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Legendary filmmaker and actor Stephen Chow has made a triumphant return to the director’s chair, with his long-awaited comedy Kung Fu Soccer storming the Chinese box office in its opening weekend.
The Shaolin Soccer spinoff and Chow’s first directorial effort in seven years earned an impressive $73.6 million (RMB 500.3 million) in just two days, according to Artisan Gateway. The blockbuster accounted for nearly 75 percent of total weekend ticket sales in China, outperforming its closest rival by a remarkable nine-to-one margin.
Released across mainland China on Saturday, including on IMAX screens, Kung Fu Soccer collected $38.3 million (RMB 260.6 million) on its opening day alone. The film has also won over audiences, receiving a strong 9.4 out of 10 rating from users on ticketing platform Maoyan.
Maoyan currently forecasts the film could gross as much as $368 million (RMB 2.5 billion) during its theatrical run, although estimates are expected to change as the release progresses.
The film’s launch coincides with the 25th anniversary of the original Shaolin Soccer, which became Hong Kong’s highest-grossing local film after its 2001 release and later achieved cult status worldwide. The timing also capitalizes on heightened football enthusiasm during this summer’s FIFA World Cup.
International distribution plans are underway. Singapore-based Encore Films secured worldwide distribution rights outside mainland China last month, though a U.S. release date has yet to be announced. The company is currently negotiating territory-by-territory release agreements.
Meanwhile, Universal’s animated hit Minions & Monsters slipped to second place in its second weekend, earning $8.1 million (RMB 55.4 million), down about 50 percent from its opening weekend. The film has now grossed $32.4 million (RMB 220 million) in China after 10 days.
Coming in third was Three Kingdoms: The Beginning, the first installment of Light Chaser Animation’s planned epic series. The animated feature debuted with $4.7 million (RMB 31.7 million) over the weekend and has earned $6.4 million (RMB 43.4 million) since opening on Friday.