Synopsis

Ignacio, a monastery cook devoted to the orphans in his care, secretly dreams of becoming a lucha libre wrestler. When the orphanage faces financial hardship, he adopts the masked identity of Nacho Libre and begins wrestling at night with an unlikely partner. His double life brings bruises, comic misadventures, and a chance to prove that an overlooked friar can become a hero.

Factoids & Trivia

• The film was loosely inspired by Fray Tormenta, the ring name of Mexican priest Sergio Gutierrez Benitez, who wrestled to raise money for the orphanage he directed. The movie uses that premise as inspiration rather than presenting a direct account of his life.

• Much of the production was filmed in Oaxaca, Mexico. The closing excursion to the ancient ruins was shot at Monte Alban.

• Jack Black trained with a professional luchador before filming and performed most of his own wrestling work. The production also used a body double who matched his unusually large frame.

• Black injured himself during a wrestling scene after diving out of the ring and striking his head on a chair. The accident caused a black eye and a cut that required stitches.

• The song Nacho sings at the party was improvised. Jared Hess had not prepared a song for the scene, so Black created one during production.

• Beck was initially involved with the film's music, but Danny Elfman was brought in to write replacement material. The finished movie retains music associated with both composers.

• Made for a reported $35 million, the film earned approximately $99 million worldwide after its June 16, 2006, theatrical release.