Stephen Chow's 'Kung Fu Soccer' Kicks Into U.S. and U.K. Cinemas Oct. 23

Stephen Chow's "Kung Fu Soccer" arrives in cinemas in the U.S., Canada, the U.K. and Ireland on Oct. 23, Encore Films has announced. The Singapore-based distributor will release the action-comedy both in its original language and in a newly produced English-dubbed version.

Jimmy O. Yang, MC Jin and Chow himself voice their own characters in the English dub. A Cantonese-language dub is also finished, though its voice cast remains under wraps.

What's behind the release date?

The Western rollout follows a substantial run elsewhere. Mainland China got the film first, on July 11, and it became the country's top-grossing title of the summer season, earning some $349 million. Southeast Asia followed in August: Singapore and Cambodia on Aug. 6, then Indonesia, Hong Kong, Macao, Malaysia, Brunei and Thailand.

So Encore is bringing over a proven hit, not a gamble. The question a distributor would ask is whether a Chinese summer blockbuster can travel to English-speaking markets — and the studio's answer is a tailor-made dub with recognizable names attached.

Who's in it?

Zhang Xiaofei, Dilraba Dilmurat and Lay Zhang Yixing head the cast, joined by Carina Lau, Satoh Takeru, Sisley Choi, Angel Woo, Xue Ye, Louis Cheung, Yang and MC Jin.

The story follows the Emei Women's Football Team, written off as underdogs, as it competes for the Supreme Invincible Cup. Captain Shuangshuang, striker Yulong and mentor Xu Feng lead players who fuse martial arts technique with ball skills in their push for the title.

The premise marks a return, 25 years on, to territory Chow staked out in 2001 with "Shaolin Soccer," which built a global fanbase. He followed it in 2004 with "Kung Fu Hustle," a film known for its intricate fight choreography and visual inventiveness. This time, women take the field.

What does the distributor say?

"Following the tremendous response to 'Kung Fu Soccer' across Asia and Oceania, we're excited to bring the film to cinema audiences in the U.K., Canada, U.K. and Ireland," said Joyce Lee, managing director of Encore Films.

Lee argued that Chow's films have always crossed language and cultural lines, uniting audiences through his mix of action, comedy and heart. "At Encore Films, we believe that great films and the filmmakers behind them deserve more than just a theatrical release," she said. "Their creative vision and legacy should be respected, carefully nurtured and developed for generations to come."

That legacy framing matters for a company like Encore. Founded in 2003, it has handled titles including "Ne Zha 2," "John Wick: Chapter 4," "Suzume," "The Boy and the Heron," "The New King of Comedy" and "La La Land." It also produces: its Singapore box office success "Young & Fabulous" is among its credits, and its second feature, "Fat Hope," is now in post-production.

The Oct. 23 release effectively tests whether Chow's brand — and a $349 million Asian box office — can convert into Western ticket sales when the original language ships alongside a star-voiced English dub.