The Karate Kid (1984)

Featured Audience Ratings

• danny d

  
  every watch solidifies my feelings for this film that im sure ive seen a dozen times. my love for elizabeth shue is part of the reason i struggle with the sequels, due to her absence. the film is more depth and less stereotypical martial arts fare. i love this film.

• Directors C

  
  It's a very predictable film. But it doesn't matter. Because the Karate Kid is one of the most heartwarming films ever made. With one the best screen couple's I have ever seen in the history of cinema. Its an irresistable underdog story of coming of age, love and… More
  It's a very predictable film. But it doesn't matter. Because the Karate Kid is one of the most heartwarming films ever made. With one the best screen couple's I have ever seen in the history of cinema. Its an irresistable underdog story of coming of age, love and redemption.

• Alexander D

  
  From the director of ROCKY, among other films, THE KARATE KID is one of the most memorable sports films of the 80s that I've seen. Sometimes, we have to ask ourselves if the reason this spawned so many sequels is because just this original was a one-of-a-kind martial arts flick… More
  From the director of ROCKY, among other films, THE KARATE KID is one of the most memorable sports films of the 80s that I've seen. Sometimes, we have to ask ourselves if the reason this spawned so many sequels is because just this original was a one-of-a-kind martial arts flick that never comes around.

• Cassie H

  
  Over the last 20 years there have been a lot of great movies and there has also been some awful movies as well. But the 80s was a golden age that impressed the lives of millions. The Karate Kid was the spectacular diamond of that age. The movie starts off with Daniel Laruso (Ralph… More
  Over the last 20 years there have been a lot of great movies and there has also been some awful movies as well. But the 80s was a golden age that impressed the lives of millions. The Karate Kid was the spectacular diamond of that age. The movie starts off with Daniel Laruso (Ralph Macchio) and his mother Lucille (Randee Heller), moving from Newark to California. Then when they're moving in Daniel meets Freddy, who he thinks is his friend but later on when they're at a beach party and Daniel is beaten to death by Johnny (William Zabka) that is proven otherwise. At the beach Daniel also meets Johnny's ex-girlfriend Ali (Elisabeth Shue), a girl from Beverly Hills who Daniel falls for. Their backgrounds do clash a bit since he's from Rosita but they make it work. Daniel also befriends the handyman Mr. Miyagi (Pat Morita) who becomes his best friend and teaches him karate in order for him to become champion and accomplish his dreams. Without a doubt an 80s classic! :) :) :) :) :) :)

• Michael E

  
  It just seems out dated by todays standards not saying its bad

• Brad W

  
  A really good movie, but I like the updated one better, still a great movie though.

• AJ V

  
  An 80s classic, and I love it! This is a fantastic teen sports drama romance movie with a great cast and a great script. I highly recommend it.

• Chris W

  
  As a general rule, I'm not a big fan of 80s pop culture, but even then, I'll be damned if I can't find something to enjoy from it, and this is one of a few great examples. The story beats and cliches spawned by this movie didn't all originate with it, but still,… More
  As a general rule, I'm not a big fan of 80s pop culture, but even then, I'll be damned if I can't find something to enjoy from it, and this is one of a few great examples. The story beats and cliches spawned by this movie didn't all originate with it, but still, this movie has an impact that still continues to this day. As formulaic as this is, it doesn't really feel derivate and run of the mill. That's a good thing, and a sign that Rocky wasn't just a fluke for director John G. Avildsen. This is a hard film to dislike. We (most of us) know what it's like to be the underdog who can't get a break from bullies. Also, Morita is just so wonderful and memorable in a role that I think he got at least an Oscar nomination for. He brings a great mixture of warmth, compassion, wisdom, and depth that leaves you feeling happy and awestruck. The villains are a bit hammy, but they're still pretty good. They take it serious here, which unfortunately was something that didn't carry over into the sequels. Even though this reeks of cliches, (when viewed many years after its release) it still feels fresh and new. I definitely recommend this, as it is one of those feel good films that is inspiring and unforgettable.

• Bently L

  
  A good film that teaches us powerful life lessons. A boy is taught karate by a the wise Mr. Miyagi that way he can kick the bully's butt in a karate tournament. The acting and story is excellent in this film. The karate fight scenes are so BA (y'all know what that stands… More
  A good film that teaches us powerful life lessons. A boy is taught karate by a the wise Mr. Miyagi that way he can kick the bully's butt in a karate tournament. The acting and story is excellent in this film. The karate fight scenes are so BA (y'all know what that stands for!). A must-see for thse suffering of low confidence and bully problems. A powerful movie like this help. Daniel: "Hey, what kind of belt do you have?" Miyagi: "Canvas. JC Penney, $3.98. You like?"

• Martin S

  
  Hey...It's a classic...just a feel good movie

• Richard C

  
  B+

• KJ P

  
  A story of a kid moving into a new town with nothing, getting picked on and tossed around, comes a fantastically moving picture that touched me in a lot of ways. This film is a classic masterpiece and the acting is great. The leading roles all work here and they are all lovable in my… More
  A story of a kid moving into a new town with nothing, getting picked on and tossed around, comes a fantastically moving picture that touched me in a lot of ways. This film is a classic masterpiece and the acting is great. The leading roles all work here and they are all lovable in my heart. The Karate Kid soars with passion and with a great kung fu style. The outcome is fantastic and genuinely gripping. Wonderful!

• Conner R

  
  There won't every truly be a movie like this, it's about as close to Rocky as teen movies will ever get. With a combination of bloodthirsty villains (Cobra Kai) that only the 80s could produce and wisdom from Mr. Miyagi, you're truly in for a ride of your life. Nice… More
  There won't every truly be a movie like this, it's about as close to Rocky as teen movies will ever get. With a combination of bloodthirsty villains (Cobra Kai) that only the 80s could produce and wisdom from Mr. Miyagi, you're truly in for a ride of your life. Nice guys don't come more clean cut than Ralph Macchio, he's very much the Sly Stone of teen stars. You just feel so much compassion for his character, maybe because he's such an underdog. The story itself is so powerful and uplifting that it's impossible to not fall in love with. On top of that it's beautifully shot and executed in a way that few movies at the time were. It's a fun and serious movie at the same time.

• Lorenzo v

  
  <i>"Wax on... wax off. Wax on... wax off."</i> A handyman/martial arts master agrees to teach a bullied boy karate and shows him that there is more to the martial art than fighting. <center><font size=+2 face="Century… More
  <i>"Wax on... wax off. Wax on... wax off."</i> A handyman/martial arts master agrees to teach a bullied boy karate and shows him that there is more to the martial art than fighting. <center><font size=+2 face="Century Schoolbook"><b><u>REVIEW</u></b></font></center> Dont know too many who hated this, the story of toothpick sized kid (Macchio) from Jersey who gets a daily beating from Valley boys after moving to California. A harmless looking handyman surprises the hell out of Macchios' tormentors one night, and one of the most memorable relationships on screen was created. Mr. Miyagi and Daniel, the older oriental and the young teenager are two of the best characters you'll ever see. Everybody will forever remember "wax on, wax off," Morita's many "Daniel-sans!," or one of the most recognizable poses ever, the Crane Technique. The climax is extremely uplifting and unless you're horribly unemotional, you'll smile everytime.

• Wahida K

  
  I was never conviced by Ralph Macchio`s acting but this movie stole my attention because of the wise Master Pat Morita.

• Anthony L

  
  What an ace film! I totally missed it as a child and only got round to seeing it now as a 30 year old adult. I didn't think I'd like it as i only saw Ferris Bueller's Day Off (and few other 80's classics) in the last year or so and wasn't what all the fuss was… More
  What an ace film! I totally missed it as a child and only got round to seeing it now as a 30 year old adult. I didn't think I'd like it as i only saw Ferris Bueller's Day Off (and few other 80's classics) in the last year or so and wasn't what all the fuss was about. The Karate Kid is ace and I can't wait to see the next one! Whoo Hoo! (I also now understand 'Wax on, Wax off'!)

• Thomas B

  
  one of the most cheesy films in the history of film and definitely one of the most remembered.

• Phil H

  
  I grew up with this, it influenced my life so much haha thinking I could do Karate, wanting to be the hero at school. Its a kids film with a punch, fantastic stuff and quite violent. It hits all thee right marks, great cast with truely annoying baddies, great fight sequences that are… More
  I grew up with this, it influenced my life so much haha thinking I could do Karate, wanting to be the hero at school. Its a kids film with a punch, fantastic stuff and quite violent. It hits all thee right marks, great cast with truely annoying baddies, great fight sequences that are quite realistic for a kids film, great kick ass ending, brilliant looking, awesome 80's soundtrack and it actually taught kids real values and morals. Absolutely superb film.

• Jennifer D

  
  Cute.

• Manu G

  
  Perfect movie about the courage and the ability to reach every goal no matter what obstacle comes in your way, truly a great movie! The new kid in a California town befriends his building's handyman, who trains him in the fine craft of martial arts. Eventually, he grows to become… More
  Perfect movie about the courage and the ability to reach every goal no matter what obstacle comes in your way, truly a great movie! The new kid in a California town befriends his building's handyman, who trains him in the fine craft of martial arts. Eventually, he grows to become a local champion and wins over the girl of his dreams.

Read all 20 featured audience ratings