Story perspectives

Women-Led Kung Fu Soccer Sequel Rakes $75 M Opening

7/14/2026

Summary

Kung Fu Soccer Opens

Kung Fu Soccer opened this weekend in China, earning almost $75 million in two days.
The sequel features a women’s kung fu team, uses a new title after Shaolin name restrictions, and does not include Stephen Chow, who quit acting almost 20 years ago.
Shaolin Soccer broke Hong Kong box-office records in 2001 and was screened at the New York Asian Film Festival for its 25th anniversary before the FIFA World Cup final.

Summary

Encore Films Negotiates

Encore Films holds international distribution rights and is negotiating territory-by-territory releases, with no U.S. theatrical date set.
Maoyan Entertainment distributes the film domestically, launching it on IMAX screens across mainland China.
Former Chinese women’s national team goalkeeper Zhao Lina appears in the cast, providing authentic football expertise.
The release timed to the 2026 FIFA World Cup hype earned a 9.4-out-of-10 audience score on Maoyan during opening weekend.

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Kung Fu Soccer Opens

Kung Fu Soccer opened this weekend in China, earning almost $75 million in two days.
The sequel features a women’s kung fu team, uses a new title after Shaolin name restrictions, and does not include Stephen Chow, who quit acting almost 20 years ago.
Shaolin Soccer broke Hong Kong box-office records in 2001 and was screened at the New York Asian Film Festival for its 25th anniversary before the FIFA World Cup final.

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