Kung Fu Soccer (formerly Shaolin Women Soccer)

Martial Media, Culture and Other Arts Martial Media and Popular Culture
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Stephen Chow is looking to cast global actresses for “Shaolin Women Soccer”
Heidi Hsia
Thu, 22 June 2023, 11:47 PM GMT-7·1-min read

23 Jun – Hear ye! Hear ye!

All you talented female out there, Stephen Chow is looking for you. Yes, you.

In celebration of him turning 61 on 22 June, the comedy auteur took to his Instagram account to share the first draft of his new project, which he called, “Shaolin Women’s Soccer”.

He wrote, “Here is my birthday wish. To spend a good time with so many pretty girls (young, beautiful, smart, curvy, ATHLETIC). All countries are welcomed. The more the better! For those who are qualified, please send recent photos and detail info to mediacvinfo@gmail.com.”

He then added, “Photoshopped photo will never work. It will be condemned by us and by the United Nations.”

Many actors and social media influencers alike took to the comments to express their interest, from Malaysia’s Jenn Chia, Hong Kong’s Myolie Wu and Sharon Chan, to even actor Edison Chen, who jokingly posted, “CAN I BE ONE OF THE GIRLS???”

It is noted that “Shaolin Soccer”, which was released in 2001, was one of Stephen’s last acting projects before he went on to focus on directing (his last starring movie was 2008’s “CJ7”.) The movie stars Stephen himself as a master of Shaolin kungfu, who reunites with his five brothers to use their abilities to play soccer as a way to bring the arts to the masses.

Shaolin-Soccer
Shaolin Women Soccer

The Odyssey
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More rumors…

Uyghur Actress Dilraba Dilmurat Rumored to Star in Stephen Chow’s ‘Shaolin Women’s Soccer’

Resonate Team9 March 20252 mins
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Rumors are swirling that Dilraba Dilmurat, the renowned Uyghur actress, has been cast in Stephen Chow’s upcoming film, Shaolin Women’s Soccer. Sources indicate that Dilmurat has traveled to Shenzhen for filming, fueling speculation about her involvement in the project.

Chow, the acclaimed Hong Kong filmmaker behind iconic comedies like Shaolin Soccer and Kung Fu Hustle, first announced the all-female spin-off in 2023. The project generated significant buzz, with a massive casting call attracting over 30,000 hopefuls.

While neither Chow nor Dilmurat has confirmed her participation, the prospect of the actress leading the film has sparked excitement among fans. Dilmurat, known for her roles in popular Chinese dramas and films, would bring considerable star power to the project.

Shaolin Women’s Soccer is expected to follow a similar premise to its predecessor, focusing on a group of women who use their martial arts skills to excel at soccer. Chow has indicated that he will not appear in the film but has hinted at the possibility of original cast members returning.

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Tin Kai Man shares updates on Stephen Chow’s movie

Heidi Hsia
Wed, 16 April 2025, 9:17 PM GMT-7·1-min read
[IMG2=JSON]{“data-align”:“none”,“data-size”:“full”,“src”:“https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/aYW.wxppTpKfiOWGRhoG6w–/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD05MzI-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/ybrand.cinema.com.my/05984cc30e73097a8c440edd54510e30”}[/IMG2]
17 Apr - “Shaolin Soccer” actor Tin Kai Man recently revealed that Stephen Chow has already begun filming in Shenzhen for a month.

The actor, who is also a production manager, told the media at a recent event that the progress of “Shaolin’s Women Soccer” was slow at first but is now on track.

“In the first week, I asked him if filming went smoothly, and he said it was just so-so, worried about gains and losses.” [IMG2=JSON]{“data-align”:“none”,“data-size”:“full”,“src”:“https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/udk7btpXR5uvfIFm8n2HfA–/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTYxMA–/https://media.zenfs.com/en/ybrand.cinema.com.my/084c9a25dccea96c92cef041e2d1ee73”}[/IMG2] Tin was a part of ‘Shaolin Soccer’
As for whether the progress was affected because Stephen hadn’t filmed for a long time, Tin denied it, saying, “It’s a matter of dedication, it’s not something that can be done right from the start.”

When asked about which actors will star in the film, Tin, who claimed to be helping Stephen find and cast the actors, only revealed that there is mainland actress Dilraba Dilmurat, and Hong Kong actress Sisley Choi. He added that he was not in a position to reveal the other actors.

As to whether Stephen will act again, he said, “I know he wants to make movies, but he doesn’t want to repeat the roles that the audience expected. It would be best if he could face the audience as a new Stephen Chow, so that everyone would be happy and he wouldn’t have so much pressure to perform.” [IMG2=JSON]{“data-align”:“none”,“data-size”:“full”,“src”:“https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/UhTAr5TXDa4JYLviCbUO9g–/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTExOTk-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/ybrand.cinema.com.my/6baa35d3894fd0d9c675f8ba31bd07b8”}[/IMG2] Tin says Sisley Choi is also a part of the new movie
(Photo Source: HK01, On CC, NME, Sisley IG)

In production!

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Dilraba Dilmurat is the actual “Shaolin Women’s Soccer” lead?

Heidi Hsia
Wed, 28 May 2025 at 9:25 PM GMT-7·1-min read
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29 May – Although it was previously rumoured that Dilraba Dilmurat will be playing a guest role or a supporting character in Stephen Chow’s “Shaolin Women’s Soccer”, many are now speculating that the actress actually has a bigger role and might be the lead in the movie.

It was previously reported that the lead actress for the movie, which has been filming in a hush-hush, was Zhang Xiaofei, who is most known for her many collaborations with comedienne Jia Ling.

Many speculated that Zhang was the lead originally due to her jersey number in the movie, which bore the same No. 10 like Stephen had in his own film. On the other hand, Dilraba reportedly has a No. 8 jersey on.
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Zhang was believed to be the lead due to her wearing the same jersey number as Stephen’s character in the first movie
However, it was recently revealed that the “YOLO” actress has already completed all of her parts in the film even before the crew finished shooting. However, Dilraba, who has participated in the shoot since day one, is reported to will only conclude her role in June, sparking speculations that she is the actual star of the movie.

Notably, the production of “Shaolin Women’s Soccer” has been extremely low-key and secretive about the shoot. It is said that the film was shot in a large stadium in Shenzhen, Guangdong and a large number of tents, cranes and rest vehicles were set up in the venue.

(Photo Source: Dilraba Weibo, Zhang Xiaofei Fanpage IG)

So mysterious…

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Jay Chou and Stephen Chow Tease Potential Collab for Shaolin Soccer Sequel

Mandy Wong

  • 2:16 PM HKT, Thu July 3, 2025
2 mins read

[IMG2=JSON]{“alt”:“Feature image of Jay Chou and Stephen Chow Tease Potential Collab for Shaolin Soccer Sequel”,“data-align”:“none”,“data-size”:“full”,“height”:“810”,“width”:“1215”,“src”:“https://imagedelivery.net/WLUarKbmUXuuhDC7PG5_Qw/radii.co/2025/07/radii-stephen-chow-jay-chou-shaolin-soccer-00.png/w=1215,h=810”}[/IMG2]
The two legendary stars are seen living it up in Hong Kong, with speculation now buzzing on the two working together for “Shaolin Women’s Soccer.”

In a moment of digital intrigue that set social media ablaze, Mandopop icon Jay Chou and king of comedy Stephen Chow have ignited collaboration rumors through a recent and tantalizing Instagram interaction.

The unexpected exchange began when Chow posted a seemingly casual Instagram photo on March 7, 2023, listening to Chou’s album with a cryptic caption “See you in Hong Kong @jaychou.” What appeared to be a simple social media moment quickly transformed into a potential creative partnership that could redefine Asian entertainment. [IMG2=JSON]{“data-align”:“none”,“data-size”:“full”,“src”:“https://radii.co/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/radii-stephen-chow-jay-chou-shaolin-soccer-03.jpg”}[/IMG2] Alegged poster for Stephen Chow’s Shaolin Women’s Soccer.
Chou, responding from Paris, playfully referenced their shared cinematic history, dropping hints about a possible collaboration for a Shaolin Soccer sequel that has fans speculating wildly. Industry insiders suggest the interaction goes beyond mere friendship, pointing to potential musical or film-related projects.

While official details remain scarce, the possibility of a Chou-Chow collaboration has electrified fans across Asia. Chow’s agency has only confirmed they are “in talks,” leaving room for widespread imagination. [IMG2=JSON]{“data-align”:“none”,“data-size”:“full”,“src”:“https://radii.co/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/radii-stephen-chow-jay-chou-shaolin-soccer-02.jpg”}[/IMG2] Image via DreamPanda.
Fast forward to this week and the two are seen on Chow‘s Instagram and other images living it up on the rooftops of Hong Kong‘s cityscape, enjoying bottles of Vosne-Romanée Cros Parantoux red wine, and —we hope—are finally locking in plans to have Chou appear in the highly anticipated sequel—currently dubbed Shaolin Women’s Soccer. Big clue? Chou stepping on a soccer ball in their photo together. [INDENT]
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Jay Chou 周杰倫 (@jaychou)[/INDENT]

Who exactly Chou will play in the action-packed comedy is still a mystery. Will he step into Chow’s cleats as the new Mghty Steel Leg?

Cover photo via Instagram/@jaychou/@stephenchow.

This reporter missed a key point with Kung Fu Dunk.

Shaolin Women Soccer
Jay Chou’s Kung Fu Dunk

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Stephen Chow’s ‘Shaolin Soccer’ Spinoff ‘Kung Fu Soccer’ Lands Worldwide Distribution Rights Deal

Singapore distributor Encore Films has acquired worldwide rights outside China to the ‘Shaolin Soccer’ follow-up, which is Chow’s first film as director since 2019 and stars Zhang Xiaofei, Dilraba Dilmurat and Lay Zhang.

BY PATRICK BRZESKI

JUNE 22, 2026 7:59PM

Stephen Chow

Stephen Chow KEITH TSUJI/GETTY IMAGES

Encore Films has acquired worldwide distribution rights outside mainland China to Kung Fu Soccer, Stephen Chow‘s first film as director in seven years and the long-awaited spin-off of his beloved martial-arts-meets-football hit Shaolin Soccer from 2001.

The Singapore-based distributor will handle theatrical and related rights across international markets outside the mainland, where the film will be released by Maoyan Entertainment. Release dates are still to be announced.

Chow wrote and directed Kung Fu Soccer — covered for the past two years under its announced title, Shaolin Women’s Soccer — but does not appear in it, having stepped back from acting after 2008’s CJ7. The film recasts the Shaolin Soccer premise around an all-women squad: the underdog Emei team, who integrate martial arts into their game on an improbable run at a championship. Zhang Xiaofei (Hi, Mom) leads the cast as the team’s captain, alongside Dilraba Dilmurat and Lay Zhang (Zhang Yixing).

Shot in 2025 and now in post-production — with heavy use of visual effects — the film is expected in 2026, the 25th anniversary of Shaolin Soccer. It will also hope to ride the global enthusiasm surrounding this year’s FIFA World Cup.

Chow remains one of the most internationally recognizable figures in Chinese-language cinema, with a cherished body of irreverent work that includes Shaolin Soccer, The Mermaid, CJ7 and Kung Fu Hustle, the last of which grossed more than $100 million worldwide.

“Most football films ask, ‘Can they win the match?‘” said Encore managing director Joyce Lee. “A Stephen Chow film asks, ‘Can they win the match while breaking the laws of physics?’”

Encore Films, founded in 2003, has built a regional distribution business out of Singapore, with recent releases including the record-setting animation Ne Zha 2. It acquired Kung Fu Soccer from Chow’s production banner, The Star Overseas, and further territory deals are still being lined up.

A spokesperson from The Star Overseas added: “We are delighted to collaborate with Encore Films. With its extensive international distribution experience and strong network of partners worldwide, we believe Kung Fu Soccer will reach audiences across many markets. We also look forward to working with outstanding distribution partners around the world to bring this exciting film to global audiences.”

A ‘Kung Fu Soccer’ sketch by Stephen Chow. STEPHEN CHOW

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Stephen Chow’s ‘Kung Fu Soccer’ sets mainland China release, 25 years after ‘Shaolin Soccer’

BY SILVIA WONG 6 JULY 2026

Stephen Chow

SOURCE: SCREEN FILE

STEPHEN CHOW

Hong Kong director Stephen Chow’s highly anticipated Kung Fu Soccerhas received a release date of July 11 in mainland China.

The opening date was revealed today (July 6) alongside a 21-second teaser trailer as tickets go on sale. It coincides with heightened worldwide interest in football due to the ongoing FIFA World Cup, with the final match scheduled for July 19.

It marks the return to the world of football and martial arts for comedy actor-turned-director Chow, who is also the co-writer and chief producer through his Hong Kong-based banner Star Overseas. His 2001 feature Shaolin Soccerproved a critical and commercial hit both locally and around the world.

The new film is a Hong Kong-China co-production, which literally means Kung Fu Woman Soccer in its Chinese title. The story focuses on the captain, star striker and mentor of the Emei Women’s Football Team as they lead the underdog players to make their mark on the pitch and chase their championship dream in the Supreme Invincible Cup.

The cast is led by Zhang Xiaofei, Dilraba Dilmurat and Lay Zhang Yixing with special appearances by Carina Lau and Takeru Satoh, and guest appearances from Zhao Lina, MC Jin, Louis Cheung and Jimmy O. Yang. Maoyan Entertainment is the distributor in mainland China.

Chow is well known as the king of comedy whose blockbuster hits also include 2004’s Kung Fu Hustle, which was co-produced by US studio Columbia Pictures and reportedly grossed more than $100m worldwide. Further hits include 2008’s CJ7 and 2016’s The Mermaid.

Encore Films, which has secured worldwide distribution rights outside mainland China for Kung Fu Soccer, also revealed today that the Singapore release will be on August 6 during the city-state’s long National Day weekend. The Singapore-based company has previously handled multi-territory theatrical rollout of Chinese animations Ne Zha 2 and The Legend of Hei 2.

Not seeing any USA showtimes yet.

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Stephen Chow’s Kung Fu Soccer scores strong opening

Culture China17:28, 11-Jul-2026

CGTN

Kung Fu Soccer, the latest film directed and written by Hong Kong filmmaker Stephen Chow, opened in cinemas in China on Saturday, grossing over 100 million yuan (about $14 million) on its official release day, according to box office tracker Maoyan.

Coinciding with the premiere, an innovative poster featuring a women’s football team was unveiled, with characters wielding weapons that hint at the film’s trademark mix of comedy, martial arts and action.

A poster for Kung Fu Soccer, Stephen Chow's new film, which opened in theaters in China on July 11, 2026 /Photo provided to CGTN

A poster for Kung Fu Soccer, Stephen Chow’s new film, which opened in theaters in China on July 11, 2026 /Photo provided to CGTN

The sports comedy reimagines football through the lens of traditional Chinese kung fu, turning passes, tackles and shots into elaborately choreographed martial arts sequences. By blending classic kung fu techniques with modern women’s football, the film delivers high-energy action.

Another highlight of the film is its portrayal of the female footballers as ordinary people who overcome setbacks, self-doubt and immense pressure through teamwork, resilience and determination. Their journey from underdogs to confident competitors forms the emotional heart of the story.

Beyond the big screen, the Dayawan Culture and Sports Activities Center in Huizhou, south China’s Guangdong Province, where the film was shot, is hoping to boost local tourism. Opening daily from 6:30 a.m. to 10 p.m., the center invites visitors to explore the filming location, recreate scenes from the movie and enjoy recreational activities on the same pitch featured in the film.

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Stephen Chow Kung Fu Soccer Smashes Box Office Records With Massive $74 Million Opening

The long-awaited martial arts sequel dominates theatrical ticket sales in China, marking a triumphant return for the legendary comedy director.

The commercial vitality of comic cinema has reasserted itself in dramatic fashion within the world’s second-largest film market. Kung Fu Soccer, the long-awaited spiritual successor to the 2001 international phenomenon Shaolin Soccer, secured an astonishing 73.6 million dollar debut across its opening weekend in China.

The two-day tally, tracked by industry analyst Artisan Gateway, represents nearly three-quarters of all domestic cinema ticket sales, outperforming its closest theatrical competitor nine times over. The opening establishes a significant milestone for director Stephen Chow, marking his first return to the director’s chair since 2019’s The New King of Comedy.

A New Generation on the Pitch

The cinematic architecture of the new film pivots away from the original masculine ensemble, choosing instead to structure the narrative around an all-female sports squad known as the underdog Emei team. The players systematically integrate traditional martial arts maneuvers into their football matches during a high-stakes campaign through a tournament titled the Supreme Invincible Cup.

The sixty-four-year-old director remains strictly behind the camera for this outing. Stephen Chow chose to retire from on-screen acting assignments following his appearance in the 2008 science fiction comedy CJ7.

To fill the void left by his absence, the production utilises a prominent ensemble of contemporary Chinese performers. Zhang Xiaofei leads the squad as the team’s captain, performing alongside actress **Dilraba Dilmurat**as the central striker and recording artist Lay Zhang as the team’s martial arts instructor. The film also features a wide array of cross-cultural guest appearances, ranging from Hong Kong screen veteran Carina Lau and Japanese actor Takeru Satoh to the American comedian Jimmy O. Yang and retired Chinese national goalkeeper Zhao Lina.

Exploiting the Global Sporting Mood

The domestic release structure, managed by the Beijing-based media firm Maoyan Entertainment, intentionally leverages two major cultural milestones. The rollout coordinates directly with the twenty-five-year anniversary of the original Shaolin Soccer release, while simultaneously exploiting the heightened public interest surrounding this summer’s FIFA World Cup.

Audience metrics indicate an exceptionally positive reception, with viewers on the Maoyan platform awarding the film a 9.4 out of 10 consumer rating. Early algorithms project a total domestic box office run of 368 million dollars, a figure that would single-handedly alter the financial trajectory of the domestic summer box office season.

The international distribution rights outside mainland China are currently held by Singapore’s Encore Films. While the distributor has successfully finalized a sequence of territory-by-territory releases across Southeast Asia, an official Western theatrical release timeline for the United Kingdom and the United States remains under negotiation.

Shifting the Domestic Box Office Balance

The immediate financial success of the project has provided a necessary economic correction for the broader film industry. Total ticket sales for 2026 had previously experienced a thirty-eight per cent decline compared to the same period last year. That statistical gap was largely skewed by the historic, record-breaking theatrical run of the animated feature Ne Zha 2 in early 2025.

Chow’s return successfully displaced several Hollywood properties and high-budget domestic animations. Universal’s animated sequel Minions & Monsters dropped to the number two position during its second week of availability, experiencing a fifty per cent decline to finish the weekend with 8.1 million dollars.

Meanwhile, Light Chaser Animation’s historical epic Three Kingdoms: The Beginning debuted to a modest 4.7 million dollars, trailing far behind Chow’s live-action comedy. The independent horror feature Backrooms, distributed by A24, maintained its fourth-place position, elevating its local haul to 21.8 million dollars to become the highest-grossing release in the history of the independent label within an Asian territory.

Author

Picture of Jun Kit Man

Jun Kit Man

Jun is a former News producer and reporter with extensive experience covering major global events. In recent years, Jun has turned his focus to empowering the East and Southeast Asian (ESEA) diaspora. His guest appearance on BBC Stories’ “Meet the kids who grew up in Chinese Takeaways” highlights his personal connection to the community. As the founder of Resonate, he provides a platform for young ESEA creatives to showcase their talents globally.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x-HE-g5YwZE

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so it is any good, trailer looks a bit lame tbh

are there any scenes of wearing thongs or similarly minimalist swimwear

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What is it with you and thongs lately?

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been doing tu jin sheng 99 power cheese gong and staring at thong videos on instagram to nourish the jing

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Tu wears a special Iron Crotch kilt. Not a thong.

I worry that your practice has gone awry.

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It’s called a tunic and u can wear a thong underneath for double the manliness bro

get wit the times old man

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It’s a light blue satin kilt-like skirt, custom-made for IC practice by GM Tu. And you don’t wear a thong. You go commando. That’s the whole point.

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very wise, much smrat

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Stephen Chow’s ‘Kung Fu Soccer’ Blasts Past $200 Million at China Box Office

The ‘Shaolin Soccer’ spinoff grew in its second frame and is now expected earn just shy of $450 million in its full run.

BY PATRICK BRZESKI

JULY 19, 2026 8:40PM

Stephen Chow

Stephen Chow KEITH TSUJI/GETTY IMAGES

Stephen Chow‘s perfectly timed return to soccer comedy kept on kicking in its second weekend at China‘s box office. Kung Fu Soccer, the comedy legend’s Shaolin Soccer spinoff, added $73.7 million (RMB 501.1 million) over the July 17-19 frame, lifting its total to $214.3 million (RMB 1.46 billion) in just nine days, according to data from Artisan Gateway.

In a market where second weekends routinely shed half their opening business, the film instead topped its two-day debut frame of $73.6 million (RMB 500.3 million), albeit spread across three days this time. Having crossed $147 million (RMB 1 billion) in its first week, the film has prompted ticketing giant Maoyan to raise its full-run forecast to $441 million (RMB 3 billion), up from the RMB 2.5 billion it projected on opening weekend. The film looks likely to finish just short of Chow’s personal box-office record of RMB 3.39 billion ($500 million-plus), set by the fantasy comedy The Mermaid in 2016.

Chow, 64, wrote and directed Kung Fu Soccer — his first feature behind the camera since 2019’s The New King of Comedy — but does not appear onscreen, having stepped away from acting after 2008’s CJ7. Released to mark the 25th anniversary of Shaolin Soccer, and to ride this summer’s FIFA World Cup fever, the film reworks the beloved original’s premise around an underdog, all-female squad whose players integrate martial arts into their game to make an improbable run at a tournament dubbed the Supreme Invincible Cup. Zhang Xiaofei (Hi, Mom) leads the cast as the team’s captain, with Dilraba Dilmurat as its star striker and Lay Zhang as its kung fu coach, plus guest turns from Hong Kong screen icon Carina Lau, Japanese star Takeru Satoh and U.S. comedian Jimmy O. Yang.

Chow’s singular blockbuster prowess has been demonstrated — yet again — by the way he released the movie with little to no conventional marketing campaign. He set the release date via a casual social media video on his birthday in late June, and the film hit theaters less than three weeks later with minimal advance marketing.

A North American theatrical release is expected later this year but remains undated. Singapore’s Encore Films, which handled the international rollout of China’s record-setting animation Ne Zha 2 last year, acquired worldwide rights to Kung Fu Soccer outside the mainland and is lining up territory-by-territory deals.

Kung Fu Soccer faced markedly stiffer competition in its sophomore weekend than its first in the form of All Wishes Come True, an animated tentpole from state-backed Pearl Studio, the Beijing outfit formerly known as Oriental DreamWorks, whose credits include Kung Fu Panda 3, Abominable and the Oscar-nominated Over the Moon. Written and directed by Mu Zhengyang, the comic fantasy reimagines the classic folk tale of the Eight Immortals crossing the sea, following a group of ordinary individuals who outwit the gods to earn their legendary titles. It opened Saturday and brought in $30.6 million (RMB 207.8 million) over two days — a solid start — for an early total of $39.6 million (RMB 269 million) including previews. Pearl and partner CMC Pictures have set a global rollout beginning Aug. 13 in Australia and New Zealand, with the U.S., Canada, the U.K. and other markets to follow from Aug. 14.

The rest of the weekend’s top titles trailed the two blockbusters from afar. Enlight Pictures’ A Part of Me, a female-friendship tearjerker starring Zhang Ruonan and Jin Jing — a remake of the 2015 Toni Collette-Drew Barrymore dramedy Miss You Already — opened third with $13.6 million (RMB 92.4 million). Universal and Illumination’s Minions & Monsters held fourth in its third frame with $3.7 million (RMB 25.1 million), nudging its China total to $40.3 million (RMB 274 million). And Triangle, Christopher Smith’s 2009 time-loop thriller starring Melissa George — a curious cult favorite among Chinese movie lovers — took fifth with $3.7 million (RMB 25 million) after arriving in mainland theaters Friday, 17 years after its original release.

China’s 2026 box office now stands at $2.97 billion, down 35.3 percent from the same point last year — a comparison skewed by animated mega-blockbuster Ne Zha 2, which earned over $2 billion in China alone during the first half of 2025. The gap has nonetheless narrowed considerably from the nearly 56 percent deficit of early March, as Chow’s comeback hit has given the country’s summer moviegoing season a healthy kick-start.

Curry Barker’s horror phenomenon Obsession, which has grossed more than $400 million worldwide since its mid-May debut, opens in the country on Friday. The film will pose an interesting test of whether the wave of young, internet-bred filmmakers taking Hollywood by storm can help revive the studios’ fortunes in China, where filmgoers have long grown tired of U.S. franchise fare.

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‘The Odyssey’ Rules The World, But Stephen Chow’s ‘Kung Fu Soccer’ Scores $214M+ Cume, ‘Toy Story 5’ Nears $1B – Global Weekend Top 10 Box Office

By Anthony D’Alessandro

Editorial Director/Box Office Editor

@AwardsTony

July 20, 2026 6:49pm

'The Odyssey,' 'Kung Fu Soccer' and 'Toy Story 5'

Yes, Universal’s Christopher Nolan epic The Odyssey led by an extreme margin at the global box office with an updated $263.7M, a hands down opening record for the 2x Oscar winning filmmaker fueled by his best ever start overseas with $140.2M from 73 territories and his third best opening in North America with $123.5M. For more of the foreign breakdown on The Odyssey, click here.

But here’s how everything else shook out with China elbowing its way into the chart with three, count ’em three blockbusters, despite Odysseus essentially No. 1 everywhere (except Vietnam and Argentina). He doesn’t show up in the Middle Kingdom until August 14. Why is China coming up so big at the B.O. suddenly? Because holidays are in full swing.

Kung Fu Soccer

**Kung Fu Soccer**STAR OVERSEAS

Stephen Chow’s Kung Fu Soccer per AG Reports was a definite No. 2 at the global B.O. with a second frame in China of $73.7M (501.1M Rmb) and a running cume of $214.3M (1,457M Rmb). Two other local titles triumphed over MPA ones there with the No. 2 pic in China being Pearl Studio’s Zhengxing Mu directed animation comedy fantasy All Wishes Come True with a 2-day weekend of $30.6M (207.8M Rmb) and running cume of $39.6M (269M Rmb) since opening on July 18. A solid result for this pic off its 9.7 Maoyan score. Pic’s blurb: Eight grassroot mortals use their street smarts and hilarious schemes to defy powerful gods, earning their title as the “Eight Immortals.” All Wishes come true was No. 6 at the global weekend B.O. Also big in China was the Yingxin Ma directed and written female drama, A** Part of Me**, from Enlight Pictures which began with $13.6M(92.4M Rmb) ranking third in the country, and No. 8 on the global weekend chart. What was the highest grossing Hollywood movie in China this weekend? Universal’s Minions and Monsters with a third weekend of $3.6M and running cume of $40.3M; still the pic’s biggest offshore territory both weekend and total wise.

Third belongs to Disney/Pixar’s Toy Story 5 which at $957.3M is ever so close to becoming the third movie this year to pass $1 billion worldwide after Universal/Illumination’s Super Mario Galaxy and Lionsgate/Universal’s Michael ($1.01B). Broken out, Toy Story 5 has a running domestic total of $429.87M, which is now (for the moment), the highest grossing movie in North America YTD ahead of Super Mario Galaxy Movie ($429.81M). Toy Story 5 posted a global weekend of $43.7M ($13.76M domestic, $30M overseas from 52 markets). Foreign running cume stands at $527.5M. The pic was the No. 1 (non-local) film for the weekend in Japan (running total $41.2M) and Argentina (running cume $18.3M). Mexico is the top grossing territory still outside North America with $71.4M while UK/Ireland is second with $60.2M.

Disney’s live-action Moana posted a second global weekend of $42.9M ($17.9M domestic, $25M from 50 territories) in fourth place around the world for a running cume of $177.4M WW ($81M domestic, $96.4M int’l). The Dwayne Johnson starring movie was the No. 2 (non-local) in France ($10.2M best cume outside of states), Germany ($6.8M cume), Australia ($8.7M cume) and Korea ($5.6M cume) as well as Austria, Netherlands, Norway, Bahrain, Lebanon, Oman, Portugal, Qatar, Southern Africa, UAE, New Zealand, Philippines ($2.1M cume, ninth best territory outside U.S.), Thailand and Ecuador.

Overall Minions & Monsters posted a $42.1M third weekend around the world in fifth place ($13.6M domestic, $28.5M abroad from 80 markets) for a running global total of $358.4M ($136.3M domestic, $222M int’l). The pic added Korea but with a $2.6M opening at 1,043 screens and ranking second behind Hope(which you can read about more below). Still audiences reactions are very positive with the film receiving a strong 94% CGV Egg score, in line with DM4 (94%) and higher than Minions: The Rise of Gru (92%) and Minions (91%).

'Hope' review Cannes Film Festival

Unlike his encounters with whirlpools and sirens, Odysseus was wise not to park his boat in South Korea where Na Hong-Jin’s alien movie Hope ruled the majority of the weekend with a $16.4M opening plus previews, 7th for the global weekend. The movie which also stars real-life couple Alicia Vikander and Michael Fassbender as aliens, made its world premiere at Cannes. Neon has Hope stateside. It’s opening on Sept. 9 and it’s headed down to San Diego Comic-Con for a big panel.

Warner Bros/Studio Canal/Sony’s Evil Dead Burn saw a global weekend in 9th place of $12.8M ($4.7M domestic, $8.1M foreign from 62 territories) raising its global cume in weekend 2 to $51.4M ($23.8M domestic, $27.2M foreign).

Focus Features’ Obsession refuses to leave the top 10 with an $8.1M global weekend ($2.4M domestic, $5.76M int’l from 77 territories) and a running total of $442.1M ($258.3M domestic, $183.7M from both non-Uni and Uni markets). Nikki and Bear arrived in Japan where they seduced $256K at 131 screens, a result that’s above Weapons, Sinners and Get Out and ahead of the lifetimes of Nosferatu, Speak No Evil, The Black Phone 2 and The Monkey. They continue to sprechen sie Deutsch with a fourth weekend of $1.4M in Germany and near $11M running total, pic’s second highest grossing territory after UK/Ireland ($24.9M).

Penelope Cruz and Olivia Wilde in 'The Invite'

Penelope Cruz and Olivia Wilde in ‘The Invite’A24/COURTESY EVEREETT COLLECTION

Way down A24/FilmNation’s The Invite from Olivia Wilde counts a reported $12M running foreign cume from 33 territories and $26.4M around the globe in its fourth weekend. Rentrak figures the foreign weekend at $1.9M. Add in domestic’s $3.3M and the global weekend stands at $5.2M, now in the No. 11 spot. Australia counts $328K from 114 locations in weekend 2, -29% with a running total of $1.16M. New Zealand is $48K at 55 sites with a running cume just over $156K. Mexico has $281K from 457 cinema in weekend dos, -42% for a running cume of $1.2M. Brazil counts $340K at 165 in weekend 2, -18% for a running total of $1M. Netherlands has $289K from 130 prints with a running cume of $926K. UK and Ireland finished its third weekend with $322K from 464 theaters, a -45% hold against The Odyssey and World Cup with a running cume of $3.3M. Poland has $189K at 211 sites in weekend 3, -47%, for a $1.6M cume. Other territory total are Greece ($389K), Israel ($298K), Ukraine ($285K), India ($252K), and Hungary ($206k).