How Many Karate Kid Movies are There?

If you are a fan of martial arts movies, you have probably heard of The Karate Kid. It is a classic movie featuring a teenage boy, Daniel LaRusso, and his journey into the disciplined world of karate. Over the years, the franchise has grown to include sequels, reboots, and spin-offs, leaving many fans wondering: how many Karate Kid movies are there? In this post, we will dive into the history of the franchise and answer this question once and for all.

The Original Movie: The Karate Kid (1984)

The Karate Kid franchise began with the release of the first movie in 1984. Directed by John G. Avildsen and written by Robert Mark Kamen, the film tells the story of a young boy, Daniel LaRusso (played by Ralph Macchio), who moves with his mother from New Jersey to California. In his new home, he meets and falls for Ali Mills (played by Elisabeth Shue), a beautiful girl who is the ex-girlfriend of Johnny Lawrence (played by William Zabka), the top student of a local karate dojo, Cobra Kai. When Johnny and his gang start bullying Daniel, he seeks out the help of Mr. Miyagi (played by Pat Morita), a wise and skilled martial artist who teaches him the art of karate.

The Karate Kid (1984) was a massive success, grossing over $90 million at the box office on a budget of just $8 million. The film also received critical acclaim and was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for Pat Morita’s performance as Mr. Miyagi.

The Sequels: The Karate Kid Parts II, III, and IV

The success of the first movie led to three sequels, each continuing the story of Daniel LaRusso and his mentor, Mr. Miyagi.

The Karate Kid Part II (1986) picks up where the first movie left off, with Daniel and Mr. Miyagi traveling to Okinawa, Japan, to visit Mr. Miyagi’s dying father. While there, they get caught up in old rivalries, and Daniel must once again use his karate skills to defend himself and his loved ones.

The Karate Kid Part III (1989) sees Daniel and Mr. Miyagi back in California, where they are approached by Terry Silver (played by Thomas Ian Griffith), a wealthy businessman who wants to help them reopen their old karate dojo. However, things soon go awry, and Daniel finds himself in a new dangerous situation.

The Karate Kid Part IV: The Next Karate Kid (1994) is a spinoff film that introduces a new protagonist, Julie Pierce (played by Hilary Swank), a troubled teenager who finds solace and confidence through the teachings of Mr. Miyagi.

The Reboot: The Karate Kid (2010)

In 2010, a reboot of The Karate Kid was released, featuring a new cast and updated storyline. Directed by Harald Zwart and starring Jaden Smith as Dre Parker (the new Daniel LaRusso) and Jackie Chan as Mr. Han (the new Mr. Miyagi), the film takes place in China and follows the same story as the original, but with a few key differences.

The Karate Kid (2010) was a commercial success, grossing over $350 million worldwide, but received mixed reviews from critics and fans. Some praised the performances of Jaden Smith and Jackie Chan, while others criticized the film for straying too far from the original story.

The Spin-Off: Cobra Kai (2018-)

In 2018, the Karate Kid franchise returned as a spin-off TV series, titled Cobra Kai. The series is set 34 years after the events of the first movie and follows the lives of Johnny Lawrence and Daniel LaRusso, who are now middle-aged men with troubled pasts. The show has been a critical and commercial success, with three seasons released as of 2021 and a fourth in the works.

How Much Karate Kid Movies Are There?

Introduction

If you are a fan of martial arts movies, you must have heard of the Karate Kid movies. These movies have been around for over three decades, and they still hold a special place in the hearts of audiences worldwide. One question that has been asked by many fans is: how much Karate Kid movies are there? The answer to this question is not as straightforward as it may seem, but in this post, we will explore everything there is to know about the Karate Kid movies.

The Original Karate Kid Trilogy

The first Karate Kid movie was released in 1984, and it became an instant classic. It was followed by two sequels, Karate Kid II in 1986 and Karate Kid III in 1989. These three movies were known as the original Karate Kid trilogy, and they all followed the story of Daniel LaRusso, a teenager who learns martial arts from his mentor, Mr. Miyagi.

The original Karate Kid trilogy was a huge success, grossing over $400 million worldwide. It also won several awards, including an Academy Award for Best Original Song for „Glory of Love“ by Peter Cetera.

The Next Karate Kid

In 1994, a fourth Karate Kid movie was released, titled The Next Karate Kid. Unlike the original trilogy, this movie did not feature Daniel LaRusso. Instead, it introduced a new character, Julie Pierce, played by Hilary Swank. The movie was not as successful as its predecessors, but it still managed to gross over $15 million worldwide.

The Karate Kid Reboot

In 2010, a reboot of the Karate Kid franchise was released, starring Jaden Smith as the new protagonist, Dre Parker. This movie was simply titled The Karate Kid, and it was set in China instead of the United States.

The Karate Kid reboot was a huge box office success, grossing over $358 million worldwide. Despite the mixed reception from fans and critics, the movie has since become a favorite among younger audiences.

Cobra Kai

In 2018, a new Karate Kid series was released on YouTube Premium, titled Cobra Kai. The series was a sequel to the original Karate Kid trilogy, following the lives of Daniel LaRusso and his old rival, Johnny Lawrence, played by William Zabka.

The series has been a huge success, receiving critical acclaim and a devoted fanbase. It has been renewed for a fourth season, which is set to be released in late 2021.

How to Find Out How Many Karate Kid Movies There Are

Karate Kid is a popular movie franchise that has captivated the world since the release of the original back in 1984. Since then, there have been numerous sequels, remakes, and spin-offs that have continued the story of Daniel LaRusso and Mr. Miyagi. But just how many Karate Kid movies are there? In this guide, we will walk you through the steps to find out.

Step 1: Check the Original Franchise

The Karate Kid franchise began back in 1984 with the release of the first movie. This was followed by two sequels: The Karate Kid Part II in 1986 and The Karate Kid Part III in 1989. After this, the franchise went on a hiatus for 16 years before being rebooted.

Step 2: Look for the Remake

In 2010, a new version of Karate Kid was released starring Jaden Smith and Jackie Chan. The movie was a commercial success and was followed by rumors of sequels. However, as of the time of writing this blog post, no official sequels have been announced.

Step 3: Search for the Spin-Off Series

More recently, Karate Kid was brought back to life with the release of Cobra Kai in 2018. This is a spin-off TV series that continues the story of the original franchise with many of the original cast members returning to reprise their roles. As of now, three seasons have been released, with a fourth confirmed to be in the works.

Step 4: Add Up the Total

So, how many Karate Kid movies are there? In total, there are four movies in the original franchise, one remake, and three seasons (as of now) of the spin-off series, making a grand total of eight Karate Kid properties.

Conclusion

In conclusion, if you’ve ever wondered how many Karate Kid movies there are, this guide has walked you through the steps to find out. In total, there are eight movies or TV series that make up the franchise. Whether you’re a long-time fan or a newcomer, there’s never been a better time to check out everything Karate Kid has to offer.