The latest entry in theKarate Kidfranchise proves you don’t have to be Marvel or DC to create your own multiverse. Fans ofRalph Macchio’s O.G. movieweren’t worried whenCobra Kaibowed on Netflix, sinceKarate Kid: Legendswas already announced. And, as the marketing campaign promises,Jackie Chanalsosteps back into the spotlightfollowing his character’s introduction in the 2010Karate Kidremake. Mr. Han was a re-imagining of the beloved Mr. Miyagi, but director Jonathan Entwistle (The End of the F***ing World) and screenwriter Rob Lieber (Goosebumps 2) are able to resolve that storyline hiccup by revealing that Han actually has lifelong ties to Miyagi.
Legendseffectively establishes a plausible scenario in which Johnny LaRusso and Han can come face-to-face,creating an epic karate familythat fans will love to see as a new prodigy emerges. There are the expected pitfalls of a YA-friendly movie, including clichéd character archetypes and some forgettable performances. But the latestKarate Kidfilm succeeds by expanding on the franchise, paying homage to the greats and flipping one typical story beat on its head.
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Kung Fu Meets Boxing and Karate
Karate Kid: Legends
Karate Kid: Legendsthrows a great deal into itstight 94-minute runtime. While fans are waiting for a certain household name to appear, prodigy-in-focus Li Fong (Ben Wang) steps onto the screen in his native Beijing. He’s doing what he does best: training in kung fu with his master, Mr. Han (Chan). But Li’s stern mother, Dr. Fong (The Book of Boba Fettstar Ming-Na Wen), doesn’t approve of fighting, and quickly arrives to whisk away her rebellious boy. She hates to see Li throwing fists due to a family tragedy the year prior, a post-tournament brawl that left Li’s older brother dead. And so Dr. Fong takes Li with her to the U.S. to start anew — specifically New York, with all that the country’s biggest city has to offer. Once they’ve settled in, the reluctant Li stumbles upon a neighborhood pizzeria owned by ex-boxer Victor (Joshua Jackson, another nostalgic presence).
Conveniently, wise-guy Victor has a charming daughter the same age as Li. Mia (The Goldbergsstar Sadie Stanley) takes a liking to Li’s unique set of skills — including his Mandarin, which helps her negotiate prices at a local store. Victor also wants a piece of Li’s skill set, but on the fighting side: The struggling restaurant owner owes money to hostile loan shark O’Shea (Tim Rozon, in an overdone villain role), who also happens to run the ominous Demolition Gym. That’s where another budding prodigy, Connor (Aramis Knight, the latestKarate Kidbad boy), spends his days when he isn’t trying to win back his ex-girlfriend Mia at school. But when O’Shea sends some of his karate henchmen after Victor, Li steps in to fend them off with his kung fu skills. This is whereLegendstakes a unique turn, reversing the usual student/teacher dynamic as young Li agrees to train the older Victor to become a fighter once again. If Victor can reclaim his boxing glory and win a few fights, maybe he’ll earn enough cash to rid the loan sharks of his property for good.
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Spill Some For Miyagi
Thankfully, director Entwistle wastes no time in any of the training sequences, including the occasional fight between Li and Connor over their shared love for Mia. Even the comedic punches are concise, and before viewers can catch a breath, the film’s final act is underway. Victor’s dream of saving the day through boxing is short-lived, so Li decides to take charge of the situation: There’s an upcoming karate tournament, but can his kung fu mastery compete? Han can sense he’s needed all the way from Beijing and soon flies into the States, making a pit stop in California to nudge a certain Miyagi protégé to return to the East Coast (take a wild guess who).
Li receiving tag-team insight from a pair ofKarate Kidveterans drives the film’s strongest scenes (outside of Jackson getting bossed around by Wang in earlier practice scenarios). Just as inCobra Kai,Legendsbenefits from the use of well-known rock songs to populate the film’s soundtrack.Legendseffectively establishes aKarate Kidmultiverse, leaving fans wanting more. But only the box office will reveal if they can expect yet another installment.
From Sony Pictures Releasing,Karate Kid: Legendsopens exclusively in theaters on Friday, July 29, 2025.
