Few films capture the spirit of early 2000s British cinema quite like one flick in particular: Bend It Like Beckham. Released in 2002, the feel-good sports comedy not only became a global hit but also launched the career of one of the UK’s most recognisable film stars, Keira Knightley.
From the soundtrack packed with Spice Girls and early 00s Britpop, to the Y2K fashion of low-rise jeans and sporty crop tops, Bend It Like Beckham is a time capsule of noughties culture. Mobile phones were still a novelty, David Beckham was at the peak of his fame, and women’s football was only just starting to break into the mainstream. Now, more than two decades later, the film is finding a new audience as it begins streaming on Netflix.
Set in West London, the film follows Jesminder “Jess” Bhamra (Parminder Nagra), a young British-Indian woman whose parents expect her to follow tradition, focus on her studies, and prepare for marriage.
But Jess has a passion for football. When she meets Jules Paxton (a teenage Keira Knightley), she’s invited to join a local women’s football team.
Jess uses elaborate excuses to hide her football games from her family while also dealing with her romantic feelings for her coach, Joe.
Upon its release in the UK, the film was a surprise box office smash. Made on a modest budget, it went on to gross over $76million (£56million) worldwide, making it one of the most successful British films of the decade.
It earned a Golden Globe nomination for Best Motion Picture (Musical or Comedy), while director Gurinder Chadha was celebrated for crafting a film that managed to be both universally relatable and distinctly British-Asian.
“Inspiring, compassionate, and with a sly undercurrent of social commentary, Bend It Like Beckham is a lively feel-good movie that genuinely charms,” states the Critic Consensus on Rotten Tomatoes, where the film recieves an 85% score from the critics, and 73% from the audience.
Over the years, Bend It Like Beckham has been recognised as a cult classic, often cited in discussions of multicultural British cinema and the representation of women in sports. In 2015, it was even adapted into a West End stage musical.
While Parminder Nagra delivered a standout performance as Jess, it was Keira Knightley’s role as Jules that catapulted her into stardom. Just 16 during filming, Knightley brought charisma and confidence to her role as the tomboyish best friend navigating her own tensions with her mother and the pressures of teenage life.
The film’s international success put her firmly on Hollywood’s radar, paving the way for her casting in Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003).
“Really well made film, considering the small budget. Can see why it made nearly 15x that at the box office,” one review reads on Rotten Tomatoes.
Another wrote: “This is a generational classic that hits home on so many levels. The re-watch value in this film is ever present.”
“A wonderful feel good movie that celebrates the human spirit! The acting is superb and the pacing is perfect. One of my all time favourites,” wrote a third.
Now streaming on Netflix, the film offers both a nostalgic trip for those who remember its original release and a chance for a new generation to discover the story.