The Karate Kid whomped The A-Team this weekend at the box office, to earn $56 million from Friday to Sunday as compared to the A-Team’s relatively paltry $26 million. Karate Kid performed about $20 million over estimates and puts little Jaden Smith, 11, on par at the box office with his dad Will.
Showing the box-office moves of Will Smith, the 11-year-old kicked a disappointing summer back into gear with a fantastic $56 million Friday-Sunday debut for The Karate Kid.
As for The A-Team, the weekend’s other major release—and 1980s revival… Well, it could’ve used some Smith family magic.
The $100 million-ish adventure looked B-list with an underwhelming $26 million debut.
More results:
• The Karate Kid made its bank from families (45 percent of ticket buyers brought their own karate kids, an audience survey showed), and, interestingly, people who weren’t yet born when the Ralph Macchio original was released in 1984 (56 percent of moviegoers were under 25).
• The A-Team, based on the 1983-87 TV series, never really had a chance of showing up The Karate Kid—not when The Karate Kid cost about $60 million less to produce.
• It’s not surprising that The Karate Kid is the biggest opener of Jaden Smith’s young career. It is surprising that the film debuted larger than all but two of his dad’s movies.
• After three weekends at No. 1, Shrek Forever After ($15.8 million) slipped to third. It consoled itself by surpassing $200 million domestically.
[From E! Online]
Karate Kid is being praised by critics, and has a respectable 69% aggregate rating on Rotten Tomatoes. I haven’t seen it yet as I opted to check out Shrek 4 with my kid instead this weekend. It wasn’t as bad as I was expecting, but was still utterly forgettable and ill conceived. It’s hard to find decent movies to see with children, which is why films like Karate Kid clean up at the box office. We also saw Marmaduke and Furry Vengeance recently and they were both terrible. Marmaduke wasn’t as bad as Furry Vengeance, but it was still predictable and completely trite.
The Karate Kid isn’t about karate exactly, but involves wushu, a type of kung fu. Young star Jaden Smith explained on Letterman that the film was named in honor of the producer of the first (and second) Karate Kid, who helped them out by allowing them to use the original name.
Jaden was very calm and self assured on Letterman, but it veered into tween arrogance at times. The little kid is a movie star and he knows it. (You can watch the video below and here.) Letterman asked Jaden if he goes to school and he joked “right now, I’m not in school, because I’m here with you.” When Letterman asked him if he’d seen the original Karate Kid, Jaden quipped “I had to, because I knew that you’d be asking me.”
go away smith family
The ray bans on such a youngin are a little over the top… just a wee bit. But when you’re loaded, what does it matter, really.
@bite me: I was thinking the exact same thing as I briefly scrolled down the page.
For a laugh, this is great:
http://www.funnyordie.com/videos/c8ad4aa802/wax-on-f-ck-off-with-ralph-macchio?rel=player
I read a review that said this Karate Kid served as a glamour vehicle for Jaden Smith, and weighed in at a whopping 140 minutes. That’s an awful long movie for a child to sit through.
While I adore Will & Jada, the arrogance on this child’s face in that last pic says it all.
@bite me – yes indeedy go away smith family. all of ya!
I am totally refusing to take my kids to see Karate Kid, just on general principles. I saw the A Team over the weekend and it totally rocked! Neeson, Bradley, Rampage and Sharlto totally nailed the original characters without making them cheesy. I’m taking my kids to see it instead:)
Over the week end I spoke with a woman who said she took her 12 year old daughter to the show to see this. She said that the place was packed and that when the movie was over the entire crowd atarted clapping.
Jada and her two bio children look ready to sign on with a rock-funk band.
While the older son and Will seem way more middle of the road and amused by the other family members.
To the poster abv, the Smith family will be around as long as they are successful. I think it is safe to say they will be around for quite a few years to come.
I hope Will and Jada teach their son the difference between being confident and being cocky/arrogant, because that kid is borderline having a full fledge ego-trip, or is he already having one?
Just cannot stomach this family.
Eh, he didn’t seem *that* obnoxious. I’ve been around precocious kids that age who are much, much more annoying.
My kids saw the movie with their dad and really liked it.
OMG HATERS this early in the morning!!!! The Smith family is nice and they work together…blah blah blah lost my train of thought but jeez they are not at all bad people. The Karate Kid looked ten times better than the A-Team (the trailer was terrible, it was so generic it was sad) and according to the reviews it was…don’t hate because the Smith family is successful. Jeez I have never seen Will or Jada be disrespectful or arrogant. Also how many humble children have you met today? Since when are kids humble? Its trait that comes later in life or whenever. There are few humble kids but not many, I think Jaden sounded sweet and like a freaking kid.
I agree Love Angelina. I find it amazing that people can hate on a child just because he “seems” to be arrogant!! WTF?? He just open a movie at #1 with $56M. Not many ADULT actors can keep the smug off behind those numbers. Give the kid a break. Also, “Karate Kid” earned an “A” from people leaving the theatres, which means it will probably earn $200M or way more. Just because “A Team” couldn’t make the high numbers doesn’t mean you have to hate on the movie that did.
oooh he looks like his mom and it sounds like he has her attitude too.
He needs to be taken down a peg now because in a few years he will truly be out of control unbearable of Diddy proportions.
He has the potential to become one hell of an annoying little shit.
I’m out of touch. Furry Vengeance? I don’t even know what that is, and why they would make a film about a comic strip as oppressively lifeless as Marmaduke is not an answer that can achieved in this galaxy. But, to the meat: 56 million dollars? Are there any cars that need washing? I’ve got to ‘audition’ for The Will Smith’s Kid Part 2, get myself out of renter’s hell.
Oh please they kept the name “Karate Kid” to bank off the original not to “honor” anybody. That’s a joke!
And I saw The A-Team over the weekend as well and it was awesome. Have no intentions of seeing the KUNG-FU Kid.
Creepy Scientologist family is creepy.
According to Scientology, children are just adults in small bodies and should be treated accordingly. This is why there is rampant child abuse and neglect in the cult of Scientology. It does not matter if children go to school — the only thing they are required to study is L.Ron Hubbard’s scientology crap. That’s it. Children are expected to work for the cult at very young ages (under 10 years old) so that they can “clear the planet”.
I guarantee that the Smith children do not attend school. Instead they are working (the work may be glamourous, but it is work nevertheless).
The only one i like is Will, Jada seems like such a bitch and i bet it’s her pushing all the kids into showbiz…
yeah he’s cute, but fly down baby or you’ll ends up like a certain lilo..
i am taking my niece to see this next weekend, and i was dead set against seeing this, but since hearing lots of reviews [very positive reviews at that] i have changed my mind…
That is good news. Hope to have a talented kid.
If he’s not in school, he’s working with a tutor. It’s the law.
The very first time I saw the trailer for this film on TV I thought Jaden was a girl and really liked the idea of a girl kicking butt in karate. Oh, well.
Those comments he made on Letterman just seem like typical kid stuff to me. I don’t see the arrogance.
Thank you, thank you iriserra! Great clip. Man the genes on Ralph Macchio. 48? He doesn’t look a day over 25.
I’d like to round house kick him a dose of humility…
somebody please serve this kid a slice of humble pie! qick!
You can tell he’s smart, but yes, he comes across as an ego-maniac in training.
I feel bad for this kid because apparently he isn’t having a normal childhood. As I get older I realize that money and fame are not the be-all and end-all that the news media would like us to believe, and that just being a regular person who has a loving, stable family, a good education and a realistic outlook on life is better than all the sh*t we’re supposed to want. Because I know many, MANY rich people and very few of them have anything I’d want. I actually feel sorry for this kid, I can only imagine what his home life is like, what with two closeted Scienos as parents…money cannot buy good parents, you know. He’d do well to remember the saying “Pride goeth before destruction” and look to the fates of many other child stars before him, but he won’t. They never do. Poor kid, he’ll realize what he never had when he’s older and it’ll break his heart.
Oh, and I NEVER EVER go to the movies, I love celebtard gossip but do not want to support those idiots with my dollars, especially since I know that all their celebrated humanitarianism never extends to America or Americans. We have a huge disaster on the Gulf coast but where are the telethons for that like for Haiti? Where are the celebtards when the people who MADE them rich and famous are in need? Too busy helping people who don’t even know who they are so they can feed their egos by “saving” a “savage”. Scumbags, all of them!
I agree with the posters saying the boy is not that bad. 11-14 people are horrid and its their job to be obnoxious. Very few people escape 🙂 My tolerance for my 11 yr old granddaughters cockiness would be easier to deal with if she was opening $56 million dollar films. Love Angelina is right for the most part humility comes with maturity, if it comes at all 🙂
We saw this with our 8 year old this weekend and all of us enjoyed it. I know Jaden is benefiting from nepotism, but it’s obvious he had to work really hard and be very focused in order to make this movie, so I’ll give him credit for that.
Nepotism at its purest. He looks like he’s five and is a dreadful actor. Good thing he was born into the family he was.
I’m with Bite Me, tired of the Smith family.
Our family saw KK this weekend, and I loved it. I thought Jaden did a terrific job, although he was too young for the part. You simply had to suspend your disbelief, and let yourself get swept up in the fantasy of it all. The original is still an awesome film, and the new KK should stand on its own as an enjoyable and well-acted piece of family entertainment.
As for the future of Jaden in films; there’s a good chance he may enjoy the same success as his father, he seems to have inherited Will’s comfort in front of the camera. I just hope that his parents keep him grounded, if that is at all possible. Will and Jada have never been caught up in a drug or alcohol scandal, and I hope it stays that way in the family!
Having a Tutor on set is not the same as being tutored, I’m sure they can get around it when they want – they are MOVIE STARS.
He was pretty smart ass to Letterman on Letterman’s show.
YES!
I’m am glad I’m not alone! My friend begged me to see this movie. I refused. I can’t stand this smug kid!
He was great in his first movie, The Pursuit of Happiness. But he was so damn annoying in The Day The Earth Stood Still. Can’t stand him and the rest of the Smith.
Tre seems nice and NORMAL. He’s the only Smith I can tolerate.
Will Smith’s two younger kids have never, ever been inside a schoolroom. They have been privately tutored their entire school age lives. There is nothing wrong with that. There are millions of ordinary kids in America who are being homeschooled and earning good grades when they attend university. Will’s oldest son, Trey, goes to high school, is a star football player and apparently a nice young man. So, really, what makes any of you haters think the younger two won’t turn out the same way as Trey? I think some of you should be ashame for hating on this child. Jealousy is ugly but being jealous of a child is pretty disgusting.
I also do not care for the Smith family.
The whole idea of calling the movie The Karate Kid when the kid learns Kung Fu…oh puleeze. Banking off the originals name is right!
The kid looks obnoxious and I wont be taking my kids to see this. I’m not going to contribute to this brats career. Mommy and Daddy have already done enough of that.
Miranda Ann – I disagree. You’re points seems to contradict.
Tre is not home schooled and is being raised with his mother part of the time. You cite this and yet argue that because he seems normal the other Smith kids will be too. Tre being “normal” doesn’t mean the other kids will turn out exactly the same. The differences in upbringing is that Jaden and Willow ARE homeschooled and are raise solely by Will and Jada (two movie stars).
Also, not following how disliking Jaden Smith has anything to do with being jealous of him. There are so many reasons for disliking someone — most people can’t stand Rielle Hunter or Kate Gosselin. I doubt that we’re all jealous those women..
What an ugly-ass family. Yeech!
I found him annoying in Pursuit of Happiness, and he was even worse in The day the earth stood still. I don’t think I can stomach watching him again.
He’s got some cute outfits! Just wish he’s take a dose of graciousness like his dear old dad has.
Oh great, just what we need, a new mini diva, who thinks he’s all that. I won’t be seeing this, it looks crap and it won’t compare to the orgininal. The A-Team looks like utter crap too.
Wow just popped back in can’t believe all the negative comments.
The folks who comments here are clearly not the folks that lifted this movie to #1 at the box office by a large margin.
I saw this movie with my boyfriend this weekend. I am 24 and I did see the original Karate Kid when I was younger but I hardly remember it. With that said, I loved this version and I cried near the end with the scene in the car. It is really a good movie, even if you have an issue with the title it’s still worth seeing. To make myself feel better about the title, I told myself they called it that because throughout the movie Dre’s mom keeps calling his Kung-Fu “Karate”, and at one point Dre bursts out “IT’S KUNG-FU MOM!” =)
I read all the comments and was shocked that there were so many pitiful losers, heaping hate on a 12 year old. it’s shows how sick certain segment of our society have become.
Only bottom feeders hate on a young child.
I just can’t believe it, no sane adult fully equipped with the bare minimum mental faculty would ever say bad things about a child.
As much as I’d like to think Jayden’s arrogant, he really is acting just like his mom & dad. Both are known for being uber-confident. He was funny and playing along with rehearsed dialog. I hope for his sake (cause you see this so much with child actors) that he grows to Will’s full height and doesn’t get stuck with Jada’s short stature.
@Seth & Miranda Ann:
I couldn’t agree with you more.
I saw Jayden’s movie this weekend. It was a very well done remake. Of course, Jayden is somewhat precocious, both of his parents are two very confident people who make their living in the limelight. Their personalities have significantly influenced Jayden’s because WILL AND JADA ARE HIS PARENTS FOR GOD’S SAKE! Will and Jada ARE NOT TRAIN WRECKS SO WHY SHOULD THEIR CHILDREN BE?
The only “logical” reasons for so much animosity are: 1) Will Smith is very successful and well liked both nationally and internationally. 2) Will Smith is a “very wealthy” celebrity with a lovely, high profile wife. He and Jada are very supportive of one another. 3) Will Smith is not a “ghetto rat” and never claimed to be. Although he entered the entertainment business as a rapper, his music did not contain offensive language and stereotypes. 4) The Smith’s as a whole lead a somewhat private lifestyle and avoid public scandals and meltdowns. 5) The Smith’s are AFRICAN AMERICAN. The existence of successful, influential minorities who know how to “handle their business” simply rubs racists “the wrong way”. You “haters” should “get over it” and focus on your own issues.
Geeze, so much hate here people. My brother took my 11 year old nephew(who by the way comes up with his fair share of “whitty “retorts and sarcastic quips) to see this and he said it was really good.
@ Seth, RIGHT ON! It’s so sad to see adults heaping so much undeserved hatred onto a successful and confident child.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, some people just have a problem with seeing confidence and success with some people of color and that’s pretty evident with some of the comments I’ve seen on here regarding the Smith family. It’s truly sad.
Aspie & Sincerity, I disagree with your points about racism in the comments. There doesn’t seem to be any reason to suspect racism in regards to the negative comments about Jayden Smith. Many people have strong feelings about the Smith family (as they do about many uber-successful/uber-famous families [see any posts regarding Angelina Jolie and her kids]) not the least of which is the Scientology angle and the TMIs from Jada. I try to be judicial in any comments regarding children and in general make an effort not to make negative comments lightly.
There was one obviously racist comment (#30) on here from Lou Dobbs Blah about celebrities efforts/events in Haiti, specifically ‘saving the savages’.
Celebitchy, that comment is extremely offensive.
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