The Karate Kid (franchise)

Martin's Movie Review: Franchise Review- The Karate Kid

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The Karate Kid is an American martial arts drama multi-media franchise created by screenwriter Robert Mark Kamen. It began in 1984 with The Karate Kid, and was followed by three sequels, a remake and two TV series: The Karate Kid Part II (1986), The Karate Kid Part III (1989), The Next Karate Kid (1994), The Karate Kid (2010) and Cobra Kai (2018)

The first three films in the series follow Daniel LaRusso, who learns to harness karate for good through the eccentric mentorship of a janitor named Mr. Miyagi. In the fourth and final film of the original series, Mr. Miyagi becomes the caretaker of his friend's granddaughter in attempt to steer her away from trouble. The fifth film is a remake of the original film's premise without maintaining any of the original character names and replacing karate with kung fu. In 2018, Cobra Kai a 30 minute, 10 episode series for subscription service YouTube Red will debut. The series takes place 34 years after the original film and revolves around a down and out Johnny (once again played by William Zabka), who, seeking redemption, reopens the infamous Cobra Kai dojo. It reignites his rivalry with a now-successful Daniel (played once again by Ralph Macchio), who has been struggling to maintain balance in his life without the guidance of his mentor, Mr. Miyagi.

While the first film garnered critical acclaim, critics were less enthusiastic about its sequels. Furthermore, the series has also had a lasting influence on both karate culture and teen film narratives in America.