After kung fu prodigy Li Fong relocates to New York City, he attracts unwanted attention from a local karate champion and embarks on a journey to enter the ultimate karate competition with the help of Mr. Han and Daniel LaRusso.
Watching “Karate Kid: Legends,” you get the sense Hollywood either has an endless nostalgia quota to fill or Ralph Macchio owes someone at Sony a major favor. Yes, Daniel LaRusso returns, radiating that trademark “ordinary guy who somehow escalates every karate feud” vibe. This outing pairs him with Jackie Chan’s Mr. Han—a combination nobody put on their wish list, but if you suspend disbelief (and forget what you know about timelines and sequels), it weirdly clicks.
The story opens with Daniel preaching the restorative benefits of car waxing to a group of bullied teens. At the same time, Mr. Han sprinkles in wisdom that sounds suspiciously like it was lifted from a discount fortune cookie bin. Naturally, the new kids aren’t buying it—until the neighborhood dojo starts up a recruiting drive that feels more like a Cobra Kai pyramid scheme, complete with coordinated headbands and a playlist straight out of an ‘80s aerobics class.
And yes, there are montages. Endless montages. Waxing, painting, chasing insects, and—just to remind you this is 2025—a training scene involving TikTok moves that will make you question your life decisions. The main antagonist? A YouTube star turned martial arts prodigy, whose grand scheme consists of racking up trophies and boosting his follower count. The stakes couldn’t be lower, but those slow-mo kicks do their best to make it all seem urgent.
What works: the film is silly, self-aware, and leans right into its own absurdity. The original actors seem to be having a ball, and beneath all the over-the-top fight sequences and swelling music, there’s actually a sweet message somewhere. What doesn’t: the plot barely holds together, and the new characters have as much depth as a punching bag. The humor is hit-or-miss—some gags connect, others flop.
Bottom line: “Karate Kid: Legends” is pure guilty-pleasure territory. Watch it with popcorn in hand and be ready to laugh at the movie—and at yourself for tuning in. Is this cinematic greatness? Not a chance. Is it legendary in a goofy, dad-joke way? Absolutely—so cringeworthy it’s impossible not to have fun.
Now available on Digital and on 4K Ultra HD™, Blu-ray™, and DVD August 26th
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