‘Moana’ stalls at global box office as ‘Kung Fu Soccer’ scores

Deadline is reporting that ‘Moana’ has reached about $95 million worldwide, a softer-than-hoped run that mirrors its underwhelming U.S. performance, while Stephen Chow’s ‘Kung Fu Soccer’ has jumped into second place globally. The update, published July 13, 2026, puts both films at the center of a reshuffled summer box office picture.

With ‘Moana’ struggling to “catch a wave” internationally and ‘Kung Fu Soccer’ kicking above expectations, studios and cinemas are staring at a season where audience momentum is coming from unexpected places. The contrast between a major Disney release and a Stephen Chow sports comedy is now one of the most revealing stories playing out on screens this week.

Why ‘Moana’ at $95M worldwide is raising eyebrows

Deadline’s report that ‘Moana’ has climbed to $95 million worldwide underlines how muted the film’s box office run has been so far. The outlet notes that it has “failed to catch a wave” overseas much as it has in the United States, which is striking for a Disney-branded title that arrived with name recognition already baked in.

When a studio film with the Disney logo underperforms both domestically and abroad, it is usually a sign that marketing, timing, or word of mouth has not clicked in the way executives hoped. The $95 million global mark, as framed by Deadline, suggests that international audiences have been slower to turn out, even in markets that typically buoy family-oriented releases.

For moviegoers, the key takeaway is simple: ‘Moana’ is not currently occupying the dominant, every-screen-in-town footprint that a big animated or family film often holds. That can make it easier to find seats in some territories, but it also hints that exhibitors may not keep it on premium screens for long if momentum does not build quickly.

“A Disney-branded release sitting at $95 million worldwide this far into its run is the kind of number that makes the industry stop and reassess.”

Stephen Chow’s ‘Kung Fu Soccer’ emerges as a surprise player

In the same update, Deadline highlights Stephen Chow’s ‘Kung Fu Soccer’ as the breakout surprise of the frame, noting that it has kicked its way into second place overall at the global box office. That placement is significant on its own, since it puts a sports comedy in direct conversation with Hollywood’s biggest titles this week.

Chow’s name carries particular weight for fans who follow Asian comedy and genre mashups, so a film titled ‘Kung Fu Soccer’ slotting into the number two position will not be entirely shocking to that crowd. For more casual moviegoers, though, the news that this is the title climbing the charts while heavier marketed studio fare wobbles is a reminder of how quickly momentum can shift once audiences start talking.

The fact that ‘Kung Fu Soccer’ has surged into second overall means it has likely outpaced a number of better-known franchises and brands in the same window. If that holds, viewers can expect distributors and streamers to start positioning the film more prominently, treating it as a word-of-mouth winner instead of a niche regional story.

“‘Kung Fu Soccer’ landing in second place globally turns a Stephen Chow sports comedy into one of the week’s most influential box office stories.”

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What the ‘Moana’ and ‘Kung Fu Soccer’ split says about global tastes

Taken together, the two data points in Deadline’s reporting sketch a picture of audiences gravitating toward variety. ‘Moana’ carries the security of a well-known Disney title yet is struggling to spark repeat viewing, while ‘Kung Fu Soccer’ is converting curiosity into tickets quickly enough to reach the overall number two spot.

This kind of split often hints at a few overlapping dynamics. Family titles can be more sensitive to competition and school calendars, whereas a high-concept sports comedy from a recognized filmmaker like Stephen Chow can surge when early viewers champion it on social platforms or in tight-knit local markets. The result is a box office chart where a familiar name sits oddly low and a supposed underdog looks like the momentum play.

For fans who track international film trends, the headline detail to remember is that ‘Kung Fu Soccer’ is one of the films punching above its perceived weight right now, while ‘Moana’ is an example of how even a globally recognized brand can stall if conditions are not ideal.

“A Disney release cooling off while a Stephen Chow sports comedy heats up is the clearest example this week of how unpredictable global tastes have become.”

What is at stake for studios and theaters this week

Numbers like the ones Deadline reports carry real consequences for how studios and cinemas behave over the next stretch of the summer. A global total of $95 million for ‘Moana’ raises questions about how long exhibitors will prioritize it on premium formats, since screen real estate is limited and theaters naturally gravitate to whichever titles are generating the strongest turnout.

On the other side of the ledger, a film like ‘Kung Fu Soccer’ climbing into second place overall can quickly change how it is handled. Distributors may push for wider international rollouts, more showtimes in markets where it is playing, or stronger placement in promotional materials. That is how a “surprise” can quietly cement itself as a season-defining success.

For viewers, the stakes are more practical. If you want to catch ‘Moana’ on the biggest screen in your city, the current numbers suggest doing it sooner rather than later. If you are curious about ‘Kung Fu Soccer, ’ its rise into the global top tier means it is worth checking local listings regularly, since theaters could add or move showings as word spreads.

“If you want ‘Moana’ on a giant screen and ‘Kung Fu Soccer’ at a convenient showtime, the decisions driven by this week’s numbers will decide your options.”

How to follow the ongoing box office story on Spinn Radio

Deadline’s July 13 report is a snapshot of a box office race that will keep shifting as new markets open and word of mouth builds. ‘Moana’ could still find a late bump in territories where it has only just arrived, while ‘Kung Fu Soccer’ has room either to consolidate its surprise second-place standing or to fall back if competition stiffens.

For anyone tracking which films rise or fade over the next few weeks, Spinn Radio’s film hub is the place to watch the story unfold. You can stay on top of how ‘Moana, ’ ‘Kung Fu Soccer’ and the rest of the summer slate are performing, and what that means for what will be playing near you, by heading to Explore film coverage on Spinn Radio.

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