Directed by
Destin Cretton
Around a thousand years ago, Xu Wenwu (Tony Leung) unearths the mystical ten rings, which bestow upon their bearer immortality and extraordinary powers. The tale recounts that Wenwu might have stumbled upon these rings in either a crater or an ancient tomb. He goes on to establish the Ten Rings organization, wielding his power to conquer kingdoms and overthrow governments throughout history.
Fast forward to 1996, Wenwu embarks on a quest for Ta Lo, a legendary village rumored to host mythical creatures and practitioners of divine martial arts. His journey leads him through a magical, shape-shifting forest, where he encounters the village guardian, Ying Li (Fala Chen). Despite his ring-fueled might, Wenwu cannot defeat Ying Li. Instead, the two men fall deeply in love. When the villagers of Ta Lo reject him, Li chooses to leave with Wenwu. The couple marries and has two children, Shang-Chi (Simu Liu) and Xialing (Meng’er Zhang). During this time, Wenwu decides to abandon his organization and locks away the ten rings, which leads to his loss of immortality and the onset of aging.
Before tragedy strikes, Li gifts Shang-Chi a pendant, a token meant to guide him home if he ever feels lost. Unfortunately, when Shang-Chi is just seven years old, Li is brutally murdered by Wenwu’s enemies, the Iron Gang. Enraged, Wenwu reclaims the ten rings and retaliates by decimating the Iron Gang. He subjects Shang-Chi to harsh martial arts training but allows Xialing to train in secrecy. At the age of 14, Wenwu sends Shang-Chi on an assassination mission against the Iron Gang’s leader—Li’s murderer. Traumatized and guilt-ridden, Shang-Chi flees to San Francisco, adopting the name “Shaun.”
In the present day, Shang-Chi leads a seemingly normal life as a parking valet alongside his close friend Katy (Awkwafina), who remains unaware of his tumultuous past. Their days are filled with mundane activities until their lives take a dangerous turn. While on a bus, they are ambushed by the Ten Rings—led by the formidable Razor Fist (Florian Munteanu), who wields a machete for a hand. During the chaos, Razor Fist learns about Shang-Chi’s sister, prompting him to pursue her next.
Determined to protect his sister, Shang-Chi reveals his dark past to Katy, who insists on joining him as he travels to find Xialing. They eventually locate her at an underground fight club in Macau, a place she built after escaping their father at the age of sixteen. Here, they also meet Jon Jon (Ronny Chieng), Xialing’s right-hand man. Tensions arise as Xialing expresses her anger towards Shang-Chi for abandoning her with their father. Soon after, the Ten Rings invade the fight club, and Wenwu captures them along with Xialing and her pendant.
They are taken to the Ten Rings’ compound, where Wenwu seeks to unveil a mystical map to Ta Lo using the pendants. He reveals his belief that Li is still alive and being held captive behind a sealed gate in Ta Lo. Wenwu insists that the elders are punishing Li for defying their orders when she chose to be with him. When his children and Katy refuse to support his misguided mission, he locks them away.
However, the trio meets former actor Trevor Slattery (Ben Kingsley), imprisoned for pretending to be Wenwu, and his magical companion, Morris—a creature captured by Li. With Morris as their guide, they manage to escape and arrive at the mystical Ta Lo, a dimension filled with various Chinese mythological creatures. There, they are welcomed by Guang Bo (Wah Yuen), one of Ta Lo’s leaders, and Ying Nan (Michelle Yeoh), Li’s sister. Ying Nan shares a chilling history: Four millennia prior, a dark force known as the Dweller-in-Darkness sought to consume their universe but was thwarted by the Great Protector, a dragon that sealed the dark portal.
Ying Nan reveals that the Dweller-in-Darkness has been impersonating Li, manipulating Wenwu into using the ten rings to open the gate to unleash chaos. To prepare for Wenwu’s assault, Shang-Chi, Xialing, and Katy join the villagers in honing their martial skills and crafting weapons from dragon scales. Katy receives archery training while Xialing brandishes a dragon-scale knife. As the battle draws near, Shang-Chi trains with Nan, honing his combat prowess.
The climactic battle ensues when Wenwu and the Ten Rings attack Ta Lo. Despite his initial dominance, Wenwu finds himself overpowered by Shang-Chi and, in a moment of desperation, attempts to breach the gate, unleashing the Dweller’s minions. In a turning of fate, the villagers and Ten Rings unite against this newly awakened threat. The Great Protector revives Shang-Chi, empowering him to combat the sinister forces. After a fierce clash, Wenwu sacrifices himself, passing the ten rings to Shang-Chi before succumbing to the Dweller-in-Darkness.
In the aftermath, Shang-Chi, Xialing, Katy, and the Great Protector team up against the Dweller-in-Darkness, finally defeating it together. With peace restored, Shang-Chi and Katy return to San Francisco, where they are soon summoned by sorcerer Wong (Benedict Wong) to Kamar-Taj.
In a mid-credits scene, Wong introduces them to Bruce Banner and Carol Danvers, as they delve into the origins of the rings, noting they act as a beacon. The post-credits scene unveils Xialing stepping up as the new leader of the Ten Rings, charting a new course by training both women and men, despite having told Shang-Chi she would dissolve the organization.
Xu Wenwu Unveils the Ten Rings
Around a thousand years ago, Xu Wenwu discovers the mystical ten rings that grant him immortality and immense power. This event marks the beginning of his rise to power as he establishes the Ten Rings organization and uses his newfound abilities to conquer kingdoms and overthrow governments throughout history.
Quest for Ta Lo
In 1996, Wenwu sets out on a quest for Ta Lo, a legendary village rumored to be home to mythical creatures and divine martial arts practitioners. His journey takes him through a magical forest where he encounters the village guardian, Ying Li, and is unable to defeat her despite his powers.
Love Blossoms
Wenwu and Ying Li fall deeply in love during their encounters, leading Li to choose to leave with him despite the villagers' rejection. They marry and eventually have two children, Shang-Chi and Xialing, after Wenwu decides to abandon his organization and locks away the ten rings.
Tragedy Strikes
When Shang-Chi is just seven years old, his mother Li is brutally murdered by Wenwu's enemies, the Iron Gang. This loss drives Wenwu to reclaim the ten rings and decimate the Iron Gang in retaliation, resulting in a harsh training regimen for Shang-Chi.
Assassination Mission
At the age of 14, Wenwu sends Shang-Chi on an assassination mission to kill the leader of the Iron Gang—the man responsible for his mother's death. Traumatized by the experience and the guilt that follows, Shang-Chi flees to San Francisco, adopting the name 'Shaun.'
Life as Shaun
In the present day, Shang-Chi lives a seemingly normal life as a parking valet alongside his friend Katy, unaware of his dark past. Their mundane existence abruptly changes when they are attacked by the Ten Rings, led by the deadly Razor Fist, who seeks Shang-Chi's sister.
Reconnecting with Xialing
Determined to protect his sister, Shang-Chi reveals his past to Katy. Together, they travel to Macau to find Xialing, who has been running a fight club to distance herself from their father's influence. Tensions rise as they confront their shared history.
Capture by Wenwu
During a confrontation at the underground fight club, the Ten Rings invade and capture Shang-Chi, Xialing, and Katy. Wenwu believes that their pendants will help him find Li, whom he thinks is still alive, leading to his misguided quest to open a mystical gate.
Escape to Ta Lo
Imprisoned, the trio meets Trevor Slattery and his magical companion, Morris, who become their guides. They manage to escape and travel to Ta Lo, where they are greeted by the village leaders and learn about the dark forces threatening their world.
Preparing for Battle
In Ta Lo, Shang-Chi, Xialing, and Katy train with the villagers to prepare for Wenwu's impending assault. They craft weapons from dragon scales, while Shang-Chi hones his skills under the guidance of Ying Nan, who reveals the history of their struggle against the Dweller-in-Darkness.
Climactic Battle
The anticipated battle occurs when Wenwu and the Ten Rings attack Ta Lo. Despite his power, Wenwu is ultimately overpowered by Shang-Chi, leading to a desperate attempt to breach the gate to unleash the Dweller's minions.
Wenwu's Sacrifice
In a crucial moment during the battle, Wenwu sacrifices himself, passing the ten rings to Shang-Chi before succumbing to the Dweller-in-Darkness. This act signifies a pivotal shift in Shang-Chi's journey as he takes on his father's legacy.
Defeating the Dweller-in-Darkness
Following Wenwu's death, Shang-Chi, Xialing, Katy, and the villagers unite to defeat the Dweller-in-Darkness in a climactic showdown. They harness their combined strength and skills to restore peace to their world.
Return to San Francisco
With peace restored, Shang-Chi and Katy return to San Francisco, ready to live their lives anew. Shortly after, they are summoned by Wong, who introduces them to Bruce Banner and Carol Danvers to discuss the mysteries surrounding the ten rings.
Xialing's New Leadership
In a post-credits scene, Xialing takes up the mantle as the new leader of the Ten Rings, determined to reshape the organization. Despite telling Shang-Chi she would dissolve it, she begins training both women and men, signaling a new era for the Ten Rings.
Shang-Chi, Shaun
Shang-Chi is a skilled martial artist burdened by the weight of his family's legacy. After running away from a past filled with trauma and guilt, he seeks to forge his own identity. Throughout the film, he transforms from a confused young man into a powerful hero, driven to protect his loved ones and confront his father's misguided ambitions.
Wenwu
Wenwu, also known as Xu Wenwu, is a formidable and complex character who oscillates between a power-hungry conqueror and a loving father. His deep love for Ying Li leads to significant changes in his life, yet the pain of loss drives him to obsessive behaviors. His struggles with power, loss, and familial duty ultimately shape his tragic arc.
Katy
Katy is Shang-Chi's best friend, who remains blissfully unaware of his complex past but is fiercely loyal. Her humorous nature and strong presence provide comic relief while also showcasing her growth as she becomes involved in the unfolding events. As the story progresses, she steps up, proving to be an essential ally in the fight against evil.
Xialing
Xialing is Shang-Chi's sister, who represents resilience and independence. After a tumultuous upbringing and being left behind by her father, she builds her own empire in Macau. Her fierce demeanor hides her deeper feelings of abandonment and anger, and throughout the film, she reveals her strength both in martial arts and as a leader of the Ten Rings.
Time period
Ancient times, 1996, present day
The story spans multiple time periods, beginning around a thousand years ago when Xu Wenwu discovers the ten rings. The film also showcases events from 1996, marking the love story between Wenwu and Ying Li, and transitions to the present day, where Shang-Chi confronts the legacy of his past and the family he left behind.
Location
Ta Lo, San Francisco, Macau, mystical forest
Ta Lo is a legendary village known for its mystical creatures and divine martial arts practices. It is shrouded in magic and is characterized by its unique geography, including a magical, shape-shifting forest that protects it from the outside world. San Francisco serves as Shang-Chi's modern-day home, where he leads a seemingly ordinary life, before being drawn back into his tumultuous past. Macau, known for its vibrant nightlife and underground fight clubs, becomes a pivotal location in the search for Shang-Chi's sister Xialing.
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Family
Family plays a crucial role in the movie, depicting complex relationships and the struggles of reconciling with the past. Shang-Chi's relationship with his father, Wenwu, and his sister, Xialing, highlights themes of love, loss, and betrayal. The quest for identity and belonging is also underscored as Shang-Chi navigates the legacy of his family while forging his own path.
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Redemption
Redemption is a key theme as characters seek to overcome their dark pasts and make amends. Wenwu’s journey from a power-hungry leader to a father searching for his lost love creates a narrative of redemption that culminates in his ultimate sacrifice. Likewise, Shang-Chi confronts his own past and seeks to redefine his identity away from his father's shadow.
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Mythology
The film is rich in mythology, tapping into Chinese folklore and mythical creatures. The existence of the ten rings and the Great Protector emphasizes connections to ancient legends, while the struggle against the Dweller-in-Darkness reveals the ongoing battle between good and evil that echoes through history.
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