Chinese nostalgia makes 'Kung Fu Soccer' a hit but will it score overseas?

Media & EntertainmentControversies arise over Hong Kong filmmaker Stephen Chow's reimagining of 'Shaolin Soccer'Filmmaker Stephen Chow's latest hit in China, "Kung Fu Soccer," has stirred up debate over its derivative content amid its international rollout. (Photo by Anne Chan)ANNE CHANAugust 9, 2026 08:30 JSTHONG KONG -- Filmmaker Stephen Chow's latest comedy has become China's biggest box-office hit so far this summer, helping revive a sluggish theatrical market even as critics and moviegoers remain sharply divided over whether the Hong Kong actor-director has recaptured the magic of his earlier classics like "Shaolin Soccer."