Looking for the correct The Karate Kid movies in order? You’ve landed in the right dojo. The good news is that this franchise is one of the rare ones where release order and chronological order line up almost perfectly — the only real wrinkle is figuring out where the 2010 reboot and the Cobra Kai series slot in relative to the newest film, Karate Kid: Legends. Created by Robert Mark Kamen and launched by director John G. Avildsen, the original 1984 film became a box-office smash and a Best Original Screenplay Oscar nominee, and its “wax on, wax off” ethos has stayed culturally embedded for over 40 years. Here’s your complete, no-confusion breakdown, starting with the quick-answer table below.
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Quick Answer: The Karate Kid Movies in Order
| # | Film | Year | Director |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Karate Kid | 1984 | John G. Avildsen |
| 2 | The Karate Kid Part II | 1986 | John G. Avildsen |
| 3 | The Karate Kid Part III | 1989 | John G. Avildsen |
| 4 | The Next Karate Kid | 1994 | Christopher Cain |
| 5 | The Karate Kid (remake) | 2010 | Harald Zwart |
| 6 | Karate Kid: Legends | 2025 | Jonathan Entwistle |
Quick callout: Release order works as chronological order here — with one caveat. The 2010 remake was originally its own standalone universe with new characters (Dre Parker, Mr. Han), but Karate Kid: Legends officially retconned it into the same continuity as the original trilogy, so it now counts as canon and slots in right where it was released.
The Karate Kid Movies in Order: The Complete Watch Guide
1. The Karate Kid (1984)
Teenager Daniel LaRusso moves to California, runs afoul of the ruthless Cobra Kai dojo, and finds an unlikely mentor in his apartment building’s handyman, Mr. Miyagi. The film’s fence-painting and car-waxing training scenes were designed so audiences wouldn’t realize Daniel was learning karate until the payoff — a genuinely clever screenwriting trick by Kamen. It’s the blueprint for every underdog sports movie that followed, and it sets up Daniel and Miyagi’s relationship that carries the entire original trilogy.
2. The Karate Kid Part II (1986)
Daniel travels with Mr. Miyagi to Okinawa, where old grudges from Miyagi’s past resurface and Daniel falls for a local girl caught in the middle. Much of the film was shot on Oahu, Hawaii, standing in for Okinawa, since filming in Japan wasn’t feasible on the studio’s timeline. It deepens Miyagi’s backstory in a way the first film never touched, setting emotional stakes that echo into Part III.
3. The Karate Kid Part III (1989)
Terry Silver, a wealthy and vindictive ally of the original Cobra Kai sensei, manipulates Daniel back into competition to settle old scores. Martin Kove and Thomas Ian Griffith’s villain chemistry here became such a fan favorite that both actors were brought back decades later for Cobra Kai. It closes out the Miyagi-Daniel trilogy as a self-contained arc before the franchise pivots to a new protagonist next.
4. The Next Karate Kid (1994)
Mr. Miyagi takes on a new student, Julie Pierce, played by a young Hilary Swank in one of her earliest film roles. The film swaps Daniel LaRusso out entirely, testing whether the franchise could survive without its original lead — a gamble that didn’t pay off commercially. It’s the franchise’s biggest continuity outlier, and most fans treat it as optional viewing before jumping to the modern era.
5. The Karate Kid (2010)
A total reboot: Dre Parker moves to Beijing, gets bullied, and trains under maintenance man Mr. Han, played by Jackie Chan. Despite the identical title, this film uses kung fu rather than karate and was originally considered a separate universe by most fans and even some franchise producers. For 15 years it sat outside official canon — until Legends pulled it back in.
6. Karate Kid: Legends (2025)
Kung fu prodigy Li Fong relocates from Beijing to New York City and, after tragedy strikes, ends up training under both Mr. Han and Daniel LaRusso, who join forces for the first time on screen. Director Jonathan Entwistle (The End of the F**ing World*) built the film to bridge Chan’s and Macchio’s separate eras of the franchise into one continuity, and it’s set three years after the Cobra Kai series finale. It’s the culmination point of everything before it — the first time the “two branches, one tree” idea becomes literal.
Do You Need to Watch Cobra Kai Before Legends?
No, but it helps. Karate Kid: Legends is written to work as a standalone film, and its writers have said the story doesn’t require Cobra Kai viewing to follow. That said, watching the series first will deepen character context, especially for Daniel LaRusso’s arc heading into the movie.
Minimum viable watch order:
- The Karate Kid (1984) — establishes Daniel and Miyagi
- The Karate Kid Part III (1989) — optional, but closes the original trilogy’s villain arc
- The Karate Kid (2010) — introduces Mr. Han
- Karate Kid: Legends (2025) — the payoff film tying both eras together
Skip Part II and The Next Karate Kid if you’re purely optimizing for Legends — they’re satisfying but not essential to that film’s plot.
How Many The Karate Kid Movies Are There?
There are six The Karate Kid movies total, spanning 1984 to 2025, plus the spin-off series Cobra Kai (2018–2025), which is essential viewing for the broader franchise but isn’t counted among the numbered films.
All The Karate Kid Movies in Order by Release Date
1. The Karate Kid — June 22, 1984
2. The Karate Kid Part II — June 20, 1986
3. The Karate Kid Part III — June 30, 1989
4. The Next Karate Kid — September 9, 1994
5. The Karate Kid — June 11, 2010
6. Karate Kid: Legends — May 30, 2025
Cobra Kai: Where Does the Spin-Off Series Fit?
Cobra Kai isn’t a film, but it’s the backbone connecting the original trilogy to Legends. The series picks up decades after Part III, following Johnny Lawrence reopening the Cobra Kai dojo and reigniting his rivalry with Daniel LaRusso. It ran for six seasons, wrapped in 2025, and directly sets up the timeline Legends takes place in — three years after its finale.
Minimum viable watch order for the series: Watch Season 1 through the finale in full if you want Legends to hit emotionally; if you’re purely there for the new film, you can skip straight to it without major confusion.
What’s Next for the Franchise?
As of now, there’s no officially confirmed sequel to Karate Kid: Legends. The film was designed with room to continue — its ending leaves several character threads open — and producers and cast members have spoken publicly about wanting to keep the franchise going. Given Legends’ box office performance and the built-in fanbase from Cobra Kai, another installment is considered likely by industry watchers, but until Sony makes a formal announcement, treat any “Karate Kid 7” release date you see online as speculation.
FAQ
Is the 2010 Karate Kid movie canon with the original trilogy?
Yes, as of Karate Kid: Legends (2025), the 2010 remake was officially retconned into the same continuity as the original films and Cobra Kai.
Do I need to watch all four original movies before Legends?
No. The essential ones are the 1984 original and the 2010 remake; Part II, Part III, and The Next Karate Kid add depth but aren’t required for Legends to make sense.
What order should I watch the Karate Kid movies in?
Release order and chronological order match for this franchise, so watching The Karate Kid movies in order of release (1984 → 1986 → 1989 → 1994 → 2010 → 2025) is the correct and simplest approach.
Is Cobra Kai required viewing before Karate Kid: Legends?
It’s not required, but it adds emotional context, especially for Daniel LaRusso’s arc going into the film.
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