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Karate Kid: Legends has a strong legacy-sequel hook: kung fu student Li Fong gets help from Mr. Han and Daniel LaRusso as he prepares for a karate competition. The film brings Jackie Chan’s and Ralph Macchio’s franchise lineages together, but its action does not always make that combination feel as meaningful on screen as it sounds. Whether the fights satisfy depends on what you want from them: the choreography has supporters, while other critics find the editing and the martial-arts fusion less successful.
What is Karate Kid: Legends about?
Li Fong, a kung fu student uprooted from Beijing to New York, is drawn into a karate competition. Mr. Han and Daniel LaRusso help him prepare, bringing together two strands of the franchise rather than starting an entirely separate story. Sony’s official film page and Kids Zone page describe that premise and list Ben Wang, Jackie Chan and Ralph Macchio in central roles.
Jonathan Entwistle directs from a screenplay by Rob Lieber. The premise gives the film two jobs: establish Li as a protagonist in his own right and make the connection between Mr. Han’s kung fu lineage and Daniel’s karate lineage matter to his story.
Does the legacy-sequel idea work?
The crossover is the film’s clearest point of distinction. Bringing Han and Daniel into the same story offers a reason for this installment to look back while introducing Li. But the presence of returning icons is not itself the same as a fully developed meeting of traditions. The Associated Press review says the convergence of Chan’s kung fu and Macchio’s karate is not fully fleshed out, even as it praises the choreography.
#1 Best Overall
- After relocating to New York City, kung fu prodigy Li Fong attracts unwanted attention and embarks on a journey to enter the ultimate karate competition. Guided by the wisdom of his kung fu teacher, Mr. Han, and the legendary Daniel LaRusso, Li merges their unique styles to prepare for an epic martial arts showdown.
That tension shapes the sequel’s balance. For the premise to pay off, Li needs to remain more than a bridge between familiar characters, and the older heroes need to contribute without taking over his story. The official synopsis establishes the setup; the critical response suggests that the martial-arts traditions do not always become as integrated as the setup promises.
Are the fights good?
There is no single critical verdict. The Guardian’s May 28, 2025 review calls the movie a “charming throwback sequel,” appreciating its nostalgic energy and brisk pace, but says some fight scenes are framed like a video-game fighter. The Associated Press also praises the choreography while faulting the incomplete integration of the two styles. Rotten Tomatoes’ first-review roundup records a similar split: one critic celebrates the martial-arts showcase, while another finds some fights over-edited despite elaborate choreography and stunt work.
Rank #2
- After relocating to New York City, kung fu prodigy Li Fong attracts unwanted attention and embarks on a journey to enter the ultimate karate competition. Guided by the wisdom of his kung fu teacher, Mr. Han, and the legendary Daniel LaRusso, Li merges their unique styles to prepare for an epic martial arts showdown.
Those views point to two separate questions. The action can be energetic and carefully staged yet still be harder to read if cutting and framing interrupt the movement. And technical choreography does not by itself make the meeting of kung fu and karate feel dramatically complete. So “short on kicks” works as a critical interpretation of an action experience that may not fully deliver on its premise—not as a settled claim that the film lacks action.
Do you need to know the earlier films or Cobra Kai?
No. The Associated Press says prior franchise familiarity is not necessary to follow most of the story. Knowing Daniel’s history or Mr. Han’s place in the series may add resonance to their return, but the central setup—Li’s move to New York, the competition and his mentors—is legible on its own. The crossover is the added attraction, not a prerequisite for understanding the basic plot.
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Rank #3
- After relocating to New York City, kung fu prodigy Li Fong attracts unwanted attention and embarks on a journey to enter the ultimate karate competition. Guided by the wisdom of his kung fu teacher, Mr. Han, and the legendary Daniel LaRusso, Li merges their unique styles to prepare for an epic martial arts showdown.
How long is the film, and what is its rating?
The Associated Press lists a runtime of 94 minutes and reports a PG-13 rating for martial-arts violence and some language. Sony Pictures Japan gives the runtime as approximately 94 minutes on its official product page. These are the reported runtime and rating details in those sources; rating classifications can differ by market.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Verdict: Is Karate Kid: Legends worth watching?
It is a reasonable pick for viewers who want a brisk, nostalgic franchise entry and are curious to see Li learn from both Mr. Han and Daniel. The film’s most appealing idea is also where it leaves room for more: the two lineages are brought together, but critics differ on whether the fights and story fully turn that meeting into a coherent payoff. Expect an accessible legacy sequel with praised choreography, not an action showcase whose success is beyond dispute.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- From Academy Award�-winning director John G. Avildsen (1976, ROCKY) comes the highly entertaining, coming-of-age classic that will have you cheering! Starring Ralph Macchio and Noriyuki ?Pat? Morita in his Academy Award�-nominated performance (Best Supporting Actor, 1984) as Mr. Miyagi.
Rank #4
- In the original Karate Kid Trilogy, Mr. Miyagi trains Daniel LaRusso in karate and in life lessons. Then in The Next Karate Kid, Julie Pierce learns from the master. In 2010?s The Karate Kid, Dre Parker is trained by Mr. Han in kung fu. Finally, in Karate Kid: Legends, Li Fong, a kung fu prodigy, trains with the two legends, Mr. Han and Daniel LaRusso, to face a new rival.
