How Honor, Legacy, and Mercy Shape the Final Showdown ( Photo Credit – YouTube ) Karate Kid: Legends kicks off with a bang, diving straight into the climactic showdown in the Five Boroughs Tournament.

Like other entries in the franchise, the film does indeed conclude with a triumphant freeze frame — but test audiences wanted more.

Legends' star Ralph Macchio on the timeless appeal of the franchise, lessons he's learned from a marriage, and his favorite music.

Ultimately, while the movie sticks to that standalone promise pretty strongly, and Daniel actually has a relatively small role, there are two scenes that touch upon other aspects of the larger Karate Kid franchise - specifically tied to The Karate Kid Part II and, yes, Cobra Kai.

Legends has been high on my list when it comes to 2025 movie releases, but since I first heard about it, I’ve been curious about how it may or may not affect things after the Cobra Kai finale earlier this year.

It didn’t occur to Ben Wang right away that in taking on “Karate Kid: Legends,” he’d be the franchise’s first Asian American “Kid.” And that gives him a lot of optimism.

This week, the Karate Kid franchise is back in theaters for the first time in 15 years with Karate Kid: Legends. And unlike the 2010 film, this movie is a true continuation of everything that came before it.

When the Karate Kid is mentioned, the first image that comes to mind for most people is that of the iconic 1984 film starring Ralph Macchio. Indeed, a quick Google search for “Karate Kid” typically yields that very movie as the top result.