From the moment Karate Kid: Legends kicks off, the ending is practically engraved in your mind. The structure is familiar: a young outsider is bullied, finds an unexpected mentor, learns martial arts, and comes into his own — a tale the Karate Kid franchise has retold for four decades. And while that formula has worked well enough in the past, this latest iteration feels more like a shadow of its former self than a worthy continuation.
A Rewritten Origin Story
Before diving into the actual plot, the film rewrites a bit of its own history. In a surprising retcon, we’re told by none other than a digital Pat Morita how Miyagi-Do karate is linked to a Chinese kung fu school. Shifu Han (Jackie Chan) still teaches martial arts in Beijing, mentoring the talented Li Fong (Ben Wong). But when Fong is uprooted to New York by his mother, his life takes a new turn. Struggling to fit in, Fong eventually falls for Mia (Sadie Stanley, channeling Jennifer Lawrence energy), only to clash with her aggressive ex-boyfriend, Conor (Aramis Knight), who spends most of the film brooding and posturing.
Eventually, Fong decides to fight back — literally. That’s when Shifu Han re-enters the picture, bringing along none other than Daniel LaRusso (Ralph Macchio) to help train the young warrior for the inevitable showdown.
Why It Doesn’t Work
The biggest problem with Legends is its utter predictability. There isn’t a single moment that feels new. Every beat, every line of dialogue, every confrontation plays out like a rehash of past Karate Kid films — but without the heart. Instead of reinvigorating the franchise, Legends leans so hard into nostalgia that it ends up feeling hollow.
Humor, though attempted, is mostly hit-or-miss. Sadie Stanley manages to squeeze out a few chuckles, but genuine laughs are rare. The emotional moments fall flat, largely due to a screenplay that never digs deep enough.
A Short Runtime Saves the Day
At just 95 minutes, Karate Kid: Legends doesn’t overstay its welcome. It gets from point A to point B briskly — perhaps its only real strength. The fight choreography is solid, and a handful of one-liners keep the film from sinking completely. But for a movie trying to revive a beloved legacy, “good enough” just isn’t enough.
Ben Wong shows promise with his charm and physical performance, particularly in the action scenes. But when it comes to delivering emotional weight, he struggles — not entirely his fault, given the thin writing. The supporting cast, including Joshua Jackson and Ming-Na Wen, give serviceable performances, but there’s little for them to work with. Aramis Knight, unfortunately, is boxed into a one-dimensional villain role, seemingly modeled after a bargain-bin Johnny Lawrence.
The Dynamic Duo Arrives Late
The film’s real energy comes from Jackie Chan and Ralph Macchio, whose combined star power injects some much-needed vitality into the story — but only in the last third of the film. When they finally share the screen to train Ben, the tone shifts, the pace quickens, and the movie finally feels alive. Their chemistry is effortless and authentic, providing a glimpse of what Legends could have been if it had leaned into their dynamic earlier.
Final Thoughts
At its core, Karate Kid: Legends feels like a nostalgia-fueled cash grab, more interested in selling throwback moments than crafting a compelling story. Where Cobra Kai found a way to honor the original while moving forward, Legends is stuck in the past — and not in a good way.
Ironically, the film’s most memorable moment comes during a mid-credits scene, completely detached from the rest of the narrative. It earns the loudest applause, not because of what came before, but because it offers a spark of genuine surprise — something the rest of the film sorely lacks.
In the end, Karate Kid: Legends throws a familiar punch, but it never truly connects.
