‘Karate Kid: Legends’ disappoints with $21 million debut as ‘Lilo & Stitch’ stays on top

(Yahoo) – Karate Kid: Legends got kicked around at the box office this weekend, opening below expectations in third place with just $21 million.

Heading into the weekend, Sony’s action sequel was projected to debut with $25 million. Despite holding a “certified rotten” rating from critics on Rotten Tomatoes, the movie boasts a 91 percent audience approval score and earned an A-minus grade from CinemaScore exit polls. This marks the first Karate Kid movie since the 2010 reboot starring Jaden Smith, which opened to $55 million and went on to gross $359 million worldwide.

Topping the box office over the May 30–June 1 weekend was Lilo & Stitch, which brought in $63 million during its second weekend. The live-action Disney remake has amassed $280 million in North America and an additional $330 million overseas, bringing its global box office total to an impressive $610 million to date.

In second place, Mission: Impossible — The Final Reckoning earned $27.3 million over the weekend, bringing its domestic total to $122 million and its global box office haul to $353 million. Rounding out the top five were Final Destination Bloodlines in fourth place with $10.8 million and newcomer Bring Her Back, which debuted in fifth place with $7.1 million.

The sixth installment of the nostalgic franchise introduces Ben Wang as Li Fong, a young kung fu prodigy and the great-nephew of Mr. Han (Jackie Chan). After moving to New York City with his mother, Li finds himself unwittingly pulled into a dangerous world of underground fighters and thugs. With the intervention of his great-uncle Mr. Han — and legendary ally Daniel LaRusso (Ralph Macchio) — Li is inspired to enter the highly anticipated Five Boroughs Tournament.