Karate Kid: Legends has made an unexpected mark at the box office, achieving a significant milestone in less than a month since its theatrical debut. Reviving the beloved martial arts franchise, this movie comes 15 years after the last installation, the 2010 reboot featuring Jackie Chan as Mr. Han. Following the triumphant run of Cobra Kai on Netflix, Legends merges the stories of Daniel LaRusso (Ralph Macchio) and Mr. Han as they mentor the next karate prodigy, Li Fong (Ben Wang). The sequel made a commendable $21 million in its domestic opening and has gradually climbed the franchise’s box office ranks.
According to Deadline, Karate Kid: Legends has surpassed the $95 million global threshold in less than a month. The film is projected to wrap the week with a total nearing $98.3 million globally, including $49.3 million from domestic markets and $48.8 million internationally. As of now, it stands as the third-highest-grossing Karate Kid film, having overtaken the original 1984 movie last week.
Why The Karate Kid: Legends Box Office Milestone Is Important
It’s Close To Hitting The Break-Even Point
The box office success of Karate Kid: Legends’ is pivotal, especially as it strives to reach its break-even point. With a production budget of $45 million, it typically requires a film to earn at least 2.5 times its costs to be considered a success. Early predictions suggest Legends may cross the $100 million mark soon. Achieving this feat would position it as only the third Karate Kid installment to reach that level, inching closer to a break-even point estimated between $100 million and $115 million.
Moreover, the film’s milestone signifies its ascent toward The Karate Kid, Part II in the franchise’s rankings. While its predecessor effortlessly surpassed the original’s earnings, reaching the second-highest spot may prove tricky since Part II raked in over $115 million. Although box office momentum for Legends has recently slowed amid the emergence of summer blockbusters, its steady pace has fostered good prospects.
Karate Kid Movies | Domestic Box Office | Global Box Office |
|---|---|---|
The Karate Kid (1984) | $90,815,558 | $90,858,381 |
The Karate Kid, Part II (1986) | $115,103,979 | $115,103,979 |
The Karate Kid, Part III (1989) | $38,793,278 | $38,793,278 |
The Next Karate Kid (1994) | $8,751,228 | $15,851,228 |
The Karate Kid (2010) | $176,591,618 | $351,774,938 |
Karate Kid: Legends (2025) | $49,376,000 | $98,300,000 |
It’s important to recognize that box office performance significantly influences a franchise’s future. Legends represents the franchise’s first film in over a decade and serves as a critical litmus test beyond Cobra Kai. Despite its decent performance to date, there are no current announcements from Sony regarding a potential sequel. The overall future of the franchise remains in a state of flux after the conclusion of Cobra Kai. While Macchio and the creative team have floated ideas for spinoffs, nothing has been publicly confirmed by Netflix.
Our Take On Karate Kid: Legends Box Office Milestone
While it’s premature to say definitively if Legends will achieve break-even status, its current standing is more favorable than many movies this summer. The smaller budget contributes to its potential success. Unlike larger franchise films such as Thunderbolts and Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning, which have struggled at the box office, Legends finds itself in a manageable position.
The film is benefitting from a slow and steady rollout. The Karate Kid series continues to resonate with fans, especially since its resurgence on Netflix. Despite mixed reviews from critics, Legends has garnered a solid audience score of 92% on Rotten Tomatoes, indicating strong word-of-mouth and a growing box office. Even if it doesn’t achieve break-even, its popularity leaves the door open for home viewing success and a swift transition to streaming platforms.
Source: Deadline