‘Kung Fu Soccer’ dominates China box office opening weekend

Shenzhen Film Studio’s sports comedy “Kung Fu Soccer” dominated the mainland China box office during the July 10–12 weekend, scoring a massive opening of RMB500.3 million ($73.6 million) in just two days of release, according to data from Artisan Gateway.

Written and directed by Stephen Chow, the film marks his return to the sports comedy genre more than two decades after his classic “Shaolin Soccer.” Starring Zhang Xiaofei, Dilraba Dilmurat, and Lay Zhang, the narrative follows a grassroots Chinese women’s soccer team as they utilize physics-defying martial arts choreography to compete in a high-stakes tournament.

Universal’s “Minions & Monsters” moved to second place in its second full weekend, adding $8.1 million to bring its cumulative Chinese haul to $32.4 million.

Light Chaser Animation’s historical animated epic “Three Kingdoms: The Beginning” debuted in third place, drawing $4.7 million over the three-day frame to reach a cumulative total of $6.4 million including previews. Directed by Xie Junwei, the first entry in a planned trilogy reimagines the turbulent final years of the Eastern Han Dynasty. The narrative centers on the early careers and shifting dynamic between legendary figures Cao Cao and Yuan Shao as political corruption, peasant rebellions, and personal ambitions push the capital of Luoyang into absolute chaos.

A24’s “Backrooms” secured fourth place, adding $3.2 million to push its cumulative gross to $21.8 million.

Taopiaopiao’s satirical comedy “Keep Real” rounded out the top five, collecting $3 million in its sophomore weekend for a cumulative total of $18.5 million. Written and directed by Xing Wenxiong, the film stars Bai Jingting as Superman Wang Changhai, a superhero who is dispatched back to his hometown to form a combat squad. Facing a town where long-term peace has bred complex interpersonal networks and deep-rooted social courtesies, the naive hero must navigate high-stakes local etiquette and learn to develop his emotional intelligence with the help of a local branch director played by Wei Xiang.

Mainland China’s overall weekend grosses reached $101.2 million, while the 2026 year-to-date revenue stands at $2.74 billion, down 38.6% from the same period in 2025.

-Variety