LayarHijau– The hashtag #功夫女足的观后感# (Early Reviews for Kung Fu Soccer) cracked the top 10 trending topics on Weibo this Wednesday (July 8). Ahead of its July 11 theatrical release, early screenings hosted by ticketing giant Maoyan have already sparked reactions from audiences and critics alike.
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Stephen Chow’s latest project is drawing praise for bringing back his signature comedic style and showcasing impressive dedication from its cast. However, some viewers are also raising concerns about public skepticism that’s building before most people have even seen the film.
When Martial Arts Meet the Beautiful Game
Kung Fu Soccer follows the underdog journey of the Emei women’s soccer team—a scrappy grassroots squad battling against all odds. With barely any funding, rundown facilities, and minimal support, they face a series of brutal challenges, including their coach’s betrayal and the threat of the team being disbanded.
Instead of giving up, the players find an unconventional way to fight back. They blend traditional Chinese martial arts—everything from the fluid grace of Tai Chi to the explosive power of Wing Chun—into their soccer training. The result? Unique moves like Tai Chi dribbling and Wing Chun-powered shots that become their signature style.
This isn’t your typical sports movie with a superhero narrative or some miraculous deus ex machina. Instead, audiences are taken on a grounded journey of ordinary girls working part-time jobs just to keep their dreams alive on the pitch.
A Cast That Goes All In
The film features a lineup of top Chinese actors and actresses who threw themselves completely into their roles:
Zhang Xiaofei plays the team’s tough-as-nails captain. She chopped off her hair and underwent six months of closed-door training to fully embody a soccer team leader.
Dilraba Dilmurat takes on the role of the team’s star striker. The actress drew attention for gaining 8 kilograms to look more convincing as a formidable soccer athlete.
Lay Zhang steps into the coach’s shoes. He’s earning praise for nailing a character described as “having comedic value, but also carrying real responsibility.”
Stephen Chow returns to the big screen as both producer and director, bringing back the absurd comedic flavor that’s been his trademark since the Shaolin Soccer era.
‘Shaolin Soccer’ Nostalgia and Absurd Comedy Are Back
For fans who’ve been longing for the golden age of Hong Kong cinema, Kung Fu Soccer feels like a breath of fresh air. Most attendees at the early screenings say the film successfully recaptures that thick, absurd comedic vibe.
“The opening scene where the ball nearly smashes into a plane instantly took me back to Shaolin Soccer. The absurd comedic tone is so strong, the whole room was laughing until they ran out of breath,” wrote one viewer on Weibo.
Visually, the film doesn’t cut corners either. With a reported visual effects budget of 380 million yuan (around $53 million), the integration of traditional martial arts and soccer is packaged in a seriously impressive way. Audiences are treated to scenes where the softness of Tai Chi is used for dribbling, all the way to the raw power of Wing Chun punches translated into deadly shots.
Cast Dedication and Unexpected Emotional Depth
Behind all the action spectacle, Kung Fu Soccer holds unexpected emotional depth. The film manages to touch viewers emotionally by portraying the real struggles of female athletes who often don’t get adequate attention.
“Zhang Xiaofei trained hard for half a year, Dilraba Dilmurat gained significant weight, and Lay Zhang plays a coach who ‘has comedic value and real responsibility.’ These three carry the entire film’s quality. The most touching part isn’t the visual effects—it’s these girls having to work part-time jobs just to survive, but the light in their eyes never goes out,” shared one reviewer.
The female solidarity depicted in the film also earns special praise. Instead of showing rivalry or clichéd drama, the film highlights how the players support each other through tough times.
Critical Notes: Public Skepticism and Avoiding Sports Movie Clichés
While most early reviews are positive, viewers who’ve already seen the film also have some critical observations. Several admit they were skeptical before going in.
“At first, I thought this was just another ordinary inspirational movie with a martial arts layer on top,” wrote one viewer, representing the doubts many people might have felt before watching.
Viewers also voiced concerns about public perception that’s turned skeptical ahead of time. “A lot of people are calling it a bad movie before even stepping into the theater, feeling like Stephen Chow is just selling nostalgia to cash in,” shared one reviewer.
There’s also criticism about how modern audiences understand Chow’s signature comedic style. “These days, people seem to have a harder time grasping what true absurd comedy really is. The slightest bit of absurdity gets questioned as just a pile of visual effects,” wrote another reviewer.
However, those who’ve seen the film emphasize that Kung Fu Soccer successfully avoids the typical sports movie clichés. “This film doesn’t sell a superhero narrative or some miracle falling from the sky,” wrote one reviewer. “There’s no manufactured perfect comeback—just ordinary people chasing their dreams.”
Final Thoughts
Despite some public skepticism, Kung Fu Soccer has proven it can spark curiosity and emotion in the audiences who’ve experienced it. The blend of absurd comedy, martial arts action, and heartfelt sports drama gives it serious legs.
Will this film mark Stephen Chow’s comeback in the sports genre, or will it stumble under divided audience expectations? Audiences will be the ultimate judges when Kung Fu Soccer hits theaters nationwide on July 11 in China and for global audiences on August 2026.
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