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Vivienne Chow

Kung Fu Hustle, the much-hyped  film written, directed and starring Stephen Chow Sing-chi,  grossed $670,000 in just one special showing on the day before its official release.

On Wednesday, 83 cinemas held a 10pm preview, with a spokeswoman for the MCL Circuit saying that 80 per cent of tickets had sold within two hours.

Cinema operators said tickets to shows yesterday, today and  for the weekend had sold out.

A spokeswoman for the Broadway Circuit said the speed of ticket sales was phenomenal.

'It's definitely the fastest-selling in history. We don't have the figures yet but it certainly is better than Infernal Affairs [in 2002]. Maybe it's because of the hype.'

She said tickets for several screenings last night had been snapped up by corporate bookings, with shows at Palace IFC sold out in two hours.

UA Cinemas said that because the film was proving so popular, additional screenings would be added.

It is the only Cantonese mainstream feature opening over Christmas.

Fantasia, the best-selling Hong Kong movie of the year, grossed $25 million  in its run in  January and February.

Kung Fu Hustle, which had a budget of $100 million and took three years to make, is seen as Chow's chance to break into the international market. It earned rave reviews  at film festivals earlier this year.

Office worker Poon Kit-man, 28, said she laughed a lot more than when she watched Chow's last hit Shaolin Soccer (2001), which grossed more than $60 million.

'You can feel that Chow Sing-chi made the film from his heart, and this film is truly dedicated to the art of Chinese kung fu,' she said.

'But he didn't appear in the film that much. I was a little disappointed. Maybe he's trying to evolve from being merely an actor to a director and producer.'

But Ng Ka-chuen, 30, who works in the transport field, felt the film was a let-down.

'Maybe the hype is too  much and I expected too much,' he said. 'I don't think it was hilarious enough. People didn't laugh as much as  with Shaolin Soccer. But the kung fu at the beginning was really cool.'



Kung Fu preview hustles fast cash as fans kick record sales along