A fan-favorite sports comedy starring Dan Fogler is heading to Netflix next month. Fans will soon get another chance to revisit its over-the-top action and laughs. While it divided critics when it first arrived, many fans have continued to enjoy its goofy humor and memorable performances over the years.
Balls of Fury to stream on Netflix next month
Netflix will add Balls of Fury on August 1 (via What’s on Netflix). Released in 2007, the film follows former table tennis prodigy Randy Daytona, played by Dan Fogler, after his career falls apart. His life takes a wild turn when the FBI recruits him to enter a secret ping-pong tournament run by ruthless crime boss Feng, the man responsible for his father’s death. The unlikely mission fuses martial arts, slapstick comedy, and sports action into one fast-paced adventure.
The movie didn’t win over many critics when it first arrived, but that’s a different story with fans. Over the years, it’s earned a cult following thanks to its goofy humor, ridiculous sight gags, and refusal to take itself seriously. Walken’s wildly entertaining performance is still a fan favorite, and many fans also credit Fogler’s high-energy comedy for giving the film its unique charm.
Balls of Fury was directed by Robert Ben Garant, who also co-wrote the screenplay with Thomas Lennon. Alongside Fogler, the cast features Christopher Walken as the eccentric villain Feng, George Lopez as FBI agent Ernie Rodriguez, Maggie Q as Maggie Wong, and James Hong as the wise mentor Wong. The film was produced by Spyglass Entertainment and released in theaters by Rogue Pictures.
At the box office, Balls of Fury brought in around $41.7 million worldwide. Reviewers weren’t especially kind to it, giving the film a 22% critics score on Rotten Tomatoes. Fans have been a bit more forgiving, with a 33% Popcornmeter, while IMDb users rate it 5.4 out of 10.
Even though the scores aren’t particularly high, the comedy has found a second life over the years. Plenty of fans enjoy its over-the-top jokes and silly style, making it one of those movies that has aged better with fans than with critics.
