A classic that thrives on the deeply heartwarming and inspiring teacher-student bond between Daniel and Mr. Miyagi. The film also stands out for its iconic villains, with Johnny Lawrence and the Cobra Kai gang embodying the perfect antagonists, adding layers of tension and drama to the coming-of-age story.
The Karate Kid is the quintessential sports movie.
Positives:
- The entire story is executed to perfection
- The characters are great and so likeable
- The performances are great
- The fight sequences are awesome
- The romance is really good
- The movie is pretty emotional in a good way
- The film is very iconic and quotable
- The score is great
- The soundtrack is a banger
- The cinematography is perfect
- The movie is so uplifting
Overall The Karate Kid is one of the greatest movies ever made.
When I was 8 I crane-kicked a kid in the junk for messing with me. My mom accurately blamed Karate Kid and my viewing of it the night before. Because of how legendary and well-made this film is, I guarantee there are many other kids who have similar tales of Daniel-San-like forays into home cooked attempts at self defense. All of the sequels and additions to the lore are fun and adorable, but this first film is real cinema (while also fun and adorable). One of the hard classics all young American men must see.
bring back movies ending immediately after the resolution with a sick freeze frame.
Lightning in a bottle. It's incredible how well this movie holds up and commands the attention of even the youngest viewers still to this day. All of the shouting crowd walla in the tournament at the end is absolute gold. “Do what you gotta to do Bobby!”
wax in wax out left right left right sand the floor paint the fence up down up down it’s all in the wrist good gentle strokes” hits hard🗣️🔥
The acting, dialogue, humour are all on point.
I’m only watching it for the first time so many years later because it was never on any streaming platform.
I have always loved this movie!! It’s one of the best karate films in my opinion 
This was my first time watching it again since the 90s, and I was curious if it would still be as good as I remembered. It actually holds up pretty well. The story is simple, but it’s easy to get into and the characters are really likable.
Mr. Miyagi is easily the highlight, and the mentor-student dynamic carries the whole movie. The training scenes are fun and memorable, and the movie has a lot of heart. It’s definitely a bit cheesy in places, but the final tournament is exciting and a great way to end it.
An 80s classic. Not the best acting but pretty entertaining. Miyagi is a boss.
A timeless, feel-good underdog story! Daniel's struggle against bullies and Mr. Miyagi's unconventional wisdom, "Wax on, wax off," creates pure magic. Heartwarming, exciting, and packed with iconic moments, it delivers a knockout, satisfying payoff. Instant classic!
I'll admit that I was absolutely obsessed with this movie in 1984, even though my parents would never let me take karate. The story still feels unique to me, even though it's probably been done a million times.
“you're the best friend i've ever had.”
“you... pretty okay, too.”
i’m starting my first watch-through of this franchise (minus cobra kai because i absolutely do not have that kind of time), and what thoroughly impressed me is the fact that this film really does have some movie magic coursing through its veins. there’s so much heart, and while a lot of the tertiary and even secondary characters feel quite flat, the relationship between daniel and mr. miyagi is genuinely perfect. watching it, there were so many moments between these two characters - both big and small - where i felt such a sense of joy and peace. and while it was addressed only once, it was a sobering moment to watch daniel discover mr. miyagi’s wife was incarcerated and died in one of the american internment camps during world war 2. this is something so often overlooked in real life and in film, a sickening scar in american history. this discovery was so heartbreaking to watch, and it provided so much depth to his character and far more respect for japanese americans than i was expecting from a film like this and from this time period.
all that being said, ralph macchio’s best film is still my cousin vinny.
With close examination you see how narrative and context can change how you interpret situations and people. Johnny is not the villain no matter what they tell you.
I don't really get the hype for this movie. It's perfectly fine, don't get me wrong. But it's just...fine.
One of the best movies from the eighties, has alittle bit of everything. ENJOY!!!!
Reviews
The Karate Kid
Eric Bakke reviewed
The Karate Kid
January 15, 2025A classic that thrives on the deeply heartwarming and inspiring teacher-student bond between Daniel and Mr. Miyagi. The film also stands out for its iconic villains, with Johnny Lawrence and the Cobra Kai gang embodying the perfect antagonists, adding layers of tension and drama to the coming-of-age story.
2
19
Carter reviewed
The Karate Kid
August 9, 2026The Karate Kid is the quintessential sports movie.
Positives:
- The entire story is executed to perfection
- The characters are great and so likeable
- The performances are great
- The fight sequences are awesome
- The romance is really good
- The movie is pretty emotional in a good way
- The film is very iconic and quotable
- The score is great
- The soundtrack is a banger
- The cinematography is perfect
- The movie is so uplifting
Overall The Karate Kid is one of the greatest movies ever made.
Fire Lansky reviewed
The Karate Kid
June 15, 2026When I was 8 I crane-kicked a kid in the junk for messing with me. My mom accurately blamed Karate Kid and my viewing of it the night before. Because of how legendary and well-made this film is, I guarantee there are many other kids who have similar tales of Daniel-San-like forays into home cooked attempts at self defense. All of the sequels and additions to the lore are fun and adorable, but this first film is real cinema (while also fun and adorable). One of the hard classics all young American men must see.
Robert Mead reviewed
The Karate Kid
May 30, 2026Lightning in a bottle. It's incredible how well this movie holds up and commands the attention of even the youngest viewers still to this day. All of the shouting crowd walla in the tournament at the end is absolute gold. “Do what you gotta to do Bobby!”
Habaneroo reviewed
The Karate Kid
June 3, 2025wax in wax out left right left right sand the floor paint the fence up down up down it’s all in the wrist good gentle strokes” hits hard🗣️🔥
The acting, dialogue, humour are all on point.
I’m only watching it for the first time so many years later because it was never on any streaming platform.
Zokkiie reviewed
The Karate Kid
March 5, 2026This was my first time watching it again since the 90s, and I was curious if it would still be as good as I remembered. It actually holds up pretty well. The story is simple, but it’s easy to get into and the characters are really likable.
Mr. Miyagi is easily the highlight, and the mentor-student dynamic carries the whole movie. The training scenes are fun and memorable, and the movie has a lot of heart. It’s definitely a bit cheesy in places, but the final tournament is exciting and a great way to end it.
Kyle McPherson reviewed
The Karate Kid
May 30, 2025A timeless, feel-good underdog story! Daniel's struggle against bullies and Mr. Miyagi's unconventional wisdom, "Wax on, wax off," creates pure magic. Heartwarming, exciting, and packed with iconic moments, it delivers a knockout, satisfying payoff. Instant classic!
James Saenz reviewed
The Karate Kid
June 1, 2025“you're the best friend i've ever had.”
“you... pretty okay, too.”
i’m starting my first watch-through of this franchise (minus cobra kai because i absolutely do not have that kind of time), and what thoroughly impressed me is the fact that this film really does have some movie magic coursing through its veins. there’s so much heart, and while a lot of the tertiary and even secondary characters feel quite flat, the relationship between daniel and mr. miyagi is genuinely perfect. watching it, there were so many moments between these two characters - both big and small - where i felt such a sense of joy and peace. and while it was addressed only once, it was a sobering moment to watch daniel discover mr. miyagi’s wife was incarcerated and died in one of the american internment camps during world war 2. this is something so often overlooked in real life and in film, a sickening scar in american history. this discovery was so heartbreaking to watch, and it provided so much depth to his character and far more respect for japanese americans than i was expecting from a film like this and from this time period.
all that being said, ralph macchio’s best film is still my cousin vinny.
tellum reviewed
The Karate Kid
August 18, 2025With close examination you see how narrative and context can change how you interpret situations and people. Johnny is not the villain no matter what they tell you.
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