‘Karate Kid: Legends’ Headed for $25 Million Debut as ‘Lilo & Stitch’ Continues Box Office Dominance

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“Karate Kid: Legends” will ride a wave of nostalgia to a $25 million opening weekend.

I’m excited to be a part of the anticipation surrounding the upcoming film, “Karate Kid: Legends,” where action icon Jackie Chan and Ralph Macchio, known for his legendary crane kick from the 1984 original, join forces. The Sony Pictures release is further boosted by the popularity of “Cobra Kai,” the Netflix series that expanded the franchise to streaming. Some industry insiders believe that if fans show up in large numbers, this movie could earn an impressive $30 million during its debut weekend.

While the more modest forecasts would still represent a credible success for the upcoming sequel, which came with a budget-friendly price tag of $45 million. Yet, it’s unlikely to dethrone “Lilo & Stitch” as the current box office king. The family-oriented film raked in an astounding $182.6 million over the Memorial Day weekend. Anticipating a further earnings of over $60 million in its second week, it’s expected to exceed the $400 million mark by Thursday. With such impressive earnings, “Lilo & Stitch” is on track to be one of the standout hits of the year. Remarkably, this movie was made for only $100 million and initially planned for a release on Disney+.

The movie “Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning” is expected to come close to beating “Karate Kids: Legends” for second place at the box office. After earning $79 million over the holiday weekend, it’s projected to bring in an additional $30 million. However, with a budget of $400 million and earnings approaching $300 million worldwide, the movie still needs to attract large crowds to turn a profit. Achieving this, much like breaking into a submerged submarine in the Arctic Ocean, could be quite challenging.

Over the weekend, another new wide-release film from A24, titled “Bring Her Back,” is projected to earn around $6 million in its debut. This Australian supernatural horror movie centers around siblings who stumble upon a chilling ritual at their foster mother’s residence. Given the current popularity of the horror genre, it’s possible that this film may surpass expectations. Critics have taken a liking to the movie and Sally Hawkins’ compelling performance, awarding it a 90% “fresh” rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

In the world of independent cinema, Focus Features plans to debut Wes Anderson’s movie titled “The Phoenician Scheme” in a restricted showing first. This film is another fantastical tale meticulously crafted by the director behind “The Grand Budapest Hotel” and “Rushmore”, boasting an impressive cast that includes Benicio del Toro, Mia Threapleton, Riz Ahmed, Tom Hanks, and Benedict Cumberbatch.

The movie industry is currently experiencing a period of increased stability compared to its state only a few months ago. The Memorial Day box office smashed previous records, giving hope to theater owners who have faced strikes and pandemics that significantly disrupted their operations. With successful movies like “Lilo & Stitch,” “A Minecraft Movie,” and “Sinners” leading the way, they are eager to capitalize on this momentum and continue their growth.

Maybe Daniel LaRusso can keep the good times rolling.

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2025-05-29 01:48