The iconic Jackie Chan is back with a punch—literally. Teaming up with rising star Ben Wang, his latest film Karate Kid: Legends has been making waves across global cinema screens. While the movie was expected to be a blockbuster in its spiritual homeland, China, reality turned out quite different. Surprisingly, the world welcomed it with open arms, but China turned away with barely a glance.
Let’s break it down: the film dropped twelve days ago and carried a massive budget of $45 million—roughly ₹375.75 crore. With breathtaking scenes filmed across Japan, New York, Canada, China, India, and the U.S., the production spared no expense. And it shows. Globally, the movie has already raked in a solid ₹617.12 crore, proving there’s still some solid karate fever around the world.
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In India, the film pulled in a decent ₹8.72 crore over the past week, according to box office tracking portal Sacnilk. Not bad at all for a franchise that first kicked off in the ’80s. But when it comes to China, things took an unexpected nosedive. Despite being a key market—and the fact that the original Karate Kid and Jackie Chan both enjoy a strong following—the film collected only $500K (₹4.18 crore) in its first week. That’s a whisper compared to the noise it made elsewhere.
Compare this to China’s own anime sensation, Ne Zha 2, which was made on a whopping ₹668 crore budget and pulled off a jaw-dropping ₹1600 crore in China alone—and a global haul of ₹1837 crore. That’s the kind of cinematic dhamaka Karate Kid: Legends just couldn’t match in Chinese theatres.
Even in the U.S., the performance was modest. Over ten days, the film gathered around ₹295.59 crore. Not a disaster, but certainly not a box office earthquake either.
Still, there’s hope on the digital front. The OTT rights are secured by Netflix, and fans are already buzzing about catching the action-packed drama from the comfort of their couches. With Jackie Chan’s legacy and nostalgia working in its favor, this could be where Karate Kid: Legends gets its real second wind.
But let’s talk real—why did China give it the cold shoulder?
First, the marketing strategy seemed off. The film was promoted in China as if it were a generic international release, with little localization or cultural outreach. For a market that values films steeped in local culture and tradition, that was a miss.
Second, the audience preference in China has shifted. Viewers there are increasingly leaning toward stories that reflect Chinese heritage—films that are “rooted in their soil,” so to speak. That’s exactly what Ne Zha 2 offered. A mythical, animated journey wrapped in Chinese folklore was always going to strike a deeper emotional chord than an international martial arts reboot.
And third? Timing. Karate Kid: Legends found itself sharing screens with heavy-hitters like Tom Cruise’s latest installment of Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning. With limited screens and big competition, the movie just couldn’t find the space to breathe in the Chinese box office jungle.
So where does this leave Karate Kid: Legends? It’s clearly a global crowd-pleaser, and Netflix could be the next battleground where it redeems itself in China and beyond. Jackie Chan may have stumbled at home turf this time, but worldwide? The legend is still kicking.
Because let’s face it—when Jackie Chan steps into the dojo, the world always watches. Maybe not with the thunderous applause he’s used to in China this time, but certainly with respect, love, and a little dose of nostalgia. And that, in today’s ever-shifting cinematic world, still packs a punch.
