Kung Fu Soccer drives major box office success for Stephen Chow

Stephen Chow’s new action-comedy film, ‘Kung Fu Soccer’, has seen significant commercial success, contributing to a massive year for Chinese cinema. In mainland China, the film has been a major driver for the 2026 box office, which has surpassed 25 billion yuan. The film is currently ranked among the top five highest-grossing movies of the year.

Following its success in mainland China, the film officially premiered in Hong Kong on August 13, 2026. Despite the absence of a Cantonese dubbed version due to tight production schedules, the film saw high demand, with many screenings in core districts selling out quickly. The production features a cast including Dilraba Dilmurat, Zhang Xiaofei, Carina Lau, and Lay Zhang.

Unlike Chow’s previous work ‘Shaolin Soccer’, this film focuses on the Emei women’s football team. It follows the team’s journey through the Women’s Champions League as they integrate traditional martial arts techniques into their gameplay. The film has been described by director Wong Jing as Chow’s best work in a decade.