Stephen Chow never chases quick gains in his decades-long career. For his 2.2 billion-grossing kung fu women's football film, he set clear extension rules, rejecting unplanned short-term box office gains to safeguard the work's reputation and industry order.
“Kung Fu Girls,” which has grossed 2.2 billion at the box office, has not announced an extension of its theatrical run, but Stephen Chow has directly revealed the specific details regarding the extension.
With
decades of experience in the industry, Stephen Chow has always had a reputation for not chasing quick profits. On numerous occasions in the past, when releasing his films, he has voluntarily foregone significant short-term gains,Most people believe that keeping a film in theaters for just one extra day translates to tangible additional revenue. Other studios would do anything to extend the run as long as possible—eager to squeeze out every last penny—but he alone refuses to accept even a fraction of short-term revenue that isn’t part of his original plan.
As soon as the
news broke, he issued an official statement that clearly shut down any potential avenues for fraudulent practices aimed at inflating box office figures.At that time, the practice of box office fraud and the pursuit of petty gains had long been prevalent throughout the film industry. To avoid such risks, many film distributors were actually reluctant to keep their films in theaters for too long, fearing that their profits would be eroded by covert fraudulent activities.
At the time, many industry insiders privately said he was being foolish—giving up the remaining domestic box office revenue that was clearly within his grasp just like that, effectively throwing money away for no reason.
In reality, he had always carefully weighed the pros and cons. By foregoing these scattered, short-term gains, he secured the film’s long-term critical legacy, the purity of its content’s dissemination, and the freedom to pursue an undisturbed global distribution strategy.
This decision has also charted a path worth following for the future direction of the entire industry.
Going forward, moviegoers will no longer have to worry about illegal practices in the shadows when they walk into theaters; they’ll be able to enjoy high-quality films in their entirety with peace of mind. Film distributors will also be able to earn legitimate profits openly and honestly, without having to stray from the fundamentals of their business for the sake of petty gains—this is precisely the healthy state of affairs that most in the industry have been hoping for.By offering more support to these professionals—who abide by the rules, resist the temptation of petty gains, and work diligently—a positive industry culture will naturally take shape through a series of small, positive choices.
