Disney’s live-action remake of Lilo & Stitch has claimed the top spot at the box office, while Karate Kid: Legends is off to a slow start.
The newest Karate Kid installment is expected to earn around $21 million in its opening weekend, according to Sony. However, other estimates suggest it may not break the $20 million mark. That’s a significant drop from earlier projections of $25 to $30 million. The film was made on a reported $45 million budget.
Karate Kid: Legends features Ralph Macchio returning as Daniel LaRusso and Jackie Chan as Mr. Han, alongside newcomer Ben Wang as Li Fong. Despite a strong 90% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes, the film’s critical reception has been mixed, with a 59% critic score and a 6.6/10 rating on IMDb.
The movie currently holds third place at the weekend box office. It trails behind Lilo & Stitch, which leads, and Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning, which earned $27.3 million in its latest weekend.
Macchio said he hopes the film introduces a new generation to The Karate Kid legacy. He also hinted that the franchise could continue, as long as the storytelling remains honest and true to the original characters.
Karate Kid: Legends is now playing in theaters.
