critics consensus

The sports movie Iron Ladies is as predictable and sentimental as many of its American counterparts. Read critic reviews

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The Iron Ladies Photos

Team leader Mon (Sahaparp Virakamin, left) faces off with the straight but determined Chai (Jessdaporn Pholdee, right) in THE IRON LADIES.

Chaichan Nimpoonsawas stars as Jung, a drag queen/volleyball star in THE IRON LADIES.

Giorgio Maiocchi as Non, a gay army sergeant with a killer serve, in THE IRON LADIES.

The "triplets" --April, May and June--bring a blend of skill and optimism to THE IRON LADIES.

View All Photos (13)

Movie Info

Based on a true story, "The Iron Ladies" describes the inexorable march of a volleyball team composed mostly of transsexuals, transvestites, and some rather effeminate gay guys to the Thai male national championships in 1996. An entire team of gays, transvestites and transsexuals is a practically unheard of situation in Thailand.

Genre:

comedy, gay and lesbian
Original Language:

Thai
Director:

Youngyooth Thongkonthun
Producer:

Visute Poolvoralaks
Writer:

Youngyooth Thongkonthun, Visuthichai Boonyakarinjana, Jira Maligool
Release Date (Theaters):

Sep 7, 2001 wide
Release Date (Streaming):

Jul 25, 2018
Box Office (Gross USA):

$112.2K
Runtime:

1h 44m
Sound Mix:

Surround, Dolby SR, Dolby Digital, Dolby A, Dolby Stereo
Aspect Ratio:

Flat (1.85:1)

Cast & Crew

Jesdaporn Pholdee
Chai

Sahaphap Tor
Mon

Ekachai Buranapanit
Wit

Giorgio Maiocchi
Nong

Chaicharn Nimpulsawasdi
Jung

Kokkorn Benjathikoon
Pia

Show all Cast & Crew

Critic Reviews for The Iron Ladies

All Critics (34) | Top Critics (19) | Fresh (19) | Rotten (15)

Hilarious true story of Thailand's champion volleyball team that was composed of flaming drag queens

June 28, 2014 | Full Review…

Brandon Judell
indieWire
Broad, sentimental but ultimately irresistible.

January 17, 2002

Jane Sumner
Dallas Morning News
It isn't very coy, but it avoids individual stereotypes.

December 23, 2001 | Full Review…

Tim Cogshell
Boxoffice Magazine
If you can tolerate its predictability, you may fall for Iron Ladies' lighthearted spirit and affectionate humor.

December 7, 2001 | Full Review…

Bruce Westbrook
Houston Chronicle
Not since Cool Runnings, the film about the Olympic bobsled team from Jamaica, have we had a sports movie so offbeat and upbeat as The Iron Ladies.

December 7, 2001 | Rating: 3/4

Jay Carr
Boston Globe
Fun if formulaic.

November 29, 2001

Carrie Rickey
Philadelphia Inquirer
Quote not available.

August 21, 2005 | Rating: 3/5

Emanuel Levy
EmanuelLevy.Com
Leaves you longing for the full time whistle

May 22, 2003 | Rating: 2/5 | Full Review…

Harry Guerin
RTÉ (Ireland)
Fails to dig below the surface novelty of its subject.

January 20, 2003 | Full Review…

Chuck Wilson
L.A. Weekly
This is a terrific sports story. It is unfortunately something less than a terrific film.

October 21, 2002 | Full Review…

Jean Lowerison
San Diego Metropolitan
This is still just a basic 'underdog sports team' movie. It's a charming one, but it's nothing special.

March 1, 2002 | Rating: B- | Full Review…

Eric D. Snider
EricDSnider.com
[T]he film's rather narrow target audience may enjoy this bit of silly fluff. But many others outside that group will probably find it strained and even painful.

February 22, 2002 | Rating: 1.5/4 | Full Review…

Jeff Vice
Deseret News (Salt Lake City)

View All Critic Reviews (34)

Audience Reviews for The Iron Ladies

Jan 26, 2009

Amazing and outrageous funny true story of Thai volleyball team composed mostly of transsexuals, transvestites and some rather effeminate gay guys to the national championships in 1996. That also happened in an extraordinary true story of a Thai boxer - <I>Beautiful Boxer</i>.

Dean M Super Reviewer
Jul 02, 2008

Pretty funny, with some great quirky characters.

Anthony V Super Reviewer