Kung Fu Hustle, a martial arts comedy picture released in 2004 and directed by Stephen Chow, has surpassed Shaolin Soccer, a martial arts sports comedy film released in 2001 and also directed by Stephen Chow, to become the highest-grossing Hong Kong-made movie in Hong Kong. This achievement was achieved in the month of February 2005. The box office earnings for the first four days of Kung Fu Hustle were HK$60 million (US$7.
7 million), whereas the total box office earnings for Shaolin Soccer were HK$58 million (US$7.5 million) for its whole run in theatres. The final box office total for Kung Fu Hustle in Hong Kong was greater than HK$100 million, which is equivalent to US$12.
9 million. The popularity of the film Kung Fu Hustle sparked a newfound desire in Hong Kong residents to watch films about martial arts. The movie was well received by critics and audiences all over the world, and it earned more than US$100 million at the worldwide box office.