I Know I’m In The Vast Minority, But I Think Karate Kid Legends Is The Best Movie In The Series. Here’s Why

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I see a lot of similarities between the *Rocky* and *Karate Kid* films. Beyond the fact that John G. Avildsen directed the first movies in both series, I don’t believe the initial film is always the strongest. In fact, I think the best *Karate Kid* movie is the newest one, *Karate Kid: Legends*.

I realize most people disagree, but when I rank the *Rocky* and *Karate Kid* movies – both of which I’ve done before – I don’t pick the most popular choices. Everyone usually says the original *Rocky* from 1976 and *The Karate Kid* from 1984 are the best. But before *Karate Kid: Legends* came out, I actually preferred the 2010 *Karate Kid* movie, so I’m already going against the grain.

Well, Karate Kid: Legends is my new favorite, and here’s why.

First, I Think New York Is The Perfect Setting For The Karate Kid

Something interesting about the *Karate Kid* movies is how often they change settings. The first film follows Daniel LaRusso (Ralph Macchio) as he moves from New Jersey to Los Angeles, feeling like an outsider. Then, in *Part II*, Daniel and Mr. Miyagi travel to Japan, before returning to Los Angeles in *Part III*.

The *Karate Kid* movies often focus on characters adapting to new places, starting with *The Next Karate Kid* which moved the story to Boston and China. This theme of leaving home and adjusting is central to the series. *Karate Kid: Legends* continues this tradition with Li Fong (Ben Wang), a young martial artist living in China with his uncle, Mr. Han (Jackie Chan). Mr. Han, who was a character in the 2010 *Karate Kid* movie, is now a respected kung fu master, though the film doesn’t explain how he achieved this status.

Li Fong is leaving China because his mother found a job in New York, which is a welcome change for the *Karate Kid* series. New York City’s energy and atmosphere really make this story stand out from previous films. As someone who knows the city well, I especially appreciate how elements like the subway, pizza shops, and rooftop fights bring a fresh and unique feel to the franchise – it’s fantastic!

I’d be open to a new *Karate Kid* movie being set in a different part of New York City – that could really work well!

I Love The Melding Of Kung Fu And Karate

A common complaint about the 2010 *Karate Kid* movie is the title is misleading – Jaden Smith actually practices kung fu, not karate. That’s why the movie was called *The Kung Fu Dream* in China. Personally, while I like karate, I think kung fu is a more impressive martial art.

I definitely enjoyed watching Mr. Miyagi teach Daniel and Julie karate, and I think the original *Karate Kid* movies – even *The Next Karate Kid* – are all good. The crane kick was a cool move, though it doesn’t appear in *Karate Kid: Legends*. Still, I’ve always been more interested in kung fu, which is why I preferred the 2010 version because I found the fight scenes more exciting.

Luckily, *Karate Kid: Legends* combines familiar elements with a fresh story. Li Fong needs to learn karate to overcome his skilled rival, Conor Day (Aramis Knight). Along the way, Li Fong falls for Mia (Sadie Stanley), who works at a local pizza place. However, Mia’s ex-boyfriend, Conor, is jealous of their connection and starts bullying Li Fong, just like in the original *Karate Kid* movies.

All of this leads to Li Fong competing in The Five Boroughs Tournament, a competition Conor has won many times before. Li Fong will need to use both his kung fu training and the karate skills he’s been learning, and I’ll explain more about that next.

It Combines My Two Favorite Characters From The Franchise

The biggest draw of this movie is the pairing of Jackie Chan and Ralph Macchio. Chan’s character, Mr. Han, already taught the protagonist kung fu, so Macchio comes in as sensei LaRusso to teach him karate. When I first saw the trailer, I, like many others, expected a simple attempt to profit from established franchises. However, like my coworker Alexandra Ramos, I was happily proven wrong and found the movie surprisingly good.

Ralph Macchio isn’t just making a quick, unimportant appearance. While he’s not in the movie for long, he becomes a significant presence once he arrives. What I especially enjoy is the playful competition between him and Jackie Chan – they both believe their martial arts are better, which creates a fun dynamic.

Daniel Sensei thinks Miyagi-Do is the best martial art and the one Li Fong should focus on. However, Shifu Han believes that Miyagi-Do’s strengths actually come from techniques Miyagi learned from kung fu.

This movie is just a lot of fun, and I loved seeing characters from my favorite *Karate Kid* films return. What’s really amazing is they even brought Mr. Miyagi back with new lines using A.I. – which makes you think A.I. isn’t so bad after all! That’s why this is my top *Karate Kid* movie – you get three incredible martial arts masters in one film, and that’s a fantastic deal!

I Also Really Like How Boxing Is Included In This Film

I was really surprised by *Karate Kid: Legends*! It doesn’t just combine karate and kung fu – there’s a whole section about boxing too, which I definitely didn’t expect. The story starts when Li Fong moves next door to a pizza shop, and the owner, played by Joshua Jackson, finds himself in trouble with some dangerous people because of a lot of debt.

He’s in debt and constantly avoiding the people his creditor sends after him. Luckily, he used to be a talented boxer. As you might expect, he decides to fight again, but this time he mixes kung fu into his training. This new style makes him a formidable opponent, and he seems to be winning… until his opponent starts fighting dirty, leaving him seriously injured.

It might seem strange, but this actually connects to the story of *The Karate Kid*. I won’t reveal exactly how, because it’s a key part of the main character’s development, but trust me, it all makes sense in the end.

That’s why, along with everything else I’ve said, *Karate Kid: Legends* is my top pick in the series. Have you had a chance to watch it? I’d be really interested to hear what you think! If not, it’s available on Netflix right now, so you should check it out while it’s still there.

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2025-10-13 21:41