Iron Monkey (2001)
90%RT Audience Score: 86%
Awards & Nominations: 2 nominations
Iron Monkey may not have the poetic lyricism of Crouching Tiger, it makes up for it in fun and energy.
Iron Monkey is the perfect movie for anyone who loves action, comedy, and a good old-fashioned hero story. The fight scenes are so intense and creative that you’ll be on the edge of your seat the whole time. And the humor is just the cherry on top – it’s not often you get to see a martial arts movie that doesn’t take itself too seriously. Plus, who doesn’t love a good Robin Hood-esque plot? Iron Monkey is a must-watch for any fan of the genre.
Production Company(ies)
Dino de Laurentiis Cinematografica, Les Films, Marceau
Distributor
Miramax Films
Release Type
Theatrical
Filming Location(s)
MPAA / Certificate
Rated PG-13 for martial arts action/violence and brief sexuality
Year of Release
2001
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Color:Color
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Sound mix:Mono (original release)
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Aspect ratio:1.85 : 1
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Runtime:1h 25m
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Language(s):Cantonese
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Country of origin:United States
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Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Oct 12, 2001 Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Mar 26, 2002
Genre(s)
Action
Keyword(s)
starring Yu Rong-Guang, Donnie Yen, Sze-Man Tsang, Jean Wang, Fai Lee, James Wong, directed by Woo-Ping Yuen, written by Hark Tsui, Elsa Tang, Lau Tai Mok, action, PG-13, Miramax Films, box office, budget, reviewed by Steven D Greydanus, Rita Kempley, Lisa Schwarzbaum, James Berardinelli, Peter Howell, David Edelstein, Mike Massie, Panos Kotzathanasis, Rob Aldam, J.R Southall, Ryan Cracknell, Yu Rong-Guang as Iron Monkey, Donnie Yen as Wong Kei-Ying, Sze-Man Tsang as Young Wong Fei-Hung, Jean Wang as Miss Orchid, Fai Lee as Witch, James Wong as Governor, produced by Hark Tsui
Worldwide gross: $14,694,904
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $24,765,152
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,627
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 2,700,671
US/Canada gross: $14,694,904
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $24,765,152
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,339
US/Canada opening weekend: $6,014,653
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $10,136,425
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 954
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $11,000,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $18,538,173
Production budget ranking: 1,404
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $9,982,806
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): -$3,755,827
ROI to date (est.): -13%
ROI ranking: 1,465
Donnie Yen – Wong Kei-Ying
Sze-Man Tsang – Young Wong Fei-Hung
Jean Wang – Miss Orchid
Fai Lee – Witch
James Wong – Governor
Director(s)
Woo-Ping Yuen
Writer(s)
Hark Tsui, Elsa Tang, Lau Tai Mok
Producer(s)
Hark Tsui
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
2 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (96) | Top Critics (30) | Fresh (87) | Rotten (9)
The joy of watching this kind of stuff lies in the choreographical invention and creativity [and] the speed and dexterity of the combatants.
May 8, 2002 | Rating: B+
Steven D. Greydanus
Decent Films
TOP CRITIC
A crackling Cantonese action caper in the tradition of Robin Hood, Zorro, Batman et al.
January 6, 2002 | Rating: 3.5/5
Rita Kempley
Washington Post
TOP CRITIC
Yuen tosses off nimble, elegantly witty solutions to life’s most vexing problems regarding rooms full of bad guys who won’t take thwak for an answer.
October 18, 2001 | Rating: B+
Lisa Schwarzbaum
Entertainment Weekly
TOP CRITIC
[Yuen’s] fights are innovative and intense, whether they’re a whirlwind one-on-one duel or one of many struggles featuring multiple combatants.
October 16, 2001 | Rating: 3/4
James Berardinelli
ReelViews
TOP CRITIC
Think of Iron Monkey as the potboiling cousin of Crouching Tiger, rather than its most honoured forefather, and you’ll be on the right wavelength.
October 12, 2001
Peter Howell
Toronto Star
TOP CRITIC
A rollicking, comic-book Robin Hood plot and more furiously entertaining fight scenes than the ones in Ang Lee’s solemn martial-arts art movie.
October 12, 2001
David Edelstein
Slate
TOP CRITIC
As a perfect complement to the adventure, a generous portion of comedy is blended in – sometimes just with witty bits of dialogue and frequently with physical slapstick.
September 30, 2020 | Rating: 7/10
Mike Massie
Gone With The Twins
“Iron Monkey” is a masterpiece of the genre (to say the least) and a film all fans of wuxia and martial arts in general should have in their collection.
October 27, 2019
Panos Kotzathanasis
Asian Movie Pulse
Some of the fighting is on par with, or better than, anything you’re likely to see in a Hong Kong action film.
October 31, 2018
Rob Aldam
Backseat Mafia
Where Iron Monkey really comes alive is with the action, and here’s where the audiences who enjoyed Crouching Tiger are repaid ten-fold.
June 20, 2018 | Rating: 9/10
J.R. Southall
Starburst
Despite its seemingly constant action, the focus was way too light for my liking, resulting in a film that’s often more corny than it is enthralling.
September 27, 2009
Ryan Cracknell
Movie Views
some of the finest martial arts displays imaginable, and it doesn’t take itself seriously
September 25, 2009 | Rating: B
John A. Nesbit
Old School Reviews…
Plot
A Hong Kong variation on Robin Hood. The corrupt officials of a Chinese village are continually robbed by a masked bandit know as “Iron Monkey” named after a benevolent deity. When all else fails, the Govenor forces a traveling physician (Donnie Yen) into finding the bandit. The arrival of an evil Shaolin monk, brings the Physician and Iron Monkey together to battle the corrupt government.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Iron Monkey stars Donnie Yen, a renowned martial artist and actor known for his roles in Ip Man and Rogue One: A Star Wars Story.
Woo-Ping-Yuen.jpg
