Is Karate Kid: Legends the Next Box Office Hit?

Karate Kid: Legends is experiencing a remarkable ascent within the franchise’s box office rankings, inching closer to a monumental global achievement. Under the direction of Jonathan Entwistle, this latest chapter features kung fu prodigy Li Fong, portrayed by Ben Wang, who embarks on a journey of mastery alongside Mr. Han (Jackie Chan) and Daniel LaRusso (Ralph Macchio) in preparation for a significant karate competition. Initial reviews for Karate Kid: Legends have been mixed, yet audience enthusiasm has propelled it to an opening weekend of $20.3 million at the box office.

Recent data from The Numbers reveals that Legends has reached a worldwide total of $91.4 million, surpassing the original 1984 film’s total of $90.8 million (not adjusted for inflation). This impressive total consists of $45.7 million domestically and an equal figure internationally, bringing it tantalizingly close to the coveted $100 million milestone.

What This Means For Karate Kid Legends

How The Film Compares To Other Entries In The Franchise

Karate Kid: Legends was produced with an estimated budget of $50 million. In alignment with the standard Hollywood benchmark, the film’s break-even point may be around $125 million—a target it could aspire to if it maintains its theatrical presence in the coming weeks. On Rotten Tomatoes, Legends boasts an impressive 92% audience score, and its week-to-week box office drops signify positive word-of-mouth. Notably, the film only faced a 39% drop in ticket sales between its second and third weekends, reflecting strong audience retention.

Even should Legends cross the break-even threshold, it faces a daunting challenge to claim the title of the highest-grossing entry in the series. As shown in the table below, 2010’s The Karate Kid holds that title with a staggering $351.7 million worldwide, a figure currently out of reach for the new release. Regardless of its box office fate, Legends has the potential to find success in the realm of home-viewing platforms. Given the favorable reception of the Cobra Kai series, the possibility of future installments in the Karate Kid saga seems promising, albeit likely with reduced budgets.

More to come…

Source: The Numbers