Is Stephen Chow's 'Kung Fu Women's Soccer' Good? Netizens Point Out '4 Flaws' with Polarized Reviews: Looks Like AI-Generated, Plot Is Just a Copy of 'Shaolin Soccer'

Stephen Chow's self-written and directed sports comedy 'Kung Fu Women's Soccer' premiered in mainland China on July 11, 2026. The film stars Zhang Xiaofei, Dilraba Dilmurat, and Zhang Yixing, with special appearances by Carina Lau and Kentaro Sakaguchi, bringing kung fu moves back to the soccer field and inevitably drawing comparisons to 'Shaolin Soccer' from 25 years ago.

'Kung Fu Women's Soccer' has achieved strong box office results, but critical reception is polarized, with visual effects, plot, and actor performances becoming focal points of controversy.

The story follows the women's soccer team 'Emei Team' as they prepare for the 'Supreme Invincible Cup.' Although the players each have martial arts backgrounds, they lack discipline and team chemistry. Zhang Xiaofei plays the strong-willed captain Shuangshuang, while Dilraba portrays forward Yulong, who possesses incredible shooting power. Initially at odds, the two gradually build trust, aided by training from Zhang Yixing's character, Xu Feng. This underdog team begins challenging for the championship.

The film continues Stephen Chow's familiar creative style: exaggerated reactions, sudden comedic moments, manga-style match sequences, and imaginative transformations of martial arts techniques into soccer special moves. The field features not only powerful shots but also unique tactical styles for each team, making the matches feel like live-action sports anime. For fans of 'Shaolin Soccer' and 'Kung Fu,' the music, humor, and underdog triumph narrative carry strong Stephen Chow hallmarks.

'Kung Fu Women's Soccer' opened with a 6.6 rating on Douban on July 12, with nearly 80,000 users participating in reviews—17% gave five stars, while 8.6% gave one star. However, ratings fluctuate with participation, and by July 20, the Douban page showed a 6.5 rating. Data indicates divided opinions, though three- and four-star ratings remain the majority.

Fans generally praise the film for retaining Stephen Chow's absurdist charm. The pacing is fast, match scenes are frequent, and the humor avoids realism, instead portraying soccer as a comic battle. For viewers familiar with Chow's works, the exaggerated effects and illogical performances are part of the comedic universe's inherent worldview. Some argue that rather than judging it by conventional sports film standards, it's better to treat it as a kung fu fairy tale to better appreciate its rhythm.

The shift to a female-led team is another reason some viewers give positive feedback. While the story still follows the familiar underdog team formula, the focus shifts from a single hero leading the team to victory, instead emphasizing how female players with diverse personalities and abilities learn cooperation through conflict. The evolving relationship between Shuangshuang and Yulong—from rivalry to mutual trust—forms the film's central character arc.

However, negative reviews mainly focus on the lack of originality in the plot. Many viewers feel that 'Kung Fu Women's Soccer' closely mirrors 'Shaolin Soccer' in structure—from assembling an underdog team, undergoing training, facing unique opponents, to challenging for the championship—only replacing Shaolin monks with the Emei women's soccer team. While the familiar formula evokes nostalgia, reusing the same character dynamics, conflicts, and comedic approaches creates a sense that it's merely a re-shoot with a new cast.

Actor performances are another source of controversy. When Stephen Chow starred himself, he often balanced exaggeration with deadpan delivery, but in 'Kung Fu Women's Soccer,' other actors taking on this rhythm result in some scenes feeling overdone. Frequent shouting, slapstick, and physical collisions in the first half are seen as lively and funny by some, while others feel characters remain in a constant state of hyperactivity, lacking pauses that allow comedic moments to land.

Visual effects quality has also drawn significant criticism. Some viewers believe the soccer balls, fire effects, and character flight sequences have an intentionally rough, synthetic look, appearing subpar for a 2026 commercial blockbuster and even resembling online shorts or AI-generated videos.

Additionally, frequent product and brand placements disrupt audience immersion. When brand names repeatedly enter the narrative, it interrupts otherwise cohesive match and comedy sequences, reinforcing criticisms of excessive commercialization.

'Kung Fu Women's Soccer' is not a fully upgraded version of 'Shaolin Soccer,' but rather Stephen Chow reusing his familiar formula, swapping in a women's soccer team to retell the underdog triumph story.

The film's strengths are clear: fast pacing, numerous match scenes, exaggerated imagination, and retention of Stephen Chow's signature absurd humor. The flaws are equally evident: outdated plot formula, overly loud performances, and visual effects and product placements that easily break immersion.

Viewers who enjoy Stephen Chow's early works and can accept manga-style effects and exaggerated acting may still find familiar humor and passion in the film. However, those expecting more mature characters, refined visual effects, and genuinely innovative kung fu soccer storytelling compared to 'Shaolin Soccer' may find 'Kung Fu Women's Soccer' falling short of expectations.

'Kung Fu Women's Soccer' Flaws Main Controversies Lack of Originality: Plot structure seen as too similar to 'Shaolin Soccer,' following the same underdog team training, competition, and triumph formula Over-the-Top Performances: Excessive shouting, slapstick, and exaggerated movements criticized as forced imitations of Stephen Chow Rough Visual Effects: Obvious synthetic look, described as resembling AI videos or web films, weakening match impact Nostalgia Over Innovation: Heavy reliance on Stephen Chow's past styles and jokes, raising questions about relying solely on nostalgia