Karate Kid: Legends came out swinging, raking in $7.5 million at the domestic box office on its opening day, Friday, May 30, 2025, with $2.3 million of that from Thursday previews. The latest chapter in the Karate Kid saga, released by Sony and Columbia Pictures, is looking at a $20 million weekend, though some box office watchers think it could hit $25-$30 million if fans keep showing up over the Memorial Day holiday.
Directed by Jonathan Entwistle, Legends brings back Ralph Macchio as Daniel LaRusso from the 1984 classic and Jackie Chan as Mr. Han from the 2010 reboot. They’re mentoring a new kid on the block, Ben Wang, who plays Li Fong, a Chinese teen who moves to New York City and trains under both martial arts legends for a big Five Boroughs karate tournament. With a tight $45 million budget, the movie’s already on track to be a win for Sony, tapping into the Karate Kid fanbase and the hype from Cobra Kai, which just wrapped its final season on Netflix.
It’s not all smooth sailing, though. The box office is packed with heavy hitters. Disney’s live-action Lilo & Stitch is still king, pulling in $17 million on its second Friday and eyeing a $60 million weekend. Paramount’s Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning with Tom Cruise isn’t far behind, grabbing $7.7 million on Friday for a projected $27.3 million weekend. A24’s creepy Bring Her Back also debuted, earning $3 million on Friday, including $850,000 in previews, and is headed for a $6-$7 million opening.
Critics haven’t been totally kind to Legends, giving it a so-so 57% on Rotten Tomatoes and calling it a fun but predictable ride that leans hard on nostalgia. Fans, though, are eating it up, giving it an A- CinemaScore and a 4-out-of-5 on PostTrak. On X, people are buzzing about the action-packed fight scenes and family-friendly vibe, though some say the 94-minute runtime—the shortest in the franchise—feels rushed and doesn’t give Macchio and Chan enough screen time.
Overseas, the movie’s off to a decent start, pulling in $11.5 million so far, including $5.7 million from Latin America, with Mexico leading at $3 million. Back home, pre-sales have been a bit softer than hoped, likely because of the crowded summer movie slate and big releases like How to Train Your Dragon waiting in the wings.
With Macchio and Chan back in action, a fresh face in Ben Wang, and the Cobra Kai crowd hyped, Karate Kid: Legends is holding its own. It might not knock out Lilo & Stitch, but its low budget and nostalgic charm make it a solid contender. As the holiday weekend rolls on, we’ll see if Li Fong’s got the chops to keep the Karate Kid legacy alive.
Source: Deadline