Stephen Chow’s Kung Fu Soccer is heading to Western cinemas after emerging as China’s biggest box-office hit of the summer. Singapore-based distributor Encore Films announced that the film will open on October 23 in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and Ireland. The Shaolin Soccer spin-off will be released in its original language, alongside a newly produced English dub.
According to Variety, Jimmy O. Yang, MC Jin and Chow voice their respective characters in the English version. A Cantonese dub has also been completed, although its voice cast has not yet been announced. Encore Films managing director Joyce Lee said the dubbed versions are intended to “introduce Stephen Chow’s signature style of comedy to new audiences” while reconnecting with longtime fans. She added that the company was encouraged by the film’s reception across Asia and Oceania, noting that Chow’s films have consistently crossed language and cultural boundaries.
The film’s performance in China helped pave the way for its Western release. Kung Fu Soccer opened in the country on July 11 and became the summer’s highest-grossing title, earning approximately $349 million, according to Variety.
The Hollywood Reporter, meanwhile, reported earnings of approximately $344.4 million (RMB 2.315 billion) during China’s summer box-office season, which ran from June 1 to August 31. The film finished the season as its biggest earner. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Chow’s return, timed to capitalise on World Cup interest, helped lift China’s summer box office to $1.86 billion (RMB 12.498 billion), an increase of 4.45% from the previous year. The figures were attributed to the China Film Administration and Maoyan Research Institute.
Following its Chinese release, the film rolled out across Southeast Asia in August. Its regional release began in Singapore and Cambodia on August 6, followed by Indonesia, Hong Kong, Macao, Malaysia, Brunei and Thailand. The October dates in North America and Europe extend that theatrical rollout into Western markets.
Kung Fu Soccer revisits the martial-arts-meets-sports-comedy premise associated with Shaolin Soccer, this time centring on an all-female team of underdogs. The story follows the Emei Women’s Football Team as it enters the Supreme Invincible Cup, determined to prove its doubters wrong. Zhang Xiaofei, known for the Chinese blockbuster Hi, Mom, plays the team’s captain. Dilraba Dilmurat portrays its star striker, while Lay Zhang plays the kung fu mentor who helps the players combine martial arts with football skills.
According to Variety, the team’s central characters include captain Shuangshuang, striker Yulong and mentor Xu Feng. The supporting cast features Carina Lau, Satoh Takeru, Sisley Choi, Angel Woo, Xue Ye, Louis Cheung, Jimmy O. Yang and MC Jin.
Chow wrote and directed the Hong Kong-China co-production, marking his first feature as a director since 2019’s The New King of Comedy. The project was previously announced under the title Shaolin Women’s Soccer.
The release also arrives in the 25th anniversary year of Shaolin Soccer, which became Hong Kong’s highest-grossing local film upon its release in 2001 before developing a global cult following. Chow followed it in 2004 with Kung Fu Hustle, which earned more than $100 million worldwide and became known for its intricate fight choreography and visual inventiveness. As Variety noted, Kung Fu Soccer returns Chow to the blend of sports and kung fu that he helped popularise a quarter-century ago, with an all-female team taking centre stage.
Encore Films acquired worldwide distribution rights outside mainland China from Chow’s production banner, The Star Overseas, in June. Founded in 2003, the distributor has released films including Ne Zha 2, John Wick: Chapter 4, Suzume, The Boy and the Heron, The New King of Comedy and La La Land. The company is also involved in production. Its credits include Young & Fabulous, a box-office success in Singapore, while its second feature, Fat Hope, is in post-production.
Lee said that great films and their filmmakers “deserve more than just a theatrical release”, adding that their legacy should be nurtured for generations.
With a theatrical release across four Western markets, English and Cantonese dubs, and a summer-topping box-office run in China behind it, Kung Fu Soccer will test the international appeal of Chow’s combination of action, comedy and heart. For audiences who remember Shaolin Soccer, the film marks his return to the genre that helped establish his global following.
