Director Gurinder Chadha’s 2002 movie, Bend It Like Beckham, helped actress Keira Knightley gain worldwide recognition. Initially, everyone believed that the movie would be a failure, including Knightley herself, however, the movie was a commercial success, grossing roughly $76 million at the box office, making it the highest-grossing soccer sports film.
The actress explained in a past interview that everyone thought that the idea was ridiculous but the heartwarming coming-of-age sports comedy-drama proved to be one of the most crucial films that contributed to Knightley’s success. The movie narrates the story of a talented young British-Indian girl who aspires to play soccer professionally but she must face the challenges and stereotypes as she hails from a traditional Sikh family.
Keira Knightley thought her 2002 movie, Bend It Like Beckham, would be a flop
In March, actress Keira Knightley appeared on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon to promote her 2023 movie, Boston Strangler. During the interview, she recalled the time when her friends told her that her 2002 movie, Bend It Like Beckham, was a waste of her time as no one would watch it,
“I literally remember telling people I was doing it and it’s called Bend It Like Beckham, and them going, ‘Oh that’s really embarrassing,’ and they were all like, ‘Don’t worry. Nobody will see it. It’s fine.’ It was the idea of it because, you know, women’s soccer was not as big back then and so the idea of the whole thing was sort of ridiculous.”
Everyone predicted that Gurinder Chadha’s Bend It Like Beckham would perform terribly at the global box office, however, it proved everyone wrong.
Bend It Like Beckham was a massive hit
After the release of the film, the audience rushed to the theatre to watch the movie, ultimately proving all the predictions wrong. Knightley further said,
“It’s amazing because it’s still the film even today, you know, if someone comes up to talk to me about my work it’s that one. It’s so loved. It’s amazing.”
With a mix of humor, vibrant characters, and an empowering message, the movie still remains a beloved film that Keira Knightley will never forget.
Bend It Like Beckham earned $76 million
At the global box office, Bend It Like Beckham managed to gross over $76 million on a production budget of $5.6 million. The movie surprised critics and got a lot of positive reviews. The stars of the movie, Parminder Nagra and Keira Knightley, gained worldwide recognition for their work in the movie.
The film left a lasting impact on its audience by skillfully acknowledging the themes of cultural identity, gender expectations, and the pursuit of dreams. It still remains the third highest-grossing film in the soccer-themed genre.
Source: The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon
