The Karate Kid

PG

Released Jun 22, 1984

2 hr. 6 min.

Drama

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List

89%

46 Reviews

Tomatometer

82%

250,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

Daniel (Ralph Macchio) moves to Southern California with his mother, Lucille (Randee Heller), but quickly finds himself the target of a group of bullies who study karate at the Cobra Kai dojo. Fortunately, Daniel befriends Mr. Miyagi (Noriyuki "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 and preparing him to compete against the brutal Cobra Kai.

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Critics Consensus

Utterly predictable and wholly of its time, but warm, sincere, and difficult to resist, due in large part to Pat Morita and Ralph Macchio's relaxed chemistry.

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Elvedin

One of the best. A story that everyone will find something to relate to in. it's a classic for a reason, to see it on the big screen is a privilege.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

05/02/22

Full Review

josh b

Amazing movie and the best in the franchise.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

04/16/24

Full Review

alan g

Predictable 80s movie but still charming. Good cast. Typical evil villians get tgeir comeuptance.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

04/12/24

Full Review

TheBaconWarrior

"The Karate Kid" is the ultimate underdog story. This single film created a franchise that has lasted 40 years thanks to its incredible characters voiced by talented actors who have only improved their skills over time. All three phases of the film are truly captivating and a great example of the "Hero's journey" story method. Mr Miyagi is an amazing co-lead of the film, and can be a beacon of hope and relatability for older audiences who are looking for new purpose. John Kreese makes for a truly evil villain and both a physical and psychological threat to the main characters. The movie is capped off by a masterfully crafted score which is one of the most memorable and inspiring soundtracks ever put to film. The Karate Kid is a must see movie for anyone in any phase of their life.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/29/24

Full Review

Forged S

"Wax on. Wax off." So, I guess they're connecting the Ralph Macchio and Jackie Chan versions of The "Karate" Kid, effectively connecting Cobra Kai, the original trilogy, and the remake. I wonder if they'll grab Hilary Swank too. Might as well connect all the dots. The original The "Karate" Kid movie started the trend of "the rebellious teenager raised by a single parent who meets a mentor to teach them life lessons" troupe that many movies from the '80s and' 90s borrowed. Hell, I resonated with the movie, as I was the young teen raised by a single parent (minus the mentor figure) who turned to martial arts. However, despite karate being used as the binding ingredient, the movie was actually a coming of age story more than anything. The moral of the story was learning how to stand up for yourself, a message that feel has been lost over the years, especially as the property continues to reinvent itself and quotes from the villains of the series gain more popularity.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/10/24

Full Review

Matteo G

The Karate Kid is honestly more than a movie. It's a classic to be indulged by many generations to come. Morita and Macchio made very memorable performances as the two main leads. On one hand, Morita sets the gold standard for the mentor character in a story. One the other hand, Macchio makes a great protagonist with a nice simple character arc. The story of a kid who just moved to a new town where he's bullied by a karate gang, learns how to fight back from a long time karate master, and stands up to his bullies is a very simple story, but the execution is handled well enough for this film to become a classic deep within our hearts.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

12/21/23

Full Review

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John G. Avildsen

Director

Ralph Macchio

Daniel LaRusso

Pat Morita

Mr. Kesuke Miyagi

Elisabeth Shue

Ali Mills

Randee Heller

Lucille Larusso

Martin Kove

John Kreese

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The Karate Kid: Official Clip - Mr. Miyagi Saves The Day

2:57

The Karate Kid: Official Clip - I Hate This Place

2:37

The Karate Kid: Official Clip - Daniel Wants Balance

2:18

The Karate Kid: Official Clip - Daniel and Ali's First Date

2:12

The Karate Kid: Official Clip - The Crane Kick

3:12

The Karate Kid: Official Clip - Catching A Fly With Chopsticks

2:09

The Karate Kid: Official Clip - Daniel Defends Ali

2:25

The Karate Kid: Official Clip - Wax On, Wax Off

2:30

The Karate Kid: Official Clip - The Lessons Come Together

3:30

The Karate Kid: Official Clip - Daniel's Training

2:23

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Richard Schickel

TIME Magazine

This film's art consists entirely of hiding the cynicism of its calculations under an agreeably modest and disarming manner.

Aug 1, 2008

Full Review

Variety Staff

Variety

Morita is simply terrific, bringing the appropriate authority and wisdom to the part.

Mar 21, 2007

Full Review

Geoff Andrew

Time Out

A surprise summer hit in the States, this is another film-making-by-numbers exercise in teenage wish-fulfilment.

Jun 24, 2006

Full Review

Elisa Guimarães

Collider

A thrilling film that ends with what is probably the most satisfying kick in the history of cinema.

Jan 29, 2024

Full Review

Brian Eggert

Deep Focus Review

From the depths of the height of 1980s pop culture comes The Karate Kid, a motion picture that, despite being stamped by its decade of origin, still works on a basic dramatic level today.

Rated: 3.5/4

Aug 18, 2023

Full Review

Mike Massie

Gone With The Twins

The characters are unforgettable, the dialogue is clever, and although some of the sequences are predictable, the film never loses heart.

Rated: 9/10

Sep 6, 2020

Full Review

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Synopsis

Daniel (Ralph Macchio) moves to Southern California with his mother, Lucille (Randee Heller), but quickly finds himself the target of a group of bullies who study karate at the Cobra Kai dojo. Fortunately, Daniel befriends Mr. Miyagi (Noriyuki "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 and preparing him to compete against the brutal Cobra Kai.

Director: John G. Avildsen
Executive Producer: R.J. Louis
Screenwriter: Robert Mark Kamen
Distributor: Columbia Pictures
Production Co: Columbia Pictures Corporation
Rating: PG
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jun 22, 1984, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 16, 2012
Sound Mix: Surround

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