Stephen Chow is bringing his particular brand of slapstick and high-kicks back to North American theaters. "Kung Fu Soccer," a spinoff of his beloved 2001 hit "Shaolin Soccer," has locked in a U.S. release following a dominant run at China's summer box office earlier this year, Hollywood Buzz News has confirmed. The film, which Chow directed, opened in China on July 11, 2026, and now eyes an American rollout on the strength of that performance.

The original "Shaolin Soccer" became a global cult phenomenon by fusing martial arts choreography with the beautiful game, and Chow is returning to that well with a twist. This time, the story centers on the "Supreme Invincible Cup," a tournament that pits elite squads against one another in what the official synopsis calls an unprecedented showdown. Standing in the middle of it all is the Kung Fu Women's Soccer Team, which finds itself handed what can only be described as a hellish script from the opening whistle. Their opponents are highly skilled, outside pressure keeps building, and the schemes unfolding on the field come one after another. The central question the film poses is whether the team can use its kung fu to turn the tide on the green field.

A Familiar Formula, Reconfigured

Chow has long been celebrated for mixing physical comedy with genuine athleticism, and "Kung Fu Soccer" appears to double down on both. The film is classified as an action-comedy with a 106-minute runtime, and its original language is Chinese. That places it firmly in the tradition of Chow's earlier work rather than positioning it as a Hollywood remake or an English-language adaptation. The spinoff arrives 25 years after "Shaolin Soccer" first introduced audiences to the idea that a well-placed bicycle kick could be improved by a little chi.

The cast is a mix of established stars and emerging talent. Zhang Xiaofei leads as Shuang, with Dilraba Dilmurat playing Jade and Zhang Yixing as Xu Feng. Carina Lau takes on the role of Grandmaster, lending the production a heavyweight presence. The supporting ensemble includes Hu Yu'an as Loony, Sisley Choi Si-Pui as 88, Ai Mi as Chusan, and Xueye as Snowy.

China Run Sets the Stage

The film's July 11 debut in China gave it a substantial head start before any U.S. plans were finalized. Chow's name remains a powerful draw in the Chinese market, where his comedies have historically performed well, and "Kung Fu Soccer" rode that recognition through the summer corridor. While exact grosses have not been disclosed in the materials available to Hollywood Buzz News, the film's performance was strong enough to be described as dominating the season, which is the kind of result that typically prompts distributors to move quickly on an international rollout.

The timing is notable. A U.S. release gives the film a second bite at the box-office apple, and it arrives at a moment when American audiences have shown renewed appetite for Asian action-comedy imports. Chow's back catalog has maintained a dedicated following stateside since "Shaolin Soccer" and "Kung Fu Hustle" crossed over in the 2000s.

Reception and What Comes Next

Critical response so far has been mixed rather than rapturous. The film holds a 5.9 out of 10 rating on TMDb, a middling score that suggests audiences are split on whether the spinoff recaptures the magic of the original. That number is worth watching as the U.S. release approaches, since word of mouth will likely play a significant role in how the film performs outside China.

For Chow, "Kung Fu Soccer" represents both a return to familiar territory and a test of whether a 25-year-old formula can still connect with viewers who have grown up on a very different landscape of sports movies and martial arts cinema. The director has not announced his next project, and no additional cast or crew details have been released beyond the confirmed ensemble.

What is clear is that the film will arrive in the U.S. carrying the weight of its Chinese box-office success and the legacy of the movie that started it all. Whether American moviegoers embrace the Kung Fu Women's Soccer Team with the same enthusiasm remains an open question, but Chow has never been shy about asking audiences to suspend disbelief and enjoy the ride. "Kung Fu Soccer" is rated for action-comedy content and runs 106 minutes.

Source: Hollywood Reporter