Get ready for some high kicks and crane kicks! Karate Kid: Legends, hitting theaters in 2025, is generating a lot of pre-release chatter. Critics have seen it, and their reactions are… well, let’s just say they’re mixed. After the franchise’s resurgence thanks to Cobra Kai on Netflix, can this new movie capture the magic for a new generation? Or will it be a roundhouse kick to the nostalgia?
The Critics Weigh In
After early screenings in Latin America, critics took to X (formerly Twitter) to share their initial thoughts. The opinions are strong, folks! Some praised the film’s charm and simplicity, while others weren’t so kind, citing lack of creativity and technical hiccups. It seems like Karate Kid: Legends is really trying to live up to the name.
Joaquín Teodoro suggests the movie is more of a fan service moment, and said the plot might as well have been a modern remake, “’Karate Kid: Legends’ is more of an excuse to bring Jackie Chan and Ralph Macchio together on screen than adding anything new to the franchise. It’s like a modern-day remake of the original ‘Karate Kid’ to appeal to new generations. Simple and effective.” He thinks the main point was for people to see the main characters in the same movie!
Miguel Araiza had a bit of a love-hate relationship with the film, “‘Karate Kid: Legends’ is filled with ridiculous clichés, absurd conveniences, terrible editing, and confusing pacing. And yet, as a huge fan of the franchise, I have to say I had a good time watching it. It survives on the charm of Ralph Macchio, Jackie Chan and Ben Wang, whose vibrant chemistry keeps the film afloat in its weakest moments.” Even though he acknowledged its flaws, the nostalgia hit hard.
Araiza admits that it is “not a good movie by any stretch of the imagination,” he praised the “charm and silly essence” fans have loved from both The Karate Kid and Cobra Kai over the years: “It’s not a good movie by any stretch of the imagination, but it retains the charming, silly essence that fans of ‘The Karate Kid’ and ‘Cobra Kai’ have grown to love, and for many, that will be enough. If that doesn’t sound like something you’re in the mood for, there are far better offerings in theaters right now that deserve your attention.”
According to @DrakeWayne2248, “Karate Kid: Legends is very entertaining from start to finish,” he pointed out the lack of development from the film’s villain and female characters: “‘Karate Kid: Legends’ is very entertaining from start to finish, its frenetic pace and familiar plot will leave fans of the saga happy. Little development of the villain and female characters, but it is compensated by good cinematography, action and charisma of the protagonist. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” If it isn’t broken don’t fix it seems to be the way that the producers went for this martial arts movie.
Pablo Robles says Legends is formulaic and leans heavily on nostalgia, he also said “Karate Kid: Legends’ follows the same formula as the franchise, with all its clichés to appeal to nostalgia. Even with that, the charming charisma of its cast, the humor, and the fights, make the film a mere entertainment product that seeks nothing more. That said, the editing seems terrible to me.”
Hollywood Handle was brutally honest, calling Legends “one of the worst films in the franchise” and claiming it “wastes both Jackie and Ralph’s character in every way possible.” Ouch!
What’s the Story?
Karate Kid: Legends, which hopes to be the best martial arts movie will unite the worlds of the original Karate Kid films and Cobra Kai for a big-screen adventure. Ben Wang stars as Li Fong, a young kung fu prodigy who moves to New York City and enters a karate competition to help a friend.
The Big Question: Will It Work?
With the movie is going to be released on May 30, fans are hopeful for what this film can do behind a cast of franchise veterans and high-profile newcomers. While Legends seems to do everything it can to utilize Jackie Chan and Ralph Macchio as much as possible, critics were conflicted on how that and the rest of the story worked coherently alongside each other. It seems like the actors are not being used the way they should.
- Will fans love it or hate it?
- Is the plot a disaster?
- Is the editing really that bad?
The series has focused on heart and action over 40 years, hopefully this new installment will reach the same level.
Can It Live Up to the Legacy?
Cobra Kai set the bar high. Can Legends successfully blend the original franchise, Cobra Kai, and Jackie Chan’s 2010 movie into something truly special? Or will it be a disappointing miss? One thing is certain: the Karate Kid fandom is ready to find out!
