Synopsis

In Sheffield, former steelworker Gaz is unemployed, behind on child-support payments, and desperate to reconnect with his son. After seeing the success of a male strip show, he persuades several friends and fellow jobless men to form their own act. As rehearsals expose their fears, insecurities, and personal struggles, the unlikely performers discover renewed confidence and solidarity.

Factoids & Trivia

• Channel 4 Films funded the screenplay but declined to invest in the completed movie. Fox Searchlight ultimately financed the production for almost 3 million pounds.

• The first cut was reportedly considered so disappointing that a direct-to-video release was discussed. Producer Uberto Pasolini and editor Nick Moore helped reshape the film before its theatrical release.

• The famous dance sequence set in a Jobcentre queue was nearly removed because it was considered unrealistic.

• Additional footage was shot about three months after the main production ended. This included the football and exercise montage; Robert Carlyle was unavailable by then because he was working on another project.

• The film was made on an estimated budget of $3.5 million and became an international hit, earning approximately $257.9 million worldwide.

• It received four Academy Award nominations and won for Best Original Musical or Comedy Score. Composer Anne Dudley accepted the award for the film's distinctive score.

• The movie inspired a stage musical that premiered in 2000 and later became the basis for a dramatic television continuation.