Stephen Chow's instant box-office hit 'Kung Fu Soccer' ignites summer season

"King of Comedy" Stephen Chow made an explosive return to the big screen with his new film "Kung Fu Soccer," igniting China's otherwise lukewarm summer box office.

A poster for "Kung Fu Soccer." [Image courtesy of Maoyan Entertainment]

Without any marketing, promotion, or even a premiere, the film quietly debuted on Saturday, July 11 — marking Chow's first feature as director in seven years, since 2019's "The New King of Comedy." By Tuesday, it had already grossed 749 million yuan and is projected by Maoyan, China's major ticketing platform and big data tracker, to rake in 3 billion yuan for its entire theatrical run.

Industry observers said the film's success reflects a mix of Chow's massive nostalgic appeal, a summer market starved for a breakout blockbuster and a wave of enthusiasm coinciding with the ongoing 2026 FIFA World Cup.

"I made this film to deliver what I have always believed — Chinese kung fu is the best in the world," Chow said. A Bruce Lee fan, Chow has made a series of kung fu comedies such as "Shaolin Soccer" and "Kung Fu Hustle." In "Kung Fu Soccer" this time, he even added a dialogue line for an actor to say Lee's famous quote in the film, "Be water, my friend."

"Kung Fu Soccer," written and directed by Chow, stars Zhang Xiaofei, Dilraba Dilmurat and Lay Zhang, with Carina Lau and Japanese actor Takeru Satoh also making special appearances. The film follows a women's soccer team as it rises from an overlooked underdog to a championship contender. It blends superpowered kung fu with soccer much like Chow's classic "Shaolin Soccer," released 25 years ago.

After directing and starring in the sci-fi comedy "CJ7" (2008), Chow turned his focus to directing. Since then, he is yet to star in his films, and "Kung Fu Soccer" is no exception, despite fans' calling for his return. However, he does make a cameo appearance in the film as an Easter egg, a fun reference and playful hint to future possibilities.

Chow and his cast and crew are now on a promotional tour to meet audiences and engage in Q&A sessions for the film in different cities, including Tianjin, Changsha and Chengdu.

Stephen Chow and "Kung Fu Soccer" cast and crew pose for a photo at a screening event in Tianjin, July 11, 2026. [Photo courtesy of Maoyan Entertainment]

"Actually, your support is a kind of motivation for me," Chow said emotionally to the theater packed with audiences and fans on July 11 in Tianjin. "I still feel a bit sorry because sometimes I feel like I'm not doing good enough. You know, I'm afraid of letting everyone down. But I want to thank my creative team. Without them, I really couldn't have done anything. And ultimately, the most important thing is to thank all of you. Thank you."

In Changsha on July 12, the director noted that in this story, one of the things he really wanted to talk about was the issue of how you approach things.

"Sometimes we feel like we have to be really competitive, like we have to win," he said. "But I still think that the more we try to win, the further away the result might be. Instead, it's better to just face it with a relaxed attitude — the outcome is actually better. This is something I've experienced myself. I think losing is very OK. It's actually a good thing. Be able to win, and be able to lose with grace."

In Chengdu, Chow also shared his personal mindset and creative vision for the film. "Even though I'm getting older, I still see myself as a very childish kid. If kids enjoy watching the film, that's already the greatest satisfaction for me. When we design action scenes, the first thing we ask ourselves is whether the action is original enough, and also whether kids will like it. If adults enjoy it too and it reminds them of their childhood, that's what I hope to achieve."