The Karate Kidis one of the most iconic andgenerational coming-of-age stories of all time.So much so that it has spawned multiple sequels and even a massively successful television series,Cobra Kai. The original story of Daniel LaRusso (Ralph Macchio) has beenechoed throughout the generations in both sequels starring the young man and some spin-offs, as well.
WithKarate Kid: Legendsjust recently hitting theaters and continuing the story post-Cobra Kai, the franchise is back at the top of people’s minds.It’s hard not to fall in love with the underdog stories that make upThe Karate Kidworld. But which of the entries in this large franchise do people like more than the other? The best place to go for answers is none other thanRotten Tomatoes.
6’The Karate Kid Part III' (1989)
Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer Score:18%
After hitting screens with a successful sequel in 1986, it was only inevitable thatThe Karate Kidfranchise wrapped up with a third movie to make it a nice and complete trilogy.The Karate Kid Part IIIchallenged the formula by featuring the iconic duo of Mr. Miyagi and Daniel LaRusso being torn apart when the teacher refuses to train his young prodigy for an upcoming conflict. Unfortunately, it led tothe worst inThe Karate Kidtrilogy.
Without the guidance of Miyagi, Daniel LaRusso turns to the series' new big villain, Terry Silver (Thomas Ian Griffith), to train him instead.Karate Kid Part IIIsuffers from the disease that the originalRockyfranchise did in getting a bit too goofy for its own good, asSilver and the returning John Kreese (Martin Kove) become more like cartoon villains rather than the kind of foe that made Kreese so special inThe Karate Kid.
The Karate Kid Part III
5’The Next Karate Kid' (1994)
Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer Score:20%
Five years after the conclusion ofThe Karate Kidtrilogy,the studio decided to bring the franchise back in a less-than-ideal fashion. They wanted the franchise back, but didn’t put nearly enough effort into making it actually engaging and interesting.The Next Karate Kidmay have brought back the legendaryPat Moritaas Mr. Miyagi, but it didn’t choose to actually invest in its new kid, Julie Pierce (Hilary Swank).
When Mr. Miyagi is attending a military reunion, he meets the granddaughter of the widow of his former commander, Julie.While she’s still struggling with the massive loss of her parents, the classic karate mentor decides to begin training her to help her come to terms with her negativity. All the movie really did, though, is leave audience members with just as much angst.
The Next Karate Kid
4’The Karate Kid Part II' (1986)
Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer Score:49%
Following up the iconic first film,The Karate Kid, was always going to be a massive challenge for the likes of directorJohn G. Avildsen. Not only did it have to follow up on the quality of the first movie, but the massive success of it, as well. Thankfully, at the very least,the second film continued to follow up the first in the monetary success department.
However, in the story and quality department,The Karate Kid Part IIdidn’t exactly live up to the expectations of audiences, which were high after the astounding debut movie. This doesn’t mean that it was necessarily bad. In fact, it really isn’t and is enjoyable, for the most part.It gets the most flak, though, for being so much like the first one, just in a new location.It doesn’t feel incredibly fresh and new, besides the location.It does, however, have way higher stakes.
The Karate Kid Part II
The Karate Kid Part II is the sequel to the 1984 martial arts drama film, and again follows karate student Daniel LaRusso and his sensei, Mr. Miyagi. When Miyagi learns that his father doesn’t have long to live, he heads to Okinawa to see him, bringing Daniel with him. However, an old rivalry with Miyagi’s former friend is reignites upon his arrival, setting up a decades-long challenge between them.
3’Karate Kid: Legends' (2025)
Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer Score:57%
The newest installment in theKarate Kidfranchise,Karate Kid: Legends, not only has to follow the legendary franchise it’s connected to, but the recently concludedCobra Kai, a show with phenomenal reviews. Bringing yet another new karate kid into the fray, Li Fong (Ben Wang),the movie manages to not only continue this great series in a faithful manner, but brings the twoThe Karate Kidmovies togetherin a satisfying manner.
After the choice not to continue the 2010 soft reboot, many thought the studios would never referenceThe Karate Kidever again.Karate Kid: Legendsbrings Jackie Chan’s character, Mr. Han, back to mentor the young man. He’s not alone in his teachings, though, as the film also brings the one and only Daniel LaRusso into the teaching role, as well. While critics haven’t shown a lot of love for it,audiences absolutely adore this movie, as while it’s not perfect, it’s a ton of fun and kind of everything aKarate Kidmovie needs to be, at the end of the day.
Karate Kid: Legends
2’The Karate Kid' (2010)
Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer Score:67%
If one thing has always been true in Hollywood, it’s that studios can never and willnever let a successful franchise die. While it had been a massive 16 years sinceThe Next Karate Kid, the studios decided to bring the franchise back with new talent (including the astoundingJackie Chan) and in a new location.It suffers from the curse ofThe Karate Kid Part II, by simply being the exact same movie asThe Karate Kidfrom 1984, just in a new location and with some new characters.
So, while it’s not an entire reboot, as it’s still in the universe, it most certainly is a soft reboot—an attempted one, at least.It hasthe positives of being a Jackie Chan movie, though, which always manages to be entertaining.Thankfully, forThe Karate Kid, the movie it’s almost exactly replicating is a very good one, and, therefore, makes this flick a pretty good watch.
The Karate Kid
1’The Karate Kid' (1984)
Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer Score:81%
How could the original big debut ofThe Karate Kidfranchise ever be beaten, at this point?The Karate Kidnot only defined the franchise as a whole, but was both a massive critical and monetary success. With a budget of a mere $8 million, the moviemanaged to gross a whopping $91 millionin its original theatrical release. Also, of course, the story is an absolute classic.
It’s so good that it’s become a staple in Hollywood cinema as a whole. It’s gone on to even inspire dozens of films that came after.Everyone loves coming-of-age stories, andThe Karate Kidis one of the best there is. With great performances all across the board, exciting action, and a compelling story,The Karate Kidis a movie that seemingly will not be beaten for quite some time.
NEXT:7 Shows To Watch if You Love ‘Karate Kid: Legends’
