The Paper Tigers (2021)
96%RT Audience Score: 93%
Awards & Nominations: 3 wins & 3 nominations
The Paper Tigers blends action, comedy, and heart to produce a fresh martial arts movie with plenty of throwback charm.
If you’re looking for a flick that’ll make you laugh, cry, and want to roundhouse kick someone all at the same time, then The Paper Tigers is your jam. This movie’s got it all – action, comedy, and heart – and it’s all wrapped up in a package that feels like a throwback to the good ol’ days of martial arts movies.
The story follows three washed-up kung fu masters who reunite after their old master dies. They’re out of shape, out of practice, and out of touch with each other, but they’re determined to honor their master’s memory by taking on his final challenge – to find and defeat their old rival.
What follows is a hilarious and heartwarming journey that’s equal parts action-packed and emotionally resonant. The fight scenes are top-notch, the humor is on point, and the characters are so lovable you’ll want to give them all a big ol’ hug.
So if you’re in the mood for a movie that’ll make you feel all the feels and leave you with a big ol’ smile on your face, then grab some popcorn and settle in for The Paper Tigers. You won’t regret it, my friend.
Production Company(ies)
Beimo Films, Persistence of Vision Films,
Distributor
Well Go USA Entertainment
Release Type
Theatrical, Theatrical (Limited)
Filming Location(s)
Canton Alley S, Seattle, Washington, USA
MPAA / Certificate
Rated PG-13 for some strong language, offensive slurs, and violence
Year of Release
2021
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Color:Color
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Sound mix:Dolby Digital
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Aspect ratio:1.85 : 1
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Runtime:1h 48m
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Language(s):English
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Country of origin:United States
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Release date:Release Date (Theaters): May 7, 2021 Limited
Release Date (Streaming): May 7, 2021
Genre(s)
Action/Comedy
Keyword(s)
starring Alain Uy, Ron Yuan, Mykel Shannon Jenkins, Jae Suh Park, Raymond Ma, Matthew Page, directed by Quoc Bao Tran, written by Quoc Bao Tran, action, comedy, box office performance, budget, reviewed by Phuong Le, Tim Cogshell, David Ehrlich, Simon Abrams, Michael Ordoña, Beatrice Loayza, Grace Han, Robert Roten, Katie Smith-Wong, Aaron Neuwirth, Omar Holmon, PG-13, Michael Velasquez, Yuji Okumoto, Al’n Duong, Dan Gildark, produced by Quoc Bao Tran, Dolby Digital, offensive slurs, violence, some strong language, middle-aged men, martial artists, teacher’s murder, dead-end jobs, dad duties, old grudges, avenging, throwback charm, English, May 7, 2021 Limited, Well Go USA Entertainment, 1h 48m
Worldwide gross: $118,351
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $128,719
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,995
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 14,037
US/Canada gross: $112,691
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $122,563
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,637
US/Canada opening weekend: $46,615
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $50,699
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,205
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): NA
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): NA
Production budget ranking: NA
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
ROI to date (est.): NA
ROI ranking: NA
Ron Yuan – Hing
Mykel Shannon Jenkins – Jim
Jae Suh Park – Caryn
Raymond Ma – Sifu Wong
Matthew Page – Carter
Director(s)
Quoc Bao Tran
Writer(s)
Quoc Bao Tran
Producer(s)
Michael Velasquez, Yuji Okumoto, Al’n Duong, Dan Gildark, Quoc Bao Tran
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
3 wins & 3 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (63) | Top Critics (11) | Fresh (62) | Rotten (1)
Tran adroitly layers the fight sequences, filmed with fluidity and at least substantially performed by the main actors themselves, between frothy layers of blokey banter.
September 13, 2021 | Rating: 3/5
Phuong Le
Guardian
TOP CRITIC
This is a real solid Kung Fu butt-kicker, except that it’s funny in that Karate Kid and Rumble in the Bronx kind of way.
May 13, 2021
Tim Cogshell
FilmWeek (KPCC – NPR Los Angeles)
TOP CRITIC
Funniest of all is “Enter the Dojo” star Matthew Page, who seems to have made a whole career out of caricaturing the recognizable phenomenon of the white guy who turns Asian cultural appropriation into a lifestyle.
May 12, 2021 | Rating: B
David Ehrlich
indieWire
TOP CRITIC
The Paper Tigers isn’t exactly the most challenging action movie, but it is comforting whenever it most needs to be.
May 7, 2021 | Rating: 2.5/4
Simon Abrams
RogerEbert.com
TOP CRITIC
“Paper Tigers” may not be a deep comment on aging or friendship, but it has enough humor and action to make it worth a few rounds.
May 6, 2021
Michael Ordoña
Los Angeles Times
TOP CRITIC
Bao’s lighthearted, refreshing approach neither succumbs to whitewashing nor the model-minority myth. The film sticks to the action-comedy basics, which is just fine.
May 6, 2021
Beatrice Loayza
New York Times
TOP CRITIC
“The Paper Tigers” is an entertaining watch — one that is uniquely pan-Asian, but sharply American in character. Though this feature may not keep you on the edge of your seat, it at least will make you laugh — and maybe even cry.
May 25, 2022 | Rating: 4.5/5
Grace Han
Asian Movie Pulse
The actors bring The Three Tigers alive in a very convincing way. Their emotional journeys are at the very heart of this film, along with the code of conduct they have sworn to follow.
May 20, 2022 | Rating: B
Robert Roten
Laramie Movie Scope
The Paper Tigers doesn’t stray too far from the conventional, but it delivers the right amount of humour and thrills to entertain even the most sceptical of audiences.
September 8, 2021 | Rating: 2/5
Katie Smith-Wong
Flick Feast
The Paper Tigers is a wonderful little kung-fu flick, with personal stakes, a fine cast, and a good amount of heart.
August 27, 2021 | Rating: 7/10
Aaron Neuwirth
We Live Entertainment
I think this is a movie you’ll be happy you gave a chance.
August 6, 2021
Omar Holmon
Black Nerd Problems
It gets over because its fight scenes are surprisingly very entertaining and unpredictable.
June 27, 2021 | Rating: B-
Dennis Schwartz
Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews…
Plot
After their martial arts teacher is murdered, three middle-aged men must put aside their dead-end jobs and old grudges to avenge him in The Paper Tigers.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Funniest of all is ‘Enter the Dojo’ star Matthew Page, who seems to have made a whole career out of caricaturing the recognizable phenomenon of the white guy who turns Asian cultural appropriation into a lifestyle.
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