Legends Box Office proves it’s time for the franchise to go to bed

It’s an official time to put the “Karate Kid” franchise to bed, perhaps permanently. Sony Pictures had hoped to exchange for the surprise revival of the 80s brand in popularity thanks to a large extent to Netflix’s “Cobra Kai”. Unfortunately, no audience who made that showed a huge, unexpected shot turned out to watch “Karate Kid: Legends” in theaters over the weekend.

Directed by Jonathan Entwistle, “Legends” opened to an estimated $ 21 million domestically over the weekend, which was good enough for third place on the charts. However, he came in far behind Disney’s Live-Action “Lilo & Stitch,” which continued its huge box office run With another $ 63 million after its first memorial day appearance set records. On that same note, “Mission: Impossible – the last account” held well enough to keep the number two spot with $ 27.3 million.

Foreign, the latest entry in the “Karate Kid” franchise drew an estimated $ 26 million for the first appearance of a $ 47 million world. That’s not terrible for a film with a $ 45 million budget, but it was also far below Pre -release estimates, which had “legends” taking at least $ 30 million in A few weeks ago. The downward trajectory going to the opening weekend was not a good sign. Now, the film has to strive with a crowded calendar of summer, with heavy strikes like “Ballerina,” “How to Train Your Dragon,” and “28 years later” arriving in the coming weeks. There is little reason to believe that in his leg will be particularly good.

“Legends” focuses on Li Fong (Ben Wang), a teenage girl moving to New York City to go to a new, prestigious school. Unfortunately, it’s not long before it attracts the attention of a local Karate champion, forcing Li to find a way to defend herself. As a result, he tries to go to the Karate competition with the help of his Professor Kung Fu Mr Han (Jackie Chan) and the legendary Daniel Larusso (Ralph Macchio).

On paper, it seemed like a good enough idea to try to unite the whole “Karate Kid” universe under one roof. “The Karate Kid” in 2010 starred Jackie Chan and Jaden Smith was very popular, drawing $ 359 million worldwide after a $ 55 million opening that summer. But instead of existing as a redo, Sony and Entwistle chose Mr Han to Chan to the same universe as Daniel Laruso of Ralph Macchio with “Karate Kid: Legends.” Think of it as the universe “Spider-Man: No Way Home” the “Karate Kid” universe, as it were.

The problem is that “Legends” hardly link to “Cobra Kai” at all. At least, those links were not clear in marketing the film and the only reason this franchise applies in 2025 at all is because of the unexpected success of that show. Perhaps for legal reasons that Sony could not use “Cobra Kai” completely as a springboard, but proved to be a problem. Without those younger fans who only know this property of “Cobra Kai,” “legends” are little more than another attempt to regenerate the ’80s brand for people who do not go to film theaters as much as they used to.

Again, this film will eventually not be a total flop Thanks to its reasonable production budget. “Legends” have also been met with decent reviews to mixwith a- cinemascore that suggests verbally by audiences he saw. As such, he can again his leg against the odds. But while it may turn profit again, it is unlikely to make enough money to justify following a direct progression. With “Cobra Kai” over after a six -season run, it is clear that the franchise has no place left to go. It’s time to wrap things.

“Karate Kid: Legends” is in theaters now.