The self-produced and directed film “Kung Fu Women’s Soccer” (referred to as “Women’s Soccer”) by Stephen Chow was released in mainland China on the 11th, with a total box office of over 200 million RMB on the first day. Amid the impressive box office performance, Stephen Chow’s agent announced on social media that the newcomer actor Xueye, who stood out in the massive audition, plays the same-named character in the film.
“Women’s Soccer” stars Chinese leading actress Zhang Xiaofei, popular actress Dilraba, actor Zhang Yixing as the main leads, with appearances by Carina Lau and Japanese actor Sato Takeru. The film released its first full trailer only on the 10th, combining elements of soccer and kung fu, with many scenes instantly reminding fans of Stephen Chow’s classic film “Shaolin Soccer” from 25 years ago.
The day before the official release of the film, pre-sale box office soared to 88.88 million. This number not only set a record for the highest pre-sale of Chinese summer films in the past three years but also achieved the best pre-sale performance in the same period. According to Maoyan Professional Edition data, as of 18:32 on that evening, the film’s total box office on the first day of release had exceeded 200 million.
It is worth noting that despite the limited promotional efforts for the film so far, just with a poster and a 20-second trailer, it still attracted a large number of viewers eager to purchase tickets. The number of “want to see” on Maoyan exceeded 8 million, setting a new high for the summer box office this year. The film accounted for 56.2% of the screening on the first day of release, with a remarkable 93.9% box office share, showing its strong momentum.
Many industry insiders are optimistic that “Women’s Soccer” could become a dark horse at the summer box office, as the film combines the “Stephen Chow sentiment”, a luxurious cast, and a favorable release date. The phrase “owe Stephen Chow a movie ticket” has once again become a hot topic among netizens.
The phrase “owe Stephen Chow a movie ticket” originates from Stephen Chow’s past classic works such as “God of Gamblers,” “Fight Back to School,” and “Shaolin Soccer.” Many audiences watched these films through television or videotapes at the time. As Stephen Chow transitioned to directing behind the scenes, fans expressed their hope to support his works by buying tickets to the cinema, “making up” for the movies they did not purchase back then. This phrase has since become a representative slogan in support of Stephen Chow’s films.
As “Women’s Soccer” dominated the box office, Stephen Chow’s agent took the opportunity to officially announce the new generation of starlet, the 19-year-old newcomer Xueye. This is the first time in 8 years that Stephen Chow has used a newcomer, sparking widespread attention. She has signed with “Xinghui Overseas Limited Company” and had no prior acting experience before being cast in her first film even before starting at the Central Academy of Drama.
Photos shared on Weibo show Xueye with long glossy black hair, deep double eyelids, a prominent nose, and fair skin, exuding a unique cold charm that is both ethereal and memorable, privately dubbed as a “very obedient younger sister.”
During the casting audition for “Women’s Soccer,” Xueye stood out among 10,000 people and was personally endorsed by Stephen Chow. In the film, she plays the character Xueye, showcasing extraordinary light skills on the soccer field, performing high-difficulty moves such as aerial dribbling and volley shots. Stephen Chow personally supervised all of Xueye’s scenes during filming, deliberately toning down her delicate makeup and packaging to show her natural appearance with bare face, sweat, dirt, and messy hair strands after running, conveying a combination of a cold and reserved exterior with inner resilience and storytelling. Due to Stephen Chow’s strict confidentiality, it was not until the film’s first day of release that her photos were exposed.
Currently, there are mixed opinions in the mainland Chinese market regarding “Women’s Soccer.” Supporters believe that the film still retains Stephen Chow’s unique nonsensical style and sentiment, while some netizens criticized that the special effects in the film seem somewhat outdated, the density of jokes is not as high as in previous works, and some even stated that “Stephen Chow’s style of humor is best delivered when he performs himself.”