LayarHijau – Stephen Chow’s latest directorial effort, Kung Fu Soccer, continues its impressive run at the Chinese box office despite receiving mixed reviews from moviegoers. While reviews from Chinese audiences remain sharply divided, the film’s box office momentum has shown no signs of slowing down.
In just three days, Kung Fu Soccer grossed more than 500 million yuan (approximately US$73.7 million). The film also shattered nine records, including the highest number of opening-day screenings during China’s summer movie season and the biggest single-day box office haul for a summer comedy in the past three years.
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Despite its remarkable commercial success, reviews from Chinese audiences have sparked intense debate online. Many reviews praised the film for staying true to Stephen Chow’s signature slapstick humor, packed with rapid-fire jokes and entertaining comedic moments. Several audience reviews also applauded the movie for introducing fresh elements while preserving the filmmaker’s distinctive style.
However, not all reviews have been positive. Some viewers criticized the visual effects, saying the CGI looked unpolished and even resembled AI-generated imagery. Others felt the green screen effects were too obvious, while a number of viewer reactions argued that the storyline shared too many similarities with Stephen Chow’s earlier films and lacked enough originality.
The debate intensified after Chinese TV host Lin Hai posted his review on Weibo. After watching Kung Fu Soccer, he bluntly described the film as “very bad,” igniting widespread discussion across Chinese social media. His comments prompted countless audience responses, with some agreeing with his criticism while others defended the film and its nostalgic comedic style.
Amid the flood of reviews, Stephen Chow attended a promotional event in Tianjin on July 11, marking his first face-to-face meeting with audiences since the film’s release.
Speaking on stage, Chow admitted that he always feels anxious whenever he releases a new film. He said his biggest concern is that the final result may not be good enough, disappointing not only his longtime fans but also the cast and crew who dedicated themselves to the production.
“What I fear most is disappointing everyone,” Stephen Chow said.
Toward the end of the event, a fan suddenly asked Chow to turn around and face the audience. Although he appeared puzzled, he complied. Moments later, the entire theater erupted in unison, chanting, “Stephen Chow, we’ll always stand behind you!”
The heartfelt show of support echoed throughout the cinema. Chow smiled shyly and nodded in appreciation, while cameras captured his eyes welling up with tears. The emotional moment quickly went viral across Chinese social media, with many netizens saying they were deeply moved by the overwhelming support the legendary filmmaker received despite the polarized reviews surrounding Kung Fu Soccer.
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