The Karate Kid franchise has been ingrained in pop culture for decades. While it began as a “Rocky” knock-off, it quickly became a beloved series, partially due to its familiarity in structure: the protagonist moves to a new place, gets involved with a local girl, is bullied by a karate expert, trains with a wise and caring mentor, and competes in a tournament to defeat the bully and achieve something greater. The first three movies were directed by John G. Avildsen, the same director behind Rocky. Over time, the series became synonymous with the underdog story that captured the hearts of millions. Whether it was the original movie, the sequels, or the Cobra Kai spin-off series, these films always found a way to evolve while staying true to the winning formula of their predecessors.
Enter Karate Kid: Legends, the sixth installment in the saga, a movie that attempts to unify the entire franchise by paying homage to every entry and adding new layers to its mythology. This latest film—targeted at fans of all previous movies in the series—adds a fresh story while trying to capture the essence of everything that worked in the earlier films. However, this ambitious attempt results in an overstuffed, chaotic narrative that struggles to do justice to its characters, despite a few standout performances.
The plot of Karate Kid: Legends revolves around Li Fong (played by Ben Wang), a teenager who has recently moved from Beijing to New York City’s Chinatown after his mother, a doctor, gets a job at a Manhattan hospital. Li, unlike the typical Karate Kid protagonist, is already a skilled martial artist, well-versed in kung fu thanks to his previous training under Mr. Han (Jackie Chan), who replaced Pat Morita’s Mr. Miyagi in the 2010 Karate Kid reboot. Li’s character is an interesting departure from previous leads because he is not a complete beginner—he has already proven himself capable in combat. However, the movie introduces a deep emotional flaw in Li: he is paralyzed by fear during high-stress situations due to PTSD caused by the traumatic death of his older brother, who was murdered after winning a tournament. This internal conflict sets up the hero’s journey in familiar Karate Kid fashion, where overcoming emotional trauma is just as important as physical triumph.
Li faces the typical Karate Kid challenges, including bullying from thugs at his new school. Their leader, Connor Day (Aramis Knight), is a highly skilled karate fighter and a two-time winner of the Five Boroughs Tournament. Li’s school is located near a pizzeria owned by Victor Lipani (Joshua Jackson), a former boxer trying to keep his business afloat. Victor’s teenage daughter, Mia (Sadie Stanley), works in the pizzeria and becomes close to Li. Of course, she was once romantically involved with Connor, adding another layer of tension to the plot. The connections between characters get even more complicated when we learn that Connor’s father, a mob figure with a dubious background, is demanding repayment for the loan he gave Victor to start the pizzeria.
The movie’s narrative is bursting with coincidences and connections that make it feel more like a Karate Kid checklist than a cohesive story. There are numerous callbacks to earlier films and even to Cobra Kai, which adds to the overwhelming sense that the movie is trying to do too much in too little time. The plot is framed around the idea that Li will participate in the Five Boroughs Tournament to win prize money to save Victor’s pizzeria from the mob. The tournament will allow him to face off against Connor, defeat him, and—hopefully—use the winnings to resolve the looming financial crisis.
While this may sound familiar to Karate Kid fans, there’s a refreshing twist: Victor asks Li to train him for an underground boxing match to help raise money for the pizzeria. This dynamic flips the traditional master-student relationship on its head. Instead of Li being the one trained, he’s now the one doing the training. However, this plot point is given only brief attention and could have been the backbone of an entire film on its own.
Despite the underwhelming exploration of the mentor-student twist, the movie quickly pivots back to its main storyline: Li training for the Five Boroughs Tournament. This leads to the reappearance of familiar faces from previous films. Mr. Han is on hand to help Li, and in a surprising move, Daniel LaRusso (Ralph Macchio) also shows up just in time to provide additional guidance. The timing of Daniel’s appearance and his ability to teach Li enough karate in just one week stretches the limits of believability, and the film itself seems self-aware of its implausibility. At one point, Li even jokes about how ridiculous it is for him to expect to be ready for such a tournament in such a short time.
Written by Rob Leiber and directed by Jonathan Entwistle, Karate Kid: Legends feels like a valiant effort to bring together every installment of the franchise and tie up loose ends, but the movie doesn’t have the room to give each plotline the attention it deserves. At just 90 minutes, the movie rushes through important moments, from character development to the final tournament. As a result, Karate Kid: Legends becomes a fast-paced montage of references and callbacks to previous movies, leaving little time to flesh out characters or explore subplots fully.
However, the film does manage to shine in several key areas, particularly in its performances. Ben Wang’s portrayal of Li is charismatic and dynamic. He brings both physicality and emotional depth to the role, making his character one to root for. Jackie Chan’s Mr. Han remains a calming presence, and the chemistry between him and Macchio’s Daniel LaRusso is a highlight, even if the plot contrives their reunion a bit too much. Joshua Jackson as Victor Lipani, the former boxer, is a solid addition, bringing a sense of gravitas and warmth to the otherwise chaotic narrative. Meanwhile, Sadie Stanley’s Mia is engaging, with her natural charm making her an easy character to support.
Karate Kid: Legends also benefits from a strong visual style. Shot in New York and Ottawa, the film succeeds in creating a gritty yet nostalgic atmosphere, especially when it’s set in Lower Manhattan. The urban setting evokes memories of classic ’80s melodramas, where the underdog must train and fight for something greater, whether it’s saving a business or securing a future. The soundtrack, with its bombastic Hollywood score, further heightens the sense of urgency and drama.
However, despite these strengths, the film’s pacing remains an issue. The script is so focused on including every piece of Karate Kid lore that it barely has time to breathe. It rushes through training montages, fights, and character arcs, leaving some viewers feeling like they missed out on the emotional payoff that the series is known for.
One of the most enjoyable moments of the movie is when Li performs his signature finishing move during the climactic tournament. It’s a satisfying payoff that hits all the right notes for long-time fans. Still, the rushed nature of the film makes it hard to fully invest in the characters and their journeys. It’s as if the movie is constantly moving forward without taking a moment to pause and appreciate what it has to offer.
At the end of the day, Karate Kid: Legends is a love letter to the franchise, but it’s one that may not hit all the right notes for every viewer. While it offers a fresh perspective on the Karate Kid formula, it’s also bogged down by a convoluted narrative and an overwhelming desire to reference every possible element of the series. Still, there’s enough nostalgia and heart here to satisfy dedicated fans, even if it falls short of being a true classic.
Ultimately, Karate Kid: Legends is an entertaining but flawed attempt to bring the series full circle. It’s clear that the creators wanted to deliver something that celebrated the history of the franchise while adding a new twist. Unfortunately, in trying to tie up every loose end, the movie ends up feeling a bit too much like a remix of everything that came before it. But for those who love the Karate Kid saga, it’s a fun ride that’s hard to resist, even if it doesn’t quite live up to the legacy of its predecessors.
