According to NetEase News, the Future Capital Investment Management Co., Ltd., founded by Li Lin, the founder of Huobi, is one of the main producers of Stephen Chow’s new movie “Kung Fu Women’s Football.” The specific amount of funding involved has not been publicly disclosed. The film premiered nationwide on July 11, starring Jiaxia Zhang, Dilraba, and Yixing Zhang. The entire film includes more than 1,200 groups of kung fu soccer special effects shots.
“Kung Fu Women’s Football” production cost breakdown: nearly $190 million in special effects, nearly 50% share; marketing expenses almost zero
According to reports, the film’s total production cost is about 380 million yuan (RMB), with the breakdown of expenditures as follows:
Special effects production: about 190 million yuan (RMB) (accounting for nearly 50%, with all special effects handled by C-live AI visual teams under China Film Group)
Total actor appearance fees: about 57 million yuan (RMB) (accounting for only 15%)
On-site set construction and hardware: about 70 million yuan (RMB)
Intensive training, music, and post-production operations: about 63 million yuan (RMB)
Marketing expenses: almost zero
Xinghui Overseas takes control of a $380 million investment; Stephen Chow is the largest contributor
According to reports, the film’s capital structure shows a clear “in-house control” setup: Stephen Chow’s Xinghui Overseas Co., Ltd. is not only the primary investor and producer but also the IP holder. The entire movie is led by Xinghui Overseas in both funding and filming. Although the list of producers includes 19 entities, most are cultural media and capital management companies providing financial investments.
China Film (China Film Corporation) has stated that it will not participate in the investment. It only retains its producer-credit because it participated in the project filing and approval process, and it also serves as the joint distributor; Maoyan is the primary distributor.
China Film Group’s “three-pronged layout”: controlling investment, AI special effects service fees, and monetization across the entire industry chain from theaters to streaming channels
According to reports, China Film Group’s investment strategy forms a commercial closed loop: while acting as a jointly funded party, its C-live AI visual team handles all special effects for the film, totaling nearly 190 million yuan (RMB). As a result, part of the investment flows back in the form of technology service fees. Additionally, as the former Wanda Pictures holder, China Film Group can secure priority theater scheduling through its own theater network and conduct subsequent rights operations through its streaming platform “Pumpkin Movie.”
The report also notes that China Film Group, through this cooperation with Stephen Chow’s Xinghui Overseas, has established a long-term strategic partnership and obtained priority investment rights for future projects. Some industry insiders have questioned the quality of the special effects, with viewer comments criticizing them as “Wumao-style special effects.” Furthermore, the film chose not to hold press screenings (preview screenings) and went straight to nationwide release, attracting industry attention.
Frequently Asked Questions
What role does Future Capital, under Huobi founder Li Lin, play in “Kung Fu Women’s Football”?
According to NetEase News, Future Capital Investment Management Co., Ltd., founded by Li Lin, is one of the main producers of “Kung Fu Women’s Football.” The specific funding amount has not been publicly disclosed. The film’s primary producer-investor is Xinghui Overseas Co., Ltd., owned by Stephen Chow.
What is the total production cost of “Kung Fu Women’s Football,” and what share do special effects fees account for?
According to reports, the film’s total production cost is about 380 million yuan (RMB). Of that, special effects production costs about 190 million yuan (RMB), accounting for nearly 50% of the total; all special effects are produced by the C-live AI visual team under China Film Group.
How did the pre-sale box office performance of “Kung Fu Women’s Football” turn out?
According to reports, after pre-sales opened, they exceeded 10 million yuan (RMB) within 8 hours. By July 9, pre-sales had surpassed 45 million yuan (RMB). The film was released nationwide on July 11, and Maoyan’s forecast for the total box office has been raised to 900 million yuan (RMB).
