The Next Karate Kid (1994)

5% of critics liked it
(19 reviews)
35% of users liked it
(59,661 ratings)

Karate Kid, Part 4 is better known by its release title, The Next Karate Kid. The sole holdover from the first three KK flicks is Noriyuki "Pat" Morita, once more cast as janitor/martial arts maven Miyagi Yakuga. This time, his pupil is orphaned 17-year-old Hilary Swank, the granddaughter of… More Karate Kid, Part 4 is better known by its release title, The Next Karate Kid. The sole holdover from the first three KK flicks is Noriyuki "Pat" Morita, once more cast as janitor/martial arts maven Miyagi Yakuga. This time, his pupil is orphaned 17-year-old Hilary Swank, the granddaughter of Miyagi's war buddy. Relentlessly bullied by her male classmates and feeling responsible for her parents' fatal accident, Swank is taught self-worth through the tough-but-gentle guidance of Miyagi. While The Next Karate Kid may come off as too "PC" for the tastes of some fans, it is heaps better than the appalling Karate Kid, Part 3. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Play Trailer

Rating, Runtime: PG, 1 hr. 47 min.
Directed By: Christopher Cain
Genres: Action & Adventure, Kids & Family

On DVD: Aug 28, 2001
Studio: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment

Critic Reviews

Variety Staff, Variety
The franchise is still kicking -- but not very high.
Stephen Holden, New York Times
[It] may be the silliest episode yet in the popular Karate Kid series.
Rita Kempley, Washington Post
What is the sound of one hand clapping? The audience giving it up for The Next Karate Kid.
Charles Cassady, Common Sense Media
Violent sequel doesn't benefit from gender change.
David Nusair, Reel Film Reviews
...a weak sequel that boasts few compelling attributes aside from Pat Morita's expectedly stirring turn as Mr. Miyagi.
, Empire Magazine
Almost a guilty pleasure. But not quite.
, TV Guide's Movie Guide
Overlong and utterly predictable, The Next Karate Kid offers little excitement, even in its culminating fight sequence.
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com
Desperately trying to infuse new blood into the 1980s franchise, the fourth installment is a hodgepodge that fashions recycled ideas and characters; the rebllious girl is played Hilary Swank, who would go to Oscar glory.
Walter Chaw, Film Freak Central
Swank, here demonstrating that for as wooden and exasperating as her performance is in this picture, it's the only performance she's ever contributed to any film.
Steve Crum, Video-Reviewmaster.com
Formula still grabs, even with Swank as "Kid"
Michael A. Smith, Nolan's Pop Culture Review
One time to the well too many.
Marc Savlov, Austin Chronicle
It's a decent enough entry into the Karate Kid series, if you don't mind having seen it all done before, and better.
Chris Hicks, Deseret News, Salt Lake City
The film does have a few warm moments and is at its best when simply developing the relationship between Miyagi and Julie. But, as you might expect, those moments are few and far between and overshadowed by all the ludicrous plotting.

Read all 13 critic reviews

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

Michael E

Funny and i found it much more entertaining than the other 3 movies, mainly because miyagi has much more screen time and is much funnier
Phil H

The same kinda story but with a new apprentice, enter a girl who needs Miyagi's help with the usual bully problems. Yes its the same but it still works well, Morita makes it really but Swank is very good and looks like she can do the moves. It is one story too far really but it… More
The same kinda story but with a new apprentice, enter a girl who needs Miyagi's help with the usual bully problems. Yes its the same but it still works well, Morita makes it really but Swank is very good and looks like she can do the moves. It is one story too far really but it just gets by, the plot involving Morita's background and Swanks father being old war buddies does actually work, in the end its a kids film but much much more and soo much better than most. Better than you would expect.
Conner R

I don't really know why anyone felt the need to make the female version of The Karate Kid, but this was about as good as you could expect. The acting from Hilary Swank is fine as well as Pat Morita, it's just nowhere close to the original series in terms of overall quality… More
I don't really know why anyone felt the need to make the female version of The Karate Kid, but this was about as good as you could expect. The acting from Hilary Swank is fine as well as Pat Morita, it's just nowhere close to the original series in terms of overall quality and originality. This is a little bit more corny and less powerful. Again, it's better than you might expect but certainly not good.
Wahida K

This is Legend.
Jason S

This is an average movie that suffers from being forced into a series it shouldn't have been in. As a Karate Kid movie is feels a little forced. As it's own flick it's fine and actually has a decent story and characters that work. Try not to judge it for being the last… More
This is an average movie that suffers from being forced into a series it shouldn't have been in. As a Karate Kid movie is feels a little forced. As it's own flick it's fine and actually has a decent story and characters that work. Try not to judge it for being the last in a good series.
Candy R

An orphaned girl, Hilary is the next karate kid.
Dean M

Hilary Swank is much better looking who was twenty trying to be a teenager as Pat Morita's next student in the final one. She doesn't do much karate, but looks great doing whatever she does.
Leigh R

My favorite of all the Karate Kid movies.
Kalel J

No point to this film being made and that becomes evident the more it progresses. There are elements that could have worked but the humanity and 'realness' that has been so heavily pressed into this becomes ridiculous in a film warranting the need for better hands in all… More
No point to this film being made and that becomes evident the more it progresses. There are elements that could have worked but the humanity and 'realness' that has been so heavily pressed into this becomes ridiculous in a film warranting the need for better hands in all departments.
Naughtia N

This is not one of Hillary Swank's best works but luckily she has come a long way since this movie. I was a big fan of the Karate Kid series when I was younger and I never got to see this fourth movie in the series, until now. This was by far the worst one in the series because… More
This is not one of Hillary Swank's best works but luckily she has come a long way since this movie. I was a big fan of the Karate Kid series when I was younger and I never got to see this fourth movie in the series, until now. This was by far the worst one in the series because it was just a bad copy of the first movie's storyline, with the exception of some new elements and characters. This just seems like a desperate attempt to squeeze some more money out of the Karate Kid concept. I will not watch this movie again.
Yinalí R

Loved this movie.
Allison B

Such suckage, Hillary Swank. And I expected more from you, Pat Morita. :(
Sylvester K

I can't believe it's Hilary Swank :( It's utterly terrible
R?o?d?r?i?g?o? R

A bad idea to adapt the original series a woman.
Jim W

I keep forgetting that this movie was even made.
Lee K

this was the worst in the series.
jason d

HILARY SWANK IN HER SWANKIEST ROLE EVER!