Every ‘Karate Kid’ Movie and TV Show Ranked

‘The Karate Kid’ franchise is over 40 years old and is just as popular today as it was when it first began!

Starting with 1984’s ‘The Karate Kid’, which starred Pat Morita and Ralph Macchio, the series has spawned three sequels, a remake, an animated series, and the Netflix series ‘Cobra Kai’, which has breathed fresh life into the IP.

The franchise is now returning to the big screen once again with ‘Karate Kid: Legends’, which opens in theaters on May 30th and stars Ben Wang. The new movie will also feature legendary actor Jackie Chan reprising his role as Mr. Han from the 2010 remake, alongside Ralph Macchio as Daniel LaRusso from the original film.

In honor of the release of ‘Karate Kid: Legends’, Moviefone is counting down every ‘Karate Kid’ movie and TV show ever made, from forgettable to legendary.

Let’s begin!

Mr. Miyagi in the 1989 ‘The Karate Kid’ cartoon. Photo: DIC Enterprises/Saban Entertainment.

Daniel and his mentor Mr. Miyagi travel the world with their Okinawan friend Taki Tamurai in search of an ancient Japanese talisman stolen from an old fishing village.

Hilary Swank in ‘The Next Karate Kid’. Photo: Columbia Pictures.

Mr. Miyagi (Pat Morita) decides to take Julie (Hilary Swank), a troubled teenager, under his wing after he learns that she blames herself for her parents’ demise and struggles to adjust with her grandmother and fellow pupils.

“It’s ancient wisdom against teenage spunk. 1,000 years of karate tradition is about to get a kick in the pants.”

(L to R) Ben Wang, Jackie Chan and Ralph Macchio in Columbia Pictures ‘Karate Kid: Legends’. Photo: Jonathan Wenk. © 2024 CTMG, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

In ‘Karate Kid: Legends’, after a family tragedy, kung fu prodigy Li Fong (Ben Wang) is uprooted from his home in Beijing and forced to move to New York City with his mother. Li struggles to let go of his past as he tries to fit in with his new classmates, and although he doesn’t want to fight, trouble seems to find him everywhere. When a new friend needs his help, Li enters a karate competition – but his skills alone aren’t enough. Li’s kung fu teacher Mr. Han (Jackie Chan) enlists original ‘Karate Kid’ Daniel LaRusso (Ralph Macchio) for help, and Li learns a new way to fight, merging their two styles into one for the ultimate martial arts showdown.

“When masters unite a new legacy begins.”

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In Karate Kid: Legends, after a family tragedy, kung fu prodigy Li Fong (Ben Wang) is uprooted from his home in Beijing and forced to move to New York City with… Read the Plot

(L to R) Ralph Macchio as Daniel LaRusso and Pat Morita as Mr. Miyagi in ‘The Karate Kid Part III.’ Photo: Columbia Pictures.

Despondent over the closing of his karate school, Cobra Kai teacher John Kreese (Martin Kove) joins a ruthless businessman and martial artist (Thomas Ian Griffith) to get revenge on Daniel (Ralph Macchio) and Mr. Miyagi (Pat Morita).

“First it was teacher to student. Then it was father to son. Now, it’s man to man.”

(L to R) Jackie Chan as Mr. Han and Jaden Smith as Dre Parker in 2010’s ‘The Karate Kid.’ Photo: Sony Pictures.

Twelve-year-old Dre Parker (Jaden Smith) could have been the most popular kid in Detroit, but his mother’s (Taraji P. Henson) latest career move has landed him in China. Dre immediately falls for his classmate Mei Ying (Wenwen Han) but the cultural differences make such a friendship impossible. Even worse, Dre’s feelings make him an enemy of the class bully, Cheng (Wang ZhenWei). With no friends in a strange land, Dre has nowhere to turn but maintenance man Mr. Han (Jackie Chan), who is a kung fu master. As Han teaches Dre that kung fu is not about punches and parries, but maturity and calm, Dre realizes that facing down the bullies will be the fight of his life.

“A challenge he never imagined. A teacher he never expected.”

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(L to R) Pat Morita as Mr. Miyagi and Ralph Macchio as Daniel LaRusso in ‘The Karate Kid Part II.’ Photo: Columbia Pictures.

Summoned by his dying father, Miyagi (Pat Morita) returns to his homeland of Okinawa, with Daniel (Ralph Macchio), after a 40-year exile. There he must confront Yukie (Nobu McCarthy), the love of his youth, and Sato (Danny Kamekona), his former best friend turned vengeful rival. Sato is bent on a fight to the death, even if it means the destruction of their village. Daniel finds his own love in Yukia’s niece, Kumiko (Tamlyn Tomita), and his own enemy in Sato’s nephew, the vicious Chozen (Yuji Okumoto). Now, far away from the tournaments, cheering crowds and safety of home, Daniel will face his greatest challenge ever when the cost of honor is life itself.

“One more lesson to share. The price of honor. The power of friendship. And the way you must fight when only the winner survives.”

(L to R) William Zabka as Johnny Lawrence, Ralph Macchio as Daniel LaRusso in ‘Cobra Kai’. Photo: Curtis Bonds Baker/Netflix © 2024.

This ‘Karate Kid’ sequel series picks up 30 years after the events of the 1984 All Valley Karate Tournament and finds Johnny Lawrence (William Zabka) on the hunt for redemption by reopening the infamous Cobra Kai karate dojo. This reignites his old rivalry with the successful Daniel LaRusso (Ralph Macchio), who has been working to maintain the balance in his life without mentor Mr. Miyagi (Pat Morita).

“Back in the Valley. One final fight.”

Ralph Macchio as Daniel LaRusso in ‘The Karate Kid.’ Photo: Columbia Pictures.

Daniel LaRusso (Ralph Macchio) moves to Los Angeles with his mother, Lucille (Randee Heller), and soon strikes up a relationship with Ali (Elisabeth Shue). He quickly finds himself the target of bullying by a group of high school students, led by Ali’s ex-boyfriend Johnny (Willian Zabka), who study karate at the Cobra Kai dojo under ruthless sensei, John Kreese (Martin Kove). Fortunately, Daniel befriends Mr. Miyagi (Pat Morita), an unassuming repairman who just happens to be a martial arts master himself. Miyagi takes Daniel under his wing, training him in a more compassionate form of karate for self-defense and, later, preparing him to compete against the brutal Cobra Kai.

“He taught him the secret to karate lies in the mind and heart. Not in the hands.”

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