The Best 'Karate Kid' Movies, Ranked

Karate Kid: Legends arrives this week, uniting the classic '80s films with the 2010 reboot—which was originally intended to exist outside the original timeline.

Now featuring Ralph Macchio and Jackie Chan as senseis Daniel LaRusso and Mr. Han, Karate Kid: Legends connects these cinematic worlds in unexpectedly meaningful ways. To celebrate this convergence, we’ve ranked every Karate Kid movie!

For clarity, yes—Netflix’s Cobra Kai remains canonical within the Legends storyline. That doesn’t guarantee appearances from Cobra Kai characters, but Legends fully acknowledges the series’ continuity. Set three years after Cobra Kai concludes, the film follows Mr. Han as he enlists Daniel LaRusso to mentor a new student, Li Fong, portrayed by Ben Wang (American Born Chinese).

Which Karate Kid film stands above the rest? The original trilogy showcases the legendary Pat Morita as Mr. Miyagi, guiding Daniel (and later Hilary Swank’s Julie) through turbulent times. The reboot mirrored this dynamic with Chan and Jaden Smith stepping into similar roles. Read on for the definitive ranking!

Karate Kid Movies: A Definitive Ranking

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