When The Karate Kid hit theaters in 1984, viewers were introduced to an epic underdog story that would continue to live on in the hearts and minds of fans for decades. Its life lessons, coupled with some of the coolest training montages ever, turned the movie into a phenomenon with sequels, a remake, and a hit series.
Thanks to a perfect mix of nostalgia and clever storytelling, Cobra Kai breathed new life into the original films while introducing a new generation to the rivalries, friendships, and wisdom of rival dojos. If you're ready to jump into the world of The Karate Kid, here's a breakdown of all the movies and shows in order of release and where to stream them.
The Karate Kid (1984)
The Karate Kid begins with Daniel LaRusso (Ralph Macchio) moving to California with his mom. Unfortunately, he is almost immediately targeted by a group of aggressive karate students belonging to a dojo known as Cobra Kai. After finding himself on the receiving end of constant attacks from the group's leader, Johnny Lawrence (William Zabka), he is rescued by Mr. Miyagi (Pat Morita), a quiet but skilled karate master who teaches him the art of balance, both in fighting and in everyday life. Everything builds up to the All Valley Karate Tournament, where Daniel goes up against Johnny in an iconic showdown.
The Karate Kid Part II (1986)
The sequel, The Karate Kid Part II, picks up right after the tournament. Daniel and Mr. Miyagi find Cobra Kai's Sensei John Kreese (Martin Kove) aggressively berating Johnny in the parking lot. The older karate master steps in to save him while making his counterpart look foolish. A few months later, Mr. Miyagi learns that his father has taken ill and plans a trip to Okinawa, Japan, with Daniel tagging along. Once the pair arrives in the village, Mr. Miyagi is confronted by an old rival named Sato, who challenges him to a fight. Meanwhile, Daniel finds himself in the crosshairs of another karate-skilled bully, Chozen Toguchi (Yuji Okumoto), who happens to be Sato's nephew.
The Karate Kid Part III (1989)
Although critics described The Karate Kid Part III as a recycled version of the original movie, the third installment in the martial arts franchise is still very entertaining. Picking up after Daniel and Mr. Miyagi return to California, they are approached by Cobra Kai's new owner, Sensei Terry Silver (Thomas Ian Griffith), who tells them that John Kreese is dead. What Daniel and Mr. Miyagi don't realize is that Terry is just as vicious as his old war buddy and is secretly planning to drive a wedge between them and reestablish Cobra Kai's dominance at the next All Valley Karate Tournament.
The Next Karate Kid (1994)
Mr. Miyagi takes teenager Julie Pierce (Hilary Swank) under his wing in The Next Karate Kid, in a story that has no connection to the first three films. Julie is a stereotypical troubled girl dealing with loss and an inability to trust anyone. Mr. Miyagi uses karate to help Julie find balance in her life. Her new-found fighting skills also come in handy when she has a run-in with an ultra-aggressive school security group called the Alpha Elite. There is no martial arts tournament in this film, which likely contributed to its lackluster box office performance. The life lessons from Mr. Miyagi remain the only constant.
The Karate Kid (2010)
This 2010 movie aimed to reboot The Karate Kid story with new actors in a new setting while attempting to maintain the essence of the first film. The story follows Dre Parker (Jaden Smith), a kid who moves to China with his mom. After meeting a young violinist named Meiying (Wenwen Han), he becomes a target for a local bunch of bullies. Led by Cheng (Zhenwei Wang), they use kung fu to keep Dre and Meiying apart. Luckily, Mr. Han (Jackie Chan), a maintenance worker who's far more skilled in kung fu than he lets on, comes to the rescue. Like the original 1984 movie, the story ends with Dre and Cheng facing off at a local martial arts tournament.
Cobra Kai (2018-2025)
The hit series Cobra Kai is a direct follow-up to the original Karate Kid films. But this time, viewers get to see what became of Johnny Lawrence (Zabka) decades after losing the All Valley Karate Tournament to Daniel. Johnny, who works as a handyman, spends his free time drinking himself into oblivion and has a poor relationship with his son, Robby (Tanner Buchanan). Things change when Miguel (Xolo Maridueña), his mom, and grandma move into the apartment across from his. Johnny finds a new purpose by taking Miguel under his wing and reopening Cobra Kai. Meanwhile, Daniel (Macchio), who is now a successful businessman, finds himself pulled back into the karate world. Across six seasons, the old rivals even team up when old foes re-enter their lives.
Karate Kid: Legends (2025)
Most of the details about Karate Kid: Legends are still unknown for now. But we do know that the story begins three years after the Cobra Kai series finale. Ralph Macchio is back as Daniel LaRusso, with Jackie Chan returning as Mr. Han. Ben Wang will play the titular Karate Kid, with Joshua Jackson, Sadie Stanley, and Ming-Na Wen also joining the cast in supporting roles. The film debuts in cinemas on May 30.
Where To Watch The Karate Kid Movies And Cobra Kai Online
Since The Karate Kid universe is still growing, it is the perfect time to see how one crane kick launched a global franchise. The films are available for streaming on platforms like Max, Amazon Prime Video, and more. All six seasons of Cobra Kai are available on Netflix.
