Film Influencer 2025 - Karate Kid: Legends

Following the woeful last few seasons of Cobra Kai on Netflix, I had very low expectations for Karate Kid: Legends. However to my surprise, the cheese factor was low, the action came fairly thick and fast and the run time, a swift 94 minutes.

Lead by icons Jackie Chan and Cobra Kai lead, Ralph Macchio, Ben Wang from American Born Chinese joins, as the main lead, Li Fong.

This is the sixth film in The Karate Kid franchise, serving as a continuation of The Karate Kid (2010) and the above mentioned series, Cobra Kai (2018–2025).

Both Chan and Macchio reprise their roles from the franchise—the latter's first involvement in a film from the franchise since The Karate Kid Part III (1989). 

The story follows Li (Wang), a kung fu prodigy who, after moving to New York and confronting with a local karate champion, receives help from his former master Mr. Han (Chan) and karate sensei Daniel LaRusso (Macchio). 

When Li Fong relocates to New York City with his mother (Ming-Na Wen from Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D) to attend a prestigious new school, he finds solace in a new friendship with a classmate and her father. 

But his newfound peace is short-lived after he attracts unwanted attention from a formidable local karate champion. Driven by a desire to defend himself, Li embarks on a journey to enter the ultimate karate competition. Guided by the wisdom of his kung fu teacher, Mr. Han, and the legendary Karate Kid, Daniel LaRusso, Li merges their unique styles to prepare for an epic martial arts showdown.

There is a lot of heart in this film. This heart and emotion replaces the cheese and tacky nature of the last few seasons of Cobra Kai. While Ralph Macchio plays a small(ish) part, there is a brief cameo too from William Zabka reprising his role as Johnny Lawrence.

Sometimes going in with low expectations means you leave the cinema pleasantly surprised. That is exactly how I felt today.

My second film of the June long weekend, and by this session and the John Wick Friday session, the cinema's are back baby!

This session on Monday at lunchtime was sold out. Honestly I think this will be a fan favourite. The wonderful sweeping aerial shots of New York from drones, made the city look extremely inviting. Maybe New York will be next after LA with riots.

Ben Wang has loads of heart and really brought it as the lead in this film.

I enjoyed this, 3.5 Stars.