Stephen Chow's 'Kung Fu Soccer' shatters Chinese box‑office records

Stephen Chow returned to directing after a seven‑year hiatus with the comedy‑sport film "Kung Fu Soccer" (功夫女足), released in mainland China on 11 July 2026. The movie opened to a massive response, earning more than 455 million yuan (≈ US$73 million) in its first two days and setting a new summer‑season record for the number of screenings (over 22,600 shows). By the third day, cumulative box‑office revenue had topped 3.45 billion yuan (≈ US$560 million), making it the highest‑grossing Chinese release of the summer.

Critical reception was split: ticketing platforms Maoyan and Taopiaopiao gave the film scores above 9 / 10, while the Douban user rating settled at 6.6 / 10, with some reviewers calling the film “old‑hat” and criticizing its visual effects. Nevertheless, several Asian pop stars, including Jay Chou and Stefanie Sun, publicly endorsed the movie on social media.

The plot follows an underdog women’s football team that incorporates Shaolin‑style kung fu into their play as they compete for the "Supreme Invincible Cup," echoing Chow’s 2001 hit "Shaolin Soccer." The film’s box‑office success highlights Chow’s enduring draw in the Chinese market and underscores the commercial clout of high‑budget comedy‑action co‑productions between Hong Kong and mainland studios.