【Epoch Times News, July 29, 2026】 – Directed and written by Stephen Chow (also known as Sing Yeh), “Kung Fu Women’s Soccer,” has now been in theatres for 18 days since its release on July 11th. The total box office earnings have surpassed 2 billion RMB, officially surpassing “Love Letter to Grandma,” and rising to the second place in the 2026 mainland box office rankings, just behind “A Better Tomorrow 3.”
Starring Zhang Xiaofei, Dilraba Dilmurat, and William Chan, the film combines elements of Shaolin Kung Fu and soccer, continuing Stephen Chow’s iconic “Kung Fu soccer” style from “Shaolin Soccer.” The story revolves around a women’s soccer team, the “Emei team,” as they compete in the Asian Women’s Soccer Cup, depicting their journey from being underestimated to a triumphant victory.
In June 2023, Stephen Chow announced on his new IG account that the initial draft of the script was completed and launched a global search for female actors. It took 2 years from the announcement of the completion of the script to the official completion of the film. The movie’s box office has exceeded 2 billion RMB as of 2:35 pm on July 28th, and the “Cat’s Eye” professional version predicts the total box office revenue could surpass 3 billion RMB.
Since the film’s release, its box office performance has been soaring, sparking discussions and excitement both inside and outside the cinemas. Recently, comments made by Xiang Zuo and his mother Chen Lan (Xiang Tai) during a live stream have unexpectedly become a hot topic among netizens.
During a recent visit to his mother’s livestream, Xiang Zuo was asked about his opinion on “Kung Fu Women’s Soccer.” Initially making a joking remark about the movie’s title, calling it “Shaolin Women’s Soccer,” he then humorously advised the audience not to go see the film, causing a stir in the chat room.
Seeing her son’s comments, Xiang Tai immediately stepped in, urging everyone to support the film, especially individuals in the entertainment industry, emphasizing the importance of supporting the film industry to prevent its decline. Xiang Zuo quickly changed his tune, stating he was just joking and added, “We shouldn’t create conflict in the entertainment industry.”
The back-and-forth banter between mother and son led to netizens comparing the exchange to a stand-up comedy routine.
The live stream segment quickly spread online, with many netizens commenting that Xiang Zuo’s remarks actually piqued their curiosity and made them more interested in watching the film. Some even joked that his comments unintentionally turned into alternative advertising for the movie.
A few days later, Xiang Tai hosted another live stream and mentioned a male actor she had previously worked with. She noted how his popularity and earnings increased significantly over time but implied that he had become distant from his former colleagues after becoming famous, suggesting a lack of gratitude. Though she didn’t mention any names directly, her comments sparked speculation among netizens, with some interpreting her remarks as aimed at Stephen Chow.
According to reports from Hong Kong media, Xiang Huaqiang’s “China Star” group had previously invested in and produced several classic works by Stephen Chow, such as “A Chinese Odyssey” and “The Mermaid.” However, the two parties had a falling out many years ago, and Xiang Tai had publicly criticized Stephen Chow on multiple occasions on public platforms or social media.
It is noteworthy that despite the comments made by Xiang Tai and her son during the live stream and the ensuing online discussions, Stephen Chow has maintained his usual silence, choosing to focus on the work itself.
In the Hong Kong film industry, many collaborators, directors, and veteran actors who have worked with Stephen Chow have openly confirmed or praised him for never speaking ill of others behind their backs.
As the longtime partner of Stephen Chow and their golden collaborator, Ng Man-tat, when faced with rumors of discord between them and the various criticisms directed at Stephen Chow, Ng Man-tat had unequivocally stated that despite what others say, Stephen Chow had never spoken ill of anyone or gossiped about others behind their backs.
Starring as “Madam Wah” in “Flirting Scholar,” actress Cheng Pei-pei once expressed her disagreement during the “Down with Chow” movement, stating how she couldn’t align herself with the attacks aimed at Stephen Chow. She emphasized, “I cannot forget my gratitude, without Sing Yeh, there would be no ‘Madam Wah.’ And in the entertainment industry for so many years, I have never heard Stephen Chow speak ill of anyone.”
Having collaborated on multiple classic works such as “Fight Back to School” and “Flirting Scholar” with Stephen Chow, Wong Yuk-long has repeatedly shared in interviews and videos that while the public often labels Stephen Chow as having a bad temper and being difficult to work with, the most admirable trait of Sing Yeh is that he never talks behind someone’s back or responds to negative criticisms or attacks directed at him.
Hong Kong actress Cecilia Cheung once stated that Stephen Chow is a genius immersed in his own cinematic world. Despite being strict on set, he never criticizes or belittles his colleagues privately.
As many fans and media have concluded, “While everyone in Hong Kong may speak ill of Stephen Chow, has anyone ever heard Stephen Chow speak ill of someone else?” The focus on movie-making and avoidance of industry disputes have earned Stephen Chow the respect of countless die-hard fans.
Externally, it is widely believed that the recent live streams by Xiang Tai and her son are an extension of the long-standing grievances between their family and Stephen Chow. As his new movie is currently in the spotlight, their recent comments have inadvertently generated immense publicity and attention for the film.