From a series that initiated a cultural phenomenon in the world of karate, starting back in 1984, to a six-season television series spinoff that recaptured the glory of the good old days and then some, it’s time to review all six films under The Karate Kid banner. Noriyuki “Pat” Morita and Ralph Macchio have been synonymous with this series since its inception as Mr. Miyagi and Daniel LaRusso, respectively, and thanks to a simple underdog tale that began over four decades ago in the world of martial arts, it’s time to give credit where it’s due to the installments that have followed. To keep in mind, “Here are the 2 Rules of Miyagi-Ryu Karate. Rule Number 1: ‘Karate for defense only.’ Rule Number 2: ‘First learn rule number 1.”

(Note: Unfortunately, the excellent Cobra Kai series will not get reviewed on this list, as this only tailors to the film installments; however, in this humble writer’s opinion, the existence of the spinoff series only served to augment what preceded it grandly. There are also some spoilers attached in the ensuing discussion, so read at your discretion.)

#6 – The Next Karate Kid

It sucks to start on such an acidulous note like this, because this film…is not good—a wretched example of an underwhelming martial arts film.

Yes, it’s great to see Pat Morita return once more in the 1994 follow-up, but this bit of Zen triteness has him travel to a ceremony in Massachusetts to meet with the widow of his best friend (who saved his life during wartime). She tells him to meet with her granddaughter, Julie (Hilary Swank), a churlish orphan girl in need of guidance to control her anger management issues. So, she eventually learns from Mr. Miyagi while coming into conflict with the school’s fascist-like colonel, Paul Dugan (Michael Ironside). What results is a mundane setpiece that retains a vapid momentum and lacks any interesting elements compared to the three films that preceded it. Monotonous cliches and dull action sequences galore; this is a sign of “Wax on, back the hell off.”

Even Swank and Morita don’t seem much interested in showcasing much with their performances here, nor do they exhibit any good chemistry (Macchio’s presence became sorely missed). At the same time, background extras could’ve substituted everyone else. Moving out of the tournament realm and into a monastery doesn’t inspire much, so we’re dragging our feet while piss-poor, ridden effects carry the action for the headliner. The only moment of fun in this film is when the monks go bowling with Mr. Miyagi (not even a fighting scene is the best moment of this film!); otherwise, it’s best to store this next to your plastic trophies and have it become a tchotchke of sorts.

The Next Karate Kid is the next bit of dust to brush off the mat.

#5 – The Karate Kid Part III

Essentially, a soulless carbon copy of the 1984 original, with some darker elements spliced in, Part III is a questionable case of investment. Yours indeed is not sure who or what this was catered to, but this is a baffling case of a film (despite its simple premise).

Several months after the All-Valley Karate Tournament and being humbled by Mr. Miyagi, a broke and destitute John Kreese (Martin Kove) visits his wealthy former Vietnam War comrade, Terry Silver (Thomas Ian Griffith), to exact revenge on Daniel and Miyagi. Silver hires Mike Barnes (Sean Kanan) to bully and assault Daniel and Co. to force him to agree to defend his title at the upcoming All-Valley Tournament against Barnes, and with Miyagi’s support dwindling to train him, Daniel falls for Silver’s ruse and trains under him with haphazard results. Once everything gets revealed with the trio alliance, Miyagi reconciles and trains Daniel to defend his title.

Everything about this threequel comes off as cyclical and hollow, with not enough style to save it. The villains become cartoonishly ridiculous, something you’d pluck out of a WWE playbook, and it drags on until the third-act battle. Concimitantly, the main characters are cardboard copies of themselves, with Daniel strutting around with little fits and a bathetic direction that makes us ponder how we rooted for his story in the first installment. Seriously, he punches a guy in the club, and doesn’t get arrested for it, but then tries to call back so he can apologize for messing up his face while throwing a tantrum? How is it that Daniel can’t go to the sponsors of the tournaments to inform them he’s getting bribed into defending his title? Why does Silver predicate on only physically and emotionally messing with Daniel but not doing anything to draw a fire under Miyagi, who publicly made his friend look like a buffoon?

It’s befuddling as it is illogical to process, and whoever in the production team depicts that a millionaire has this amount of time to mess with an adult needs their eyes checked. Maybe it’s humoring, but not an exciting tale for a “karate kid.”

Speaking of Griffith, his manipulative and sneering manners are the only thing that saves this from becoming a bust. Silver’s boisterous tactics, which bring out Daniel’s darker, rebellious nature, are refreshing and could’ve easily been the entire selling point. The problem is that the motivations and developments are so droll that we might’ve been better off watching these guys punch one another until someone calls it quits. Oh, wait, that does happen at the end: a violent showdown to cap off a sepulchral film. Part III does get its flowers as Cobra Kai draws back onto it, but it’s an appalling sequel to rewatch.

#4 – Karate Kid: Legends

We discussed this topic in great detail during our recent review (see here). Some individuals may be surprised by this placement, but please hear this writer out for a moment.

The first half of Legends is fresh and invigorating, a subversive approach to the monotony of the series, where newcomer Li Fong (Ben Wang) and his mother moved to New York City, only this time for him to help a once-professional boxer named Victor (Joshua Jackson) pay off his debts by getting back into the boxing realm. Li does his utmost to give him training, while sparking a new relationship with Victor’s daughter Mia (Sadie Stanley). Unfortunately, things go awry, and Li gets plunged back into self-doubt for failing to help when it mattered most, much like his brother’s unfortunate fate.

It looked very promising in this regard, pushing for new elements to maintain the momentum. Sadly, it abruptly shifts to a new tone and presentation once the “legends” Mr. Han (Jackie Chan) and Daniel make their notable appearances to accompany Li. It’s almost as if Sony prided itself on bashing a second film with the first half, realizing its ambitions may have gotten the better of them with this aberration hurting the pacing of the feature. Can anyone legitimately recall anything about this feature outside of Chan and Macchio’s involvement? From a different perspective, one could easily argue that their participation was forced and unnecessary to advancing the plot (perhaps Chan can remain, as his character is the teacher for Wang’s character).

Add another forgettable villain and an overkill of comic-book-style effects, and it fails to evoke the sensations we once experienced under this IP, particularly in the classic “underdog” tale. Perhaps it should’ve been split into two films, or maybe a more relaxed pace would have allowed the punches and sentiments to hit harder. So many missed opportunities and rushed montages to desperately make it land cohesively (nothing mentioned about Dre Parker or even a good sit-down discussion between Daniel and Mr. Han about their pasts?).

Karate Kid: Legends stands buoyed by the nostalgic inclusions of its legends and an excellent performance by Ben Wang, but a mish-mash of a film keeps its kicks from making complete contact.

#3 – The Karate Kid (2010)

Ah, yes. The reboot that should’ve been more appropriately called “The Kung Fu Kid.” But, an IP is an IP, so…

Anyway, this is a sedulous copy of the 1984 original, with a young Dre Parker (Jaden Smith) moving to China with his mom, to getting entangled with a set of bullies that know martial arts, to a new girlfriend he meets in his time there, and a mentor that’s roughly emblematic of Mr. Miyagi in the form of Jackie Chan’s Mr. Han. Oh, and a tournament that Dre has to participate in to go the distance and win, so he can stop the harassment from the bullies who are targeting him as the “foreigner.”

However, this one has a bit of charm, as Jaden Smith exudes great charisma and likability, and Jackie Chan always delivers when given the moment. Both establish a surprisingly poignant relationship as they confront their demons, and, united, they persevere. It honors the core elements of the original, but prides itself on flipping some of the elements and adding to its flair, which makes things entertaining. The choreography also steps up its game massively, much like it does in Legends, to great results when the tournament erupts or when Mr. Han has to take on the six-pack of the bullies themselves in the courtyard.

Despite the discourse about reboots, this 2010 version achieved its miraculous feat: it was a good watch and did great business at the box office. (Now, if only Jaden Smith were a bigger star in today’s times from his star-making performance back then.)

#2 – The Karate Kid Part II

This feature might be a little high on some folks’ lists, but there has to be a well-standing place for the one sequel that strayed from the IP’s formula while giving a neat bit of backstory on Daniel’s mentor, Mr. Miyagi. Finding out that his father is dying in his homeland village of Okinawa, Miyagi, accompanied by Daniel, flies back to reunite with an old love interest while dealing with the nagging past love conflict drama associated with it from his best friend, Sato (Danny Kamekona), and his young protege, Chozen (Yuji Okumoto). It’s a worthwhile story on the impossibility of escaping one’s past, the encroachments of industrialization, and the futility of long-held grudges.

The relationship between Miyagi and Daniel becomes even more amplified, as the audience becomes invested in where the tale will take them. Morita gives a resounding performance this time around, while Macchio takes more of a back seat to let his mentor get his flowers. The final fight is a brutal undertaking, one that transcends the tournament rules in favor of a deathmatch proceeding (even if it doesn’t have the excellent build-up like its predecessor). The drum technique isn’t quite as scintillating as the crane technique from the predecessor, and Daniel’s new relationship with Kumiko (Tamlyn Tomita) doesn’t quite hit the same mark.

And if we’re being frank, this film hits the same beats as its predecessor, to lukewarm results.

There are some swings and misses, as not everything lands smoothly, and some aspects could’ve gotten shaved off. However, there is a lot to like about Part II, and it serves as a poignant reminder of Mr. Miyagi’s story, offering a substantive addition that significantly enhances this brand.

#1 – The Karate Kid (1984)

It’s the underdog story we all know and adore, and a beloved martial arts movie that still stands the test of time in today’s ever-evolving world.

Director John G. Avildsen, known for kickstarting the first entrhalling Rocky, wanted to permeate the atmosphere once more with a similar tale of a young guy going the distance, only with it being a teenage boy having to learn karate and stand up for himself. Daniel LaRusso moves to California with his mom. He gets bullied by a group of teens led by Johnny Lawrence (William Zabka) after befriending Johnny’s ex-girlfriend, Ali Mills (Elisabeth Shue). In his building complex, he stumbles upon a kindhearted Okinawan immigrant named Miyagi. After saving Daniel one night on Halloween, Miyagi agrees to become Daniel’s mentor and trains him for the upcoming All Valley Tournament. With the two of them against Johnny and his pack, along with their callous Sensei Kreese (Martin Kove), they go the distance and make it to the finals of the tournament.

This film has everything you’d want for a fantastic sports story: excellent acting, a great musical soundtrack (courtesy of Bill Conti), stirring themes, and a strong foundation of a story laid out. The chemistry of Macchio and Morita radiates with ebullience, with some underrated bits of Zabka shining through at the quintessential ’80s bad boy (though he’d get his moments to shine in the Cobra Kai series many years later). And this film alone has allowed many of its tropes to continue to resonate in today’s time, solidifying it as a true classic.

As much as we remember the one crane kick that landed the victory, it’s the existence of The Karate Kid that has popularized karate more than ever, allowing a whole generation of sequels, reboots, and a TV spinoff to see the light of day. Wax on, wax off indeed.