The Karate Kid (1984)
He taught him the secret to karate lies in the mind and heart. Not in the hands.
New Jersey teen Daniel LaRusso moves to Los Angeles with his mother, and soon strikes up a relationship with Ali. He quickly finds himself the target of bullying by a group of thugs, led by Ali's ex-boyfriend Johnny, who study karate at the Cobra Kai dojo under ruthless sensei John Kreese. Fortunately, Daniel befriends Mr. Miyagi, an unassuming repairman who just happens to be a martial arts master himself. Miyagi takes Daniel under his wing, training him in a more compassionate form of karate for self-defense and, later, preparing him to compete against the brutal Cobra Kai.
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| Type | Movie |
|---|---|
| Released | 22 June 1984 |
| Genre | Action, Drama, Family |
| Director | John G. Avildsen |
| Starring | Ralph Macchio, Pat Morita and Elisabeth Shue |
| Runtime | 127 min |
| Rated | PG |
| Scores | Rotten Tomatoes (average) 6.9/10 · Rotten Tomatoes 90% · Metacritic 61/100 · IMDb 7.3/10 · TMDB users 7.2/10 |
Where to watch The Karate Kid
The Karate Kid is streaming on Netflix ($19.99 a month) in the US. If that is the only reason to subscribe, one month of Netflix is $19.99 at list price.
We check availability daily. Page last updated 1 November 2026. Prices are standard monthly plans and change often, so check with the service before you sign up.
Rent or buy
You can rent The Karate Kid on Apple TV, Prime Video, Google Play, YouTube, Fandango at Home and Spectrum On Demand. It is also for sale on Apple TV, Prime Video, Google Play, YouTube and Fandango at Home.
Where to watch The Karate Kid in 58 other countries
| Country | Streaming on (price a month) |
|---|---|
| Albania | Max |
| Andorra | Prime Video |
| Angola | Prime Video |
| Antigua & Barbuda | Max |
| Argentina | Max $9590 ARS |
| Australia | Netflix $20.99 AUD, Foxtel |
| Bahamas | Max |
| Barbados | Max |
| Belgium | Netflix €10.99 |
| Belize | Max |
| Bolivia | Max |
| Bosnia & Herzegovina | Max |
| Brazil | Max R$34.90 |
| Bulgaria | Max |
| Chile | Max $9590 CLP |
| Colombia | Max $24900 COP |
| Costa Rica | Max |
| Croatia | Max |
| Czechia | Max |
| Denmark | Netflix 109 kr DKK, Viaplay 159 kr DKK |
| Dominican Republic | Max |
| Ecuador | Max $8.29 |
| El Salvador | Max |
| Finland | Netflix €10.99, Viaplay €13.99 |
| Guatemala | Max |
| Guyana | Max |
| Honduras | Max |
| Hungary | Max |
| Iceland | Viaplay 799 kr ISK |
| India | Prime Video ₹299, SonyLIV ₹299 |
| Ireland | Skygo |
| Israel | Netflix ₪32.90 |
| Jamaica | Max |
| Japan | Netflix ¥1590 JPY, Prime Video ¥600 JPY, U-NEXT ¥2189 JPY |
| Luxembourg | Netflix €10.99 |
| Mexico | Max $149 MXN |
| Moldova | Max |
| Montenegro | Max |
| New Zealand | Prime Video $8.99 NZD |
| Nicaragua | Max |
| North Macedonia | Max |
| Norway | Netflix 119 kr NOK, Viaplay 169 kr NOK |
| Panama | Max $8.29 |
| Paraguay | Max |
| Peru | Max S/35.90 |
| Poland | Max 39.99 zł |
| Romania | Max |
| Serbia | Max |
| Slovakia | Max |
| Slovenia | Max |
| Spain | Prime Video €4.99 |
| St. Lucia | Max |
| Sweden | Netflix 129 kr SEK, Viaplay 169 kr SEK |
| Trinidad & Tobago | Max |
| Turks & Caicos Islands | Max |
| United Kingdom | Skygo |
| Uruguay | Max $U399 |
| Venezuela | Max |
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What kind of watch this is
The Karate Kid runs 127 minutes and centers on a teen who learns that the secret to karate lies in the mind and heart, not the hands. It is a film about patience, where the choreography is secondary to the character. Daniel LaRusso moves to Los Angeles and befriends an unassuming repairman who happens to be a master. The dynamic works because the mentorship feels earned, not just handed down. It is a story about finding your footing in a new place. The action serves the drama, not the other way around.
What the critics said
Rotten Tomatoes lists a 90% approval rating as of August 2024, while Metacritic sits at 61 out of 100 as of August 2025. The consensus calls it warm and sincere, though utterly predictable. Roger Ebert found it exciting and sweet-tempered, awarding four stars. Janet Maslin of The New York Times agreed on the positive side.
What came next for the cast
Ralph Macchio arrived with The Outsiders and left with a franchise that defined his name. He later appeared in My Cousin Vinny and the Cobra Kai series, a long tail of returns to the dojo. Pat Morita had spent years in background roles, including Happy Days, before Daniel LaRusso put him in the spotlight. The sequels kept him there, from Part II to The Next Karate Kid. The film did not cause these arcs; it simply started them.
If you liked this
TMDB's recommendations for people who watched The Karate Kid.
Sources
- The Karate Kid on TMDB — synopsis, cast, ratings and recommendations
- Wikidata Q846679 — review scores, box office and awards (CC0)
- “The Karate Kid” on Wikipedia, by its contributors (history) — reception, audience figures and legacy, summarised and adapted here under CC BY-SA 4.0
- Where to watch and prices: Binge Boss, from TMDB watch-provider data (powered by JustWatch) and our own provider list
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