What Karate Kid Movies are Canon?

Since the release of the first film in 1984, The Karate Kid franchise has been a part of pop culture, with its iconic characters and exciting karate sequences. The franchise spawned several sequels and even a spin-off series, but not all of them are considered canon. In this blog post, we’ll explore which Karate Kid movies are considered part of the franchise canon.

The Original Karate Kid Trilogy

The original Karate Kid trilogy, consisting of The Karate Kid (1984), The Karate Kid Part II (1986), and The Karate Kid Part III (1989), are all considered canon. These three movies follow the story of Daniel LaRusso, a teenager who moves to California with his mother and ends up learning karate from his mentor, Mr. Miyagi.

The trilogy is known for its memorable scenes, inspiring messages, and the close relationship between Daniel and Mr. Miyagi. The third movie concludes the story of Daniel and Mr. Miyagi, with Daniel successfully defending his title as a karate champion.

The Next Karate Kid

The fourth Karate Kid movie, The Next Karate Kid (1994), is also part of the franchise canon. The movie stars a new protagonist, Julie Pierce, who is struggling with the recent death of her parents. Mr. Miyagi takes Julie under his wing and teaches her karate to help her overcome her grief and the bullies at her new school.

The Next Karate Kid explores a new story and a new protagonist but still holds onto the values and themes of the previous movies. Although the movie was not as successful as the original trilogy, it is still considered part of the franchise canon.

The Karate Kid (2010) Remake

In 2010, a remake of The Karate Kid was released starring Jaden Smith and Jackie Chan. While the movie is a remake of the original film, it is not considered part of the franchise canon. The movie takes place in China, with Jaden Smith’s character, Dre Parker, moving to the country with his mother and learning kung fu from his mentor, Mr. Han (played by Jackie Chan).

The Karate Kid (2010) has a different story and different characters than the original trilogy and The Next Karate Kid. While it was successful at the box office and introduced a new generation to the franchise, it is not considered part of the franchise canon.

Cobra Kai

Cobra Kai is a spin-off TV series that premiered on YouTube Premium in 2018 and later moved to Netflix. The series takes place 34 years after the events of the original Karate Kid movie and follows the lives of Johnny Lawrence and Daniel LaRusso, who are now middle-aged men with different approaches to life and karate.

While Cobra Kai picks up where the original movies left off and features several characters from the franchise, it is not considered part of the franchise canon. Instead, the series explores a new story and a new perspective on the events that took place in the movies.

What Does ‘Canon’ Mean in the Context of Karate Kid Movies?

When discussing which Karate Kid movies are considered “canon,” it’s important to first define what this means. In general, “canon” refers to a set of works within a particular franchise that are considered official and part of the established continuity. For example, the original Star Wars trilogy is generally considered canon, while the various spin-off novels, comics, and video games are not necessarily considered part of the official story.

In the case of the Karate Kid franchise, there has been some debate and confusion over which films are considered canon. This is partly due to the fact that the franchise has spanned multiple decades and has included various spin-offs and reboots. Below, we’ll explore some of the most frequently asked questions about which Karate Kid movies are considered canon.

Which Karate Kid Movies Are Considered Canon?

The two films that are generally considered the “core” of the Karate Kid franchise are the 1984 original and its 1986 sequel, The Karate Kid Part II. These movies follow the story of Daniel LaRusso, a teenager who moves to California and learns karate from his Japanese mentor, Mr. Miyagi. The two films are typically regarded as the central works of the franchise and are generally considered canon.

The 1989 movie The Karate Kid Part III is often considered somewhat of an outlier in the franchise, as it was not directed by John G. Avildsen (who directed the first two films) and is generally regarded as a weaker entry in the series. However, it is still considered part of the official story and is generally considered canon.

The 1994 movie The Next Karate Kid is perhaps the most controversial entry in the franchise when it comes to canon status. This movie features a new protagonist, played by Hilary Swank, and Mr. Miyagi as her mentor. However, it was not well-received by critics or audiences and is often overlooked or forgotten by fans of the franchise. Despite this, The Next Karate Kid is still considered part of the official continuity and is generally considered canon.

The 2010 movie The Karate Kid, which starred Jaden Smith as the new protagonist and Jackie Chan as his mentor, is technically a reboot of the franchise rather than a direct sequel. Despite this, it is generally considered part of the official continuity and is considered canon.

Are The Karate Kid TV Shows Considered Canon?

In recent years, the Karate Kid franchise has expanded beyond just movies. The YouTube Premium original series Cobra Kai picks up decades after the original movies and follows the story of Daniel and his former rival Johnny Lawrence. While the show has been widely acclaimed and beloved by fans, there has been some debate over whether it is considered part of the official Karate Kid canon.

While the show’s creators have been careful to avoid contradicting the events of the original movies, there are some small discrepancies that have led some fans to question its status as canon. However, most fans and critics consider Cobra Kai to be part of the official story and generally regard it as canon.

Why Does Canon Status Matter for Karate Kid Fans?

So why do fans of the Karate Kid franchise care so much about which movies and shows are considered canon? For many, it’s a matter of wanting to engage with the “official” story of these characters and their world. Being able to follow a clear and consistent continuity can enhance the enjoyment of a franchise and make it feel more immersive.

Additionally, knowing which movies and TV shows are considered canon can help fans better understand and appreciate the various nods and references that are often made to past entries in the franchise. This can lead to a deeper appreciation of the storytelling and world-building that has gone into the Karate Kid series over the past few decades.

What Karate Kid Movies are Canon?

Introduction:

The Karate Kid (1984) is a classic martial arts movie that has been a part of pop culture for decades. Its sequels and spin-offs have also been popular, but not all of them are considered canon. As a fan, it can be confusing to know which movies to watch and which ones to skip. In this guide, we’ll look at the Karate Kid movies that are considered canon and why.

What are Canon Movies?

Before we dive into the list of canon Karate Kid movies, it’s important to understand what „canon“ means. Canon refers to the official story, characters, and events that are recognized as part of a story. In other words, canon movies are the ones that are considered part of the official story and are recognized by the creators of the original movie.

List of Canon Karate Kid Movies:

1. The Karate Kid (1984)
2. The Karate Kid Part II (1986)
3. The Karate Kid Part III (1989)
4. Cobra Kai (2018-present)

These are the only four movies in the Karate Kid franchise that are considered canon. The first three movies feature the original cast, while Cobra Kai brings back some of the original actors and introduces new characters.

Why are These the Canon Movies?

The Karate Kid (1984) is the original movie that started the franchise. It introduced the characters of Daniel LaRusso (Ralph Macchio) and Mr. Miyagi (Pat Morita) and set the foundation for the rest of the franchise. The Karate Kid Part II (1986) continues the story and brings back many of the same characters from the original movie. The Karate Kid Part III (1989) is considered canon because it continues the story of Daniel and Mr. Miyagi, even if it’s not as popular as the first two movies.

Cobra Kai (2018-present) is also considered canon because it continues the story and features the original actors Ralph Macchio and William Zabka as Daniel and Johnny respectively. The show takes place 34 years after the events of the first movie and follows the lives of Daniel and Johnny as adults.

What Karate Kid Movies are Not Canon?

There are several Karate Kid movies that are not considered canon. These include:

1. The Next Karate Kid (1994) – This movie features a new protagonist, Julie Pierce (Hilary Swank), and has no connection to the original series.
2. The Karate Kid (2010) – This movie features a completely new cast and takes place in China. While it shares many similarities with the original movie, it is not considered part of the official story.

Conclusion:

As a fan of the Karate Kid franchise, it can be confusing to know which movies to watch and which ones to skip. The four movies that are considered canon are The Karate Kid (1984), The Karate Kid Part II (1986), The Karate Kid Part III (1989), and Cobra Kai (2018-present). These movies continue the story of Daniel and Mr. Miyagi, while also introducing new characters and storylines. The Next Karate Kid (1994) and The Karate Kid (2010) are not considered part of the official story and can be skipped if you’re only interested in the canon movies.