Latest news with #KarateKid:Legends'
Newsweek
03-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Newsweek
How 'Karate Kid: Legends' is Connected to 'Cobra Kai'—Which to Watch First
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Entertainment gossip and news from Newsweek's network of contributors The sixth movie in the Karate Kid franchise, "Karate Kid: Legends," has officially hit theaters. And even though critics don't seem to be too fond of the film, fans of the series and general audiences seem to be loving it. "Karate Kid: Legends" brings back to beloved characters to the cinema: Jackie Chan as Mr. Han and Ralph Macchio as Daniel LaRusso. Additionally, the film stars Ben Wang as Li Fong, their new student. While Chan hasn't been seen in the series since the last film was in theaters back in 2010, Macchio has been a regular fixture of the wildly popular "Cobra Kai" series on Netflix, which just released its sixth and final season. More Entertainment: 'Karate Kid: Legends' - Everything We Know So Far Naturally, this has fans of the television show wondering if anything from "Cobra Kai" will make it into the film. That being said, these same fans may be disappointed. Warning: This article contains spoilers for both "Karate Kid: Legends" and "Cobra Kai" Season 6. Jackie Chan and Ralph Macchio in 'Karate Kid: Legends.' Jackie Chan and Ralph Macchio in 'Karate Kid: Legends.' Sony Pictures How is 'Cobra Kai' Connected to 'Karate Kid: Legends'? "Karate Kid: Legends" is focused on continuing the story and legacy from the previous Karate Kid films. Unfortunately, that doesn't seem to fully include "Cobra Kai." "There are many, many seasons of 'Cobra Kai.' This is not a 'Cobra Kai' movie. It's within the Karate Kid universe," director Jonathan Entwistle said, per Jake Hodges and Perri Nemiroff of Collider. "It's another chapter in the story. It's another graphic novel in the sequence." This doesn't mean that "Cobra Kai" fans have been cut out completely. In a post-credits sequence, William Zabka as Johnny Lawrence shows up to hang out with Daniel after he receives a heartwarming letter from Li. However, that's all fans of the Netflix series will be getting. Do You Need to Watch 'Cobra Kai' Before 'Karate Kid: Legends'? Based on this information, it doesn't feel like watching "Cobra Kai" is at all necessary to enjoy "Karate Kid: Legends." Instead, fans of the franchise should turn their heads to the original movies starring Macchio and Pat Morita, as well as "The Karate Kid" from 2010 starring Chan and Jaden Smith. More Entertainment: Jackie Chan, 71, Injured During Filming Still, it is absolutely worth watching all six seasons of "Cobra Kai" just because it is wildly entertaining television with exciting martial arts action and plenty of drama. Additionally, if you want to see everything in the Karate Kid universe, "The Next Karate Kid" is also a fun watch with Morita reprising his role as Mr. Miyagi and a young Hilary Swank playing Julie Pierce, his new student. More Entertainment: Stephen King 'Carrie' Remake Officially Reveals Main Cast The Real-Life Tech Bros that Inspired HBO Max's 'Mountainhead' New on Prime Video: Full List of Movies, Shows Hitting the Streaming Platform in June 2025 For more movie, television, and entertainment news, head on over to Newsweek Entertainment.
Hype Malaysia
03-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Hype Malaysia
'Karate Kid: Legends' Review: A Spiffy Legacy Sequel That Respects The Original & Even Expands Upon It
Everyone, in one way, shape, or form, has seen or heard of the legendary 80s film 'The Karate Kid'. It was a pivotal film that not only introduced the titular martial art to the western world, but also became the cornerstone of subsequent films like it, be they direct sequels or otherwise. With a bit of hindsight, the film also serves as a sort of time capsule, capturing the essence of popular culture as well as the 80s in general. Now, after almost 40 years since the original, the franchise has crane kicked its way into cinemas with 'Karate Kid: Legends' and is set to once again embed the love of the sport into the next generation with the help of new and old actors alike. The movie wastes no time and plunges us deep into present-day Beijing, where we follow our protagonist Li Fong (played by Ben Wang), a practitioner of kung fu and student of Mr Han (played by Jackie Chan). However, Li's mother (played by Ming-Na Wen) is against the martial arts and fighting as a whole following a family tragedy. In order to distance her son from kung fu, she brings Li to New York, where they can start anew. Unfortunately for her, this does not work, as Li uses his skills to not only defend himself, but also those he cares for. What follows is a series of training montages that not only see Li and a new friend develop their fighting prowess, but also help them develop their characters. When you peel back the layers and look deep into the heart of this movie, you'll notice that 'Karate Kid: Legends' shares almost all the same plot points as the original movie that kicked off the entire franchise, with a few key changes that help avoid it being labelled as a true carbon copy. A kid from a different state or country goes to a specific place in the United States. There, the protagonist befriend a girl, and they develop the hots for each other, but the girl's jealous ex-boyfriend steps in and bullies the hero, often leaving him beaten and bruised after the first bout. That is but a brief observation of the first act of 'Karate Kid: Legends'. Though the second act differs with a few key changes, rest assured that a large portion of the third act remains relatively the same as the OG. However, this isn't necessarily a bad thing, as it is the only safe way of introducing the story to a new generation while still pleasing original fans. Though it is nothing new and leans heavily on fan service, 'Karate Kid: Legends' is a unique legacy sequel that not only respects the original story but also builds upon it with a lovely entry to the franchise. The writing and comedy of the film are neat and on point; not one gag felt out of place, largely due to its great execution. Not only that, the supporting cast of the film is highly enjoyable. Each character, no matter how small, adds the much-needed heart to the movie that not only prevents this entry from being nothing but a full-blown action movie, but also helps it retain that grounded, human aspect that made the original so iconic. However, 'Karate Kid: Legends' is not without its flaws. One thing we really dislike about the film is its pacing. Due to the fast-paced editing that relies heavily on a lot of jump cuts and flashy imagery, we can't help but feel that the movie just goes by without rhyme or reason, and the story suffers for it. Much like the original, 'Karate Kid: Legends' also features a deep story of loss, this time for the main protagonist. Had the movie decided to slow down and explore this key detail, we might have had a more gut-wrenching film that sends us on an emotional rollercoaster. This problem is compounded when you notice that it has a meagre 1 hour and 34 minute runtime. If the film had an extra 30 or so minutes that were solely used to develop the characters with less jarring editing, we would have had a slam dunk of a movie that could easily rival the original. Furthermore, when you watch the trailer after the movie, you'd notice that so many details were cut, so much so that the tone and emotional weight of the film are totally different. Hopefully, one way or another, an extended version of the film might see the light of day for us to enjoy in the future, correcting all that is wrong about this movie. Overall, 'Karate Kid: Legends' is an enjoyable legacy sequel that plunges us into the shared world of kung fu and karate. Packed with a loveable ensemble with a lot of heart in it, the film not only honours the original movie in every possible way, it expands upon it in many wonderful directions. However, its short runtime and overuse of jump cuts ruin the film's pacing, which could have been used to deliver an emotional ending that the film sorely needed. 'Karate Kid: Legends' Will Be In Cinemas 5th June, 2025. What's your Reaction? +1 0 +1 0 +1 0 +1 0 +1 0 +1 0 Follow us on Instagram, Facebook or Telegram for more updates and breaking news.
Yahoo
03-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Ben Wang Describes the 'Brutal' Audition Process for 'Karate Kid: Legends' (Exclusive)
Ben Wang Describes the 'Brutal' Audition Process for 'Karate Kid: Legends' (Exclusive) originally appeared on Parade. In November 2023, Jackie Chan and Ralph Macchio appeared in a video launching a global casting call to find the next Karate Kid. Macchio, who played Daniel LaRusso in the original 1984 iteration of The Karate Kid and Chan, who plays kung fu master Mr. Han in the 2010 reboot, would be joining forces to unify the franchise with a new young lead. Only four months later in February 2024 after an intense worldwide search, Sony Pictures announced that American Born Chinese star Ben Wang had nabbed the role of Li Fong, the latest titular martial artist. While chatting with Parade, Wang describes the nearly two-month-long audition process as "brutal and terrifying." The casting journey required "like seven different tapes and meetings and meetings," according to Wang. "They were thorough because they were really specific about what they wanted, and so it's a long, hard process and there was a martial arts section. I'm really happy, and I feel lucky that what they wanted was me." After all his hard work, Wang found out he'd got the role in about as unglamorous a way as possible. "I was at my home, at my abode," he remembers. "I think i got the call when I was in the bathroom, and then I shifted it to somewhere with better lighting." 🎬 SIGN UP for Parade's Daily newsletter to get the latest pop culture news & celebrity interviews delivered right to your inbox 🎬 While Chan and Macchio were not actively involved with the scouting process, they're both thrilled that Wang ended up earning the part. "When you see the movie, it is truly the choice of one," Macchio says. "I did see the screen test, and then I watched a little bit of American Born Chinese, and you saw the pieces of his humor and likability, but more so when working with him on the set, everything really came [together]." Chan, who has been working with martial artists on screen for decades, was a bit tougher to impress. "I got the video too," he remembers. "Videos all same. You know, they spin around, they do some martial arts. Why this guy? They already choose for me. 'That's Ben Wang. He will be the karate kid.' I just wondering, 'Why him?' But my stunt team, they call me, 'Wow! The young guy is so clever. Whatever we teach him, he learned so fast.' Okay, everybody learns fast." It wasn't until Chan started working with Wang on set that he became impressed with Wang. "Not on the screen, behind the scene, I was taking a rest," Chan says, recalling the moment he warmed up to Wang. "He was on the corner, still practicing. I said, 'That young kid, good.'" Forever the jokester, Chan then adds, "When he fought with me, then 'Yeah, not as good as me, but good.'" "I'm really happy with that assessment," Wang replies laughing. Related: Of course Macchio and Chan have years of experience in the business and couldn't help but share some advice with the newcomer. "Just be yourself," Macchio remembers telling Wang. "This character, the protagonist in this universe of these Karate Kid films: it's the essence of genuine truth of character. So the more Ben that is infused in Li Fong, the more we believe him on this ride. That's how I portrayed it back in the day, and I see the same thing in him." Chan says he didn't need to give any acting advice to Wang, but "only when the action sequence coming, I maybe a little trick, little secret things I taught him." Individualized lessons from Jackie Chan is certainly what every marital artist dreams of. Chan, however, is now waiting for the favor to be returned. "He learned everything," Chan says of Wang. "You spent three months to learn everything from me. Pay me!" Ben Wang Describes the 'Brutal' Audition Process for 'Karate Kid: Legends' (Exclusive) first appeared on Parade on May 30, 2025 This story was originally reported by Parade on May 30, 2025, where it first appeared.
Arab Times
02-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Arab Times
‘Lilo & Stitch' becomes 2nd highest-grossing film of 2022
LOS ANGELES, June 2, (AP): 'Lilo & Stitch' and 'Mission: Impossible- The Final Reckoning' dominated the box office charts again after fueling a record-breaking Memorial Day weekend. Theaters in the US and Canada had several new films to offer this weekend as well, including Sony's family-friendly 'Karate Kid: Legends' and the A24 horror movie 'Bring Her Back. ' According to studio estimates Sunday, it added up to a robust $149 million post-holiday weekend that's up over 120% from the same timeframe last year. Disney's live-action hybrid 'Lilo & Stitch' took first place again with $63 million from 4,410 locations in North America. It was enough to pass 'Sinners' to become the second-highest-grossing movie of the year with $280.1 million in domestic ticket sales. Globally, its running total is $610.8 million. 'Sinners,' meanwhile, is still going strong in its seventh weekend with another $5.2 million, bumping it to $267.1 million domestically and $350.1 million globally. The eighth 'Mission: Impossible' movie also repeated in second place, with $27.3 million from 3,861 locations. As with 'Lilo & Stitch,' that's down 57% from its opening. With $122.6 million in domestic tickets sold, it's performing in line with the two previous installments. But with a reported production budget of $400 million, profitability is a ways off. Internationally, it added $76.1 million (including $25.2 million from China, where it just opened), bringing its global total to $353.8 million. 'This is the year of long-term playability,' said Paul Dergarabedian, Comscore's senior media analyst. 'The currency of word of mouth and the stronghold is more important than opening weekend dollars.' Leading the newcomers was Sony's 'Karate Kid: Legends,' with an estimated $21 million from 3,809 locations. The movie brings Jackie Chan and Ralph Macchio together to train a new kid, the kung fu prodigy Li Fong (Ben Wang). Chan starred in a 2010 reboot of the 1984 original, while Macchio has found a new generation of fans in the series 'Cobra Kai,' which just concluded a six-season run. Reviews might have been mixed, but opening weekend audiences gave the PG-13 rated film a strong A- A-CinemaScore and 4.5 stars on PostTrak. It also only cost a reported $45 million to produce and has several weeks until a new family-friendly film arrives. 'Karate Kid: Legends' opened earlier internationally and has a worldwide total of $47 million. Fourth place went to 'Final Destination: Bloodlines,' which earned $10.8 million in its third weekend. The movie is the highest-grossing in the franchise, not accounting for inflation, with $229.3 million globally. The weekend's other big newcomer, 'Bring Her Back' rounded out the top five with $7.1 million from 2,449 screens. Starring Sally Hawkins as a foster mother with some disturbing plans, the film is the sophomore feature of twin filmmakers Danny and Michael Philippou, who made the 2023 horror breakout 'Talk to Me.' It earned a rare-for-horror B+ CinemaScore and is essentially the only new film in the genre until '28 Years Later' opens on June 20. A new Wes Anderson movie, 'The Phoenician Scheme,' also debuted in New York and Los Angeles this weekend, where it made $270,000. It expands nationwide next weekend. The summer box office forecast remains promising, though there's a long way to go to get to the $4 billion target (a pre-pandemic norm that only the 'Barbenheimer' summer has surpassed). The month of May is expected to close out with $973 million - up 75% from May 2024, according to data from Comscore.
Pink Villa
02-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Pink Villa
Karate Kid Legends Day 4 India Box Office: Jackie Chan-Ralph Macchio's martial arts film earns earns DISMAL Rs 50 lakh on 1st Monday
Sony Pictures' Karate Kid: Legends is off to a dim start in India, with the film failing to capitalize on the nostalgia factor or the global star power of Jackie Chan and Ralph Macchio. After four days of release, the martial arts drama has just earned Rs 4.05 crore nett in the market, out of which Rs 50 lakh came from today's run. Despite being part of a beloved international franchise and featuring two iconic stars reprising their roles, the film's India run is proving underwhelming. The box office numbers reflected a sharp drop today, on day 4, with just Rs 50 lakh business—a significant fall from Sunday's already modest Rs 1.50 crore. The film's India collections are not very far off from its global performance, given it has only raked in Rs 47 million since its May 30 debut. Looks like the fans were expecting a more action-loaded and emotionally hooking effort. Here's a day-wise collection breakdown of Karate Kid: Legends' India box office: Directed by Jonathan Entwistle and written by Rob Lieber, Karate Kid: Legends serves as a continuation of both the 2010 reboot and the hit Netflix series Cobra Kai. While the film drew some attention for merging two different timelines of the decades-spanning saga, it is failing to appeal to audiences overall, including in India, where it is particularly struggling amid both local and international competition that continues to dominate screens and viewers' attention. The film stars Ben Wang in the lead as a new protege mentored by Mr. Han (Chan) and Daniel LaRusso (Macchio). The supporting cast includes Joshua Jackson, Sdaie Stanley, and Ming-Na Wen. Karate Kid: Legends premiered in Mexico City earlier in May and was released globally on the aforementioned date. It has garnered mixed critical reviews, with experts praising the performances and nostalgic callbacks but disapproving of the predictable plot and pacing. With weekday numbers expected to dip further, the India leg of Karate Kid: Legends seems unlikely to recover. The film's performance may force studios to reassess the pull of legacy franchises in overseas markets and keep them running in territories where their runs are comparatively decent.
