The summer box office is heating up with Disney’s live-action Lilo & Stitch leading the charge, while Sony’s Karate Kid: Legends makes a notable debut.
Karate Kid: Legends Returns After 15 Years
Karate Kid: Legends marks the franchise’s first theatrical installment in 15 years, following the 2010 reboot starring Jackie Chan. That earlier version opened to $55 million and earned $359 million globally.
This new film, directed by Jonathan Entwistle, reunites Chan with Ralph Macchio—who starred in the 1984 original—as they train a new generation. The story picks up three years after the Cobra Kai finale, with Ben Wang (American Born Chinese) stepping into the lead as Li Fong, a kung fu prodigy in New York mentored by Daniel LaRusso (Macchio) and Mr. Han (Chan).
Thanks to the popularity of Cobra Kai, which ran for six seasons across YouTube Red and Netflix, the franchise has remained relevant with younger audiences—and Legends is building on that momentum. It debuted with $21 million in North America and $47 million worldwide.
In India, the Hindi version—featuring voiceover work by Ajay Devgn—earned ₹1.6 crore on day one, signaling strong international interest.
Other Box Office Highlights
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Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning secured second place with $27.3 million, bringing its global total to $353.8 million.
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Final Destination: Bloodlines continued its strong performance, earning $10.8 million and becoming the franchise’s highest-grossing entry with $229.3 million globally.
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Horror film Bring Her Back debuted with $7.1 million, rounding out the top five.
Lilo & Stitch and Mission: Impossible Just Crushed Memorial Day Weekend Records!
A Promising Summer Ahead
With May’s box office revenues reaching $973 million—a 75% increase from May 2024—the summer movie season is off to a robust start. Analysts anticipate continued momentum with upcoming releases and sustained audience interest
