab the unconscious Sing and flee. The Beast kills an angry Brother Sum and takes over as leader of the Axe gang.
The Landlady and Landlord treat Sing at Pigsty Alley and are surprised by his quick recovery. The Landlady deduces Sing is, in fact, a natural-born kung fu genius. With his newfound powers, Sing effortlessly dispatches the Many hundreds Axes before fighting the Beast. Sing uses the Buddhist Palm technique to neutralize the Beast, who concedes defeat.
Sing and Bone open a candy store with Fong's lollipop as their logo. Fong visits Sing at his store, and the pair hold each other's hands as they appear to be younger version of themselves. The vagrant who sold the pamphlet to Sing can be seen outside selling other pamphlets.
Kung Fu Hustle was a co-production of theBeijing Film Studio [zh] and Hong Kong's Star Overseas.[8] After the success of his 2001 film,Shaolin Soccer, Chow was approached in 2002 by Columbia Pictures Film Production Asia, offering to collaborate with him on a project. Chow accepted the offer, and the project eventually becameKung Fu Hustle.[9]Kung Fu Hustle was produced with a budget of US$20 million.[10] This partnership granted Chow unprecedented production scale while requiring adaptation to Hollywood's producer-driven system - Columbia executives insisted on extensive script development, with Chow noting the process was "very laborious" as he refined four successive drafts to meet studio standards.[11]
Chow was inspired to create the film by the martial arts films he watched as a child and by his childhood ambition to become a martial artist.[12]
Chow's first priority was to design the main location of the film, "Pigsty Alley". Later in an interview Chow remarked that he had created the location from his childhood, basing the design on the crowded apartment complexes of Hong Kong where he had lived.[13][14] The 1973Shaw Brothers Studio film,The House of 72 Tenants, was another inspiration for Pigsty Alley.[15] Designing the Alley began in January 2003 and took four months to complete. Many of the props and furniture in the apartments were antiques from all over China.[16]
Kung Fu Hustle features several prolific Hong Kong action cinema actors from the 1970s.Yuen Wah, a former student of the China Drama AcademyPeking Opera School who appeared in over a hundred Hong Kong films and was astunt double forBruce Lee, played the Landlord of Pigsty Alley. Wah considered starring inKung Fu Hustle to be the peak of his career. In spite of the film's success, he worried that nowadays fewer people practice martial arts.[17]
Auditions for the role of the Landlady began in March 2003.Yuen Qiu, who did not audition, was spotted during her friend's screen test smoking a cigarette with a sarcastic expression on her face, which won her the part.[18] Qiu, a student ofYu Jim-yuen,sifu of the China Drama Academy, had appeared in the 1974James Bond filmThe Man with the Golden Gun at the age of 18.[19] After a number of other small roles, she retired from films in the 1980s.Kung Fu Hustle was her first role in nineteen years. Qiu, in order to fulfill Chow's vision for the role, gained weight for the role by eating midnight snacks every day.[19]
Bruce Leung, who played the Beast, was Stephen Chow's childhood martial arts hero.[14] Leung Siu Lung was a famous action film director and actor in the 1970s and 1980s, known as the "Third Dragon" after Bruce Lee andJackie Chan. After becoming unpopular in the Taiwanese film market in the late 1980s following a visit to China, he switched to a career in business.Kung Fu Hustle was his return to the film industry after a fifteen-year hiatus. He regarded Chow as a flexible director with high standards, and was particularly impressed by the first scene involving the Beast, which had to be reshot 28 times.[20]
In addition to famous martial artists,Kung Fu Hustle features legends ofChinese cinema. Two famous Chinese directors appear in the film:Zhang Yibai, who plays Inspector Chan at the beginning of the film, andFeng Xiaogang, who plays the boss of the Crocodile Gang.[21]
In casting Sing's love interest Fong, Chow stated that he wanted an innocent looking girl for the role. Television actressEva Huang, in her film debut, was chosen from over 8,000 women. When asked about his decision in casting her, Chow said that he "just had a feeling about her" and that he enjoyed working with new actors. She chose to have no dialogue in the film so that she could stand out only with her body gestures.[18][22]
Filming took place in Shanghai from June 2003 to November 2003.[23] Two-thirds of the time was spent shooting the fight sequences.[12] Those scenes were initially choreographed bySammo Hung, who quit after two months due to illness, tough outdoor conditions, interest in another project and arguments with the production crew.[24] Hung was replaced byYuen Woo-ping, an action choreographer with experience ranging from 1960sHong Kong action cinema to more recent films likeCrouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon andThe Matrix. Yuen promptly accepted the offer.[9] Yuen drew on seemingly outdatedwuxia fighting styles like the Deadly Melody and Buddhist Palm.[25] He remarked that despite the comedic nature of the film, the shooting process was a serious matter due to the tight schedule.[17]
Most of the special effects in the film, created by Hong Kong computer graphics companyCentro Digital Pictures Limited, which had previously worked on films such asShaolin Soccer andKill Bill, included a combination ofcomputer-generated imagery andwire work. Centro Digital performed extensive tests on CGI scenes before filming started, and treatment of the preliminary shots began immediately afterwards. The CGI crew edited out wire effects and applied special effects in high resolution. Legendary martial arts mentioned in wuxia novels were depicted and exaggerated through CGI, but actual people were used for the final fight between Chow's character and hundreds of axe-wielding gangsters.[8] After a final calibration of colour, data of the processed scenes was sent to the US for the production of the final version. A group of six people followed the production crew throughout the shooting.[23]
The majority of the film's original score was composed byRaymond Wong and performed by theHong Kong Chinese Orchestra.[26] The score imitates traditional Chinese music used in 1940s swordplay films.[27] One of Wong's works,Nothing Ventured, Nothing Gained, provides a stark contrast between the villainous Axe Gang and the peaceful neighbourhood of Pigsty Alley, depicted by a Chinese folk song,Fisherman's Song of the East China Sea.[21] Along with Wong's compositions and various traditional Chinese songs, classical compositions are featured in the score, including excerpts fromZigeunerweisen byPablo de Sarasate andSabre Dance byAram Khachaturian.[28] The song,Zhiyao Weini Huo Yitian (只要為你活一天;Only Want to Live One Day for You), is sung in the background by Eva Huang at the end of the film. Written byLiu Chia-chang in the 1970s, it tells of a girl's memories of a loved one, and her desire to live for him again.[29]Kung Fu Hustle was nominated for Best Original Film Score at the 24thHong Kong Film Awards.[30]
Asian and American versions of the soundtrack were released. The Asian version of the soundtrack was released on 17 December 2004 bySony Music Entertainment and has 33 tracks.[31] The American version of the soundtrack was released on 29 March 2005 byVarèse Sarabande and has 19 tracks, with 14 tracks missing compared to the Asian release.[32]
The soundtrack for the trailer was mastered at Epiphany Music and Recording, Inc. inSanta Rosa, California.
Kung Fu Hustle makes references to a wide range of films,animated cartoons,wuxia novels, anime and other sources. The housing arrangement of the Pigsty Alley is similar to that of a 1973 Hong Kong film,The House of 72 Tenants. A possible real world reference for Pigsty Alley is "Kowloon Walled City" in Hong Kong, a former slum in central Hong Kong.[33] There are two references to Chow's previous film,Shaolin Soccer: When Sing arrives at Pigsty Alley, he plays skilfully with a soccer ball, then says, "You're still playing football?". The second reference is the scene in which a clerk beats Sing up on a bus. The clerk also appeared inShaolin Soccer as the leader of an opposing team who used hidden weapons to beat up the Shaolin soccer team. When Sing challenges a boy in the Pigsty Alley, Sing calls him "The Karate Kid", a reference tothe 1984 film of the same name. During the altercation between Sing and the hairdresser, the hairdresser states, "Even if you kill me, there will be thousands more of me!". This is a reference to a famous quote made byLu Haodong, a Chinese revolutionary in the lateQing dynasty.[34] The scene in which Sing is chased by the Landlady as he flees from the Alley is a homage toWile E. Coyote and the Road Runner, characters in theLooney Tunes cartoons, even including the pursuer's (the Landlady's) ill fate. During the opening scene in which the leader of the Crocodile Gang is killed by Brother Sum of the Axe Gang, in the background a poster for the 1939 filmLe Jour Se Lève is visible. In the scene in which Sing robs the ice cream vendor, a poster for the 1935 filmTop Hat is in the background. As Sing arrives at the door to the Beast's cell in the mental asylum, he hallucinates a large wave of blood rushing from the cell door, similar to a scene inThe Shining.[35] The Landlady says at one point, "Tomorrow is another day", which is a line from the 1936 novelGone with the Wind and its1939 film adaptation.
A major element of the plot is based on the Famous wuxia film seriesPalm of Ru Lai (如來神掌), released in 1964.[36] Sing studied the fighting style used inPalm of Ru Lai ("Buddhist Palm style"), from a young age and used it at the end ofKung Fu Hustle. In reality, the Buddhist Palm fighting style does not leave palm-shaped craters and holes on impact. Instead, the user delivers powerful punches using his palm. The Beast's name in Chinese,Huoyun Xieshen (火雲邪神; Evil Deity of the Fiery Cloud), and the fight with the Landlady and her husband are also references to thePalm of Ru Lai, in which a mortally wounded master strikes the patterns of his art's final techniques into a bell so that his apprentice can learn from it.[37]Kung Fu Hustle also contains direct references to characters fromLouis Cha's wuxia novels. For example, the landlord and landlady refer to themselves asYang Guo andXiaolongnü, the names of characters in Cha'sThe Return of the Condor Heroes, when they met the Beast.[38]
References to gangster films are also present. The boss of the Axe Gang, Brother Sum (琛哥) is named after Hon Sam / Hon Sum (韓琛), the triad boss played byEric Tsang inInfernal Affairs.[39] The Harpists imitateThe Blues Brothers, wearing similar hats and sunglasses at all times.[40] When they are flattered by the Axe Gang advisor, one of them answers, "Strictly speaking we're just musicians", similar to a line by Elwood Blues.[41]
When Donut dies, he says, "In great power lies great responsibility", a reference to 2002'sSpider-Man, said byUncle Ben before his death.[34] Additionally, in that scene, the Landlady says, "Like Donut said, everyone has his reasons", a reference toJean Renoir's 1939 filmThe Rules of the Game.[42] Afterwards, with his dying breath, Donut gets up, grabs the Landlord by the shirt and utters in English, "What are you prepared to do?", a nod toSean Connery's character Jim Malone inBrian De Palma's 1987 filmThe Untouchables.[43][44]
The dialogue that the Beast says while negotiating with the Axe Gang for killing the Landlady and Landlord—"... then young friend, I will make an offer you cannot refuse" it is a reference of the dialogue from the movie of 1972sThe Godfather.[43] Also, the Landlady's comment to Brother Sum—"We brought a gift you cannot refuse" is an obvious parody ofthe same, to which Sum replies (in the dubbed version of the film), "Ha! With the Beast on our side, we shall see for whom the bell tolls", a reference tothe titular 1943 film.[45]
The final fight between Sing (who has been reborn into "the one", which pays homage to Bruce Lee by wearing his costume inEnter the Dragon and using his fighting style) and the hundreds of gangsters imitates the fight betweenNeo and hundreds ofAgent Smiths inThe Matrix Reloaded.[8][34] The scene in which the Beast prompts an Axe member to punch him harder is reminiscent of a similar scene inRaging Bull, withRobert De Niro's character promptingJoe Pesci's character.[43]
The last scene, in which the beggar tries to sell martial arts manuals, refers directly to the greatest skills in Louis Cha'sCondor Trilogy (Nine Yang Manual, "Yiyang Finger", and "Eighteen Subduing Dragon Palms"), "Thousand Hand Divine Fist", andThe Smiling, Proud Wanderer ("Nine Swords of Dugu"). The scene in which the landlady confronts Brother Sum in the back of his car is a homage to Bruce Lee in this from the movie of 1972sWay of the Dragon, where she cracks her knuckles and gives a quick upper nod to the mafia boss, telling him to back off.[46]
Kung Fu Hustle premiered at the2004 Toronto International Film Festival.[47] It was later released across East Asia including China, Hong Kong and Malaysia in December 2004.[48] The film was first shown in the US at theSundance Film Festival in January 2005,[49] and then opened in a general release on 22 April 2005 after being shown in Los Angeles and New York for two weeks.[50]
The North AmericanDVD release was on 8 August 2005.[51] ABlu-ray version of the DVD was released on 12 December 2006 by Sony Pictures. AUMD version of the film was released for the PlayStation Portable.[52] The United States DVD releases were censored, cutting a number of scenes that featured lots of taboo of blood or human excrement. A later release, called "The Kick-Axe Edition", restored these scenes.[53][54]
In the United Kingdom the standard DVD was released 24 October 2005, the same day a special edition was released with collector's items, which included playing cards, a keyring, a sweat band, and an inflatable axe.[55][56] On 8 April 2007, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment released a Blu-ray version.[57]
ThePortuguese title of the film isKungfusão, which sounds like Kung Fu andConfusão (confusion).[58] In the same way asKungfusão, the Italian and Spanish titles wereKung-fusion andKung-fusión, puns of "confusion".[59][60] In France, the film is known asCrazy Kung Fu, and theHungarian title isA Pofonok Földje, meaningThe Land of Punches.[61][62]
In Korea a Limited Collector's Edition DVD was released which included a leather wallet, Stephen Chow's Palm Figure with his signature, a photo album and Special Kung Fu's Booklet with a certificate of authenticity.[63]
On thereview aggregator websiteRotten Tomatoes, 91% of 190 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 7.7/10. The website's consensus reads: "Kung Fu Hustle blends special effects, martial arts, and the Looney Toons to hilarious effect.""[51]Metacritic, which uses aweighted average, assigned the film a score of 78 out of 100, based on 38 critics, indicating "generally favorable" reviews.[64]
Hong Kong director and film critic Gabriel Wong praised the film for itsblack comedy, special effects and nostalgia, citing the return of many retired kung fu actors from the 1970s.[65] Film criticRoger Ebert's description of the film ("like Jackie Chan and Buster Keaton meet Quentin Tarantino and Bugs Bunny") was printed on the promotion posters for the film in the US.[66][67] Other critics described it as a comedic version ofCrouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.[68] Positive reviews generally gave credit to the elements ofmo lei tau comedy present in the film.[69] A number of reviewers viewed it as a computer-enhancedLooney Tunes punch-up.[51][70] In a 2010 interview, actorBill Murray calledKung Fu Hustle "the supreme achievement of the modern age in terms of comedy".[71] In 2021, American filmmakerJames Gunn called it "the greatest film ever made".[72]
Much of the criticism for the film was directed at its lack of character development and a coherent plot.Las Vegas Weekly, for instance, criticised the film for not having enough of a central protagonist and character depth.[73] Criticism was also directed towards the film's cartoonish and childish humour.[74] However, it was considered reasonable, as theKung Fu Hustle production team chose to make the film's characters largely one-dimensional. In the movie, the directors "attempt(ed) to appeal to a transnational audience, affirms distinctly Western notions of Chinese that many earlier Kung Fu films set out to subvert."[75] TheKung Fu Hustle team attempt to appeal to a more progressive generation throughout the history of Chinese cinema. In a Penn State study ofKung Fu Hustle, researcher argued that the narrative of the film adheres to traditional kung fu film tropes while subverting their philosophical underpinnings. Earlier in the kung fu film industry, it usually involved complex characters, and also tried to explore and expose constructs ranging from gender to race as well as to nation.[75] One-dimension is the key feature ofKung Fu Hustle, as it is rooted in a filmic genre that connected with Hong Kong identity, but also represented the Western imagination of China's past and Kung Fu heroism.[75]
A review onDouban praisedKung Fu Hustle for its unique blend of exaggerated comic visuals and martial arts, creating a fantastical yet compelling world. The review highlighted Stephen Chow's skillful use of humor and action to deliver both entertainment and personal expression. However, it noted that some scenes felt slightly drawn-out, potentially affecting the overall pacing for certain viewers.[76]
Kung Fu Hustle was critically acclaimed for its innovative blend of comedy, martial arts, and cultural references, particularly its evocation of a distinctly Hong Kong cinematic identity.[77] The film's reverent parody of martial arts tropes and melodramatic themes, such as the lost-and-found son, further solidified its status as a cultural touchstone, resonating with viewers familiar with Hong Kong cinema's legacy.
Kung Fu Hustle earned widespread praise for its clever mix of slapstick comedy, martial arts flair, and deep ties to Hong Kong's cinematic heritage. Sing's journey, from a bumbling wannabe gangster to a kung fu master, is punctuated by iconic moments like the Beijing Opera-infused battles, which pay homage to Hong Kong's action legacy while poking fun at its tropes.[78]
Kung Fu Hustle opened in Hong Kong on 23 December 2004, and earnedHK$4,990,000 on its opening day. It stayed at the top of the box office for the rest of 2004 and for much of early 2005, eventually grossing HK$61.27 million. Its box office tally made it the highest-grossing film in Hong Kong history,[79] until it was beaten byYou Are the Apple of My Eye in 2011.[79]
Sony Pictures Classics openedKung Fu Hustle in limited theatrical release in New York City and Los Angeles on 8 April 2005 before being widely released across North America on 22 April. In its first week of limited release in seven cinemas, it grossed US$269,225 (US$38,461 per screen).[80] When it was expanded to a wide release in 2,503 cinemas, the largest number of cinemas ever for a foreign language film, it made a modest US$6,749,572 (US$2,696 per screen), eventually grossing a total of US$17,108,591 in 129 days. In total,Kung Fu Hustle had a worldwide gross of US$101,104,669.[81] While not a blockbuster,Kung Fu Hustle managed to become the highest-grossing foreign-language film in North America in 2005[82] and went on to generate more than US$30,000,000 in the United States home video market.[83]
The film was nominated for sixteenHong Kong Film Awards, out of which winning Best Picture, Best Action Choreography, Best Film Editing, Best Sound Effects, Best Supporting Actor and Best Visual Effects.[84] Five more awards were later picked up at theGolden Horse Awards including an award for Best Director for Stephen Chow.[85] In the United StatesKung Fu Hustle was well received by various film critic associations, nominated as Best Foreign Language Film in Golden Globe Award, and winning Best Foreign Language Film fromBoston,Chicago, Las Vegas and Phoenix-based critics.[86] it was later nominated for sixSatellite Awards[87] and oneMTV Movie Award for best fight scene.[88] In the United Kingdom at59th British Academy Film Awards the film was nominated for aBAFTA.[89]
In 2011, theTaipei Golden Horse Film Festival listedKung Fu Hustle at number 48 in their list of "100 Greatest Chinese-Language Films".[90] The majority of the voters originated from Taiwan, and included film scholars, festival programmers, film directors, actors and producers.[90] In 2014,Time Out polled several film critics, directors, actors and stunt actors to list their top action films.[91]Kung Fu Hustle was listed at 50th place on this list.[92]
| Award / Film Festival | Category | Recipient(s) | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amsterdam Fantastic Film Festival[93] | Stephen Chow | Won | |
| BAFTA Awards[89] | Best Film not in the English Language | Stephen Chow Bo-Chu Chui Jeffrey Lau | Nominated |
| Boston Society of Film Critics Awards[94] | Best Foreign Language Film | Won | |
| Broadcast Film Critics Association Awards[86] | Best Foreign-Language Film | Won | |
| Chicago Film Critics Association Awards[86] | Best Foreign Language Film | Nominated | |
| Florida Film Critics Circle Awards[95] | Best Foreign Film | Won | |
| Golden Globe Award (USA)[96] | Best Foreign Language Film | Nominated | |
| Golden Horse Awards[85] | Best Director | Stephen Chow | Won |
| Best Film | Won | ||
| Best Make Up & Costume Design | Shirley Chan | Won | |
| Best Supporting Actress | Qiu Yuen | Won | |
| Best Visual Effect | Frankie Chung Don Ma Tam Kai Kwan Hung Franco | Won | |
| Best Action Choreography | Woo-ping Yuen | Nominated | |
| Best Art Direction | Oliver Wong | Nominated | |
| Best Editing | Angie Lam | Nominated | |
| Best Sound Effects | Steve Burgess Steven Ticknor Robert Mackenzie Paul Pirola | Nominated | |
| Best Supporting Actor | Wah Yuen | Nominated | |
| Golden Trailer Awards[97] | Best Foreign | (Winston Davis & Associates). | Nominated |
| Hong Kong Film Awards[84] | Best Action Choreography | Woo-ping Yuen | Won |
| Best Film Editing | Angie Lam | Won | |
| Best Picture | Won | ||
| Best Sound Effects | Steven Ticknor Steve Burgess Robert Mackenzie Paul Pirola | Won | |
| Best Supporting Actor | Wah Yuen | Won | |
| Best Visual Effects | Frankie Chung Ma Wing-On Tam Kai-Kwun Hung Lau-Leung | Won | |
| Best Actor | Stephen Chow | Nominated | |
| Best Actress | Qiu Yuen | Nominated | |
| Best Art Direction | Oliver Wong | Nominated | |
| Best Cinematography | Hang-Sang Poon | Nominated | |
| Best Costume Design and Make Up | Shirley Chan | Nominated | |
| Best Director | Stephen Chow | Nominated | |
| Best New Artist | Shengyi Huang | Nominated | |
| Best Original Film Score | Ying-Wah Wong | Nominated | |
| Best Screenplay | Stephen Chow Kan-Cheung Tsang KXin Huo KMan Keung Chan | Nominated | |
| Best Supporting Actor | Kwok-Kwan Chan | Nominated | |
| Hong Kong Film Critics Society Awards[98] | Film of Merit | Won | |
| Hundred Flowers Awards[99] | Best Supporting Actress | Qiu Yuen | Won |
| Best Actor | Stephen Chow | Nominated | |
| Best Director | Stephen Chow | Nominated | |
| Best Film | Nominated | ||
| Best Newcomer | Shengyi Huang | Nominated | |
| Best Supporting Actor | Wah Yuen | Nominated | |
| Las Vegas Film Critics Society Awards[86] | Best Foreign Film | Won | |
| MTV Movie Awards[88] | Best Fight | Stephen Chow vs. The Axe Gang | Nominated |
| Motion Picture Sound Editors (USA)[citation needed] | Best Sound Editing in Feature Film – Foreign | Steve Burgess (supervising sound editor) Chris Goodes (sound editor) | Nominated |
| Online Film Critics Society Awards[100] | Best Foreign Language Film | Nominated | |
| Phoenix Film Critics Society Awards[86] | Best Foreign Language Film | Stephen Chow | Won |
| Satellite Awards[87] | Outstanding Actress in a Supporting Role, Comedy or Musical | Qiu Yuen | Nominated |
| Outstanding Cinematography | Hang-Sang Poon | Nominated | |
| Outstanding Film Editing | Angie Lam | Nominated | |
| Outstanding Motion Picture, Comedy or Musical | Nominated | ||
| Outstanding Sound (Mixing & Editing) | Paul Pirola | Nominated | |
| Outstanding Visual Effects | Frankie Chung | Nominated | |
| Shanghai Film Critics Awards[101] | Top 10 Films | Won | |
| Southeastern Film Critics Association Awards[102] | Best Foreign Language Film China/Hong Kong. | Nominated (Runner-up) |
In 2005, Chow announced that there would be a sequel toKung Fu Hustle, although he had not settled on a female lead. "There will be a lot of new characters in the movie. We'll need a lot of new actors. It's possible that we'll look for people abroad besides casting locals".[103] In January 2013, during an interview, Chow admitted that plans for makingKung Fu Hustle 2 have been put on hold. "I was indeed in the midst of making the movie, but it is currently put on hold in view of other incoming projects".[104] Production ofKung Fu Hustle 2 was delayed while Chow filmed the science fiction adventure filmCJ7. As a result,Kung Fu Hustle 2 was slated for a 2014 release.[105] By 2017, Chow had already completedThe Mermaid andJourney to the West: The Demons Strike Back. Due to his focus on behind-the-scenes production and the fact that he has not made an appearance sinceCJ7, it was suspected that he had stopped acting. However, Chow clarified that he still wants to act, but has not found a role suited for him.Kung Fu Hustle 2 remains incomplete.[106] In February 2019, during a promo interview forThe New King of Comedy, Stephen confirmed that the sequel is in the works. He will direct the movie and possibly cameo in the film, but the story will not be a direct sequel to the first one. Chow explains the sequel will be a spiritual successor to the first one, but set in modern times.[107]
In 2004 a promotionalflash game was released bySony Pictures Entertainment on their Japanese website.[108] The game was created by Japanese game developerPoint Zero and plays as apoint-and-clickbeat 'em up.[109] Aside-scrolling game designed for mobile phones was later released in 2006 by developerTracebit.[110]
In 2007 Sony Online Entertainment announced that amassively multiplayer online 2D side-scrollingfighter game based on the film was under development for the Chinese market. Two years later a preview of the game was featured atE3 where it received mixed reviews from critics with many comparing it to similar MMO games such asGuild Wars andPhantasy Star Online.[111]
A North American release forPC andPS3 was planned for late 2009,[111] but never came to fruition. The game was only available in Asia for the PC.[112]
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Although I can, on occasion, be prone to hyperbole, I say without it here: Kung Fu Hustle is the greatest film ever made
