LayarHijau – Stephen Chow’s latest film, Kung Fu Soccer, continues to dominate China’s summer box office. After seven days in theaters, the film has grossed more than 900 million yuan (approximately $125.4 million). However, despite its strong performance, the movie has become embroiled in a controversy over alleged ticket sales fraud at several cinemas.
In recent days, several social media users have claimed that some theaters engaged in fraudulent ticketing practices. According to the reports, moviegoers received handwritten tickets, blank tickets, or tickets that were not issued through China’s official ticketing system. The alleged scheme allowed part of the ticket revenue to go unreported, meaning a portion of the film’s box office earnings may have been withheld from the official records and the producers.
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In response to the allegations, the official Kung Fu Soccer account released a statement on July 13 urging audiences to support fair moviegoing practices and reject any attempts to manipulate or underreport box office revenue. The production team also opened a reporting channel for moviegoers who encounter suspected violations.
On July 16, Stephen Chow addressed the controversy himself. The filmmaker shared several images of handwritten movie tickets on social media, posting nothing more than three question marks (“???”). Despite the brief message, the post quickly sparked widespread discussion online.
Commenting on the case, Fu Jian, director of Henan Zejin Law Firm, explained that the practice, commonly referred to in China as “box office theft,” typically involves issuing handwritten tickets, bypassing the official ticketing system, or falsifying and concealing ticket sales records. As a result, part of the revenue that should be counted toward the film’s official box office and distributed to the producers is allegedly hidden.
According to Fu, such practices not only reduce the revenue legally owed to the filmmakers but may also constitute tax evasion and violate regulations governing China’s film industry.
Under China’s Film Industry Promotion Law, theaters found guilty of concealing or falsifying box office revenue may be ordered to correct their practices, forfeit any illegal gains, and face financial penalties. In more serious cases, authorities can suspend theater operations or revoke their operating licenses altogether.
If the conduct is also determined to involve tax evasion, those responsible may face additional penalties under China’s Tax Collection and Administration Law. Tax authorities can recover unpaid taxes, impose late payment charges and administrative fines, and pursue criminal charges if the violations meet the threshold for criminal prosecution.
Fu also outlined the available legal remedies. Film producers can report suspected violations to China’s film regulators and the China Film Distribution and Exhibition Association. Meanwhile, moviegoers who receive handwritten or blank tickets are advised to refuse them, keep proof of purchase and other evidence, and file complaints through the film’s official reporting channels, the industry association, or China’s 12315 consumer complaint platform.
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