Watch Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings for ‘free’ Friday — and what happens after
by in Uncategorized on December 17, 2021id=”article-body” class=”row” section=”article-body” data-component=”trackCWV”>
Shang-Chi will be on Disney Plus this week.
Marvel
Haven’t watched Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings yet, or loved it and want to see it again? Starting later this week, the popular and highly anticipated movie will be free to watch on Disney Plus, instead of the typical $30. On Disney Plus Day, the streaming service is removing its Premier Access price tag from several movies so Disney Plus subscribers can watch for free.
We’ll tell you when you can start streaming Shang-Chi without paying extra, as well as what you can expect from the film. Don’t worry, no spoilers here. And if you’re not a Disney Plus subscriber, you can get your first month for $2 right now.
Disney Plus doesn’t list the exact time the movie will be released, though in the past, new episodes and movies have been released at 12 a.m. PT (3 a.m. ET). We’ll update as soon as we have more information.
How to watch Shang-Chi for free on Disney Plus Day and beyond
If you’re already subscribed to Disney Plus, just search for Shang-Chi like you would any other movie and tap Play. You’ll also likely see it on the Home page. If you don’t have a subscription, you’ll need to get one — you can cancel any time.
There are three basic ways to subscribe:
- Month-to-month Disney Plus subscription ($2 for first month, then $8 per month)
- Annual Disney Plus subscription ($80 per year): If you want to prepay for a year of Disney Plus, this option gets your monthly fee down to $6.67.
- Disney Plus/Hulu/ESPN Plus bundle ($14 per month): Separately, it would cost about $21 to get this triple-shot of Disney-owned online services. But ordering them as a bundle saves you $7 a month.
Shang-Chi will be free to watch for Disney Plus subscribers.
Marvel Studios
Are there any Shang-Chi post-credits scenes?
Yes. In fact, there are two. Find out more about the Marvel cameos and sequel hints in Shang-Chi’s mid-credits and post-credits scenes.
Who is Shang-Chi anyway?
The character, a master of unarmed combat, first appeared in Marvel comics in 1973, when the ABC TV drama Kung Fu, starring David Carradine, was popular. Shang-Chi was born the son of supervillain Fu Manchu but later opposed his father’s ways. In 2013, he joined The Avengers. He’s also been affiliated with the Heroes for Hire but is often simply a lone-wolf character.
His main power wasn’t really a traditional superpower. Instead, he had the ability to master forms of combat, earning the nickname the Master of Kung Fu. In later years, though, he did gain the power to replicate himself, which could come in handy.
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The cast of Shang-Chi
- Simu Liu plays the main character, Shang-Chi.
- Tony Leung Chiu-wai plays Wenwu/The Mandarin, Shang-Chi’s father.
- Awkwafina, the rapper and actress, plays Katy, a hotel valet and Shang-Chi’s close friend, who’s unaware of his past.
- Florian Munteanu plays Razor Fist, who has steel blades for hands.
- Meng’er Zhang plays Xialing: Shang-Chi’s estranged sister.
- Fala Chen plays Jiang Li.
- Benedict Wong plays Wong, a Master of the Mystic Arts, as previously seen in other Marvel films.
- Michelle Yeoh plays Jiang Nan, a guardian of a mythical city.
- Destin Daniel Cretton is the director.
- David Callaham is the screenwriter.
Reviews and reactions
CNET film critic Richard Trenholm writes, “Shang-Chi comes with Marvel strengths and weaknesses while also feeling like something winningly new.”
He goes on to say that the film is “visually and narratively distinct from the rest of the franchise. Shang-Chi is Marvel’s first Asian lead, and the style of the film draws on the rich history of Asian cinema, from martial arts movies to gangster films to romance, and in particular the lush visual and emotional style of wuxia epics.”
It’s full of action, engaging characters and Marvel’s trademark humor, male libido Trenholm says.
CNET’s Joan E. Solsman also loved the film: “Built on a framework telling the story of one family’s reckoning with grief, it layers on action and humor while playfully blending genres, for the best kind of summer popcorn flick.”
What movies are in the Shang-Chi trailers?
Daddy dearest
The first official trailer came out in June, and focuses heavily on the relationship between Shang-Chi and his father. Wenwu is seen telling a young Shang-Chi about the family’s relationship with the Ten Rings, and that he must prove himself worthy. Later, he says that he told his men they couldn’t kill Shang-Chi even if they tried, and he’s glad he was right, while Shang-Chi dismisses his dad as “just a criminal who murders people.” Just as with Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader, things lead up to a big father-son battle.