Stephen Chow's 'Kung Fu Soccer' to open in US, Canada, UK and Ireland on 23 October
Singapore-based Encore Films will release Stephen Chow's 'Kung Fu Soccer' in the US, Canada, UK and Ireland on 23 October, in the original language and with a new English dub. The film was China's top-grossing title of the summer.
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The story, neutrally told
Left · 2Encore Films, a Singapore-based distributor, said on Wednesday 14 October that Stephen Chow's 'Kung Fu Soccer' will open in cinemas in the US, Canada, the UK and Ireland on 23 October. The Hollywood ReporterLC “Singapore-based distributor Encore Films said Wednesday that the comedy legend’s long-awaited Shaolin Soccer spinoff will open Oct. 23 in the U.S., Canada, U.K. and Ireland.” Read at The Hollywood Reporter ↗ VarietyLC “Stephen Chow’s “Kung Fu Soccer” will hit cinemas in the U.S., Canada, the U.K. and Ireland on Oct. 23” Read at Variety ↗ Left · 2The release will include the original-language version and a newly produced English dub in which Chow, Jimmy O. Yang and MC Jin voice characters; a Cantonese dub is also finished, with its voice cast yet to be announced. The Hollywood ReporterLC “Encore has also completed a Cantonese dub.” Read at The Hollywood Reporter ↗ VarietyLC “Jimmy O. Yang, MC Jin and Chow all voice their own characters in English for the dub.” Read at Variety ↗ Left · 2The film was the biggest earner of China's summer season (1 June to 31 August). The Hollywood Reporter puts its take at about $344.4 million (RMB 2.315 billion), while Variety gives about $349 million. The Hollywood ReporterLC “Kung Fu Soccer earned approximately $344.4 million (RMB 2.315 billion) during China’s June 1-Aug. 31 summer moviegoing season, becoming the season’s biggest earner.” Read at The Hollywood Reporter ↗ VarietyLC “Released in mainland China on July 11, “Kung Fu Soccer” was the country’s top-grossing title of the summer season, earning some $349 million.” Read at Variety ↗
Left · 2Variety says it opened in mainland China on 11 July and then across Southeast Asia from 6 August, starting in Singapore and Cambodia. The Hollywood Reporter says Chow's return helped lift China's summer box office to $1.86 billion, up 4.45 percent from a year earlier. VarietyLC “It then opened across Southeast Asia in August, starting in Singapore and Cambodia on Aug. 6” Read at Variety ↗ The Hollywood ReporterLC “helped lift the country’s summer theatrical revenue to $1.86 billion (RMB 12.498 billion), up 4.45 percent from a year earlier” Read at The Hollywood Reporter ↗ Left · 1Chow wrote and directed the Hong Kong-China co-production, his first feature behind the camera since 'The New King of Comedy' (2019). It was previously announced as 'Shaolin Women's Soccer' and reworks his 2001 hit 'Shaolin Soccer' around an all-female team. The Hollywood ReporterLC “Written and directed by Chow, Kung Fu Soccer marks his first feature behind the camera since 2019’s The New King of Comedy.”“Previously announced under the title Shaolin Women’s Soccer” Read at The Hollywood Reporter ↗ Left · 2Zhang Xiaofei plays the captain of the Emei Women's Football Team, which competes for the Supreme Invincible Cup. Dilraba Dilmurat plays the star striker and Lay Zhang the kung fu mentor, and the cast includes Carina Lau, Takeru Satoh, Sisley Choi and Louis Cheung. The Hollywood ReporterLC “Zhang Xiaofei, the star of Chinese blockbuster Hi, Mom, plays the captain of the Emei Women’s Football Team” Read at The Hollywood Reporter ↗ VarietyLC “Zhang Xiaofei, Dilraba Dilmurat and Lay Zhang Yixing head the cast, which also includes Carina Lau, Satoh Takeru, Sisley Choi” Read at Variety ↗
Left · 1The Hollywood Reporter says Encore acquired worldwide rights outside mainland China from Chow's banner The Star Overseas in June. Encore managing director Joyce Lee said the response across Asia and Oceania prompted the Western release, and that Chow's films transcend language and cultural boundaries. The Hollywood ReporterLC “Encore acquired worldwide distribution rights outside mainland China from Chow’s production banner, The Star Overseas, in June.”““Following the tremendous response to Kung Fu Soccer across Asia and Oceania, we’re excited to bring the film to cinema audiences” Read at The Hollywood Reporter ↗ Left · 2The release falls in the 25th anniversary year of 'Shaolin Soccer', which was Hong Kong's highest-grossing local film on release in 2001. Chow followed it with 'Kung Fu Hustle' in 2004. The Hollywood ReporterLC “The release arrives in the 25th anniversary year of Shaolin Soccer, which became Hong Kong’s highest-grossing local film upon its 2001 release” Read at The Hollywood Reporter ↗ VarietyLC “He followed it in 2004 with “Kung Fu Hustle,” known for its intricate fight choreography and visual inventiveness.” Read at Variety ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.
Left2 outlets
- Framing
- Both trade outlets report the release as an industry announcement built on Encore Films' statement. They stress the film's box-office success in China and its link to Chow's earlier hits.
- Emphasis
- Release date, the English dub cast, China box-office performance, and the film's lineage from 'Shaolin Soccer'.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Neither outlet reports critical reception or any non-Encore voice. Their China gross figures differ.
- Charged language
- “comedy legend”“Dominating China’s Summer Box Office”
- For example
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“Stephen Chow’s Kung Fu Soccer is heading to North American and British cinemas after finishing the summer as China’s biggest box office hit.” — The Hollywood Reporter
“Jimmy O. Yang, MC Jin and Chow all voice their own characters in English for the dub.” — Variety
Centre0 outlets
No centre outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Right0 outlets
No right outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
What every side reports
- Encore Films will release 'Kung Fu Soccer' in the US, Canada, UK and Ireland on 23 October.
- The release includes the original version and a new English dub voiced by Stephen Chow, Jimmy O. Yang and MC Jin.
- The film was China's top-grossing title of summer 2026.
- A Cantonese dub is finished and its voice cast is yet to be announced.
Where accounts differ
-
China summer box office total for the film
- Left
- The Hollywood Reporter gives about $344.4 million (RMB 2.315 billion); Variety gives about $349 million.
Stephen Chow person
Chow wrote and directed the film and voices a character in the English dub. Coverage quotes no direct statement from Chow.
“Jimmy O. Yang, MC Jin and Chow all voice their own characters in English for the dub.” — Variety
Left2 articles
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Celebratory Presents the release as a follow-up to a China box-office triumph, with detail on the rights deal and market context.
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Neutral Straight announcement piece with release rollout dates, cast and a profile of Encore Films.
Centre0 articles
No coverage yet.
Right0 articles
No coverage yet.
- 14 Oct 12:00 First The Hollywood ReporterLC Stephen Chow’s ‘Shaolin Soccer’ Spinoff ‘Kung Fu Soccer’ Sets U.S. Release After Dominating China’s Summer Box Office
- 14 Oct 13:05 +1h 5m VarietyLC Stephen Chow’s ‘Kung Fu Soccer’ Sets U.S., U.K. Release With Jimmy O. Yang, MC Jin Voicing English Dub
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.
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