How to Watch Karate Kid Movies in Order and Unlock Hidden Secrets

The resurgence of popularity for the Cobra Kai series has revitalized the Karate Kid series, capturing the interest of a fresh wave of viewers. With numerous films and now two television shows sharing the same universe, it might be confusing to determine the optimal viewing sequence. This guide is designed to help you navigate through the content in an organized manner.

As a devoted fan of the Karate Kid universe, let’s explore together the number of films and television shows, the optimal watching sequence, whether a linear approach is essential, and speculate on potential future additions to this beloved franchise, such as upcoming movies or series.

Let’s dive in!

Editor’s Note: This list was updated on May 28, 2025, with the release of The Karate Kid: Legends.

How Many Karate Kid Movies and TV Shows Are There?

The Karate Kid story started back in 1984, initially planned as a four-part saga consisting of “The Karate Kid” (1984), “Karate Kid Part II” (1986), “Karate Kid Part III” (1989), and “The Next Karate Kid” (1994). However, in 2010, the series took a fresh turn with a new set of characters and familiar plotlines. The latest addition to this enduring franchise is “Karate Kid: Legends,” which debuted on May 30, 2025.

Apart from the six movies, there was additionally an animated version of Karate Kid that debuted on television in 1989. More recently, the series experienced a significant resurgence with Cobra Kai, a live-action show that picks up the plot many years later. This series is currently available for streaming on Netflix and has attracted a new generation of fans to the franchise.

Now, let’s take a look at the best way to watch The Karate Kid movies and TV shows in order.

Karate Kid Movies and TV Shows in Chronological Order

As stated by the creators of Cobra Kai – Josh Heald, Jon Hurwitz, and Hayden Schlossberg – it’s only the characters from the initial four films in the Karate Kid series (released in 1984, 1986, 1989, and 1994) that make up the Miyagi-verse, which influences the storyline of Cobra Kai. The chronology concludes with the most recent release, Legends.

This is also how we will be setting up this Karate Kid chronological watch order.

The Karate Kid (1984)

In simpler terms, Daniel (Ralph Macchio) relocates along with his mom from New Jersey to California. His mother secures a fantastic new job there, but Daniel struggles to adjust as he’s not used to the California lifestyle, particularly when he attempts to pursue relationships with the blonde surfers’ girlfriends, which doesn’t sit well with them.

On a particular day, Daniel, who often avoids fights, encounters several boys at the same karate dojo. Overwhelmed by the attacks, he loses consciousness. When Daniel regains awareness, he witnesses an unusual sight – Mr. Miyagi (Pat Morita) skillfully dodging and overpowering these same boys. The incident reveals that their aggressive behavior stems from their own karate instructor’s influence.

Miyagi assures Daniel that he’ll instruct him in karate techniques and they’ll participate in a competition soon. However, when training begins, Daniel struggles to grasp the moves demonstrated by Miyagi. It appears to Daniel that Miyagi prioritizes fence-painting over teaching karate.

The Karate Kid Part II (1986)

Mr. Miyagi (Pat Morita) and Daniel (Ralph Macchio) travel to Okinawa to see Mr. Miyagi’s ailing father. It is then revealed that Mr. Miyagi still harbors feelings for an old love, which revives the ancient feud that caused him to depart from Okinawa many years prior. Simultaneously, Daniel finds new affection yet makes some adversaries. Facing no other option, they must engage in conflict.

The Karate Kid Part III (1989)

As the victor in our Karate tournament, with Daniel (Ralph Macchio) and Miyagi (Pat Morita) by my side, we dealt a crushing blow to our teacher Kreese and his followers. In the aftermath, they scattered like leaves in the wind, leaving him alone. Realizing I had burned all bridges, I knew it was time to say goodbye and seek solace elsewhere. So, I paid a visit to my old friend Terry (Thomas Ian Griffith) to return his keys and inform him of my departure from town. In a surprising turn of events, he proposed that I take a well-deserved vacation instead, and assured me that he would look after Daniel and Miyagi in my absence.

Terry plans to have Mike Barnes (Sean Kanan) compete against Daniel in the upcoming event. Later, he visits Daniel and Miyagi, introducing himself as a friend of Kreese who seeks to apologize for his past misdeeds. He extends an invitation to Daniel, mentioning that the competition he’s referring to is one he won last year.

Miyagi feels it’s not crucial for him at the moment. Terry proposes guiding Daniel, yet he creates a tough training program for him, leading to disagreements between Terry and Miyagi.

The Next Karate Kid (1994)

In a ceremony honoring Japanese soldiers lost during World War II, Miyagi (Pat Morita) encounters the widow of his previous commanding officer. She presents him to her granddaughter Julie (Hilary Swank), a troubled teenager harboring grief from her parents’ untimely demise. Their relationship is strained, with Julie being generally reclusive. Miyagi resolves to coach her in karate and help steer her life back on course.

Cobra Kai (2018–2025)

The intriguing tale unfolds in Netflix’s surprise success, which takes place 30 years following the original film’s events. As before, Daniel LaRusso and Johnny Lawrence reside in California, maintaining their disparate lifestyles – one living a life of opulence, the other struggling to get by. Through a series of unforeseen events, they reconnect, setting the stage for an entirely fresh narrative and characters who join them as mentors.

Karate Kid: Legends (2025)

2025’s “Karate Kid: Legends” bridges two distinct narrative threads of the Karate Kid franchise, merging them into a cohesive, interconnected universe in an innovative and significant manner.

The movie unfolds in the timeframe subsequent to the Cobra Kai series, a spin-off that resumed the narrative from the original Karate Kid movies (1984-1994), focusing primarily on the characters Daniel LaRusso (Ralph Macchio) and Johnny Lawrence (William Zabka). Essentially, Karate Kid: Legends carries forward where Cobra Kai concludes, thereby continuing the same narrative thread.

The Karate Kid (1989)

As a film enthusiast, I’d say: Instead of the traditional karate tournament, in this new take, Daniel LaRusso (voiced by Joey Dedio) and his wise mentor Mr. Miyagi (voiced by Robert Ito) embark on an exciting adventure. Their mission? To retrieve a tiny, enchanted shrine that was stolen from its home on Okinawa. The magical powers it holds are crucial to the peace of their community, and it’s up to Daniel and Miyagi to bring it back!

Character Taki Tamurai, voiced by Janice Kawaye, embarks on a global tour with the karate practitioners, inevitably running into numerous instances where they need to use their martial arts skills to escape predicaments.

At the start, Pat Morita took on the part of Mr. Miyagi once more, sharing the storyline of each episode from his character’s point of view. Except for episode 8, he was the one who narrated every installment.

Although we’re keeping this TV series separate from the primary storyline, executive producer and co-creator of Cobra Kai, Jon Hurwitz, mentioned that “The Karate Kid cartoon doesn’t affect the canon. However, there’s a nod to it in Season 3.

The Karate Kid (2010)

Because of work obligations, a lone mother along with her son Dre find themselves relocating to China. Initially, Dre is disheartened by Beijing due to cultural disparities and the mistreatment from local bullies. Feeling lost and alienated because he can’t communicate and doesn’t fit in, Dre soon finds himself in a desperate situation. However, fate brings him across Mr. Han who takes on the role of both martial arts and linguistic instructor for Dre.

In an interview with Slashfilm in 2021, the creators of Cobra Kai clarified that they won’t incorporate characters from the 2010 reboot because these characters do not belong to the “Miyagi-verse”.

In simpler terms, we’ve definitively established that Jackie Chan, as depicted in our series, is not anything other than an actor or performer. Since he appears in season 1 of the show as a human character, it follows logically that if any characters in our storyline watched a movie titled “The Karate Kid,” they would have seen the version featuring Jackie Chan.

Do You Need to Watch Karate Kid Movies in Order?

As a dedicated fan, I’d recommend watching the original four Karate Kid movies sequentially, laying the foundation for your journey. After that, dive into Cobra Kai and ride it through to its conclusion, where you’ll meet the legends. It’s important to note that the Animated Karate Kid TV show and the 2010 Karate Kid movie don’t align with the same timeline. However, keep an eye out for subtle easter eggs in Cobra Kai that nod towards these spin-offs.

Will There Be More Karate Kid Movies?

At the moment, there’s no news about any upcoming Karate Kid films after the release of ‘Legends’, but rest assured, we’ll keep you informed if anything changes.

2025-05-28 11:15