Karate Kid: Legends struggles at box office as Lilo & Stitch and Mission: Impossible dominate

Despite boasting the nostalgic star power of Ralph Macchio and Jackie Chan, Karate Kid: Legends is shaping up to be a subdued return for the martial arts franchise at the domestic box office. Sony Pictures projects a third-place opening for the PG-13 action drama, with early estimates in the $21–$23 million range. The numbers are a dip from initial tracking, which once hovered around $35 million just weeks ago before settling at $25 million leading into the weekend.

While critics remain split, audiences appear more forgiving. The film has earned an A- CinemaScore and has been received positively in early exits. Sony remains confident, citing the film’s modest $45 million production budget as a reason to stay hopeful about its legs in the coming weeks.

The film introduces Ben Wang in the lead role, playing a young martial artist who trains under the guidance of Macchio’s and Chan’s characters. Macchio, of course, is best known for headlining the original Karate Kid films and more recently Netflix’s Cobra Kai, which concluded its six-season run earlier this year. Chan, who previously starred in the successful 2010 reboot alongside Jaden Smith, helped that film reach a $55 million opening and go on to become one of the year’s biggest hits.

Further complicating its box office performance is fierce competition. Disney’s Lilo & Stitch continues to soar in its second weekend, holding firm at the No. 1 spot. The live-action remake opened to an enormous $183 million and is expected to bring in over $60 million this weekend, pushing its total domestic haul toward a staggering $280 million.

Meanwhile, Mission: Impossible — The Final Reckoning remains a box office juggernaut. Tom Cruise’s final outing as Ethan Hunt is tracking for a second-place finish with an estimated $28 million this weekend. The film crossed the $100 million mark domestically on its eighth day in theatres and currently sits at $122 million after a record-breaking $79 million holiday weekend debut.