Summary
Karate Kid 2025isn’t necessarily the best around after six seasons ofCobra Kai, and that could keep the new movie down. TheupcomingKarate Kidmoviewill unite the franchise, bringing Ralph Macchio’s Daniel LaRusso from theoriginalKarate KidmoviesandCobra Kaitogether with Jackie Chan’s Mr. Han from the 2010 remake. At present,how heavilyKarate Kid2025 will connect toCobra Kairemains to be seen, although the TV series' creators have distanced themselves from the big screen project, claiming “the movie [Karate Kid 2025] kind of exists in its own piece of its own universe.”
Plot details for the new movie are more elusive than Terry Silver’s moral compass, but it is known that the new titular Karate Kid will be portrayed by Ben Wang. The task of training this youngster in the way of martial arts will inevitably fall to either - or more likely both - Daniel LaRusso and Mr. Han. The premise is not an unexpected one, but after six seasons ofCobra Kai, it does pose a problem for Ralph Macchio’s role in particular.
All 13 Tournaments In Karate Kid & Cobra Kai (& Who Won)
Here is a timeline of all the karate tournaments from the Karate Kid franchise that have been the source & drivers of many overarching conflicts.
Cobra Kai Has Already Told Karate Kid 2025’s Story - A Lot
It’s Difficult To See How Daniel’s New Karate Kid Movie Can Do Something New
The most obvious path forKarate Kid 2025to take with Daniel LaRusso is having the former All Valley champ train Ben Wang’s character, and ifCobra Kainever happened, that would have been a perfect jumping off point for the new movie. In an alternate timeline where Ralph Macchio permanently ditched his iconic white and blue headband following 1989’sTheKarate Kid Part III, the prospect of watching a grown-up Daniel train the next generation would be a tantalizingly nostalgic one. Seeing the former protagonist transition from student to mentor, effectively becoming the new Mr. Miyagi, would guarantee a fresh direction Macchio could really sink his teeth into.
Cobra Kai Finally Has A Subtle Connection With The Upcoming Karate Kid Movie
While several Cobra Kai details still make the upcoming Karate Kid movie quite confusing, Cobra Kai finally seems to have a subtle connection with it.
Cobra Kai, of course, did happen, and the “Daniel LaRusso trains new student” story has been an ever-present string on the show’s narrative bow. Daniel trained Robby Keene, he trained Miguel, he trained Sam, and he even trained an entirely new dojo full of eager students. Daniel has trained students to fight tournaments, trained students to fight bullies, and trained students just because he can.Karate Kid 2025’s most obvious Daniel LaRusso story has not just been told, therefore, but told ad nauseam.
It becomes very difficult to see a route for Ralph Macchio inKarate Kid 2025that won’t feel like a retread of hisCobra Kaiescapades.
One might argue that by forcing Daniel to work with Mr. Han - two martial artists of contrasting styles and disciplines -Karate Kid 2025will shake up the formula. Again, however,Cobra Kaigot there first. Ever since season 3,Daniel and Johnny have been karate’s odd couple, balancing their contradictory styles to work together for the betterment of their students. If Daniel and Mr. Han share a similarly combative dynamic then, once again, theKarate Kidfranchise will find itself running in circles.
There is not yet any concrete confirmation thatDaniel LaRusso’sKarate Kid 2025rolewill definitely be as the mentor to Ben Wang’s character. Perhaps Mr. Han will occupy that position and Daniel will be some kind of rival figure, or a mythical karate legend the new Karate Kid hopes to emulate. Still,Cobra Kaicovered those bases. Daniel verged on antagonistic during his early-season spats with Johnny Lawrence, and the legend of his All Valley success has loomed large overCobra Kaisince the beginning. It becomes very difficult to see a route for Ralph Macchio inKarate Kid 2025that won’t feel like a retread of hisCobra Kaiescapades.
How Karate Kid 2025 Can Stand Out After Six Seasons Of Cobra Kai
Can Karate Kid’s Next Movie Reinvigorate Daniel’s Story?
The big challenge forKarate Kid 2025, therefore, is figuring out how to use the character of Daniel LaRusso in such a way thatCobra Kaifans won’t be experiencing déjà vu in the movie theater. Doing so will be no easy task - not without completely rewriting Daniel’s character, at least. It would be ridiculous for Macchio’s ass-kicking hero to suddenly morph into a dastardly villain, or isolate himself on an ancient island and live off strangely-colored milk because one of his students went rogue.
A potential route - one that feels at least somewhat unique - would be taking inspiration fromThe Karate Kid Part II. The bulk ofDaniel LaRusso’s arc across theKarate Kidmovies andCobra Kaihas been driven by inter-dojo feudsand schoolyard bullies. Those rivalries have often culminated in the bad guys committing criminal acts, but the core conflict has, as Amanda LaRusso so often points out, always been motivated by martial arts supremacy.The Karate Kid Part IIstands out as the only real exception to this rule. The franchise’s first sequel saw Daniel and Mr. Miyagi bringing down a corrupt enterprise and saving an Okinawan village from ruin.
Amanda typically acts asCobra Kai’s voice of reason, pointing out the inherent silliness of grown men arguing over what is essentially an after-school karate club for kids.
Instead of finding out who could throwKarate Kid’s best Crane Kickor fighting over who gets to teach under-18s karate in one specific area of Los Angeles,The Karate Kid Part IIsaw Daniel use his powers for good, so to speak.Karate Kid 2025would be wise to revisit that concept, giving Daniel a high-stakes reason to train a new student alongside Mr. Han - a reason that carries more weight than simply winning a trophy. A family, a life, or a town could be on the line inKarate Kid 2025unless Daniel can call upon the teachings of Miyagi-do to save the day.
Does It Matter If Karate Kid 2025 Repeats The Same Formula?
Karate Kid Has Never Been The Most Innovative Franchise
Karate Kid2025 looks all set to copy the well-trodden path of past installments, but whether that should actually be considered a problem is open to debate. The upcoming movie is simply maintaining what theKarate Kidfranchise has been since the very beginning, just like everyScreammovie has a Ghostface killer, and everyDie Hardmovie involves Bruce Willis fighting criminals. There is a very thin line between reusing the same old formula and staying true to what made audiences love a franchise in the first place, prompting questions over whetherKarate Kidreally needs to worry about doing somethingCobra Kaihasn’t.
90%
83%
47%
52%
15%
35%
7%
24%
66%
67%
92%
91%
A brief look back at history, however, provesKarate Kid 2025absolutely does need to put its own spin on proceedings. Firstly, none of theKarate Kidsequels enjoyed the same success as the original movie, with all three follow-ups rated “rotten” onRotten Tomatoes(compared to the original movie’s 90% score). 2010’s reboot movie met with a lukewarm response, and onlyCobra Kai’s vastly different, more mature, approach toKarate Kid’s Miyagiversesucceeded in dragging the franchise back to glory.
Cobra Kai vs Miyagi-Do, Johnny vs Daniel, Tory vs Sam… Nothing’s Changed After 2 Years
Cobra Kai season 6 part 1 proved that though much time has passed, not much has changed for the show’s biggest characters and rivalries.
EvenCobra Kaiseason 6, as acclaimed as the series is, has faced criticism for repeating itself. Daniel and Johnny still bicker, the dojo wars are ongoing, and Tory and Sam are yet to settle their differences. All historical evidence confirms it: whenever theKarate Kidfranchise has resorted to formulaic storytelling, the results have been less than spectacular.Karate Kid 2025must recognize this and find the sweet spot between retaining the qualities audiences expect from aKarate Kidmovie and still bringing newness to the table. Mr. Miyagi said it himself; “Balance Good, Karate Good, Everything Good.”
Source:Rotten Tomatoes
Karate Kid: Legends
Karate Kid: Legends is a sequel to Cobra Kai and The Karate Kid directed by Jonathan Entwistle. The film sees Ralph Macchio and Jackie Chan reprising their roles, continuing the legacy of martial arts mentorship and rivalry in a new era of challenges and apprentices.
