Robert Zemeckis’Back to the FutureandRobert Mark Kamen’sThe Karate Kidare undeniable 80’s classics. From their beloved casts to their intriguing storylines totheir epic soundtracks,these two films are arguably some of the best the 80s had to offer.
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So maybe it’s no coincidence these two movies are basically the same. Whether it’s having similar characters or the possibility of reboots from the same writers or even sharing the same actors,Back to the FutureandThe Karate Kidare sometimes interchangeable.
A Troubled Teen Boy
The ’80s were full of Tiger Beat magazine poster-worthy heartthrobs, and two, without a doubt, wereRalph MacchioandMichael J. Fox.While these two starred in other works prior, it was their respective characters inBTTFandTKKthat left the fangirls swooning.
Macchio’s Daniel LaRusso and Fox’s Marty McFly are the teen leads of their films who go on unexpected journeys with their older male mentors as they both fight for their right to be where they are - whether that’s Reseda, California, or The Future.
The Older Mentor
Christopher Lloydstarred inBTTFas Doc Brown, the quirky but lovable scientist who unintentionally creates time travel and uses a DeLorean as his time machine. InTKK,the latePat Moritaplayed Mr. Miyagi, the karate sensei who takes Daniel under his wing and teaches him about both self-defense and life.
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While Doc is much wackier and Mr. Miyagi is calm with a dry wit, these two characters act as the second protagonists in their films who befriend and guide a young teen who turns into their best friend.
Face Off With The Bully
Bullies play a key role in most 80s films, andBTTFandTKKare no exception. ForBTTF,it wasThomas F. Wilsonwho played Biff Tannen, the not-so-bright bully to George McFly, both as teenagers and as adults. InTKK,it wasWilliam Zabkawho played Johnny Lawrence, Daniel’s arch nemesis both at school and at karate tournaments.
In both films, the protagonists fight the antagonists at one point or another, either by beating them in the All Valley or inadvertently making them crash into a truck of manure.
The Same Girlfriend
InBack to the Future,Marty dates Jennifer, who doesn’t play a huge role in the first film before being brought to the future with Marty and Doc in the sequel. InThe Karate Kid,Daniel wins over Ali (with an “I”), unintentionally stealing her from his nemesis Johnny Lawrence.
But what some may not know is that whileBTTF’sJennifer was first played byClaudia Wells,she was later recast with actressElisabeth Shuefor the second and third films, who is best known forher role as AliinTKKand itsNetflixrebootCobra Kai,essentially giving Marty and Daniel the same exact girlfriend.
FromThe Breakfast ClubtoSay AnythingtoFerris Bueller’s Day Off,most 80s films were standalone. But some were the exception, getting sequels and sometimes even becoming trilogies. In the case of bothBack to the FutureandThe Karate Kid,they got the honor of being 80’s trilogies.
Back to the Futurecame out in 1985, followed by sequels in 1989 and 1990.The Karate Kidcame out just a year beforehand in 1984, with its sequel coming out the same year asBack to the Future II,and the third film following in 1994.
While both Ralph Macchio and Michael J. Fox were successful before and long after their days as Daniel and Marty, it was their starring roles in their respective films that launched them to superstardom. But one of the actorsalmost got to play both characters.
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AfterThe Karate Kidrose Macchio to fame, he was asked to audition for the leadBack to the Futurerole of Marty McFly. “But the right guy was cast, just like the right guy was cast for Daniel LaRusso,” Macchio toldPeoplein 2019 of his audition for Marty.
Both (Might) Have Reboots
Fuller House.iCarly.Girl Meets World.It’s the way of the world in 2022 for popular shows and movies of the past to get reboots, andThe Karate Kidis no exception. In 2018,Youtube Red(later switched to Netflix) premiered the seriesCobra Kai,a follow-up to theKarate Kidmovies starring original cast members Ralph Macchio and William Zabka.
As forBack to the Futuregetting a reboot - whileBack to the Future: The Musicalhas been soaring through the West End and will soon travel to Broadway - the movie heads still have no plan to reboot the franchise, but theCobra Kaiwriters just might. “If they ever change their minds and happen to check outCobra Kaiand like what we did with this in the world ofKarate Kid,then we would be well-prepared for any meetings that we would have going forward,” saidJon Hurwitz,reportedLRM Onlinein 2020.
