Full Breakdown
Stephen Chow’s “Kung Fu Soccer” Dominates China’s Box Office Amid International Backlash
7/21/2026, 11:28:52 AM
Box-Office Surge
Stephen Chow’s sports comedy Kung Fu Soccer topped the mainland China box office for the July 17-19 weekend, pulling in RMB 501.1 million ($73.7 million) in its second weekend. The film’s cumulative gross reached $214.3 million (RMB 1.46 billion) in just nine days, making it the second-highest-grossing title worldwide that weekend. Ticketing platform Maoyan responded by lifting its lifetime forecast to RMB 3 billion ($441 million), up from the original RMB 2.5 billion estimate.
Background & Context
The movie marks Chow’s first directorial effort since 2019’s *The New King of Comedy* and celebrates the 25th anniversary of Shaolin Soccer. Released amid the 2026 FIFA World Cup fever, the story reimagines the original premise with an under-dog women’s football team that blends martial arts with soccer to chase the fictional Supreme Invincible Cup. The ensemble is led by Zhang Xiaofei (captain), Dilraba Dilmurat (star striker) and Lay Zhang (kung-fu coach), with guest turns by Carina Lau, Takeru Satoh and Jimmy O. Yang.
Data & Statistics
- Second-weekend gross: RMB 501.1 million ($73.7 million)
- Nine-day total: $214.3 million (RMB 1.46 billion)
- Maoyan forecast: RMB 3 billion ($441 million)
- Comparison: Approaches Chow’s record RMB 3.39 billion (*The Mermaid*, 2016)
- 2026 year-to-date Chinese box-office: $2.97 billion, down 35.3 % from the same period in 2025
- Competitors: Pearl Studio’s *All Wishes Come True!* ($30.6 million), Enlight Pictures’ *A Part of Me* ($13.6 million)
Official Statements & Responses
- Maoyan upgraded its lifetime projection after the film’s second-weekend performance, citing the “unusual upside” in a market where most releases lose half their opening revenue.
- Encore Films, the distributor that handled the record-setting animation *Ne Zha 2*, secured worldwide rights outside mainland China and is negotiating territory-by-territory deals.
- Artisan Gateway supplied the box-office figures cited across industry reports.
Criticism & Opposition
The film has ignited controversy in South Korea. Seo Kyoung-duk, professor at Sungshin Women’s University, posted on Facebook that the movie “appear to disparage the Korean women’s football team,” pointing to a fictional “Ewha Women’s Football Team” that mirrors Seoul’s Ewha Womans University. Chinese social-media users have amplified the criticism, with one commenting that the Ewha team “has no real strengths and relies solely on opportunism.” Chinese outlet Sohu News noted that the film’s reliance on Asian football rivalries and cultural stereotypes has become a “major shortcoming.”
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Box-office totals vary across sources: some reports cite RMB 1.3 billion (? $191 million) after nine days, others list RMB 1.2 billion, while Artisan Gateway records RMB 1.46 billion. The discrepancy stems from differing inclusion of preview earnings and exchange-rate conversions. No official comment from Korean film authorities or the Ewha university has been recorded, leaving the extent of diplomatic impact unclear.
Verbatim Quotes
- “appear to disparage the Korean women’s football team” — Seo Kyoung-duk, Professor, Sungshin Women’s University
- “According to Artisan Gateway, Kung Fu Soccer surged to more than $214 million at the Chinese box office in just nine days, even outperforming its opening frame during its second weekend.” — Artisan Gateway report
What’s Next
Encore Films is rolling out Kung Fu Soccer internationally, beginning August 13 in Australia and New Zealand, with the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and other markets slated for August 14. A North-American theatrical release is expected later in 2026, though a specific date remains unannounced. After its theatrical window, the film is slated for streaming on Paramount+, with a premiere date yet to be set.
