Stephen Chow's 'Kung Fu Women's Soccer' tops 1.9 bn RMB box office, reshapes summer film slate

Stephen Chow’s self‑written comedy "Kung Fu Women's Soccer" has earned over 1.9 billion RMB in its first 16 days, making it the top‑grossing summer release in mainland China for 2026 and placing it among the year’s three highest‑earning films. The movie stars Zhang Xiaofei, who became the first post‑1985 actress to headline a film that broke the 100‑billion‑RMB mark. During a road‑show in Shenzhen, Chow announced a sequel and addressed Xiaofei as “Sister Xiaofei,” prompting widespread online discussion.

The film’s dominant performance has squeezed other domestic titles from prime screens. Six mainland releases, including the sci‑fi blockbuster "Star Shining Time" and several animated features, were withdrawn after just a day or weeks of run‑time because "Kung Fu Women's Soccer" and the animated hit "The Eight Immortals" occupied roughly 80% of golden‑hour and IMAX slots. Industry observers warn the concentration of screen time threatens the confidence of smaller producers and fragments the market.