Karate Kid: Legendswill have a tough time following uponCobra Kai, but there are a few things this movie can do to place itself in the same tier. TheKarate Kidfranchise got its start in 1984, but 41 years later, it’s going strong. The Netflix spinoff seriesCobra Kaiwrapped up Johnny Lawrence’s story with its sixth and final season, just in time to kick off Ralph Macchio and Jackie Chan’s newKarate Kid: Legends(releasing July 18, 2025). Things certainly looks bright for the franchise overall, but that wasn’t always the case.
Cobra Kaiwas really what brought theKarate Kidfranchiseback to life. Following Macchio’s three movies in the 1980s, there were two more attempts to produce new films. One was2010’sThe Karate Kid, which starred Chan as an alternative version of Mr. Miyagi and Jaden Smith as the new titular karate kid, Dre. This reboot wasn’t particularly well received, butCobra Kai’s first season in 2018 was a different story. For the next seven years, Johnny Lawrence’s nostalgic spinoff succeeded where other similar projects failed. So,how canKarate Kid: Legendsduplicate this success?
5Karate Kid: Legends’ Fights Must Be Better Than The Ones In The Original Movie
Cobra Kai Really Kicked Up The Action
Every installment in theKarate Kidfranchise features exciting fights, but the style of choreography has varied from one to another. Part of what madeCobra Kaiso exciting was the way it took the various fights to the extreme. Daniel’s fights in the originalKarate Kidmovies were more or less realistic, butCobra Kaithrew believability out the window for visually fantastic feats of strength and athleticism that were fun to watch.
The Best Fight In Every Cobra Kai Season & Karate Kid Movie
The Karate Kid movie and Cobra Kai series have continued to take their fights to the next level, with each installment presenting a standout battle.
Compared to Macchio’s Karate Kid movies, Chan and Smith’s reboot also increased the intensity of the fight choreography. However, the 2010 movie took itself a bit too seriously. WhileKarate Kid: Legendscan’t be as outrageous asCobra Kai,the coming movie must find the appropriate balance.
4Karate Kid: Legends Must Embrace What Came Before It (Including Cobra Kai)
The Overall Story Must Be Cohesive
Though the originalKarate Kidmovies,Cobra Kai, and the upcomingKarate Kid: Legendsare all part of the same franchise, they aren’t entirely cohesive.Cobra Kaiused Daniel and Johnny’s origins in the 1980s movies as a foundation and rounded out their overall arcs in a smooth, cohesive way. However, season 6 made no reference to the fact that Macchio’s Daniel would be continuing into a new movie. His story came to a satisfying close and that was that sincethe creators ofCobra Kaihave nothing to do withKarate Kid: Legends.
It would seem that Macchio and Chan’s upcoming movie would ignore the events ofCobra Kai, but this would be a massive mistake. ThoughKarate Kid: Legendsis created by a different group of people,it’s essential that the story feels like an organic continuation of what came before. Daniel’sKarate KidandCobra Kaistory must be part of the foundation for his continued story.
3Karate Kid: Legends Must Put A Fresh Twist On The Original Movie’s Formula
Cobra Kai Worked Because It Made The Old Formula Unique
There are dozens of ways thatCobra Kaicould have flopped. However, the spinoff series found the perfect way to make theKarate Kidfranchise feel fresh. The 1984 movie follows a formula that is now deeply familiar. An old, wise sensei uses unconventional means to teach an underdog teenager martial arts so he can stand up to his bullies. 2010’sKarate Kidmovie duplicated this formula to a tee, and, in a way, so didCobra Kai.However, Johnny’s version put a significant twist on things.
Cobra Kaiput the rough and anti-PC Johnny Lawrence in the position of wise sensei and saw him comedically use very non-Miyagi methods to teach his underdog student, Miguel, how to fight. This was precisely what allowedCobra Kaito be so successful.Karate Kid: Legendswill similarly have tofind a way to make the familiar formula ofThe Karate Kidfeel new and unique.
2Karate Kid: Legends Must Challenge Black & White Morality
Cobra Kai Was All About Redemption
Morality in theKarate Kidmovies was pretty black and white. Mr. Miyagi and Daniel were good, but bullies like Johnny Lawrence, John Kreese, Chozen Toguchi, and more were bad. There might have been some flexibility here (such as with Johnny giving Daniel the All-Valley trophy in the end), but the villains were still remembered as villains.Cobra Kaichallenged this.The spinoff aimed to show audiences the other side of these otherwise despicable characters.
While Karate Kid: Legends can’t depend on Cobra Kai’s theme of redemption, it would feel somewhat disjointed if the new movie jumped right back into the black-and-white thinking.
WhileKarate Kid: Legendscan’t depend onCobra Kai’s theme of redemption, it would feel somewhat disjointed if the new movie jumped right back into the black-and-white thinking.The villains of this movie must be more dynamic than that. Macchio and Chan’s latest movie seems to be off to the right start, with teases that their new student may be on a destructive path.
1Karate Kid: Legends Must Feature A Mix Of Characters
There Must Be More To Love
One of the benefits ofCobra Kai’s six seasonsis that there was a lot more room to explore a broader range of characters.This is more difficult for a movieto do since there is only an hour or two to make these characters feel like real people. However, after falling in love with so many different types of fighters inCobra Kai, it would be difficult to return to the typical focus on one teacher, one sensei, one love interest, and a couple of bullying villains.
Macchio is the onlyCobra Kaicharacter expected to return forKarate Kid: Legends.
Karate Kid: Legendsalready seems to be taking inspiration fromCobra Kaiin this regard since Macchio’s Daniel and Chan’s Mr. Han will both be serving as wise teachers in the upcoming movie. Of course, there is still some room here to expand.Karate Kid: Legendscan’t feature as many characters asCobra Kai, but if there are a handful of lovable fighters, the upcoming movie can give theKarate Kidfranchise even more longevity.
