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The Karate Kid

  • 1984
  • 6
  • 2h 6m
IMDb RATING
7.3/10
252K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
576
370
Ralph Macchio and Pat Morita in The Karate Kid (1984)
Official Trailer
Play trailer2:15
6 Videos
99+ Photos
Coming-of-AgeMartial ArtsTeen DramaActionDramaFamilySport

Recently relocated from NJ to LA, Daniel becomes the target of a gang of Cobra Kai dojo students. When Mr. Miyagi saves him with expert Karate skills, Daniel convinces him to teach him to de... Read allRecently relocated from NJ to LA, Daniel becomes the target of a gang of Cobra Kai dojo students. When Mr. Miyagi saves him with expert Karate skills, Daniel convinces him to teach him to defend himself, and put his bullies in their place.Recently relocated from NJ to LA, Daniel becomes the target of a gang of Cobra Kai dojo students. When Mr. Miyagi saves him with expert Karate skills, Daniel convinces him to teach him to defend himself, and put his bullies in their place.

  • Director
    • John G. Avildsen
  • Writer
    • Robert Mark Kamen
  • Stars
    • Ralph Macchio
    • Pat Morita
    • Elisabeth Shue
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    7.3/10
    252K
    YOUR RATING
    POPULARITY
    576
    370
    • Director
      • John G. Avildsen
    • Writer
      • Robert Mark Kamen
    • Stars
      • Ralph Macchio
      • Pat Morita
      • Elisabeth Shue
    • 415User reviews
    • 124Critic reviews
    • 61Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 1 Oscar
      • 3 wins & 4 nominations total

    Videos6

    The Karate Kid
    Trailer 2:15
    The Karate Kid
    Karate Kid Collection
    Trailer 0:16
    Karate Kid Collection
    Karate Kid Collection
    Trailer 0:16
    Karate Kid Collection
    Top Gun! Terminator! The '80s Live at SDCC
    Clip 2:29
    Top Gun! Terminator! The '80s Live at SDCC
    BUILD: Ralph Macchio And William Zabka Revisit The Karate Kid After 34 Years
    Interview 1:18
    BUILD: Ralph Macchio And William Zabka Revisit The Karate Kid After 34 Years
    Ralph Macchio Protects the Essence of Mr. Miyagi in "Cobra Kai"
    Video 6:33
    Ralph Macchio Protects the Essence of Mr. Miyagi in "Cobra Kai"
    Ralph Macchio Heard Some Bizarre Pitches for 'The Karate Kid' Reboot
    Video 4:44
    Ralph Macchio Heard Some Bizarre Pitches for 'The Karate Kid' Reboot

    Photos240

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    + 232
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    Top cast61

    Edit
    Ralph Macchio
    Ralph Macchio
    • Daniel LaRusso
    Pat Morita
    Pat Morita
    • Mr. Miyagi
    • (as Noriyuki 'Pat' Morita)
    Elisabeth Shue
    Elisabeth Shue
    • Ali Mills
    Martin Kove
    Martin Kove
    • John Kreese
    Randee Heller
    Randee Heller
    • Lucille LaRusso
    William Zabka
    William Zabka
    • Johnny Lawrence
    Ron Thomas
    Ron Thomas
    • Bobby Brown
    Rob Garrison
    Rob Garrison
    • Tommy
    Chad McQueen
    Chad McQueen
    • Dutch
    Tony O'Dell
    Tony O'Dell
    • Jimmy
    Israel Juarbe
    • Freddy Fernandez
    William Bassett
    William Bassett
    • Mr. Mills
    Larry B. Scott
    Larry B. Scott
    • Jerry
    Juli Fields
    • Susan
    Dana Andersen
    • Barbara
    Frank Burt Avalon
    • Chucky
    Jeff Fishman
    • Billy
    Ken Daly
    • Chris
    • Director
      • John G. Avildsen
    • Writer
      • Robert Mark Kamen
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The yellow classic automobile that Daniel polishes in the famous "wax-on/wax-off" training scene, then later offered by Mr. Miyagi as Daniel's birthday gift, was actually given to Ralph Macchio by the producer, and he still owns it. The car is a 1948 Ford Super De Luxe.
    • Goofs
      Contrary to previously published reports, Daniel using the Crane Kick to kick Johnny to win the tournament is NOT illegal contact. The tournament prohibits punches to the face (Johnny was warned for using one in the finals), but kicks to the face are legal. Earlier in the tournament, Dutch kicked Daniel in the face and received no penalty, proving that kicks to the face are in fact legal in this tournament.
    • Quotes

      Daniel: Hey, what kind of belt do you have?

      Miyagi: Canvas. JC Penney, $3.98. You like?

      Daniel: [laughs] No, I meant...

      Miyagi: In Okinawa, belt mean no need rope to hold up pants.

      [laughs; then, seriously]

      Miyagi: Daniel-san...

      [taps his head]

      Miyagi: Karate here.

      [taps his heart]

      Miyagi: Karate here.

      [points to his belt]

      Miyagi: Karate never here. Understand?

    • Alternate versions
      The UK cinema version was cut by 19 secs by the BBFC and completely removed the scene of Johnny rolling and lighting a reefer for a PG certificate. Later video releases were uncut and the certificate upgraded to 15.
    • Connections
      Edited into 5 Second Movies: Karate Kid (2008)
    • Soundtracks
      The Moment of Truth
      Written by Bill Conti (music) and Dennis Lambert & Peter Beckett (lyrics)

      Performed by Survivor

      Produced by Ron Nevison

      Courtesy of CBS Records/Scotti Bros. Records

    User reviews415

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    8/10

    Still such a good film.

    It's tough for Daniel, a teenager, who's moved with his mother from New Jersey to California, unable to fit in, Daniel is bullied and beaten by a group of boys from a local karate school. Daniel is rescued, mentored and trained by Mr Miyagi, Daniel gets a shot at taking on the bullies at their own game.

    This one one of my favourite films growing up, it really is a triumph over adversity story, with Daniel taking it straight to those that bullied him, and turning the tables.

    If you're a fan of those feel good 80's movies, then I'm convinced that you'll enjoy this, it really is an easy going, uplifting experience. It's loaded with iconic scenes, such as wax on, wax off and the ultimate kick scene. This film is definitely worth your time.

    This film helped bring a martial arts story to the masses, prior to that, you could argue that many of the martial arts themed films had something of a niche appeal,

    It always saddened me that Ralph Macchio didn't have a great career after this film, you would have thought that this would have set him up, it didn't, fortunately Cobra Kai had helped to redress the balance.

    The follow up films and the remake are all below average, and perhaps better off avoided, if you've not seen Cobra Kai, I would recommend it, it truly is the great follow up that this film deserved.

    Worth seeing.

    8/10.
    • Sleepin_Dragon
    • Jul 31, 2023
    • Permalink

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    FAQ7

    • What is 'The Karate Kid' about?
    • Is "The Karate Kid" based on a book?
    • When Daniel was teaching Ali how to knee-juggle the soccer ball, why did Ali suddenly kick the ball away?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • October 11, 1984 (Netherlands)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Languages
      • English
      • Japanese
    • Also known as
      • El Karate Kid
    • Filming locations
      • Golf 'N' Stuff - 10555 Firestone Blvd., Norwalk, California, USA
    • Production companies
      • Columbia Pictures
      • Delphi II Productions
      • Jerry Weintraub Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $8,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $91,077,276
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $5,031,753
      • Jun 24, 1984
    • Gross worldwide
      • $91,133,062
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours 6 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Stereo
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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